The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - June 3, 2015
TOWN OF YANKEETOWN
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
SECOND PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Letter to the Editor:
Re: INGLIS INCORPORATION--TO BE OR NOT TO BE?
The Town of Yankeetown is applying to the Florida Department of Economic
Opportunity (DEO) for a grant under the Neighborhood Revitalization category in the
Did you read Doug Johnson's article in the Squawk Box on 5/6. What he was talk-
amount of $600,000.00 under the FFY 2014 Small Cities Community Development
ing about is a proposed marketplace presented by the new mayor with the support of the
Block Grant (CDBG) program. For each activity that is proposed, at least 70% of the
Save Inglis PAC I'd venture to guess. When the town is governed by folks that are not
funds must benefit low and moderate income persons. The activities, dollar amounts and
fully aware of the greater picture, even when well intentioned, their decisions can produce
estimated percentage benefit to low and moderate income persons for which the Town
the opposite affect they intended. We should be exploring ways to get new businesses
of Yankeetown is applying are Service Area #1 62nd Street Water Line Replacement
that pay taxes and hire people. We need to support and preserve businesses like the Food
Service Area: Activity Number and Name: 03J Water Line Replacement
Ranch. Let's get free of the local government in Inglis and put its costs into the past while
Budget: $ 474,700.00
LMI% Benefit: At Least 51%
we still can. If we wait until we see deficit budgets resulting from our currently declining
The activity to be carried out in Service Area #1 involves the replacement of
trends, unincorporation will be demanded by the citizens, but will then be very costly for
the existing potable water lines in the service area with two inch (2") and six inch (6")
our citizens as the deficit will have to be paid in the processing.
water lines. Approximately two thousand three hundred linear feet (2,300') of replace-
Some in town think local businesses will have higher costs if we unincorporate
ment potable water lines will be installed. The project will also include the replacement
the town, but they fail to factor in that town related taxes and fees will be gone for those
of fifty-four (54) service laterals and water meters serving the residential housing units in
businesses. They will see lower costs, not higher as the Save Inglis PAC claims and prices
the service area.
may actually go down for goods and services. If incorporation were less costly than being
The scope of work to be carried out in Service Area #1 is as follows:
unincorporated, don't you think all the unincorporated towns would be clamoring to get
*The replacement of the existing water line, services and water meters along
incorporated? The opposite is true. All over the country small towns are discovering they
60th Street between Alley "B" on the North and Harmony Lane on the South, a distance
can't afford the cost of being incorporated and are working to get unincorporated. It is a fact
of 1,000 linear feet. The activity in this area will result in seven (7) water meters and
that if we were unincorporated today, we would not meet Florida's standards to incorporate.
services being relocated;
We are not even close on the standards for density and population in Florida's Formation of
*The relocation of eleven (11) water meters and services from Alley 60 west to
Municipalities Act. Think about it!
61st Street; *The replacement of the existing water line, services and water meters run-
Bob Allen,Inglis
ning along Alley 61 between Knotts Way on the north and Harmony Lane on the south,
a distance of 650 linear feet. The activity in this area will result in seventeen (17) water
TOWN OF YANKEETOWN PUBLIC NOTICE
meters and services being relocated; *The replacement of the existing water line running
FAIR HOUSING WORKSHOP
along Alley 62 between Knotts Way on the north and Harmony Lane on the south, a dis-
tance of 650 linear feet. The activity in this area will result in fourteen (14) water meters
and services being relocated; and *The relocation of five (5) water meters and services
The Town of Yankeetown is a fair housing advocate. The Town is holding a
on Knotts Way and on 63rd Street.
workshop to explain the Fair Housing Ordinance for all of the protected classes (race,
Service Area #2 - Potable Water System Wide Service Area:
color, familial status, handicap, national origin, religion and sex). The public is invited to
Activity Number and Name: 03J Water Tank/Well/Treatment Plant Improvements
attend.
Budget: $ 40,000.00 LMI% Benefit: At Least 51%. The funds in this activity will
The workshop is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2015 at 7:15 p.m., or as
be used to complete the upgrade to the pump controls at the Town's water treatment
soon thereafter as possible, at the at the Inglis/Yankeetown Lions Club located at 22 59th
plant. The Town's Water Treatment plant is located at 4828 Hwy 40 West Yankeetown,
Street, Yankeetown, Florida. Any handicapped, visually or hearing impaired person or
Florida 34498. Activity Number and Name: 21B - Engineering
non-English speaking person needing special assistance at the meeting should contact
Budget: $ 37,300.00 LMI% Benefit: N/A Activity Number and Name: 21A Ad-
Mrs. Rhiannon Castle, Town Clerk/Treasurer, Town of Yankeetown at (352) 447-2511 at
Budget: $ 48,000.00
LMI% Benefit: N/A Total: $600,000.00
ministration
least five days prior to the meeting and assistance will be provided.
