High Springs Elects New Mayor, Vice Mayor, Utility Rate Increases Hot Topic

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Two new members have joined the High Springs City Commission after their successful bids during the Nov. 7 City Commission race. At the Nov. 16, High Springs City Commission meeting, City Clerk Angela Stone administered the oath of office to newly-elected Commissioners Andrew Miller and Steven Tapanes. Once seated, the commission elected Katherine Weitz as mayor and Commissioner Tristan Grunder as vice-mayor.

Prior to the swearing in, the Commission held an organizational meeting for the outgoing Commission to finalize any unfinished business. The only item on their agenda received unanimous approval, which was a professional services agreement with Redspeed, Florida, LLC for a Traffic Safety Camera Program in the school zone.

Following approval, High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard recommended that the city attorney develop an ordinance for a future hearing. Outgoing Mayor Gloria James adjourned the meeting following a motion to do so by outdoing Commissioner Ross Ambrose.

With the new Commission seated, City Board members were selected. Miller was elected as the Chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Tapanes was elected vice chair.

Rate Increases

Finance Director Diane Wilson reviewed proposed Fiscal Year 2024 rates for water, sewer and solid waste and listed reasons for the increases. Wilson said that Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) should bring in additional revenue because those older meters will be replacing many inaccurate or dead meters that have been undercharging customers in the past. The exact amount of revenue increase was “uncertain,” said Wilson. She stressed that if the City doesn’t raise rates at all, there is a danger the City won’t have enough money to operate for the year.

Installation of the meters came later than anticipated as City Manager Ashley Stathatos said, “The meters had been delayed due to supply side problems. We anticipated receiving them much earlier than this.” Stathatos also said an increase wasn’t implemented sooner due to expected increased revenues from a development that was delayed.

During discussion, questions about a $350,000 solid waste contract expense led Commissioners to request that City Attorney Scott Walker and City Manager Ashley Stathatos go back to the drawing board with solid waste provider Waste Pro.

Commissioner Byran Williams and Vice-Mayor Grunder both recalled that Waste Pro said they were going to maintain the same rates as previous waste hauler, GFL, through the end of GFL’s contract period. Instead, said Weitz, Waste Pro had increased their rates, which means that the City has been charged more than the Commission originally agreed to pay.

The City had previously passed an ordinance to automatically increase rates on water, sewer and solid waste yearly by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) amount to keep up with inflation. However, Commissioners asked that the automatic increase be discussed at the next meeting after they received Stathatos’ report on the solid waste contract.

After some discussion, Miller made a motion to table the item until the Dec. 14 meeting. Tapanes seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Other City Business

In other City business, Duke Energy was denied approval for plans to have five electric vehicle charging stations located at Railroad Avenue and Main Street. The Commission referenced limited parking in downtown High Springs. Had the site plan been approved, it would have meant that Duke would restrict those parking areas for a period of 10 years.

Items Tabled or Postponed

Reports on Fiscal Year 2022 City and CRA audits were rescheduled to the Nov. 28 meeting after Commissioners were informed that the City’s auditors, James Moore and Co., were unable to attend the meeting.

Appointment to the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Board (MTPO) will also need to be voted on prior to their next MTPO meeting on Dec. 8.

Commissioners unanimously approved a traffic enforcement contract between the High Springs Police Department (HSPD) and Cinnamon Hills Estate Homeowners Association, a gated community. Sheppard said his officers would not be stationed at Cinnamon Hills or provide additional patrolling of the subdivision, but would be allowed to enter if service was requested.

The City has received a $1,040,000 Florida Legislature appropriated grant for the Priest Theater, which will pay to purchase the building, stabilize the structure and repair the roof. Stathatos reports that the City would not be required to provide a match and that the City can sell the building later, if they wished to do so. This item will be placed on a future agenda. Commissioners requested to see the appraisal of the building, updated structural assessment and operational costs.

Other Business

Bradley Riddle was appointed to the Plan Board. Arthur R. Testa, Jr. was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board. Jeffrey Dobbertien and James Amato were appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The city attorney announced an Ethics Training session at his office on Dec. 6, which is required yearly for commissioners.

Stathatos reported that the City has received a $3 million springs grant from the Water Management District. She said this was the number five approved project in the state.

She also announced that High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) Captain Kevin Pearson was at the meeting and Newberry’s Chief Vogel was acting as Interim Chief for the City.

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