CEDAR KEY
CITY COMMISSION MET
21 December 2021
COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSED
WASTE PRO, RECYCLING...
MEETING SPECIFICS
The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at 6 pm, at the Cedar Key City Hall for its regular monthly meeting. Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Sue Colson, and Commissioners Jim Wortham, Susan Rosenthal, and Nancy Sera.
Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Chief Virgil Sandlin, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain, Receptionist Telicia Winfield, Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester, Police Officer Cody Wetherington, and Legal Assistant to Norm Fugate Lee Anne E. Rohrer.
Among those in the audience were: Tabitha Lauer, Scott Wright, Tom Deverin, Venessa and Ken Edmunds, Scott Wright, George Sresovich, Guy Scialdone, Kristie Scialdone, Danielle Cardone, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
The meeting was Zoomed. Only one person in the room wore a mask.
Addressing Covid, Mayor Heath Davis reported ultraviolet lights in the room and fans at a standstill. The irregular wastewater testing program being conducted at the University of Florida will attempt to include omicron detection, reported Vice-Mayor Sue Colson.
PUBLIC COMMENT
FOURTH STREET CONSTRUCTION QUESTIONED
Resident Guy Scialdone, 782 Fourth Street, objecting to the construction of a new home directly south of and contiguous to his home, presented a packet to commissioners detailing what he termed "architectural inconsistency." Scialdone's packet cited the city’s Comprehensive Plan and its Historic Preservation Goals and its Land Development Regulations. He requested that the house be brought before the Cedar Key Historical Review Board. Though the new construction is not within the Historic District, Scialdone stated that within a 500 foot radius of the proposed structure there are 31 building on the list of historic buildings. He requested the city to intervene on the basis of perceived architectural incongruity.
Scaildone inquired if the house has a permit. He was informed that the project has been permitted.
Mayor Davis responded that it would best if the commissioners do not comment at this time as the project may come back as a commission item in the future. Davis said a response should come to Scialdone in early January.
THANKS TO STAFF
Vice-Mayor Colson thanked city staff for the successful holiday event that featured Santa Claus and offered presents and dinner to children and their parents.
HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATE
A replacement for recently retired Public Works employee Brian Hancock has been hired. The committee continues to search for and interview candidates for the city clerk position.
LONG-RANGE WATER NEEDS
Mayor Davis reported that recently a group of individuals, including Suwannee River Water Management District representatives, met to talk about reginal long-range water needs and possible solutions. He characterized the meeting as positive.
BUSINESS
PARKING CITATIONS
Approximately a year ago, the City of Cedar Key contracted with Kinum, a collection agency out of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to send notices to those individuals who have not paid tickets issued by the city. Thus far Kinum has contacted 91 persons, 30 of whom have paid, totaling $1,670. Less the Kinum annual contract fee of $1,450, the city was awarded $229. The contract is up for renewal.
Commissioners unanimously voted to renew the contract.
WASTE PRO CONTRACT, RECYCLING
WastePro's contract with the city is overdue; currently they are engaged monthly. In recent months, Commissioner Nancy Sera has been working with Waste Pro's Tripp Lancaster and Dayna Miller to finalize the contract.
Regarding recycling, resident and Cedar Key Conservation Corner initiator Tom Deverin asked what the part in the contract about education meant, noting its vagueness. Deverin made the point that recycling's success in the past rested upon an active, thorough community education plan. He asked how much money would be set aside and what would be done to educate the community. Vice-Mayor Colson said money would be available for refrigerator magnets and the like.
Lancaster said they would agree to meet the Levy County standards with regards to recycling.
Commissioner Sera went on to detail questions she had for the commissioners' approval. After some time, Colson articulated some of the concerns she believed needed to be included. Spillage and leakage, the lack of cleanup, and containage was mentioned.
After about a half hour, Davis turned the conversation to Waste Pro truck visits to town weekly. He alluded to the fact that fewer trucks coming to town would be more economical and that recycling and garbage put into one truck would diminish the number of trucks coming to town weekly by two.
To the distress of Sera and Colson, Davis suggested that he, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain, and receptionist Telicia Winfield, would return to the commission with an abbreviated contract for approval.
ORDINANCE 547 FLORIDA'S NATURE COAST CONSERVANCY ANNEXATION
Commissioners unanimously approved annexation of the Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy-owned Cull Preserve into the City of Cedar Key on its first reading.
ORDINANCE 548 ALCOHOL REGULATION
On its fist reading, commissioners unanimously approved removing the word "church" and "churches" from the Laws of Cedar Key Chapter Two, Section 2.02.04, which regulates the proximity to which alcohol may be sold or imbibed.
COMMISSIONERS' CONCERNS
STUDENT SUMMER PROGRAM FUNDRAISER GALA
Vice-Mayor Colson reported that she was in favor of not doing the Gala next year. Mayor Davis said that the Gala “was a good idea and that it is as a good idea to drop it.”
POLICE CHIEF REPLACEMENT
Commissioner Jim Wortham questioned the search timeline for police chief. Human Resource Committee Chair Davis reported that the process has begun.
NORTH FLORIDA TURNPIKE EXTENSION
Commissioner Wortham reported that much discussion and many meetings were occurring recently about the North Florida Turnpike Extension.
For further information, click here: https://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/community/6885-toll-roadspetition
MEETING ADJOURNED
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm and was followed by the Land Planning Agency meeting.
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