The Town of Yankeetown plans to minimize displacement of persons as a re-
sult of planned CDBG funded activities; if any persons are displaced as a result of these
Published June 3, 2015
planned activities, the Town of Yankeetown will assist with relocation payments based on
Future of Yankeetown School Debated
uniform act requirements.
A public hearing to provide citizens an opportunity to comment on the ap-
plication will be held on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as
by Board Members and Parents
possible at the Inglis/Yankeetown Lions Club located at 22 59th Street, Yankeetown,
Florida. A draft copy of the application will be available for review at the Yankeetown
Attending the last Levy County School Board meeting was a dozen South Levy
Town Hall at that time and will remain available until it is replaced with the a final copy
concerned citizens who wanted to express their concerns involving the Yankeetown School.
of the application submitted to DEO. A final copy of the application will be made avail-
Part of the group were there because of concerns that graduating 8th grade Yankeetown stu-
able at the Town of Yankeetown Town Hall, Monday through Friday between the hours
dents and other students already attending Dunnellon may not be able to attend Dunnellon
of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. no more than five (5) working days after June 22, 2015. The
and Crystal River High School as they have for almost 50 years. The new plan was to keep
application will be submitted to DEO on or before June 22, 2015. To obtain additional
these students in Levy County and bus them to Cedar Key and Williston. Cedar Key being
information concerning the application and the public hearing, contact Mrs. Rhiannon
labeled an isolated school, gets $14,000 per student where other schools in the county get
Castle, Interim Town Clerk/Treasurer, Town of Yankeetown, 6241 Harmony Lane, Yan-
$7,000 per student. It takes $2 million a year out of the general fund to run the buses and pay
keetown, Florida, 34498-2370. The Town Hall Telephone Number is (352) 447-2511.
drivers. Parents spoke up saying quit putting a price tag on the kids foreheads. Complaints
Citizens can submit written comment concerning the application to Mrs. Rhi-
involved the distance comparing 18 miles to Dunnellon and 35 miles to Williston, Cedar
annon Castle, Interim Town Clerk/Treasurer, at Yankeetown Town Hall located at 6241
Key being almost 60 miles without bus stops timing, gone all day, problem with participat-
Harmony Way, Yankeetown, Florida 34498-2370 or can e-mail the comments to Mrs.
ing in after school sports, being picked up when sick.
Rhiannon Castle at yankeetownth@bellsouth.net.
The other group there to speak were concerned with the future of Yankeetown School.
The public hearing is being conducted in a handicapped accessible location.
Hastings explained trying to keep these schools open, they need kids and Alachua County
Any handicapped person requiring an interpreter for the hearing impaired or the visu-
just closed three schools the size of Yankeetown. He said in 2006 Yankeetown had 440 stu-
ally impaired should contact the Interim Town Clerk at (352) 447-2511 or by e-mail at
dents and last year YTS was down to 190, taking almost $500,000 of the million dollars to
yankeetownth@bellsouth.net at least five calendar days prior to the meeting and an inter-
run the school from other Levy schools to keep Yankeetown up and running. Mr Clements
preter will be provided. Any non-English speaking person wishing to attend the public
in charge of school finances asked if it was fair for the rest of the county to subsidize our
hearing should contact the Interim Town Clerk at (352) 447-2511 or by e-mail at yan-
school.
keetownth@bellsouth.net at least five calendar days prior to the meeting and a language
YTS will be getting a new principal and a Meet and Greet to show community support is
interpreter will be provided. Any handicapped person requiring special accommodation
planned for June 19 at 6:30 PM Inglis Community Center. Put the date on your calendar.
at this meeting should contact the Interim Town Clerk at (352) 447-2511 or by e-mail at
Of major importance everyone is encouraged to carpool to the next school board meet-
yankeetownth@bellsouth.net at least five calendar days prior to the meeting.
ing in Bronson 6 PM June 9 to support Gene Sturtevant and Pat Langley when they make
an agenda presentation on students going to Dunnellon High School. Story by Sally Price.
A Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity/Handicap Accessible Jurisdiction.
email news to: news1@thenewscaster.com
Published June 3, 2015