COMMISSION MEETS
June 16, 2015
Meeting Specifics:
The Cedar Key City Commission met at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at City Hall.
Mayor Heath Davis, Vice Mayor Dale Register, and Commissioners Royce Nelson and Sue Colson were in attendance; newly-elected Commissioner Diana Topping was absent.
City Attorney Norm Fugate, Fire Chief Robert Robinson, City Clerk Teresa George, Public Works Director Bill Crandley, and Clerk’s Assistant Michael Hancock were in attendance; Police Chief Virgil Sandlin was absent.
In the audience were: Bryan Skarupski, Lou Jones, Allison Nelson, Ann O’Steen, Leslie Valen, John McPherson, Linda Dale, Jeri and Bob Treat, Dennis Gill, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:50 pm.
The meeting was followed by a short “workshop” in which the mayor, commissioners, and staff communicated.
COMMISION MEETING
PUBLIC COMMENT
Waste Pro Dock Street Concern:
Bryan’s Big Deck owner Bryan Skaraupski presented his concerns: that he has been assigned an additional trash can that he did not ask for and will not pay for; that, according to city ordinance, he should, and was not, spoken to before he was assigned the can; and that Waste Pro does not pick up garbage on national holidays as their employees are afforded the day off.
After much discussion, Mayor Davis, at Commissioner Nelson’s suggestion, requested that Skarupski and his fellow Dock Street entrepreneurs gather, reflect, and suggest to the city alternative ways to ease or lessen the trash collection problem on the street. Davis advised Skarupski that he would work on the extra can problem and return to him with information or a resolution.
Horse and Buggy Concern:
Resident Ann O’Steen expressed her concerns about Jeanne Morgan, the woman who operates the horse and buggy touring service on the island. O’Steen reported that Morgan directs her horse to haul the buggy on State Road 24, repeatedly fails to stop at stop signs, and rants caustically at her and others, including tourists, in public. O’Steen asked the commissioners why Morgan has not been arrested for these actions and for drunk driving. The complaint was corroborated by Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Leslie Valen and Vice-Mayor Dale Register.
Mayor Davis asked if O’Steen if she filed a complaint. O’Steen rapidly responded that indeed she had done so. Valen offered the information that another horse and buggy vendor recently came to town to do business, only to be upbraided by Morgan repeatedly. The new vendor will not return to Cedar Key, Valen reported. Valen also added that other numerous complaints have found their way to the Chamber office.
Mayor Davis explained that now he and Police Chief Virgil Sandlin are in charge of code enforcement and will address the issue and report back to O’Steen.
Hazardous Waste and Hurricane Awareness Day:
Commissioner Sue Colson thanked the Fire Chief and Emergency Operations Manager Robert Robinson, Public Works Director Bill Crandley, Public Works personnel Norm Hodge and Brian Hancock, the Woman’s Club, and everyone else who participated in the Tuesday, June 16, 2015, Hurricane Awareness and Hazardous Waste Day. She further thanked Clerk’s Assistant Michael Hancock and Mayor Davis for intervening to process the paperwork necessary to actualize the event.
RESTORE Act Update:
Commissioner Royce Nelson reported that the seven projects submitted by the city for RESTORE Act funding, in September of 2014, have been “rebundled” into three projects: the dredging of City Marina, improving storm water drains, and improving City Park. He plans to rewrite the three in more technical language and resubmit them.
Commissioners approved his request to be the official liaison for RESTORE Act correspondence and communication in the future.
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Property Annexation:
On its second reading, commissioners approved Ordinance 497, the annexation of the David E Thomas Jr. property on Whiddon Avenue.
CLERK’S OFFICE
Minutes Approval:
Commissioners unanimously approved the May 2, 20015, Cedar Key City Commission Meeting minutes.
PUBLIC WORKS
Chamber Flooring:
The Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce, currently operating in city-owned property, requested and received approval to replace the current threadbare flooring with new carpeting. Commissioners directed Public Works Director Bill Crandley to inspect the flooring during the process.
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.
WORKSHOP MEETING
Approximately five minutes after the closing of the commission meeting, Mayor Davis met with all commission members and all staff in attendance: Robinson, George, Crandley, and Hancock.
Davis explained that the Sunshine Law necessitated this workshop forum because the law dictates that he not talk about city business “out of the sunshine” or not in a publicly noticed forum.
Davis addressed several issues with the commissioners and staff. The recent glitch in Hazardous Waste Day paper flow was unnecessary and can be done more efficiently next time. Davis asked that commissioners be as thorough as possible in communicating information in writing about their specific projects in order to minimize the disruption in the city’s services when the person “in charge” is unavailable. Staff should be able to access a folder of information on each project and share information as needed. Davis also asked that when communicating, commissioners should copy other commissioners; this process will keep them all knowledgeable and updated.
The workshop adjourned at approximately 7:15 pm.
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