By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Chiefland Mayor Chris Jones won support Monday for the idea of possibly selling water from the city’s wellhead property north of town to neighboring cities in need of water such as Cedar Key and Otter Creek.
Jones said he reached out to Cedar Key Mayor Heath Davis as well as officials from a water management district to discuss whether it would be possible for Chiefland to either sell water or bottled water as a revenue source.
“My place with regard to the City of Chiefland is we have the wellhead – most of the commission is familiar with the property – is provide assistance to our neighbors whether it’s Cedar Key, Fanning Springs, Otter Creek, or whatever the case may be. My position is to solely use that water as a revenue source.”
Jones said his plan is “theoretical” at this point but he felt he needed permission from the city commission to pursue some type of negotiation to provide water to neighboring communities with the understanding that Chiefland residents would always be the city’s highest priority.
The mayor’s proposal to explore the concept of potentially selling water to neighboring communities was supported by a consensus of Commissioners Lance Hayes, Lewrissa Johns, and Norman Weaver. Commissioner Rollin Hudson was opposed.
Jones’ proposal comes at a time when the Suwannee River Water Management District is working on an agreement that would allow Bronson to possibly sell water to Cedar Key and Otter Creek. Both cities have extremely poor drinking water quality.
When Jones talked about the wellhead property, he was referring to land on the north end of Chiefland that is home to an undeveloped well. It is called the wellhead property. City officials in the past have always viewed the wellhead as the city’s future drinking water source.
The mayor made it clear his highest priority would be to ensure the city was fully protected as it moves forward exploring its options with regard to water sales to neighboring communities.
“That is my biggest concern to make sure our resources are protected for our people,” Jones said. “However, I still feel we can provide assistance to our neighbors that don’t have an adequate water source. I feel that is a duty we should do. That is the reason for bringing this back to the table.”
When he talked about bringing the issue back for discussion, he was referring to a previous visit by Cedar Key mayor Heath Davis in which Davis presented a resolution to the Chiefland City Commission calling for communities to work cooperatively to ensure everyone has good drinking water supplies. Jones was bringing the proposal back for discussion.
When Spotlight reminded Jones that the wellhead north of town was supposed to serve as the city’s third water source and asked him if he would be willing to send the water to Cedar Key, he replied, “I never said that, don’t put words in my mouth.”
He said his statement earlier in the meeting was that City Attorney Norm Fugate would be called upon to protect the city’s interests.
Fugate added that he wasn’t aware of anyone trying to ask for water from Chiefland’s well.
Jones said he was only asking the commission what they wanted to do regarding the potential sale of water to neighboring communities.
“This is just me reaching out to the commission to see if they are willing to engage in conversation. However, if they are willing to engage in conversation, my words exactly are that the City of Chiefland, that our interests shall be protected with the help of this attorney or some other attorney,” Jones said. “This is all theoretical talk at this point.”
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City of Chiefland Regular Meeting May 9, 2022; Posted May 11, 2022
