The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - August 19, 2009
Yankeetown Mayor s Report
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
A Guest Commentary by Dawn Clary
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The past week has been very eventful. The Administrative Hearing was conducted for Izaak
Walton Investor’s challenge of the Department of Community of Affairs intention to find
As you may or may not know the lid is about to come off here in Yankeetown as a
our Comprehensive Plan. The hearing went 2 1⁄2 days. It will be a while before we know the
result of some recent actions coming out of town hall. It appears government and enforce-
outcome. There will be time to write more information on this later but this week I have to
ment authorities up the food chain have been contacted and put on notice with regards to
devote this column to something more uplifting.
some of the issues that truly need to be revisited and examined. It is interesting that Charlie
Last week I mentioned that Yankeetown had entered the competition for the “Small
Dean has not been a wee bit more involved as he was contacted and apparently is listening
Public Water System of the Year” award sponsored by the Florida Rural Water Association.
to the wrong voices with regards to his decision making. As often occurs, people end up
You will be pleased to hear that we WON. Special Thanx to Norm Shannahan for writing
being embarrassed because they did not understand the seriousness of a request for help and
the entry and to all the volunteers that made this possible.
input when the lights finally come on.
The Following is the winning essay written by Councilman Norm Shannahan.
A good example of this would or should be being part of government here in Y-
“Dedicated to those volunteers who gave so generously of their time and talent.” This is
town and find you are part of a team involved in this crap. Government when the wrong
the quotation on the dedication plaque at the new Town of Yankeetown public water system
people are involved can get out of control as it has here in Y-town. We have citizens that
plant.
have been threatened by town representatives, a Mayor throwing the f-bomb around young
Approximately three (3) years ago, the Town’s water system was issued a consent order
children at the park, and two commissions handicapping the town’s future with their toxic
from Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that the water system was
decisions. At the end of the day they all probably think they are right.
in violation of water quality in the area of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic
As a suggestion only to all commissioners and residents, we the citizens could pass
acids (HAA5s). Yankeetown, population of approximately 760 citizens, immediately went
the hat and collect the money needed to repay the grant at Boat Basin Park, and quit-claim
to work organizing its most valuable asset, volunteers, to determine how to rectify this
it to the county as it is a liability to the town and always will be. Citrus County has a sign at
problem and provide the citizens of Yankeetown with safe drinking water. Design engineers
their beach that reads: No Life Guard on Duty / Swim at Your Own Risk. Let the children
were hired, grants were applied for and approved by DEP, land was bought, bids were ad-
have a childhood and swim.
vertised and contracts awarded. Construction of the new water plant was completed within
And why with 700+ thousand dollars in the bank has the Planning Commission not
13 months of groundbreaking. All of these achievements could not have been executed had
done its job and asked to spend 4 or 5 thousand dollars and provide a basket ball hoop or
it not been for “Those volunteers who gave so generously of their time and talent.”
two for the children. You do not need a grant, just do it! You keeping the chairs warm on
The final results are spectacular!
the planning commission are part of the sterilization of the town with regards to activities
•
a) A new public water system designed to provide safe drinking water for
for the children having been too busy knocking the bridge down the town will be dependant
its citizens and provide sufficient water volume for future growth for the next 30 years.
on in the future. How do you spell public servant? Wake Up!
•
b) Reduced TTHMs from preconstruction levels of 179.3mg/L to present
Joe McDonald, Yankeetown 352.212.4951
average levels of 50.3mg/L. A 71.9% reduction.
Letter to the Editor:
•
c) Reduced HAA5s from preconstruction levels of 91.6mg/L to present
Re: Inglis, Wake Up
average levels of 14.5mg/L. An 84.2% reduction.
I attend most of the Inglis town meetings. About a year ago the Storm Water As-
The Yankeetown public water system is a shining beacon for what can be achieved through
sessment came up for discussion. The Town Commission decided to assess a tax of $54.00
hard work, organization, and the volunteer spirit! - Norm Shannahan
on each property owner, guaranteed to be a one time assessment. Our attorney advised our
We were given a plaque that reads “Small Public Water System of the Year Presented to
commission in a meeting in July 2009 that this same tax ($54.00 per property owner) can
Town of Yankeetown Public Water System For Dedicated and Outstanding Service to their
be assessed without advertising in the paper, because it was done last year (2008). The year
Customers and Award Winning Accomplishments for the Year of 2009”
before it was one time deal RIGHT! A fire department assessment for another $50.00 or so
Condolences - Our sympathy goes out to the friends and family of former Town Coun-
and I think a garbage assessment for $16.00 were added.
cilman Bill Cox for their loss. Good Night and Good Luck, Dawn Marie Clary, Mayor of
Do the math; last years’ Storm Water Assessment of $54.00 per property owner
Yankeetown
was $70,000.00 profit. I asked at the meeting where the $70,000.00 was spent? Mr. Lake
said it was used to help put lime rock on Cason Acre roads. Inglis gets scrap rock free from
the rock mines.
The millage rate was raised from 4.8 to 5.3. We the people of Inglis cut back,
tighter our belts, and struggle in these devastating economic times. Our Town of Inglis
Government helps us out by raising our taxes by whatever loop-hole they can figure out,
with the help of the Town Lawyer, whose salary we pay to make sure that when the Town
Commissioners raise our taxes: it is legal.
I purchased two lots on U.S. 19. The south lot has access to U.S. 19 next to River-
land Restaurant. The north lot had access to the public road Palm Point Drive. The Town of
Inglis Commission put up a fence that land-locked my north lot. Argument is that it is one
lot. When I get the tax bills (one for the south lot and one for the north lot), they will both
be assessed with the above taxes. I have spent thousands of dollars fighting City Hall, my
family has suffered, my business has suffered, and my health has suffered. My reputation
has been trashed.
It is time for the people of Inglis to exercise some common sense. This is our town.
The Town Commissioners were elected by the people of Inglis to serve all the people of
Inglis.
Wake up, it is time. Go to one town council meeting a month. Let your voice be
heard when ordinances and codes are changed that have an effect on each one of us.
I pray that Inglis will be a town that cares about all its people again. Not just the
few. The only true service Inglis receives for its tax money is the Inglis Police Departments’
service. God Bless Inglis! P.S. This means $300.00 per property owner in very hard eco-
From the left, Councilman Norm Shannahan and Water Plant Staff Volunteer, Mike Clary, hold
nomic times already for Inglis citizens. This is Inglis commissioners and Bill Lake refusing
the Small Public Water System of the Year Award in front of the dedication plaque at the Yan-
Michael (Drew) White, Inglis
to tighten their belts as all of us already have.
keetown Water Plant. Photo by Marsha Drew
Buddy & Fred’s Hardware
Inglis
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