By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Williston’s vacant hospital was once a proudly operating business in the community, and it was Levy County’s only hospital, but the facility has fallen on hard times in recent years.
The hospital is in federal litigation and neck-deep in back property taxes.
Until recently, the hospital grounds were an eyesore due to the overgrown lawn. Citizens complained about the tall grass and the fact that it wasn’t being mowed.
Enter Jack Penney, a local businessman. Penny decided to mow the hospital grounds recently. The year before, in 2020, Eddie Hodge, a local businessman, had done the same thing. He mowed the entire overgrown property.
The two businessmen had been relatively anonymous until the most recent Williston City Council meeting when Mayor Jerry Robinson read a proclamation thanking them for donating their time and effort mowing the hospital grounds.
Robinson commended them for going above and beyond the call of duty as community volunteers. He said their actions improved the quality of life in the city.
They were given certificates recognizing their contribution to the city and its citizens.
No Airport Sign
Former Councilman Charles Goodman requested the council erect a sign for the Williston Municipal Airport. He said there isn’t a sign now as visitors approach the airport.
“For some time, we’ve had an airport but we don’t have a sign that says it’s there,” Goodman said. “I take people by and I say it’s a wonderful airport you have to turn at the Piper Cub Restaurant sign.”
Airport Manager Benton Stegall said the city had considered erecting a sign during the tenure of former City Manager Scott Lippmann but the price tag was a little steep, “upwards of $118,000.”
Stegall said he is still working on getting an airport sign but it will require some time and money to get it done.
He said the sign Lippmann proposed building would have listed the names of all businesses and the airport industrial park. Tenants at the industrial park would have paid to place their company names on the sign.
One visitor to the council meeting suggested placing an airport sign at the blinking sign on U.S. 27A. Council President Debra Jones said it was an excellent idea and instructed Stegall to include the second sign, although she said it would be a smaller one that says simply airport.
Stegall will continue working on the sign project.
Public Safety Building
City Manager Jackie Gorman said it appears the city’s application for a federal appropriation to build a public safety building for police and fire hasn’t won approval. She said it appears the request didn’t make it through the second round of evaluations by Congressman Neal Dunn’s office.
Gorman said the city is taking a different approach. She said the city is applying for a Florida legislative appropriation to build the same project with state funds. The deadline for applying for the money through the county’s state legislative representatives was Nov. 10.
The city’s request through Dunn’s office envisioned a $5 million public safety building on Williston Municipal Airport property off U.S. 41.
“We really had faith that it was going to go through. We did not make the second round that we know of,” Gorman said.
Election Date Set
The council approved Tuesday, March 1 as the date of the 2022 municipal election for mayor and council members.
Mayor Jerry Robinson, Council President Debra Jones from Group E, and Councilwoman Darfeness Hinds from Group D will be on the ballot.
The council also approved the canvassing board members – Gorman, Police Chief Dennis Strow, Levy County Commissioner Matt Brooks, and resident Reggie Williams.
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City of Williston Regular Meeting November 8, 2021; Posted November 10, 2021
