The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - February 13, 2008
Letter to the Editor:
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
Re: Your Lives Could Be Changed
Your lives could be changed by Inglis Commission votes, especially the 2nd Tues.
    Yankeetown Mayor's Report
every month, and you don't know it You'd know it if subjects were posted out front with the
dates.
A Guest Commentary by Mayor Dawn Clary
Important items are: (1) Tarmac mine, leasing 10,000 acres, is planning to mine just
Last week the town council held two public hearings, one on the dock ordinance which
north of Inglis. I put it on the Agenda for discussion and a vote. Al Townsend of Tarmac had
the town has essentially been working on for about ten years and the other was an architec-
asked Police Chief Bible about truck traffic impacts. He was told Inglis would need to ADD
tural standards ordinance which is new to the town. Both hearings were the first readings of
two more policemen to handle it.
these ordinances. There will be another hearing on both ordinances around the end of this
I was concerned about their impact on our water too, as Florida Rural Water Associa-
month.
tion (FRWA) had warned us in 1999 that blasting and excavation could cause contamination
The ground breaking ceremony for the new water plant went very well last Thursday.
and possible saltwater intrusion into our public water supply. We voted to write to Levy
Special Thanx to the Newscaster for sending someone. Other newspapers failed to make the
County Commissioners of our concerns. Four voted to send the letter, and Roy Smith voted
effort and it seems an unfortunate trend in our society that newspapers can find the space to
against it, saying he wanted the mine
print negative news but don't give the good news equal time or ink as they say in the biz.
(2) Mayor Risher wants to annex Progress Energy's 44 acres into the Town to gain
Many of you may not be aware of The Friends of the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve/
$23,000/year taxes. It's in Levy County, but is surrounded by Town residential zoning. P. J.
Pathways. The Friends are a non profit organization that apparently was formed to do
Rimes owns a million dollar property next to it. Her values would plummet along with every-
fundraising for the park and help with what ever they could. While the group has not been
one else's in the vicinity, including Citrus County on the south side of the river. Estimated tax
very active lately, the need for them is now coming to the forefront, as the park is nearing
value loss to Inglis could be $100,000.
completion of the major outdoor improvements. They could do outside fundraising to help
Levy County's industrial zoning protects Inglis from a generating plant there, and
with the cost of operation and also perhaps find volunteers. THEY NEED SOME NEW
their allowed noise decibels are much lower than Inglis allows. Progress Energy states they
MEMBERS. The park is breathtakingly stunning. It certainly should be a very popular site for
have no present plans for power generation there, but will not rule it out for the future. They
public visits. So, if you have any spare time and feel that you would like to be part of
also would require from Inglis a 6" water line.
something good, please join. Contact Linda Cohan for further information.
(3) It's on the agenda for yesterday's meeting "Discuss passing resolution to change
My mother used to say that figures don't lie but liars figure. Lie may be a strong word
voting status of Mayor from no vote to voting to break tie vote.." That would mean changing
and sometimes it is just misunderstanding. The point of this is the current discussion about
the Charter as she is Ceremonial Head of the Town with NO vote. It used to be that way in
Yankeetown's water leak rate in the distribution system. The percentage has gone up as a
Yankeetown and the mayor used it to cancel a new development moratorium that the Council
function of the total however Yankeetown's water usage has dropped over the last couple
wanted. The Governor stepped in to save the Town Charter.
years. Example if your monthly bills are a hundred dollars and your electric bill is 10 dollars
With 5 Commissioners present it takes 3 to pass a motion. If one is absent a motion
then the bill is 10% of your total bills, however if you pay off your car and your total monthly
dies with a 2 to 2 vote. At least it is their decision and cannot be changed by the Mayor. Roy
bills drop to 50 dollars but your electric bill is still 10 dollars it is now 20% even though the
Smith put that one on the agenda.
