The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - January 16, 2013
From Dawn's Front Porch
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
Tax Time
The Ghost of Christmas Past - It was DeJa Vu all over again as on January the
8th the Yankeetown Council sat in the Lion’s Club across the table from attorneys for Izaak
Walton Investors, in a legal preceding. The subject was Yankeetown’s legal challenge to a
By Rick Rubrigi
pending permit from Southwest Florida Water Management District. The attorneys from
Well I hope everyone has recovered from the holidays and Santa has brought you
SWFWMD were also there. The permit application had been started approximately five
what you wanted. With the end of the Holiday Season comes the dreaded Tax Season. This
years ago for a water front project along the banks of the Withlacoochee River and included
year is filled with surprises already. The people in Washington have finally come to an
parcels such as the Izaak Walton Lodge (now Ike’s Old Florida Kitchen) and B’s Marina
agreement. Because of the dragging of their feet until the last possible moment, this tax
among others. The subject permit deals with the surface water impacts of the project and
season is going to begin way behind schedule.
was classed as a “Conceptual” permit. The meeting was a conflict resolution meeting to see
The good news is that the “middle class”, whatever that means now, has been
if there could be some settlement of the dispute to avoid going to court. Yankeetown really
spared. There are very minor adjustments to be made. I will address those once the package
has not heard much from IWI in years since Yankeetown won a string of grueling law suits,
has been fully completed. The bad news is that the IRS is not going to accept returns until
which involved almost every member of the YT government and many of its citizens. IWI
January 30”‘. This is the date they have set for now. Let’s hope they don’t change it again.
has a new set of lawyers who stated that most of the people in the original iteration were
There are taxpayers that have already received their W-2’s and are ready to file.
gone although they did not elaborate on who was now in charge of the project. They created
What I can say to you is that the program updates have been adjusted and you can bring in
the impression that they were more willing to work with the town and see what they could
your paperwork to file now. The only thing being is I will not be able to send it to the IRS
salvage from the original investment in a project that at one time seemed gargantuan for the
until January 30‘h.
town.
They contend it will take them that long to clear glitches in the system.
The meeting seemed amicable enough with only a few contentious moments. At
Rapid refunds are still available with an 6-12 day wait. Those come with bank fees that will
one point, a YT Councilman repeatedly interrupted the lead attorney from SWFWMD caus-
be deducted from your refund. The IRS has posted a blanket refund policy for refunds to
ing contention, but for the most part things were sane and eventually a settlement was
be distributed “within 21 days”, that is all they guarantee to the taxpayer. There is no more
reached. The thing hinged on the fact that the permit is only a conceptual permit and condi-
refund schedule to refer to anymore.
tions had been placed on it. IWI will have to apply for a construction permit to go any fur-
I look forward to seeing all of you this tax season to answer any questions you may
ther. Still the settlement has three stipulations: 1. IWI agreed to obtain local governmental
have concerning your tax situation. As a free service, like they advertise on TV I will check
site plan approval prior to asking for a construction permit. 2. Yankeetown agreed to ask
your last three year’s returns for errors. If there are no errors, the service is free. If I find
for a dismissal of the case. 3. The settlement agreement applied only to this permit, and
errors, you will be able to file an amended return to receive your additional refund for those
did not bind the town in its review of local government applications under their code or
years. It’s a win-
Comprehensive plan.
win situation.
It has been a lot of time since the original IWI ordeal and the scars on the town
Call or drop by my office located in the Chamber of Commerce Building at 167
have faded. Some of the individuals involved have moved away, some sadly have died and
Highway 40 West in Inglis. Phone number is 352-447-3383. Til next time. Rick Rubrigi,
some people are so new that they have not a clue of what the history is. Some of us will be
Discounted Tax Returns
forever changed. Good Night and Good Luck
R&M
Letter to the Editor:
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
Re: A Sincere Heartfelt Thank You
Rebuilt - Repaired - Resealed
Doug and I thank you all for your outpouring of love, support and kind words so
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many of your had for our beloved Anthony DiFalco_ Our church family at Yankeetown
Community Church, First Baptist Church of Inglis and The Food Ranch were always so
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supportive during his illness and continued on with their love for him even after he passed
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on to be with our Lord.
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We can’t thank you all enough for your attendance at his Celebration of Life ser-
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vice, the food so many of you prepared and brought, the wonderful memories spoken by so
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many of how he touched their lives and all your prayers, cards, love and hugs. We’re sure he
was looking down from heaven with a big smile on his face and a big hug for each of you if
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he could do so.
Accepted
Thanks again. Doug & Sue Stout, Inglis
Fax Line 447-6040
Discounted Tax Returns
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