The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - August 24, 2011
Levy County Government, Its Heart Warming #2!!
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
A Guest Commentary by Noel Desmond, Chiefland
Allow me to continue from my last letter to the Editor. Three Levy County Com-
Yankeetown Mayor's Report
missioner’s (Ryan Bell, Danny Stevens and Chad Johnson) hired attorney Brien A. Bolves,
to represent the three commissioner’s actions, on behalf of the Tarmac mining project.
A Guest Commentary by Yankeetown Mayor Dawn Clary
This was to defend their voted approval, on a special exception for that project, which didn’t
Dog Days - Due to the excessive heat this year, we have had difficulty keeping
have all of its permits authorized. Well, it’s been done before by past sitting commissioners,
our Zoning office cool enough, especially in the afternoon. Therefore we are changing the
so we can do it now, was the reasoning. So let me get this straight, because past Commis-
hours to all mornings, at least until the heat breaks. Effective immediately, the new summer
sioners were shafting the public, it’s OK to continue with the same process.
hours are 9:00 AM till Noon Tuesday thru Friday. Kurt is available for anyone that needs
Dictionary definition - Shaft·ing [shaf-ting, shahf-] noun Slang. An instance of
attention outside of these hours by appointment and also by phone.
unique or unfair treatment: Oh, I forgot, one of those former Commissioners is still seated
Tarmac - At the last meeting of the YT Council, it was voted to appeal the Levy
(Danny Stevens).
County Court decision denying YT’s request to reverse or quash the County Commission’s
Gosh, on the job training for the new, from the old. Its Heart Warming! Remember
approval of a special exception to the Tarmac mining project. Town Attorney Ralf Brookes
the $10,000 these three Commissioners authorized to defend their (Its Been Done Before)
said that the Judge did not give a very detailed opinion as to why he had rejected Yan-
vote in a court of law. This most certainly will increase in $10,000 increments, if the case
keetown’s arguments but Brookes still felt that we had a good case. Yankeetown’s objection
progresses through the court system (adding to the deficit). Tax payer’s monies, being spent
to the decision was that the County Commissioners did not follow their own rules by grant-
on behalf of a multi-million dollar corporation, against the tax payers of Levy County.
ing the exception prior to Tarmac receiving all of the required permits. Tarmac’s position
$10,000 here, $10,000 there. What the heck, it’s not out of the Commissioner’s bank ac-
has been that the Commissioners placed conditions on the special exception which made
counts.
their approval null and void if Tarmac did not get the required permits.
Now Commissioner Ryan Bell, seems to believe that it’s equitable (His statement),
Mosquitoville - With the recent rains, mosquitoes are hatching out. I would like
to increase the average family’s household, Special Assessment fee’s by about $50 per year,
to remind everyone the Levy County Mosquito Control cannot spray down here unless
to offset the burden on multi-parcel property owners. (See Chiefland Citizen, letter to the
they have so many complaints. By Florida Statute they must show that there is a need to
editor, Aug. 4, 2011). Let us remove from Commissioner Bell’s equation, the small business
spray. I do not know but I suspect the reason is to prevent the over use of chemicals in the
owners, who along with the home owner, can least afford an increase. Whom does that
environment. Though we have not had a lot of complaints here, if you have a mosquito
leave us with?? Well how about the Very Large, Corporate Giants (Such as Tarmac) and
problem in your area please call mosquito control and report it. We are trying to put out
others who own vast improved holdings in Levy County.
more mosquito donuts which contain harmless bacteria that eats mosquito larva. You can
Commissioner Ryan Bell will have home and small business owners, subsidiz-
also get these at local stores and help to combat the problem if you have standing water near
ing those giants. That is what Commissioner Ryan Bell considers, equitable. The County
your home. Please walk down your property and empty ANY standing water no matter how
Commissioners have unnecessarily spent or given back $981,547.93 over the past couple of
small. Change water in bird baths every four days. If everyone helps in their little corner of
years, (Grant moneys and legal fee’s) primarily on behalf of Special Interest Groups.
the world, it would really make a big difference.
