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CITY NEWS

NEED HELP? ASK A LAWYER
2024 March 8
MAR 9 AS A LAWYER
 
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CK CITY DECALCITY OF CEDAR KEY NOTICE:
CITY HALL DAY LONG CLOSURE
2024 March 13
 
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, voting for the Presidential Primary letion will take place at the City of Cedar Key City Hall from 7 am until 7 pm..

Consequently, city services will be suspended for the entire day.
MAR 13CITY NOTICE ELECTIONS
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CEDAR KEY’S ARBOR DAY
100 Trees to Be Planted;
200 More Coming!
2024 March 2


In downtown’s City Park, the line was forming at 9 am, even though the weatherman predicted rain. Residents arrived to select a magnolia, a redbud, or a crepe myrtle tree to take home and plant on their properties, as part of the island’s celebration of Arbor Day.
 
20240302 100544So skillfully organized was the event, residents not only received a tree in a three-gallon bucket, but also the soil, the water-holding agent, and fertilizer with which to plant the new arrival. Easy-to-read directions came with each tree. Making everything simpler and more pleasant, Cedar Key School student Fisher Collins graciously toted all these trees and ingredients to residents’ cars or golf carts.
 
Upon arrival, residents registered with Tree City Coordinator Mary Prescott. Plotting each new tree’s placement on the individual properties on a Cedar Key map, Mary created a record which indicates areas housing new trees and areas still in need.

CK CITY DECAL
CITY OF CEDAR KEY PRESENTS
RESIDENTIAL MITIGATION WORKSHOP
2024 March 1
 
 
WHERE?  City Hall

WHEN?  Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 2 p.m

WHY?  to discuss the Hazard Mitigation Grants for residential units 
 
WORKSHOP 03 07 2024
 
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ARBOR DAY IMAGE LOGOdownloadARBOR DAY, CEDAR KEY STYLE 
2024 February 28
 
It’s here! The City of Cedar Key will celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday March 2, 2024. The celebration will be held at the pavilion at Beach Front Park from 9 am to 12 noon. Cedar Key residents may come and get their tree in a 3-gallon container, fertilizer, and starter kit, all at no charge. At registration, the city will be requesting a location that the tree will be planted.
 
One hundred trees are available and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. The trees being distributed will be Red Buds, Crepe Myrtles, and Magnolias. Many thanks to Jim and Myra Fleming of Tropical Traditions and Barnhill’s of Chiefland for their assistance in acquiring the trees.CK CITY DECAL
 
This year, a second Arbor Day will be celebrated in March. The specific date has not been finalized. Students at Cedar Key School have been raising Cedar saplings for distribution. The seeds were harvested from a single Cedar on Second street here on the Island, so there is a lineage!
 
The City of Cedar Key is a designated “Tree City USA.” That designation is awarded by the National Arbor Day Foundation. For more information on that program, please visit Tree City USA at arborday.org.
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ARBOR DAY…
MAKE CEDAR KEY GREENER…
SATURDAY IN THE PARK
2024 February 28

 One Hundred Trees to Residents

FEB 28 AARBOR DAY Arbor Day 2024

 
After the Hurricane Idalia damage and the serious lessening of green about the island, Cedar Key’s Heritage Tree Program takes on added significance.
 
The City of Cedar Key hopes to add to the green, encourage appreciation of Cedar Key’s Heritage Trees, as well as add to resident participation in making the island more lush.
 
HOW?
As was done last year, the city, headed by Mayor Sue Colson, will give away 100 saplings on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in City Park.
 
WHAT?
100 trees in three gallon pots
Oak, Crepe Myrtle, Redbud and Magnolia.
Included with the tree are:fertilizer, Hydrosorb, and mulch
 
All you need do is:
Select a tree, take it home, talk ato it, dig a hole, put in the fertilizer already prepacked for you, fill in the hole with dirt already prepacked for you, water it regularly, and love your tree.
 
