PAGE 8 - July 18, 2012
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
From Dawn's Front Porch
FAIR HOUSING
PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
New Tree Ordinance Being Mulled In Yankeetown –The Tree Ordinance has been to-
The Town of Inglis will conduct a fair housing meeting during a Town Commission Meet-
tally rewritten and will be going through hearings. You may wish to just be aware that there
ing on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, beginning at 5:30 PM at the Inglis Town Hall, 135 High-
are rules and be sure and check before you do anything with your trees.
way 40 West, Inglis, Florida 34449. This meeting is intended to provide the public with
YT survived many years without a tree ordinance but I think it was in the late
information concerning fair housing requirements. Anyone interested in understanding
nineties the ordinance was instituted. It was controversial. Some thought it was big broth-
the importance of fair housing should attend.
erish to tell property owners what they could and could not do with the landscape of their
A FAIR HOUSING/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/HANDICAP ACCESS JURISDICTION
property. Others thought that trees made YT what it is and the trees had to be protected
from thoughtless landowners who might decimate the trees. There where humorous inci-
TOWN OF INGLIS
dents such as when someone took down several palm trees with getting a permit. Various
NOTICE OF FIRST PUBLIC HEARING
town officials wanted the individual hung until it was pointed out that a palm tree is not a
tree. Some people were shocked to learn that botanists do not classify a “palm tree” as a
The Town of Inglis is considering applying to the Florida Department of Economic Op-
tree, exclaiming “it’s the state tree!” I guess there weren’t any botanists on the selection
portunity (DEO) for a FFY 2012 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant
committee for the state tree. The tree ordinance has since been amended to include palms.
(CDBG) of up to $650,000. These funds must be used for one of the following purposes:
In another incident, a neighbor squealed on the guy next door that he had taken down a tree
1.
To benefit low and moderate income persons; or
with no permit.
2.
To aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; or
The town council at the time brought this up at a meeting without speaking to
3.
To meet other community development needs having a particular urgency be-
the tree owner. The council was irate and again wanted very harsh penalties. It was later
cause existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of
learned that the power company had taken down the tree for their own reasons. Many are
the community and where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs.
not aware that by state statue the power company can take down any tree and do not have
The activity categories for which these funds may be used are in the areas of
to ask permission. The poor man was not to blame but thoroughly scared. Another problem
housing, neighborhood and commercial revitalization (including planning and design), or
with the early ordinance was that the Planning and Zoning Commission made all the deci-
economic development (new jobs). Eligible uses of funds include such physical improve-
sions themselves on every tree. This meant a tree owner could end up waiting as much as
ment activities as housing and commercial building rehabilitation, clearance, water and
two months for a decision. The P&Z has since shifted much authority to the Zoning Of-
sewer improvements, street improvements, drainage, housing site development, parking,
ficial which has shortened the time but in turn caused problems with our last ZO who did
and loans to businesses. Additional information regarding the range of activities that may
not feel comfortable making decisions on trees that were fuzzy. At times it seems there is
be undertaken will be provided at the public hearing.
an almost irrational approach such as when it was proposed to remove a small number of
For each activity that is proposed statewide, at least 70% of the funds must ben-
trees to improve visibility on the road to the WGP in an attempt to make the road safer, was
efit low and moderate income persons.
rejected. It seemed to this writer that this put trees over human safety although it is admit-
In developing an application for submission to DEO, the Town must plan to
ted that nothing happened over the years it was still scary. Recent mowing at the WGP by
minimize displacement of persons as a result of planned CDBG activities. In addition,
the Forestry Dept has improved the situation.
the Town has adopted a policy to assist displaced persons.
Summer Fun at the Library - The Knotts Library has several programs that are ongo-
The public hearing to receive citizen views concerning the community’s hous-
ing for the summer months. Check them out. Book Talk every Wednesday, 1:30 pm. All
ing, economic and other community development needs will be held during a Town Com-
welcome. Children’s summer programs, Thursday, 10.00 am -- ages 2-9 Special children’s
mission Meeting on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, beginning at 5:30 PM at the Inglis Town
program -- “Geddy the Gecko” -- Friday, July 27, 11:00 am. Good Night and Good Luck
Hall, 135 Highway 40 West, Inglis, FL 34449. This is a handicapped accessible facility.
Non English speaking, deaf, or visually impaired persons needing an interpreter or any
handicapped person requiring special accommodation should contact Ms. Sally McCra-
nie, Town Clerk, at (352) 447-2203 (TDD# (800) 955-8771) at least 24 hours prior to the
meeting.
A FAIR HOUSING/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/HANDICAP ACCESS JURISDICTION
Memorial Serviceinfor  memory of BuddyMcKay
Buddy McKay on Satur-
A Memorial Service will be held  loving
day, July 21 at 1:00 p.m. at the William Crow AmVets Post 447, located at 405 E. Hwy.
40 in Inglis; phone 352-447-4473. Buddy McKay is survived by his wife, Mary, whose
birthday had already been planned as a celebration at the post and scheduled for Friday,
July 20, from 7:00 until 11:00 p.m. when her husband, Buddy, passed on Sunday, July 15.
Buddy McKay, Charter Member of William Crow AmVets Post 447, was very important
in his roles of support at the Inglis post and much beloved by its members.
Shrimp Landing
352-447-5201
48 Hwy. 19 South at Hickory Island
Inglis, Florida
OPEN 7 DAYS 6:00 am - 9:00 pm
CENTRAL FLORIDA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
SELECTS NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Dine-In or Carry-Out
~Your Power Partner~
By Former Owners of Gobbler’s Eatery, Mike and Lisa
Visit us at www.cfec.com
All-You-Can-Eat Specials:
On July 16, 2012 the Board of Trustees of Central Florida Electric Cooperative, Inc.
met and appointed the following members as a committee for nominations:
MONDAY BBQ Pulled Pork or Fresh Fried Mullet - $9.99
Herbert Corbin Roy Dyer Louia Gilbert William Goess Ernest Green
Pamela Higgins Kathryn McInnis Thomas Nicholson Phillip Snyder
TUESDAY Shrimp - Fried or Scampi - $9.99
The committee will meet on July 23, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. to select nominees to repre-
WEDNESDAY All-You-Can-Eat Clam Strips - $9.99
sent Districts 2, 3, and 7 as Trustees of Central Florida Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Steak Night with Potato, Veggie & Salad - $12.99
These districts are presently represented by:
THURS. All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti & Meatballs - $7.99
George Stephens District 2 - Tony Weeks District 3 - Kenneth O’Steen District 7
FRIDAY All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry - $8.99
SUNDAY All-You-Can-Eat Beef Tips
The Cooperative’s Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012. Reg-
over Rice or Noodles
istration will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the business meeting will follow at 10:00 a.m.