The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - April 24, 2013
From Dawn's Front Porch
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
Izaak Walton Investors (IWI) Development In The News Again – A short memo to
Letter to the Editor:
the Yankeetown Town attorney has apparently signaled a new round of project discussions
of an issue almost 8 years old and which was essentially dormant for years. IWI had pro-
Re: The Cost of Change
posed a large development on the Yankeetown waterfront. The project never materialized
and many individuals in town opposed the project sparking a grueling sequence of lawsuits
The Inglis the Mayor was given permission to begin negotiations with the County
of which Yankeetown won almost all of them. There is no information yet as to what their
to turn over the Police and Fire Departments. If the town does this, not only do we lose
thoughts on a new proposal may look like. Earlier this year, at a meeting with the council
control of those entities, but every property and business owner loses also. First the fire
and the new IWI attorneys concerning a SWFWMD permit, they stated that the group was
assessment now $29.00 per year jumps to $135.00 (every home owner) and businesses will
reevaluating the situation.
be charged even more. These extra assessment cost will cause businesses to close or raise
Their memo from an attorney in Clearwater states “My client (IWI) would like to
their prices to cover the additional assessments passing those cost on. These cost are just the
schedule a meeting with the town’s planning and zoning official, who I understand is now
tip of the iceberg. Assessments from the county will continue to rise each year and we will
a non-staff person, to discuss possible development options on the riverfront and necessary
have no control. The cost for the Sheriff to take over law enforcement without administra-
changes, if any, to the Code or Comp Plan. We would like to have a preliminary meeting
tion locally is $50,000.00 more that the annual budget for the police department for the last
with just the zoning official and then do some site plan work, then come back for some sort
eight years. Add the cost of Unemployment for the five officers of $171,000.00, and the buy
of charette or town meeting before making a final proposal.” This apparently prompted
out the Chief’s remaining, contract $20,000, to $30,000. The largest cost to the town will
the YT attorney to look for an individual with strong planning qualifications to act as what
be the turnover of the police assets totaling $408,315.49. The total cost to the town over is
we used to call the “Big Zoning Official” mainly because they would deal with the larger
$650,000. Let your newly elected commissioners know this is unacceptable.
projects rather than the day to day ones. The Town Attorney has requested to put the issue
Drinda Merritt, Inglis Commissioner
of hiring another ZO on the agenda of the May 6th regular meeting.
Arnold S Bennett 1935-2013
More Thieving Dogs – There was an attempt to rob the donation boxes at the WGP
and also the new payment box at the Yacht Basin. They were not successful at the Yacht
Not many will recognize the name Arnold S Bennett who passed on this past March
Basin but mangled the locking mechanism so badly that it had to be replaced. Information
2013 at the Veteran’s Hospital in Gainesville, prior living in a Veteran’s home. He was af-
is less clear about the boxes at the WGP at this time. A police report was filed.
fectionately known as “Popeye” to those who’s path did cross his. He could regularly be
Animal Control on Hold - Yankeetown and Inglis have been sharing an Animal
seen riding a small tractor for transportation into Inglis from north of town where he lived on
Control Service for years however at this time Inglis is without an Animal Control Officer
his friends, Nancy and Kenny Colburn’s property. He could be found most days sharing sto-
and is reevaluating how to deal with this issue. In the interim, if you have a dangerous situ-
ries at Gobbler’s Restaurant where then owner Lisa Flanders, now Shrimp Landing, made
ation, contact the Levy County Sheriff’s Office
sure he was eating regularly. “Popeye” had a heart of gold and a gift of gab. He loved people
New weather Station – There will soon be a weather station at the WGP which will
and even with his small frame enjoyed standing in for Santa one year at the local Christmas
monitor various environmental parameters and feed them to three sources. NOAA is one
Parade.
and the others Davis Weather Link, & Weather Underground. Good Night and Good Luck.
“Popeye” was born in 1935 in Rhode Island. He proudly served his country in
Vietnam in 1965. He never quit talking and dreaming of going back to Ft Benning Georgia
R&M
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
and serving his country again. He was survived by his younger brother Leonard. A service
will be held at a later date at the family plot at Acotes Hill in Rhode Island.
Rebuilt - Repaired - Resealed
Boil Water Alert: Citrus Springs Area
Complete Auto Repairs
Due to a water main break on W Citrus Springs Blvd. servicing homes located at
A/C - Brakes - Front End - Exhaust - TuneUps
8528 & 8545 W. Citrus Springs Blvd & 8556 N Ronda Dr only, a precautionary boil water
Computer Diagnostics
notice is being issued due to the loss of pressure in the distribution system. Due to this loss
Oil Changes While You Wait
of pressure in the distribution system, the bacteriological quality of water is questionable.
4X4’s - RV’s - Trucks - Autos
Accordingly, we are recommending that all water used for consumption and cooking pur-
Free Estimates
Foreign & Domestic
poses be boiled until further notice. Please call 352-527-7650 for additional information.
352-447-0704
Visa - Mastercard - Discover
Realty
Accepted
Fax Line 447-6040
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(352) 302-8556 cell
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to Yankeetown School, bike path, 413 ac pre-
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SALT DELIVERY AVAILABLEew! email news to: news@thenewscaster.com
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