PAGE 8 - June 20, 2012
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
From Dawn's Front Porch
Squawk Box
Continued from page 1
perience.
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
Mayor of Yankeetown Resigns – In a one line email sent out to the Yankeetown Attorney
Politics has always been a nasty game but, we have come to a point where we
and Town Council, Yankeetown’realitively new Mayor, Janie Hinson resigned from her of-
want to demonize people who may not share our point of view. George W. Bush was hated
fice on Tuesday June 12th. The email gave no reason but simply stated “Please accept this
and now Barack Obama is hated. Even at local levels the fighting seems to be dirtier than
letter as notice of my resignation as Mayor of Yankeetown, Janie Hinson”. Ms Hinson had
ever. I remember in the 1950's the Courthouse in Inverness was the center of the universe
been in office for only 3 and a half months. She ran unopposed in last February’s election
for Citrus Countians on election night. Make no mistake, elections were hotly contested.
and was installed on February 29th on the steps of Town Hall at high noon. She had been
It was often the West Side, (Crystal River) against the East Side, (Inverness). Families
in Yankeetown for only approximately six months when she threw her hat in the ring for
gathered on the courthouse lawn election night and Baker Miley would poke fun at the
the job of Mayor, concerning some that six months was not enough time to understand the
candidates. He was usually the Master of Ceremonies for the evening announcing election
town. She rode her bicycle to town hall most days and put in a lot of hours which was to
results from the top step of the east side of the courthouse. Nobody could charm an audi-
be expected with a learning curve and all that goes with something that new and perhaps
ence like Baker Miley.
foreign. So far, the term had seemed relatively quiet by Yankeetown standards with the
Ballot boxes were brought in by precinct workers from each precinct then taken to
departure of Zoning Official Kurt Woerner being the biggest event. Her biggest passion
the courthouse basement by the worker and County Sheriff where they were counted. Once
seemed to be an attempt to resurrect a failed grant submission to the State for a water distri-
counted, Miley would announce the results to the eagerly waiting crowd. Each precinct was
bution system project. The grant had failed to get enough points due in part to not enough
reported until they were all tallied. Often times it was a long night. No television or internet
low income people living in the area of the project. .
flashing results moments after the election. Folks who wanted the election results that night
What Now -At the Monday midmonth meeting the mayor’s resignation was accepted al-
came to the courthouse and waited.
though there was not a requirement to accept it. Precedent has been that once a resignation
The atmosphere was festive. Old friends from different parts of Citrus County
is tendered it is effective immediately if no date is specified. Mr. Tommy Sholes as the Vice
would get together and often it was the only time they would have occasion to socialize
Mayor will perform the duties of mayor at this time. Per the town attorney, the Yankeetown
during the year. When the results were final, the people from the far reaches of the county
Charter offers the option of appointing a Town Council member to act as mayor. Per Chap-
would say goodbye and go home. It all seemed so much more civil then.
ter 2 of the Town Ordinances, the new mayor may then nominate and the council would
Citrus County – June Vehicle Checkpoints
have to approve a replacement for the then vacant seat on council. At the Monday night
The Florida Highway Patrol will supervise vehicles inspections on Citrus County
meeting, the council decided to table the action of electing a new mayor from the council
Roads during June: 39, 470, 480, 486, 488, 490, 490A, 491, 494. Local Roads: Highlands
and wished to gather names of individuals to nominate as replacements for the council seat
Street, West Cardinal Street, Century Boulevard, Elkham Boulevard, West Pine Ridge
which would be vacated by the election of a council member to mayor. The Council would
Boulevard, Dunkenfield Road, Rock Crusher Road, North Croft Avenue, West Seven Riv-
then select a council member from the nominees submitted. If the Council members can’t
ers Drive, West Venable Street, Pleasant Grove Road, Green Acres Boulevard, Fort Is-
agree on any one, depending on the time left on the vacant seat’s term, a special election
land Trail, West Riverbend Road, Fishbowl Drive, Miss Maggie Drive, Gobbler Drive,
would be held to decide on a replacement to fill the vacancy or someone would be selected
North Citrus Avenue, Turkey Oak Drive, Dunklin Avenue, Yulee Drive West, North Citrus
by random drawing from the nominees. In this day and age, the position of Mayor of Yan-
Springs Boulevard, Grover Cleveland, Turner Camp Road, Istachatta Road, West Highland
keetown is not for the faint of heart or the thin skinned. Whatever Ms. Hinson’s reason for
Street, Halls River Road, and Old Floral City Highway.
Recycle Trailers For Ingliswas placed on the June 14 Inglis Fire Dept. Merger Moves Forward
Delayed
throwing in the towel, may she find peace with it. Good Night and Good Luck.
A discussion of the county recycling trailers for Inglis
Town of Inglis agenda by Commissioner Sally Price. Price said she has had many requests
The Inglis Town Commission met Thursday evening in a workshop with
for their return or complaints from citizens who believe in recycling and have no where lo-
Levy County Public Safety Director David Knowles to discuss the possibility of Inglis Fire
cally to put their collected materials. The Food Ranch supermarket had been the sight of the
becoming a county fire department. On going talks with the county have answered many
collection point for the past ten years and had done their share of putting up with the abuse
concerns but a few new questions were posed from the commission. If lease agreements
of junk and garbage being left beside the trailers and debris blowing all over the vacant lot.
could be worked out Knowles said the county would consider adding onto the Inglis Fire
During state budget cuts the trailers were removed because the Levy County pris-
building for the EMS ambulance unit to be located at the fire house. Doing this would put
oners who worked the recycle material were transferred to Lowell Prison north of Oca-
the EMS unit 2 1/2 minutes closer to town. Commissioners Sherry Ely and Tom Brennan
la. According to Levy County officials, the return of the program has been delayed due
said having the ambulance that much closer really had meaning for them.
to a contract with the state. Now, that the contract has been worked out a new location is
Commissioner Drinda Merritt indicated that the increase in the fire as-
needed.
sessment of just under $30 a year with the Town of Inglis would go away and the county
At the June 14 meeting, it was revealed that two places for recycle trailers had
would have a fire assessment of $40 a year. She said that this $10 a year increase would
been considered behind Inglis Town Hall near the fire station. Discussion pointed out vari-
be a financial burden on many. Commissioner Sally Price said that future savings would
ous complaints that the problems would be the same; dumping electronics, garbage and
be that any future costs and liability including replacement of trucks, equipment, supplies,
trash. A suggestion was made to place them near the police department so it would be less
utilities, changes in rules, and reporting would be the responsibility of the county and not
likely for people to drop off unwanted trash. Police Chief Steve Dixon nixed that idea and
the Town of Inglis any more. Price said the difference in cost for removing all town respon-
discussion of the use of cameras was brought up. With no place being agreeable, the com-
sibility would be less than 91 cents a month per tax payer.
mission decided to put off the decision until next month. In the meantime commissioner
The decision from the Inglis commission was to move on with discus-
Sally Price suggested Inglis contact Yankeetown officials about using the Yankeetown re-
sions and start drafting an agreement using the agreements of others as a guide. Commis-
cycle unit which is located on Yankeetown property near their water plant on Hwy 40.
sioner Price suggested that since Knowles had been a part of drafting agreements with
other Levy fire department s he should draft one for Inglis. The recommendation was
accepted. It should be noted that the town of Yankeetown is also in negotiations to merge
its fire dept. with the county.