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CITY OF CEDAR KEY COMMISSION
WILL MEET IN WORKSHOP SESSION ON MARCH 5
2024 February 28 
 
 03 05 2024 Commission Mtg. Agenda
 
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 CITY COMMISSION MET
20 FEBRUARY 2024
20 FEBRUARY 2024
 
 
The Cedar Key City Commission met Tuesday evening, February 20, 2024, at 5 pm at the new City Hall, now located in the renovated City Community Center at 609 Sixth Street. In attendance were current Mayor Sue Colson, Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera, and Commissioner Jim Wortham. This meeting was attended by some forty audience members.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Chamber of Commerce President Doug Lindhout requested that the city intervene in the repair of the Dock Street Motel that, he noted, is currently dangerous to passersby. Mayor Colson said that the intervention has begun.
ORDINANCE 554, ANNEXATION
Commissioners unanimously approved Ordinance 554, the annexation of the following property: Teetor Marguerite Pringle of 406 John Woods Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, owners of Piney Point Parcels 00437-003-00.
SEACOAST BANK ACCOUNTS
Attorney Norm Fugate suggested the reorganization of the city’s Seacoast Bank accounts to garner higher interest returns. Commissioners approved unanimously.

 
CITY OF CEDAR KEY COMMISSION
WILL MEET FEBRUARY 20
2024 February 19
 
 
2024feb20ckcityagendapkt
 
   
 
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CK CITY DECALCITY OF CEDAR KEY NOTICE: TAX APPRAISER IN CEDAR KEY FEBRUARY 13
2024 January 20

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
 
TO:  CEDAR KEY RESIDENTS
 
SUBJECT: NEW COMMISSIONER INFORMATION
 
The Cedar Key News is committed to an informed public. We, as staff, are certain that you expect such commitment. At no time is it more important for the public to be knowledgeable than when new, different individuals are put in place to represent this citizenry.
 
Unlike many municipal or water district commissioner transitions, three new commissioners are taking seats on the City of Cedar Key Commission and the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District Board. The three are:
 
City of Cedar Key Commission: Jolie Davis and Jeff Webb
Cedar Key Water and Sewer District Board: Johnathan Ferguson
 
Because these individuals have achieved the position without having vied with contenders and run a campaign, not all Cedar Keyans have had to opportunity to know these new representatives.
 
The Cedar Key News intends to help fill this knowledge gap by presenting the new commissioners a series of questions which the News will publish, subsequently providing the public with more information.
 
Please, look for the new commissioners’ responses in the Cedar Key News on the following dates:
• February 19
• March 4
• March 18
 
Cedar Key News staff hopes these responses will help citizens know these new actors better.
 
Should you have any questions you wish to ask the three, forward them to the Cedar Key News at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will do our best to include them.
Frank and Mandy Offerle, Editors
Cedar Key News
352.543.6170
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BakeSale Frreworks xe
 
 
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CITY OF CEDAR KEY:
ELECTION RESULTS
2024 January 26
 
Seat One, which was Heath Davis’ seat,
will be occupied by Jolie Davis, for a one-year term.
 
Seat Two, which was Nancy Sera’s seat,
will be occupied by Nancy Sera, again, for a two-year term.
 
Seat Four, which was Susan Rosenthal’s seat,
will be occupied by Jeff Webb, for a two-year term.
 
No other applicants contended for seats.
No election will occur.
New commissioners will be seated after April 2, 2024.
 
CEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT:
ELECTION RESULTS
 
Seat One, which was Dottie Haldeman’s seat,
will be occupied by Johnathan Furgeson, for a one-year term.
 
Seat Three, which was Leslie Sturmer’s seat,
will be occupied by Leslie Sturme, again, for a two-year trm.
 
Seat Five, which was Joe Hand’s seat,
will be occupied by Joe Hand, again, for a two-year term.
 
No applicants contended for seats.
No election will occur.
New commissioners will be seated after April 2, 2024.
 

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CKWSD FAUCET
 
 
CKWSD SETS GENERAL MANAGER
CANDIDATE NTERVIEWS
2024 January 22
 

In one of its shortest meetings, the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District commissioners met briefly at 5 pm at the district offices on Third Street on January 22, 2024, to discuss general manager applicants. The meeting adjourned at 5:27 pm.
 
