The City Commission held it`s usual meeting June 19, with a long and varied agenda. However, the opening statement to the Board was an item not on the agenda, a report by David Beach, in a special appearance before the City Commission: Mr. Beach reported a problem with our water, defined by the Suwannee River Management District, that testing which has been ongoing for two weeks has identified chlorides in the drinking water. The solution will take some time however, bottled water will be delivered to the community center and then to the public free of charge. It was suggested that people who rely on City water show up with ID provided by water bill or your residency card.
A temporary or semi permanent fix will be put in place, however, water will also be trucked in by tanker, and that will address the issue of potable water until a solution is found. The issue is that the problem cannot at present be fixed; without getting a salinity reading and the results of testing are changing by the hour presently. The problem has accelerated by salt water intrusion in a well on SR 24 which has exceeded limits acceptable for drinking water. The water management board needs to figure out what type of system will be put into place for a long term remedy. The Emergency Management System has already called residents to inform them of the nature of the problem. Some remedies are immediately available, and it is important to note that citizens need to be aware that they may bathe, and wash dishes, this is not a bacterial problem. However, chlorides will affect safety as to drinking and cooking. The discussion as follows was between city commissioners and the public. The names of the persons whose comments follow, are written as they identified themselves.
GENE: You can use water for other purposes, bathing and wash dishes.
SUE: Water tanker trucks will dispense larger quantities, police need to monitor the trucks which will dispense the water, and the garage portion of the community center will be the place to hold bottled water and citizens will be able to pick up the water.
DALE: What is the size requirement of the garage, in order to house the necessary water?
ROBERT, Fire Department: Plans will change to accommodate changing situations.
DAVE: How about the National Guard? Can they be called in to provide assistance?
GENE: Leave the question of where to distribute water open ended so we can be flexible.
DALE: Is the problem solely due to the drought?
BEACH: Yes, Fluctuations -.25 in a monitoring well located between Cedar Key and Fowler`s Bluff indicate very low water in the aquifer.
SUE: Conservation is now an absolute must at this point.
Judy Duvall: Have any approvals to use huge amounts of water been given lately to outside enterprises?
SUE: ST JOHN`s(Water Management District) have over -allocated their share, and the aquifer has no boundaries. Unfortunately, we do not have any jurisdiction.
BOB Treat: Currently there are moratoriums based upon your residence. These will be enforced and it may be necessary to impose a complete moratorium on water usage.
GENE: The water district is the entitiy which enforces the moratorium.
CINDY BONISH: How will we be notified?
Chris Cowart: District has adopted this measure, and this needs to be made public knowledge.
TOM: Wished to inform the commission he has a system in his home, but it does not remove chlorides.
BEACH- A personal reverse osmosis system will remove chlorides. In other business, the Summer Youth Program as sponsored by the city has been extended two weeks, and there will be a tuition increase to cover costs. If any citizen is interested in donating money for sponsorship of a child, please call Molly at 543-5463 or bring money to City Hall. Sue Colson suggested an appeal to the press, to ask for sponsorships, needs for snacks and drinks. The families with more than one child may find the additional tuition to be too much, Can the public sponosr some of the children? Gene Hodges said he will sponsor 2 kids. The apartment complex on Sixth Street which is for sale was suggested by the police as a fire hazard, and a remedy was sought. The structure is in disrepair and is being used by transients as a flop house, and is a depository for stolen items. The suggested remedy by Chief Virgil Sandlin was to board up the structure and place a contrator`s lien against the property in order to prevent a situation which is a public safety concern. The commission referred the matter to the City Attorney, Norm Fugate, who will write a letter to the owner of record. The City Attorney also gave a final reading to Ordinance 480; allowing for immobilization of vehicles located in the Marina parking lot that have three or more unpaid launch fee citations.
In addition the City Attorney gave a final reading to Ordinance 481; prohibiting the transfer of cemetary rights without city approval. The Audit Report as presented by Terry Kite of Purvis & Gray was heard by the commission. Discussion of the long term debt and transfer of assets to pay down the debt was a focus of discussion. Due to the absence of Josh Wilson, the board postponed a number of proposals until the next meeting July 3, 2012. | 