THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday March 17, 2010
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
With Sally Price
It's More Than Water
In good times a wa-
ter line break on your side of
the water meter can really
ruin your day. In these hard
times we are in, the break can
devastate a family of average
means. Inglis Town policy has been that if
it runs through your meter you owe for it.
There are no exceptions to the rule. Town
Clerk Sally McCranie said the town can’t
make any adjustments, “there is nothing
in the water ordinance that states that we
can adjust bills,” she said. She said his-
torically we have never forgiven a bill.
When I personally had two breaks, one
bill was about $700-$800 and they were
divided into 3 equal payments which has
been done.
This is the second month in a
row that a citizen has appeared before
the Inglis Town Commission to beg for-
giveness for a large water bill from such
a break. Last month a young father had
a bill between $200 and $300 dollars. It
was an emotional plea with no resolve and
brought several people up from the audi-
Dunnellon Christian Academy held their annual auction, dinner and flea market Saturday to earn money for their projects. Checking out
ence giving up to $50 to help with the bill.
the basket auction items were students Charlene Hall, Megan Heisler, Nicholas Schwarzkopf and Cody Heisler. The weather had cleared up and
At the last Inglis town meeting Commis-
Appointment Challenged at Levy Board
was great for this fund raiser. Newscaster Photo by Sally Price.
sioner Robert Webb said there were three
Inglis Commission
times recently where citizens had bills of
$600, $1400 and now $2000. The couple
with the $2000 water bill were there ask-
Reverses Position
Yankeetown reisdent and councilman Larry Feldhusan appeared before the Levy
ing for help. They did not even live in
County commission Tuesday to get the commission to recind the reapointment of Ron
the home. Members of the commission
Grant, that placed him back on the planning commission for another four year term.
on Permiting
sympathized with them and called for a
Feldhusan said, it was not an agenda item, no motion was made to add it to the
workshop for March 18 to discuss this re-
agenda, and it was not an emergency, and also the seat is not to be vacated until May 1st and
occurring problem. The couple then asked
Process
it was a violation of the Florida Sunshine Law.
Commissioner Marsha Drew asked the county attorney Anne Brown to respond.
Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box
Brown said it was already on the agenda for discussion and that the appointment was okay.
At last week’s Inglis Commission
Drew said she had a half dozen people interested in filling the other planning com-
meeting an end to the saga of Florida Mu-
mission held by Thad Barber. Drew said people are interested, but she has not interviewed
nicipal Services (FMS) appeared to be near-
anyone. She said there is one person she has spoken too.
ing a finish. In the past Levy County has
Commissioner Lilly Rooks asked for the names then the rest of the board chimed
provided the town permitting, but a change
agreed. “I would rather not speak tthese names in public. In the past these name were drug
to use FMS located at town hall was sup-
threw the mud. I would be happy to give the commission the name of the person that is
pose to be cheaper and more convenient in-
interested. I will give you (Rooks) the name after the meeting,” Drew said. Attorney Anne
stead of citizens having to drive to Bronson.
Brown said you can’t do that. Then Drew said “ I will tell (Freddy) Moody after the meeting.
Up for review and discussion was
One person at the meeting verified the “talk on the street” that the person is Ed
the contract consummated in October ac-
Candela, former Yankeeton councilman.
cording to Commissioner Bob Webb. Webb
Connie Asbell is stepping aside in a claim of Inglis election fraud. She told Inglis
stated that permitting under FMS was sup-
resident Michael Peters to fill out the paper work and contact the State of Florida, Div. of
pose to be “better, quicker and cheaper. It
Elections. (more on page 11).
does not seem that this is taking place.”
Chad “Cracker” Johnson, current Levy County commissioner for Dist. 1 was in
Webb read off comparisons of permits done
the Levy Elections office Tuesday to report that he will be running against Dist. 2 commis-
by FMS compared to Levy County (LC),
sioner Nancy Bell in the next election. Johnson was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to fill
who use to do the permitting for the town.
The 13th annual Nature Coast Civil War Reen-
the Dist. 1 seat formerly held by convicted commissioner Tony Parker. It's a matter of record
Those comparisons on two places were:
actment is history about the war between the
that Johnson and his wife are building a new home in Dist 2.
north and the south. More on page 4.
Continued on page 3- Commission