The commissioners agreed to:
• Interview one candidate, who had previously met with Superintendent and current General Manager James McCain, on January 29 at 4 pm;
• Interview a second candidate to meet with McCain and tour the facilities at 2 pm and interview with the commissioners at 3:15 p.m. on January 29;
• Complete reference gathering before these interviews take place.
 
IN ATTENDANCE
In attendance were commissioners Joe Hand, Mike Borelli, Jonathan Ferguson, and Stephen Rosenthal.
Leslie Sturmer was not in attendance. 
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 CITY COMMISSION MET,
ELECTS NEW MAYOR
16 JANUARY 2024
 
The Cedar Key City Commission met Tuesday evening, January 16, 2024, at 5 pm at the new City Hall, now located in the renovated City Community Center at 609 Sixth Street. In attendance were current Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera and Commissioners Sue Colson and Jim Wortham. The remaining two open seats were vacated by former Mayor Heath Davis and former Commissioner Susan Rosenthal in December 2023. This meeting was attended by some forty audience members.
 
COMMISSION REORGANIZATION
Commissioners Nancy Sera, Sue Colson, and Jim Wortham elected Sue Colson as Mayor and retained Nancy Sera as Vice-Mayor. Click here for more information https://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city-news/8243-commission-resets-itself
 
BUDGET MINUTES APPROVAL
Commissioners unanimously approved the December 5, 2023, Budget Meeting Minutes.
  
QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING: WEBB, WHIDDON
A formal quasi-judicial hearing was held in response for a Conditional Use Request presented by resident Jeff Webb to establish coffee roasting business and rental residential property in a residential land use designated area. According to a filed affidavit, the property is currently owned by an “Alex Sanchez” The parcel, Parcel #0888100000, 1173 Whiddon, is located on the northeast corner of the Gulf Boulevard and Whiddon Avenue intersection and has functioned as a duplex.

Several residents spoke to the conditional use issue. Sherry Sicking spoke to the unpleasant smell of coffee roasting simulating a fire, which makes er uncomfortable. Resident Margy VanLandingham spoke several thoughts: an already busy intersection will worsen by added commercial traffic; in years past, commercial was meant to include aquaculture, not businesses necessitating additional traffic; and commercial enterprises infiltrating residential neighborhoods is to be guarded against.
After considering the plans for and the effects of parking, noise, lighting, signage, and provisions and location of utilities, including garbage dumpsters, commissioners unanimously approved the Webb’s Conditional Use Request.
  
ORDINANCE 554: ANNEXATION
Marguerite Pringle Teetor of 406 John Woods Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27516, owners of Piney Point Parcels 00437-003-00, requested annexation into the City of Cedar Key. Commissioners unanimously approved the request and directed Attorney Norm Fugate to continue the process of annexation.
 
FIRE DEPARTMENT
City of Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson requested commissioners approve the State of Florida Department of Emergency Services “Mutual Aid Agreement” form. The agreement which details general requirements, parties’ responsibilities, rendering assistance, and reimbursement parameters. Commissioners approved signing the form.
 
COMMISSIONER CONCERNS
Mayor Sue Colson lauded the city staff on the reconstruction of the Community Center into the new City Hall. She announced plans for a February 22 Open House, when residents might tour the offices from 2 until 4 pm.
 
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm.
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 CEDAR KEY
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY 
MET ON 16 JANUARY 2024
 
16 JANUARY 2024
 
MEETING SPECIFICS
The Cedar Key Community Redevelopment Agency met on Tuesday evening, January 16, 2024, at approximately 6:15 pm, immediately after the City Commission Meeting, at the new City Hall, now located in the renovated City Community Center at 609 Sixth Street.
In attendance were CRA agency members Sue Colson, Nancy Sera, and Jim Wortham. Member John Meeks was not in attendance. The two open seats were vacated by heath Davis and Susan Rosenthal in December 2023. This meeting was attended by some seven audience members.
 
REORGANIZATION
Agency members elected Jim Wortham as Chair and Sue Colson as Vice-Chair.
 
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Three current and / or former University of Florida professors entered into an agreement with the City of Cedar Key Community Redevelopment Agency in November 2023, entitled “Resilience And Adaptation Planning through Community Redevelopment.”
The Project Team consists of:
• University of Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER), which includes Jeff Carney,
• University of Florida Levin College of Law Environmental and Community, Development Clinic Director Thomas Hawkins,
• and University of Florida Professor Emeritus Thomas T. Ankersen.

