W3C ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE CONFLICT
The Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative and the Bronson Town Council met in Otter Creek on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 5:30 pm. Both W3C board members were in attendance: Town of Otter Creek Mayor Zim Padgett and Cedar Key Water and Sewer District Commissioner Sue Colson. Four of the five Bronson Town Council were in attendance: Mayor Bruce Greenlee, Vice Mayor Virginia Phillips, Reggie Stacey, and Rachel Meeks.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
This second meeting to resolve the conflict about ownership and operation of the well, located on Bronson property but paid for by the Department of Environmental Protection / Suwannee River Water Management District for W3C use, began with clear expectations from the W3C.
W3C Chair Zim Padgett and Board Member Sue Colson emphasized:
• that further delays in time are costing taxpayers dollars each day;
• that population growth is undeniably coming to the Bronson area, requiring the town to increase its water and wastewater services;
• that the advantages to Bronson re-joining the W3C would alleviate much of the growth issue;
• that the resolution to the well issue be speedy and fair.
Bronson Attorney, Walker Bullock, reported that his office “was reaching out” to three appraisers to price the one-acre property where the well is located. Padgett made clear that the one acre may need to be larger as the W3C needs access to the well and may put a water plant there.
Discussion among the Bronson contingent made manifest the fact that the Bronson Town Council has not agendized the W3C and its progress throughout the summer and to date, now late October. Bronson Mayor Greenlee noted that he still had a long list of questions and felt “talked down to” at former meetings.
Considering that not all Bronson Town Council members had been appraised, W3C Attorney Norm Fugate attempted to clarify W3C’s mission and progress in a terse, ordered presentation provided on screen and in hard copy. He clarified:
• the License Agreement for the land the well sits upon,
• the agreement regarding an entity’s withdrawal from W3C,
• the multiple practical and monetary advantages of Bronson’s inclusion in W3C,
• the State of Florida’s preference for regional water solutions instead of smaller, individual municipal efforts,
• the ongoing water and wastewater efforts now underway,
• and much, much more.
RESOLUTION
The Bronson group agreed to discuss the well issue at its next meeting in early November. Another conflict resolution meeting will be scheduled shortly thereafter to share the results. Should no resolution occur, legislated mediation is the next step in the process.
MEETING ADJOURNED
The meeting adjourned at 7 pm.
IN ATTENDANCE:
Staff in attendance included: W3C Attorney Norm Fugate, Bronson Attorney Walker Bullock, and W3C Secretary Sherrie Yost.
Among those in the audience were: Suwannee River Water Management District’s Chris Eskelin, Cedar Key Water and Sewer District’s Joe Hand and General Manager John Rittenhouse, Bronson City Manager Amanda Huber, HardisonInk’s Jeff Hardison, and Cedar Key News’ Mandy and Frank Offerle
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