amount of the bill is still the same. The leak may be pressure dependant but since the pipes are
As Police Liaison Roy Smith tried to get the Police Dept. to write $40,000 more
at a fairly constant pressure, the leak will probably be constant. Therefore if we sold no water
tickets this year. Chief Bible told him it's illegal to set a quota. and he was told to do it anyway,
at all, our leak rate would be 100% despite not changing, well actually it would be infinity as
which the Chief refused to do. I mentioned that in the long ago AAA Insurance routed people
dividing by 0 gets weird. This is not to excuse the leak rate and we are pursuing things we feel
around Inglis for too many tickets. Public comments at meetings are important and affects the
will improve it, but it is not helpful to misrepresent the situation which has existed for YEARS.
voting. Y'all come!
Betty Berger, Inglis
Good Night and Good Luck, Dawn Marie Clary, Mayor of Yankeetown
Eagle Watch Planned For Saturday
Store Clerk Arrested For Grand Theft
The Citrus County Central Landfill will host an Eagle Watch at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Febru-
Fanning Springs_On February 5, 2008 Levy County Sheriff's Office arrested Beverly M.
ary 16, 2008.Birders will be able to listen to a short presentation by Dick Blewett about bald
Velasco for grand theft.
eagles before the tour. The birding trail is hard packed dirt and vehicles must be used. Car-
Management with the Waco Food Store located at 8731 NW 174 Street Fanning
pooling will be encouraged. Bring binoculars or scopes.
Springs contacted the Sheriff's Office to report an employee stealing from the business.
There will be several stops at vantage points where eagles, vultures, gulls, and other
Investigator Mark Morgan reviewed the evidence and noticed that the defendant was allow-
birds may be observed. Participants will also be able to observe the landfill disposal area. An
ing three individuals to stealing merchandise. The theft took over eight minutes and the total
employee will be on hand to answer questions about the landfill. For information, call 527-
loss was $ 1124.00.
7670.
The clerk, Beverly Velasco not only allowed the theft to occur but made no effort to stop
    El Ranchito
the theft. During the interview the defendant confessed to the theft. More arrests are ex-
pected.
    Mexican Restaurant
Bubba's Fin & Feather
    Now Open In Crystal River
MONDAY Happy Hour All Day!
TUESDAY Beer Bingo 1pm.
Lunch and Dinner Served
Dine-In or Take-Out
WEDNESDAY Free Pool All Day
Off Hwy 40
The Best Mexican Cuisine
445 NE 1st Terrace, CRYSTAL RIVER
On Lk. Rousseau
THURSDAY - Darts 7:00pm.
Crystal Terrace Shopping Center Across from Big Lots,
Yes! We have
FRIDAY - KARAOKE 7:00 pm.
behind Circle K, WEST side of Hwy. 19
Call 447-2755
Beer & Wine
for info
Sat. Feb. 16
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
MONDAY - THURSDAY
Lunch 11am-2pm  Open All Day
Lunch 11am-2pm
Hours: M-Fri Noon-Close
Car Show 2p.m. - Potluck Dinner 4 p.m.
Dinner 5-10pm  12noon - 10pm
Dinner 5-9pm
Sat-Sun 10 am.-Close
Sock Hop 6p.m.
OPEN SUNDAYS:
RV & Camper Sites
(352) 795-5251
Veteran Discounts M-F All Day
12:00 N - 9:00 P M.
.
        The Newscaster by Mail
Impor tant Toll Free Numbers
NAPA Auto &
Citrus Cty Govt. Citrus Springs &
Yes! I want to receive The Newscaster by mail. A one
Truck Parts
year subscription is $18.25 in Florida and $21.25 out of
Dunnellon  489-2120
Inglis
State.Mail your check or credit card # with this form.
Levy Cty Govt. 800-733-5389
Name___________________Add_________________________
(352) 447-6000
Hours:
Levy Cty Sheriff 800-538-9767
Mon-Friday
FHP Brooksville 800-500-1240
Fax: 352-447-6099
City_______________St.___Zip_____Date_________
7:30-5:30
FHP Gainesville 800-395-8248
Saturday
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