CK CITY DECALCEDAR KEY CITY COMMISSION
RESETS ITSELF
2024 January 16
 
 
The Cedar Key City Commission met Tuesday evening, January 16, 2024, at 5 pm at the new City Hall, now located in the renovated City Community Center at 609 Sixth Street. In attendance were current Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera and Commissioners Sue Colson and Jim Wortham. The remaining two open seats were vacated by former Mayor Heath Davis and former Commissioner Susan Rosenthal in December 2023. This meeting was attended by some forty audience members.
 
The first order of business was the “Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Mayor Vacancy,” noted the agenda. Vice-Mayor Sera welcomed all and transferred the matter at hand to Attorney Norm Fugate. Fugate overviewed the city charter requirements, including the requirement that the city must, statutorily, have a mayor.
 
After some minutes of discussion, the three commissioners, Sera, Colson, and Wortham, elected Sue Colson as Mayor and Nancy Sera remained as Vice-Mayor. The three agreed to work together in strong pursuit of accomplishing the myriad weighty concerns on the commission’s agenda: the many resiliency work efforts currently underway, movement of the wastewater plant off the island, establishment of the water and wastewater pipeline, completion of plans to secure Dock Street’s understructure, and much, much more.
 
To the delight of the audience and thanks to Emergency Operations Manager / Fire Chief Robert Robinson’s design and oversight, the microphones placed immediately in front of each commissioner and Attorney Fugate worked well, amplifying the voices into the long seating area.
 
Further detail of the meeting will be published soon in the Cedar Key News.
 
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 CK CITY DECAL
 
ELECTION NOTICE: 
CITY OF CEDAR KEY
QUALIFYING & FORM 6
2024 January 16
 
 
2024jan162024 lectionQualifingNotice 
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CITY OF CEDAR KEY COMMISSION WILL MEET JANUARY 16 
2024 January 14 
 
 COMMISSION WILL MEET AT THE NEW CITY HALL, 609 SIXTH STREET.
   2023JAN16CKCOMMAGENDAPACKET
 
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CITY OF CEDAR KEY
ELECTION NOTICE
2024 January 11
JAN 11 ELECTION NOTICE DATES
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 CEDAR KEY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY 
WILL MEET JANUARY 16
2024 January 12  
 
2024JAN16CRAAGENDAPKT
 
 
 
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CITY PONDERS NON-SMOKING AREAS
2024 January 2
 
In the wake of the plethora of research concluding that smoking and second-hand smoke is deleterious to health, the city is thoughtfully pondering no smoking areas.JAN 2 CITY NON SMOKE AREAS*******

 
 CITY COMMISSION MET,
PONDERS RESIGNATIONS
19 DECEMBER 2023
 
MEETING SPECIFICS
The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 5 pm, at the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station Third Floor Classroom on First Street, a temporary move because of as City Hall’s hurricane damage and the Cedar Key Community Center’s reconstruction into office space. Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera, and Commissioners Sue Colson, Jim Wortham by telephone, and Susan Rosenthal.
Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Department Chief Edwin Jenkins, Interim City Clerk and Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain, Deputy City Clerk Telicia Winfield, , Clerk Heather Lang, and Legal Assistant to Norm Fugate Lee LeeAnne E. Rohrer.
The room was filled to capacity. Approximately twenty visited on Zoom. Among those in the audience were: Vanessa and Ken Edmonds, Kathy Salkaln, Esta Johnson, Tabitha Lauer, Nita Cox, Eileen Senecal Doris Hellerman, Michael Bobbitt, Jeff and Jennifer Webb, Greg Lang, Ann Morgan, Phil and Mary Prescott, Ms. Fradella, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
PRE-MEETING BUSINESS
Mayor Heath Davis addressed the issue of his intention to resign his position on the commission. He explained the differences between the required State of Florida Financial Disclosure Forms 1 and 6, noting that the latter, new this upcoming year, is infinitely more onerous than Form 1. Davis then asked if there were any comments from the commissioners.
Commissioner Susan Rosenthal stated that she had, “talked to a lot of people,” and decided that the required information on Form 6 was “no one else’s business.” She affirmed her resignation, effective this night.
Davis then asked for any public comment and recogonized resident Michael Bobbitt who then spoke regarding Form-6 and the resignation of Mayor Davis from the commission, Mayor Davis then asked if there were any other public comments. Commissioner Sera at then announced that she didn’t think that she would remain as a commissioner either and would like to set her resignation forward. After more disscussion, Commissioner Sera said she would stay on until the end of the year.
Davis tabled the matter of commission resignations until the meeting’s end, after all other agenda business was completed.
For more Form-6 information, click here for the Florida League of Cities comparison of the two forms: https://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/docs/default-source/2023-ac-ppts/form-6-presentation.pdf?sfvrsn=1c71d1d5_0
PUBLIC COMMENT
TREE CITY ASSISTANCE
Resident and Tree City coordinator Mary Prescott reported that post Hurricane Idalia assistance is on the way from the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City office. Between April 1-4, the Arbor Day Foundation will send a United States Forestry Strike Force to Cedar Key to assess Hurricane Idalia’s damage and suggest future actions.

