Chamber of Commerce Told of Charter Government

Chamber of Commerce Pres. Jaet Blackwell (l.) presents the Business of the Year Award to Bill and Alice Phillips of the Cedar Key Bed and Breakfast.

The Cedar Key Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting was held February 22. Bill Phillips, co-owner of the Cedar Key Bed and Breakfast provided the main event, a talk on charter government for Levy County and how it can be instituted. Later that evening Phillips and his wife Alice were surprised to receive the Chamber's Business of the Year Award. Also, Missy Jackson, the Event Coordinator for the April arts show sponsored by the Chamber, reported on plans for the arts show. Election of officers became the meeting's finale.

Phillips gave an outline of how a charter county government is formed. He said that petitions signed by fifteen percent of voters result in drafting a county constitution tailored to the needs of the county. The document is then voted on by registered voters. He said that nineteen Florida counties have chartered government, adding that tax reform at the local level is a particular advantage of having a charter. Also, charter counties have the right to hold recall elections when the voters see abuse of county office holders, a right not available in Levy County as a non-charter government.

Missy Jackson reported on the April arts show. She announced that 113 art exhibitors have been juried into the show, and that more applications to participate continue to come in. She also described the new plan for allowing the artists to set up their booths late Friday evening. Again, there will be a Saturday night artists' reception at the Cedar Key Arts Center, an event that has been well received in the past two years.

The election of officers resulted in Vice President Paul Rimavicus in charge until a candidate for President can be found. By acclimation, Sec. Kathy Carver, Treas. Doris Hellermann, Directors Terri Ezell and Sid Davidson were elected.