The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - September 19, 2012
From Dawn's Front Porch
100th Birthday Celebration
On September 2, 2012 Arvil Erwin of Inglis celebrated his 100th Birthday with
By Newscaster Contributor Dawn Clary
family and friends. The event was held at the club house in his community. Many members
Yankeetown Sets Tentative Millage - The YT Council held their first budget hearing
of the community attended in his honor and his Great Grandson performed a live fire show
last Wednesday night for the fiscal year 2012-2013. The water and the general fund budget
to celebrate the occasion. In attendance were five generations.
were both mulled over and the tentative millage rate of 2.9299 was agreed upon. This is
Arvil shared with his family the times he spent delivering mail on a mule where
the rollback rate which is the rate which would give the town the same amount of income
he met his wife Wilma, riding his Indian and Harley motorcycles, among other wonderful
as they had coming in under the previous year. This is not the final decision as there is one
memories. It was a joyous occasion and the family looks forward to his 101st Birthday next
more hearing to go through before the rate is set in stone. Once the tentative rate is set, the
year!
final rate can go down but cannot be set higher. As I understand it, the current thinking is to
use a bare bones budget and shore up any shortcomings with reserve funds. A major change
in staffing has radically helped the water budget. The current water Maintenance Operator
will now split his hours and work half a day for the water system and half a day for the gen-
eral fund tasks for the town such as mowing etc. This allowed the salary and benefits to be
split between the two budgets, drastically reducing the costs to the water fund. Therefore it
does not appear that there will be a need to raise water rates in the near future. The tentative
general fund budget, which is everything except water, is $1,209,934. This also includes
reserves. The tentative water fund budget was $490,323. The total of the two budgets to-
gether is $1,700,257. The final budget hearing is scheduled for September 26th at this time.
You will really get a good picture of the town’s affairs.
A Yankeetown Town Manager??? – At the regular YT Council meeting the only is-
sue of substance was the possibility of hiring a town manager. The logic was that currently
council members are doing the staff work on a lot things and it is getting harder to get indi-
viduals to do that. The mayor has been used essentially as a town manager. The council was
split on the idea, mostly due to the cost. One council member thought that the town at this
time was at a low point in population but maybe in the future it could be considered. One
council member just did not see the need. Two thought there was a need. It was decided to
perhaps revisit it on a future agenda.
Odds and Ends – Someone backed into the town truck and left it dented but driv-
able. The valve at the base of the water tower has been repaired.
A Reminder, Help Wanted - There will be an open seat on the council when the
Mayor is chosen from the current group. If you always wanted to experience government
Left to Right, Bottom Row:Anastasia Fraser Great Great Granddaughter of Arvil Erwin,Alistair Fraser An-
first hand, apply for the spot by submitting a letter to the town hall and a resume would be
astasia Fraser’s Grandpa,Rhonda Fraser Grand Daughter of Arvil Erwin and Anastasia’s Grandmother,Arvil
nice. Good Night and Good Luck
Erwin Birthday Boy 100 years young,Loretta Mercer Companion of Arvil Erwin,Next Row: Gene Erwin Son
of Arvil Erwin,Rosa Lee Smith Daughter of Arvil Erwin,Kasandra Hinson Great Granddaughter of Arvil
R&M
Erwin,Top Row: Alexander Fraser Great Grandson of Arvil Erwin,Melonie Hinson Granddaughter of Arvil
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
Erwin,Monica Rhoten Granddaughter of Arvil Erwin,Also Family members in attendance but not shown is
Rebuilt - Repaired - Resealed
Hilda Erwin Daughter in law of Arvil Erwin,Bernard Erwin Nephew of Arvil Erwin.
Inglis Moving Forward on
Complete Auto Repairs
A/C - Brakes - Front End - Exhaust - TuneUps
Mandatory Garbage Collection
Computer Diagnostics
Oil Changes While You Wait
4X4’s - RV’s - Trucks - Autos
that could be considered. Mayor Williams
By Newscaster Contributor Doug Johnston
Free Estimates
Foreign & Domestic
countered that assessments take a lump sum
After a lengthy discussion last
352-447-0704
Visa - Mastercard - Discover
that many residents may have a difficult
Tuesday night (9-11-12) the Inglis town
time paying as opposed to a monthly charge
Commission agreed for Mayor James Wil-
Accepted
Fax Line 447-6040
which may be easier for those residents to fit
liams to contact Waste Pro to secure the best
into their budgets.
deal possible and explore billing options for
Another item that was discussed
mandatory garbage collection in the town
NATURE COAST WATER, INC.
was the Yankeetown water problem that oc-
of Inglis. All of the commissioners present
curred last week when a valve at the Yan-
participated in the discussion and all were
keetown water tower malfunctioned. Public
in agreement that the ordinance requiring
Works Supervisor Danny Dayton said the
mandatory collection is already in place and
CALL 352-447-6002 • Locally Owned & Operated
town connected with the Yankeetown water
it should be enforced. Attaching the garbage
supply with a 2 inch hose connected from
pick up fee to the water bill seemed to be
12 MONTHS
FREE WATER ANALYSIS
a fire hydrant to temporarily supply Yan-
an option most commissioners were open to,
SAME AS
keetown with water.
but Mayor Williams posed the question of
CASH
Commissioner Tom Brennan men-
how to bill residents who aren’t on town wa-
Whole House Iron, Sulfur,
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water
tioned that the City follows the Florida Ru-
ter. Commissioner Tom Brennan brought up
ral Waters Association guidelines and they
the fact that some of those Inglis residents
Hardness, & Odor Removal
Systems Great for Residential,
call for cooperation between neighboring
live on private roads within the town limits.
Services Available
RV & Commercial Use
municipalities. The Commission voted 4-0
Commissioner Drinda Merritt re-
to allow Yankeetown to use the town water
minded the commission that a tax assess-
SALT DELIVERY AVAILABLE
without charge for what has been used.
ment is another alternative to bill residents
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