The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - August 6, 2008
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
NOTICE OF HEARING TO IMPOSE AND
Yankeetown Mayor’s Report
PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF
A Guest Commentary by Mayor Dawn Clary
EMS TAX ASSESSMENT
It is with a heavy heart that I write this column. Monday morning, July 28th, Coun-
Notice is hereby given that the County Commission of Levy County will con-
cilman Ed Candela resigned his position on the Yankeetown Town Council. Mr. Candela was
duct a public hearing to consider the continued imposition of an annual emergency
elected in October 2006 election. He has served as Planning and Zoning Liaison since then
medical services tax assessment for the provision of emergency medical services within
and has done a superb job. Work has been his middle name as he has spent countless hours
the unincorporated and all incorporated areas of Levy County pursuant to section
working on the Comprehensive Plan and zoning issues for the town. These were all unpaid
125.271, Florida Statutes, and the collection of the EMS tax assessment on the tax bill.
hours I might add. Perhaps his greatest achievement was his work on the over haul of the
The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. on September 2, 2008, in the County
comprehensive plan which was a mammoth undertaking. Also to his credit, he worked on the
Commission meeting room of the Levy County Courthouse, 355 South Court Street,
resurrection of the town after it was left in shambles and was part of the success team that got
Bronson, Florida, for the purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed assess-
the town back to working order. He diligently worked through the legal process and ground
ments. All affected property owners have a right to appear at the hearing and to file
work required in the lengthy process to get the Charter amendments on the ballot, all of which
written objections with the County Commission within 20 days of this notice. If a
passed in the election last October. Through these amendments the citizens of the town will
person decides to appeal any decision made by the County Commission with respect to
enjoy far more control over what happens to their community and expanded democratic rights
any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings
for Yankeetownians. He was also instrumental in helping get the moratorium in place. Whether
and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and
you are for it or against it I think you have to agree that it has been helpful in providing time
evidence upon which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with
to get the Comprehensive Plan in shape. His list of accomplishments goes on and on.
Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to partici-
He has been probably the town's strongest tree advocate and is the most passionate
pate in this proceeding should contact the County Clerk's Office at (352) 486-5266, at
about this cause. Though controversial, Mr. Candela upgraded the tree permit ordinance to
least 7 days prior to the date of the hearing. Hearing impaired persons can access the
put some teeth into it. In the past, if a tree was cut down with out cause or proper permitting,
foregoing telephone number by contacting the Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955-8770
there was little sanctioning, therefore the ordinance was at times ignored. The stiffening of
(Voice) or 1-800-955-8771 (TDD).
the tree permit was hoped to improve tree protection.
The tax assessment for each parcel of property will be computed on a per
His wife, Patricia, has also donated much time and energy to the town. She and Ed
building basis based upon each parcel= s classification as improved property. The
moved here to retire and I think it may be time for them to get back to the retirement part.
estimated EMS Tax Assessment rate for Fiscal Year 2008-09 and future fiscal years is $75
Patricia said she loves to Scuba dive, but I think they have been so busy with the town, they
per building. The total annual EMS Tax Assessment revenue to be collected within
have had little extra time for such fun. There has been so much work to do, that two years of
Levy County is estimated to be $1,450,875.00 for Fiscal Year 2008-09.
service is certainly enough.
Copies of the EMS Tax Assessment Apportionment and Collection Ordinance,
The Town of Yankeetown owes Ed Candela a great deal of gratitude. No matter how
the Initial Rate Resolution, the Final Rate Resolution, the Preliminary Rate Resolution,
you feel about his political opinions, Ed always did what he truly felt was best for the town, his
and the updated EMS Tax Assessment Roll are available for inspection at the office of
heart was always in the right place. Without him, or anyone from that extraordinary team
the County Coordinator in the Levy County Courthouse located at 355 South Court
created in 2006, we could not have accomplished all that we have. He will be sincerely and
Street, Bronson, Florida.
greatly missed. Take a bow. Good Night and Good Luck, Dawn Marie Clary, Mayor.
The tax will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November
2008, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the tax will
Inglis Re-Hires Dixon -Cont. from page 1
cause a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title.
If you have any questions, please contact the County Coordinator's Office at
the chief's job over hometown officer Mitch Billups.
(352) 486-5218, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Dixon resigned from the Inglis Police Dept. in October of 2001 - according to a former
commissioner, under pressure from the commission. Dixon cited personal reasons for quitting
the Inglis Police Dept. however former officers and at least one commissioner confirmed that
Dixon quit when members of his staff came to him and said "its either you or us." "Favorite
son" Mitch Billups then replaced Dixon as chief. Billups resigned last year following charges
of falsifying documents in the department and pleaded no contest in a Levy County Court, of
falsifying records. He was sentenced to one year of probation.
Dixon told the Inglis commission at last week's meeting, “If you want a Chief I’m
available to you. I have over 35 years of experience with over 25 years as an administrator. I
made mistakes in the past but would not make them again. My shortcomings were that I
picked the wrong people, and I won’t do that again. Background checks made were only the
basics as time was limited with trying to build the department. We now have the ability and
equipment to screen people thoroughly, which was not available in the past. My budget
when I left here was about $120,000 and the budget has tripled.”
Commissioner Edward Michaels asked Dixon if he would consider a non-contractual,
part-time situation "until we figure out what we’re doing". Dixon replied, “I’d be willing to
come on as a Reserve Officer and work whatever hours deemed necessary to administer the
Department and hope to get it back in the direction we want it to go in.”
Commissioner Lake said, “We owe it to everyone to contact the County to see what
a contract would cost. We should also lift the moratorium on hiring. We only have two
officers and need help and can’t get it if we can’t hire help.
A motion was passed to contact Levy County for discussion only on providing police
protection A motion was made to lift the moratorium on hiring in the Police Department.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Michaels said, “We will bring up the subject of making Mr. Dixon the
LEVYCOUNTY, FLORIDA
Acting Chief until October 1 at an hourly rate of $10 an hour. Commissioner Lake made a
Published August 6, 2008
motion to appoint Dixon as Inglis Police chief until October 1. That motion passed 4 to 1.
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