The above figure amounts to 70.11% of the current, $1,400,000 budget deficit. Add
Thanx - Special Thanx to Mr. Ed Dawkins for agreeing to re-up for another term
to that the county attorneys, yearly salary ($120,000.00) and we have 78.7% of the deficit
on the Storm Water Drainage Committee. Good Night and Good Luck
explained. What we don’t have explained is, why are we paying a county attorney a yearly
salary, only to have the Commissioner’s farm out legal matters, which cost the tax payer
Letter to the Editor:
additional money’s.
Re: Response to Michael White’s comments of 8-10-11
Is not Ms. Brown a capable attorney, one that can and should be handling all legal
Mr. White’s letter, while somewhat rambling, covers numerous topics and makes
affairs of Levy County? And now an increase in Special Assessments to offset, these ir-
little sense other than supporting Commissioner Price in her relationship with the police
responsible monetary actions, one that will again benefit Special Interest Groups. Yes, an
department. At numerous past commission meetings Mr. White stood up and supported the
opinion, but one that is deduced by actions and appears to be upheld by the Commission’s
Inglis Police Department as well as Chief Steve Dixon, stating that the Chief’s department
history.
was doing an outstanding job. Numerous other Inglis citizens also stood up and voiced their
It’s not the Levy County Citizen who is benefiting by all this. Is it The Coach along
support of the department. Now for some unexplained reason Mr. White has flipped his sup-
with his cronies??? Dictionary definition - Cro·ny (Kroch-nee] –noun, plural -nixes. A close
port of the police department and thinks the Levy County Sheriff’s Office should assume
friend or companion, a chum.
responsibility for coverage in Inglis. This change of support by Mr. White appears to be the
One, if not two of those commissioners, then candidates in last year’s election,
result of Chief Dixon’s letter to the commission requesting that another commissioner be
attended a Tarmac by invitation only meeting(s), as a candidate of coarse. I know Commis-
assigned as a liaison to the police department.
sioner Ryan Bell did, he stated that publicly.
There have been and will continue to be situations where relationships have not
Was this also arranged by (The Coach), Greaser of political palms??? Only the
and will not mesh. The relationship between Chief Dixon and Commissioner Price seems to
shadow knows for sure and of coarse the now, Commissioner(s) then candidate(s). Respon-
be this type. Commissioner Price has made numerous statements that she believes there are
sible Sunshine Government at work. It should be Heart Warming!!!! Is it???
problems with the Inglis Police Department. However, Commissioner Price has never been
Noel K. Desmond Chiefland, Fl.
specific about these allegations saying only that she cannot be specific due to fears that she
will sued. I strongly suggest that Commissioner Price and Chief Dixon sit down together
Letter to the Editor:
and establish good communication that will produce positive results for the police depart-
Re: In Response to Mr. Bill Lake’s letter dated August 17, 2011.
ment and, thus, the citizens of Inglis. This will be for the good of all as opposed to
My comments are guarded due to the current evaluation of several emails that were
Mr. White’s rabble rousing which produces nothing but bad feelings by everyone.
sent to me by Mr. Lake. Our local police have contacted him concerning this matter.
If Commissioner Price and Chief Dixon still cannot patch their relationship, the town com-
In addition, Mr. Lake recently sent out an email quoting the following: “I stopped at Town
mission should consider reassigning another commissioner as liaison to the police depart-
hall today and was informed that I was no longer welcomed By direction of Mayor Williams
ment, which will benefit everyone.
My understanding is that if I parked in front of Town Hall he would direct the PD to give me
Bob and Betsy Webb, Inglis
a ticket. How soon we forget”. (From: WILLIAM LAKE, Date: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 at 5:28
PM). Please keep him in your prayers.
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