W3C MET MARCH 2024
23 FEBRUARY 2024
The Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, the W3C, met in the Cedar Key City Hall on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 9 am.
LEGAL SERVICES
The Fugate and Fugate Law Firm of Cedar Key / Williston was welcomed to the W3C as its counsel. Attorney Norm Fugate’s questions of consultants was clarifying to all. Fugate pointed out that the contract may be negated upon request; no term limits are contained within. Board members unanimously approved the contract.
The Fugate and Fugate Law Firm of Cedar Key / Williston was welcomed to the W3C as its counsel. Attorney Norm Fugate’s questions of consultants was clarifying to all. Fugate pointed out that the contract may be negated upon request; no term limits are contained within. Board members unanimously approved the contract.
Fugate noted that the board members need W3C email addresses and the W3C needs a website. He and the administrative assistant will follow up on these two items.
JUTURNA CONSULTANT HIRED
Juturna Consultant Suzannah Folsom was hired last month to produce a Request for Qualifications for Engineering Services. At this meeting, she requested another meeting to determine precisely what the board wanted:
• one firm to manage the project and who would oversee the smaller tasks within the project or
• multiple firms to manage the smaller tasks preset by the board.
Juturna Consultant Suzannah Folsom was hired last month to produce a Request for Qualifications for Engineering Services. At this meeting, she requested another meeting to determine precisely what the board wanted:
• one firm to manage the project and who would oversee the smaller tasks within the project or
• multiple firms to manage the smaller tasks preset by the board.
It was decided that the RQ will request a firm that would draw up a complete facilities plan.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT HIRED
A Beauchamp and Edwards, CPA’s administrative assistant was assigned to and hired by the W3C to replace Sue Beaudet. She presented a simple eight-line budget covering October 2023 to date.
A Beauchamp and Edwards, CPA’s administrative assistant was assigned to and hired by the W3C to replace Sue Beaudet. She presented a simple eight-line budget covering October 2023 to date.
PURCHASING POLICY
The purchasing policy submitted by CKWSD Attorney Evan Rosenthal was tabled until the new W3C Attorney Norm Fugate has an opportunity to study it.
The purchasing policy submitted by CKWSD Attorney Evan Rosenthal was tabled until the new W3C Attorney Norm Fugate has an opportunity to study it.
BILLS PAID
Two bills came before the board for approval to pay: an additional $1,000 bill from Town of Bronson Attorney Steven Warm and a Levy Citizen invoice for advertising the W3C 2024 meeting dates. The Citizen bill was approved for payment unanimously. Board member Zim Padgett requested further clarification of the $1,000; ultimately, the Warm bill was approved with a two-to-one vote.
Two bills came before the board for approval to pay: an additional $1,000 bill from Town of Bronson Attorney Steven Warm and a Levy Citizen invoice for advertising the W3C 2024 meeting dates. The Citizen bill was approved for payment unanimously. Board member Zim Padgett requested further clarification of the $1,000; ultimately, the Warm bill was approved with a two-to-one vote.
GRANT WRITING
Shannon Williams of Gateway Grant Writing of Lake City was welcomed to the group. Attorney Fugate noted a $500 error in the Gateway proposal; Williams recognized the error and plans to resubmit a corrected contract. Board members unanimously approved the to-be-corrected contract.
Shannon Williams of Gateway Grant Writing of Lake City was welcomed to the group. Attorney Fugate noted a $500 error in the Gateway proposal; Williams recognized the error and plans to resubmit a corrected contract. Board members unanimously approved the to-be-corrected contract.
BOARD EXPANSION UNRESOLVED
The W3C board was conceived and initiated consisting of one member for each of the three participating municipalities ‘and entities: City of Bronson, Town of Otter Creek, and the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District.
The W3C board was conceived and initiated consisting of one member for each of the three participating municipalities ‘and entities: City of Bronson, Town of Otter Creek, and the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District.
Throughout 2023, and in multiple meetings prior to that, discussion centered on adding one more member from each municipality and one from the county, totaling seven.
At the January 2024 meeting, Chair Partin announced that the three members from the municipalities would remain, and two more members would be added, one from the county and one from the Levy County School Board. Board members approved the change.
At this February 2024 meeting, CKWSD General Counsel Evan Rosenthal reported the school board member does not meet the requirements in the interlocal agreement chartering the W3C. No resolution was achieved. The lawyers will investigate further.
At this meeting, March 2024, after the necessary postponement of this meeting for a week due to one board member’s emergency, the situation remains unresolved. Partin reported that he was still “working on” the Levy County Commissioner representative and the Levy County School Board representative. Both additions would necessitate an interlocal agreement change.
When asked why two of the board members do not have an alternate chosen from their board or staff that could sit in the absentee’s stead, the questioner received the following answers: the Sunshine Law, lack of knowledge of the W3C project on the part of the alternate, to one board member having no one that could be an alternate.
Suggestions came from the audience to fast tract the situation: appoint one more person per participant and direct the attorney to change the interlocal agreement this day, and others. No resolution occurred.
IN ATTENDANCE
The full Athree-member board was in attendance: Chairperson Robert Partin, Bronson Mayor; Vice Chair Joe Hand, Cedar Key Water and Sewer District Board Member; and Zim Padgett, Otter Creek Councilor.
The full Athree-member board was in attendance: Chairperson Robert Partin, Bronson Mayor; Vice Chair Joe Hand, Cedar Key Water and Sewer District Board Member; and Zim Padgett, Otter Creek Councilor.
Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative Attorney Norm Fugate attended and has replaced both CKWSD Counsel Evan Rosenthal and Town of Bronson Attorney Steven Warm. Beauchamp’s appointed person was in attendance with Town of Bronson Town Manager Sue Beaudet, whom she will replace.
Among those in attendance were:, Cedar Key Mayor Sue Colson, Cedar Key Water and Sewer District General Manager John Rittenhouse, CKWSD Board Member Johnathan Ferguson, Wetland Solutions Vice President and Water Resources Engineer Scott Wright via Zoom, Dewberry’s Amy Tracy, Economic Development Coordinator for Representative Kat Cammack Jeannie Rickman, Mittauer Vice Attorney Norm Fugate, Gateway’s Shannon Williams via Zoom, Robert Beauchamp’ appointment, Dennis Davis, Juturna’s Suzannah Folsom and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30 pm.
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