Neighbor of Proposed Manure Dump Asks if Williston Can Help Stop It; City Says It Can Only Watch for Now

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

A resident living just outside the east Williston city limits in a Municipal Service District got some disappointing news from the Williston City Council president on June 20 when she was told the city has no authority over a proposed manure dump site the woman lives near.

Jill Westbrook is best known for the online petition she circulated calling for members of the community to show unity in opposition to a proposed manure composting facility at the intersection of NE 30^th St. and U.S. 27. The petition gathered 769 signatures. She owns property adjoining the site.

“I know Matt Brooks (county commission chairman) wrote a preemptive letter before a meeting of the council saying there wasn’t anything proposed at the site, but we knew people in the company that knew they were proposing to do this,” Westbrook said. “We know there has been an application filed with the state for a source-separated organics processing facility at that site on 30^th St. Is that something you want to be in the gateway to Williston?”

Council President Debra Jones, responding for herself rather than the full council said she attended a county commission hearing where the manure composting site along NE 30^th St. was discussed. She said the county has a moratorium on manure composting and she is hopeful the county will notify the state about the moratorium.

“I know that Levy County does have a moratorium on composting facilities which protects us to some extent. I told them they need to be on the phone talking to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and not just let them issue a permit and then tell them the county has a moratorium,” Jones said.

Westbrook said she personally believes the county wants to wait until the DEP issues a permit and then claims it has no choice but to allow the manure dump. Jones said she heard differently from county commissioners including Brooks.

“That’s not what I’m hearing from commissioners. I’ll just tell you that. I’m not hearing that from Mr. Brooks either. I mean I don’t think that will be the case for him,” Jones said.

Westbrook said she thinks the county wants opponents of manure dumps to just go away.

“He (Brooks) kept quiet. I think they’re hoping we go away,” Westbrook said. “I’m just wondering what you as the city council in charge of the municipal district can do to prevent this from being the gateway to Williston.”

Jones said there isn’t much the city council can do at this point.

“We’re just all keeping watch on it. At this point, that’s all we can do. I did get up and speak as an individual at the hearing. That was just me. It’s not the council,” she said.

“Then there’s nothing you can do with the district? Are you in charge of the district or the county?” Westbrook said.

“They’re in charge of it. It’s just designated on our map,” Jones said.

MSDs allow for higher-density development. Cities can extend their utilities into high-density residential development in an MSD, but the county commission, not the city, has authority over the MSD.

Westbrook said she owns property next door to the proposed manure dump and a substantial part of the manure dump property was designated by the state as a flood zone. Jones said the water management district has also commented on the wetlands.

“We’re just wondering what you can do as a board?” Westbrook said.

“I don’t think we can do much other than let them know we are not in favor of it and I as an individual have done that,” Jones said.

Westbrook said the manure dump property has zoning for one house per acre.

“Which is the county’s zoning, not ours,” Jones responded. “I thank you for your concern on the issue – seriously.”