CK CITY DECAL
 
COMMISSION STATUS, DECEMBER 21, 2023
 
Commissioner Sera has decided to remain on the City Commission.

Effective today, December 21, 2023, Mayor Davis has resigned his position as both Commissioner and Mayor.

With three members remaining, the City Commission still has a quorum.
Therefore, Vice-Mayor Sera has canceled the special meeting scheduled for Dec. 27, 2023.

The next regularly scheduled City Commission meeting is scheduled for January 16, 2024. 
 
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CK CITY DECALNOTICE:

CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED
MONDAY AND TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 25 AND 26,
FO RTHE HOLIDAYYS

December 21, 2023
 
 
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 CITY COMMISSION UNDERGOES CHANGES 
THREE RESIGN DUE TO NEW STATE REQUIREMENTS
19 DECEMBER 2023
 
At the City of Cedar Key City Commission meeting last evening, December 19, 2023, three of the city’s five commissioners declared their intention to resign because of the recently changed, far more onerous Financial Disclosure form required by the State of Florida.
 
RESIGNATIONS
On December 14, Heath Davis published his intention to resign. On December 15, Susan Rosenthal published her intention to resign. On December 19, at the commission meeting, Nancy Sera declared that she had made up her mind that evening to resign.
 
The two remaining commission members, Sue Colson and Jim Wortham, (who attended by telephone) do not constitute a forum, leaving the city without the ability or authority to do business.
 
QUORUM NECESSARY
Because of the lack of a forum, Heath Davis postponed his resignation date to beyond the next commission meeting, thereby allowing the city to do its necessary official business. Following Davis, Nancy Sera postponed her resignation date. Susan Rosenthal stood by her resignation letter.
Because the commission had a quorum that evening, they were able to accomplish several issues of paramount importance. Among the issues were: approving a support letter for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant involving large amounts of money for the city; finalizing and approving last fiscal year’s budget.
 
MEETING TO RESOLVE OPEN SEATS
Another Special Meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at the Nature Coast Biological Station’s Third Floor Classroom at 5 pm, to complete any unfinished business and deal with the three open seats.
At the meeting, a new mayor and vice-mayor will be selected. Applicants for the open seats will be processed.
OPEN SEATS UNTIL APRIL ELECTION
Three open seats will become available after the December meeting, in January 2024. Applicants should see City Clerk Jennifer Sylvester for the state and county mandated qualification form, which attests to one’s residency, and other specifics. Application forms will be due by Wednesday, December 27.
Applicants will have to complete and submit the new Form 6 Financial Disclosure document to the state even if they serve for only one meeting.
All three applicants will serve until the next election, which is scheduled for an April 3, 2024 vote, three months away.
OPEN SEATS FOR APRIL ELECTION
All three seats will be open again and voted upon on April 3.
Davis’s seat will be for a one-year term, as Davis had completed only one year of a two-year term. Sera’s and Rosenthal’s seats will be for two-year terms, as both had completed their terms and were up for reelection for another two-year term.
All commissioners must complete Form 6.