By Linda Dean Cooper

The public not examining the BoCC agenda and supporting documents could lead to trouble and bad decisions if no one is watching to hold politicians accountable. Such was the case in Tuesday’s regular meeting.  Agenda items #9 and #10 as presented by County Coordinator Wilbur Dean for board approval of two vacant Board of Adjustment seats. 

Dean has nothing to do with the appointments. There is no public advertisement to fill vacant positions, only a tap on the shoulder from that district’s commissioner asking if you’re interested in sitting on a board.  That’s it! 

The same process is used for the Planning Commission.  There is no advertisement, only a tap on the shoulder by a commissioner in that applicable district asking if you’re interested.  The application looks like any other county job employment application.  I do not know of any background check or financial information provided during the process.  Most likely not.

Board of Adjustment Zoning Duties

The Board of Adjustment is a zoning board of adjustment per Levy County FL Code of Ordinances Sec.50-81. The code states “It is an administrative board that has the authority to hear and decide requests for variances and appeals to the decision of county staff in enforcing and administering this chapter.”

As you read further into the chapter, it states, “the membership of the board of adjustment shall, if possible, include an architect, a businessman or businesswoman, an engineer, a general contractor, a subcontractor, and a realtor.”

County Coordinator Dean Pitches Brooks & Mills Contenders for Board of Adjustments

Coordinator Dean presented Matt Brooks’s request to appoint Tamar Montel Jones to fill Brook’s District 5 vacant seat. According to Jones’s application, as provided in agenda supporting documents, Jones worked for two credit unions, May 2, 2019 – Jan 30, 2020, totaling eight months.  No employment history from Feb 1, 2020, to March 4, 2021. Jones started his present employment as a mentor coordinator for Unity Family Community in Williston as of March 5, 2021.  Education; Lafayette H.S. and HR certificate from College of Central Florida.

Chairwoman Desiree Mills rushed through the process asking for a motion and a second at lightning speed. She did not ask for public comments nor any discussion concerning Jones.  I had to shout out to Chairwoman Mills that I had a comment. I listed my concerns about Jones’s lack of credentials for such a position.

I mentioned the lack of work history, and life experience with only a certificate in HR administration as an issue for me in the placement on this board.  

I then pointed out the next appointment for Chair Mills District 3 vacant seat, Kristine A. Switt had all the credentials needed for such an appointment.  She has an extensive work history, from 1978-2002, a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in environmental engineering sciences from UF and is now retired. Switt’s appointment makes sense, but Jones does not. The decision was unanimous approval for both appointments.

Brooks Previous Reckless and Self-Serving Candidate for Planning Board

Matt Brooks made another more problematic appointment in September 2022 when he asked to appoint Michael Earnest to the planning commission. Earnest is the COO of All-In Removal, the largest hauler of horse bedding and manure in the area to the Planning Commission in September 2022. The BoCC approved.

Earnest was subjected to close scrutiny due to his position on the planning board and the fact he could potentially have influenced whether the board recommends legalizing manure dumping/composting in Levy County.

The planning commission makes recommendations to the county commission. Earnest spoke favorably about manure composting/dumping during planning commission discussions. His favorable comments angered some in the community who considered him biased due to his position at the trucking company. He resigned suddenly in May 2023.

This is Brook’s eighth year as a county commissioner, and he is running for the Clerk of Court office which would give him a pay raise from $43,011 to $124,62.  What has he done for the taxpayers of Levy?  Ask yourself that question when you are deciding whether any candidate deserves your vote.

He boosted early in his Clerk of Court campaign that he would bring leveraged technology to the Clerk’s office if elected.  As a sitting commissioner, he has not provided the ability to view meetings online through YouTube. The audio is unacceptable when you call in to listen.  It is easy to slip something past the public when there is limited access to the information and meetings. Where are your technology improvements while a county commissioner?

It’s time to look for true leaders to guide Levy County, not more self-serving politicians feeding at the government trough.

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Posted June 8, 2024