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HIGH SPRINGS – High Springs commissioners will address the issue of civility at a workshop set for Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. This workshop follows several commission discussions in March regarding civility, which were initially sparked by resident and commissioner complaints regarding comments posted by one commissioner on his blog.

A resolution was drafted at the time, which delineated what residents should be able to expect of their elected officials. The resolution failed to pass amid controversy about freedom of speech and commissioners decided instead to hold a workshop to update the Rules and Procedures Handbook for Commissioners, which was originally adopted on March 10, 2011. The workshop will be held in the High Springs Commission meeting room.

In other City business, commissioners unanimously approved an application for the use of the Civic Center on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, by the High Springs Mission Society for their annual community Thanksgiving banquet. Approval was also granted to waive the fees for the use of the facility for this event.

Commissioners supported the City Manager’s need for at least a part-time technology employee to upgrade the City’s website, among other things. City Manager Ed Booth said he would include it as part of his budget adjustments for the next meeting.

Although the City received one application from Suzie Ann Clark, previous chair of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, to fill a vacancy on that board, Commissioner Barnas moved to table the item and Commissioner Gestrin seconded to allow the city clerk time to ask the alternates on that board if they would like to fill the seat.

Commissioners discussed the possible acquisition of the chapel from St. Madeline’s Catholic Church, but declined to approve the action citing maintenance and the possibility that the building would be used by people looking for a place to sleep at night.

Following a discussion about the proper procedure to change the City Employee Manual regarding employee vacation, sick leave and compensatory time, City Clerk Jenny Parham explained that the Employee Manual was originally approved by ordinance and another ordinance would be required to change it. During discussion, City Manager Booth said he would contact the Florida League of Cities to determine what was usual and customary as a maximum. Commissioner Linda Gestrin commented that it was what the City of High Springs could afford that was important rather than what other cities do. Mayor Sue Weller suggested the City include a line item in the budget “when we know someone is going to retire” to pay out vacation or sick leave rather than have the money paid out of the department’s budget. Currently, the City allows employees to carry forward annually 1,040 maximum hours of sick leave, 320 hours vacation time for department heads and 240 hours for non-department heads.

Commissioner Barnas questioned how the use of the Community Center for a 40-hour a week summer camp was approved without at least notifying the commissioners. Clearly expressing his concern that “back door deals” were being made “under the table,” City Manager Booth said he was planning to inform commissioners during the City Manager Report, near the end of the meeting, but Barnas beat him to it.

Commissioner Barnas expressed concern that the procedure for budget amendments would get the City into another lawsuit. City Attorney Scott Walker explained that Statute 166.241 determined the procedure for all municipalities. Reading the portion of the statute that applied to the issue in question, Walker further stated he had checked with appropriate parties to determine if his interpretation of the process was correct. He indicated he had confirmation that the process the City is following is appropriate and within the guidelines of the statute.

Both City Clerk Parham and City Attorney Walker assured commissioners that all records are being scanned at this point and will be sent to Municipal Code for codification and publication in the near future.

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      HIGH SPRINGS – Following University of Florida Soil Laboratory testing of soil removed from five different locations in the sinkhole next to High Springs City Hall, City Manager Ed Booth said that the test results show no adverse environmental impact to the soil.

The samples were taken by Booth in response to concerns expressed at a commission meeting as part of a discussion on re-closing the road behind City Hall, which had temporarily been re-opened late in November 2012. Although no report of environmental impact had been noted at the time, Booth said he believed this was the best course of action to take to accurately access the situation.

“We could have called for an environmental assessment,” he said at that time, “but that would have cost money and they would have done exactly what I did.” Soil sample testing was provided to the City at no cost by the University of Florida according to Booth.

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 HAWTHORNE – Hawthorne’s upcoming June 11 city election for commission members is set with the official candidates after the qualifying period ended April 24.

Seats one, three and five on the commission are up for election. Commissioner William Carlton is running unopposed for seat three and Mayor Matthew Surrency is running unopposed for seat 5. Vice Mayor Tommie Howard is running for re-election for seat one, but unlike Carlton and Surrency, he has an opponent.

Harry Carter has tossed his hat in the ring and will face off against Howard, a friend and fellow member of the American Legion Post 230, a patriotic veterans organization.

Carter has previously served on the commission and opted to get involved with Hawthorne municipal government once again.

“I think I did a good job before and I can make a difference,” said Carter in a recent interview.

Finishing up his first term on the commission, this will be the second election for Howard, but his first contested campaign.

“I’ve always prided myself as being the voice of the people,” he said. “I am a work horse, not a show horse.”

Both candidates expect to begin their campaigns soon with printed posters, signs and making sure Hawthorne’s citizens have their voices heard.

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Something for everyone

The 37th annual Pioneer Days brought out both the good guys and the villains for a high action weekend of festivities in High Springs.  

 HIGH SPRINGS – The James Paul Park in High Springs was a festival visitor’s paradise on Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. The area bustled with activity from approximately 5,000 visitors, more than 30 fine arts and crafts booths, Heritage Village with pioneer demonstrators, non-stop music, Kids Korral, the Festival Food Court, business expos, a farmer’s market and the addition of the newly-created Railroad and Black History Museums, both of which were located in the old school house building.

      There was something for everyone to enjoy and the weather did not disappoint with sunshine and breezy conditions throughout both days. Heritage Village, with everyone dressed in period garb, boasted demonstrations of an old-fashioned spinning wheel, blacksmithing and the Rose Creek Band of Muskogee Indians, who demonstrated various crafts, tribal customs, ceremonial dances and talked about life during pioneer days. They shared related displays with visitors as well as providing a lean-to type of structure common during pioneer days.

      Historic Dudley Farms State Park sent over one of their old tractors to help complete the pioneer era mood. Visitors got a little chuckle when they saw the sign on the back which read, “I’m not leaking oil, I’m marking territory.”

      Booths were set up around the sinkhole and parking areas with artists and crafters selling craft items and some fine art. Wooden turned bowls, mugs, cutting boards and pens were displayed in one booth. Another had handmade soaps. Decorative signs, homemade jams and jellies, outdoor wood furniture, sand art, water beads and jewelry were among some of the items available for purchase.

      “We also had 14 business expo vendors this year,” explained one festival volunteer. Community not-for-profit organizations churches and retail businesses were on hand to answer questions and discuss their businesses with interested visitors.

      Pioneer Days wouldn’t be complete with out a visit from the much-appreciated pioneer cowboy re-enactment group, Not So Young Cowboys. They came dressed to the hilt in cowboy regalia, complete with silver-handled pistols, and re-enacted shoot-outs between the bad guys and the good guys four times daily to the delight of children and their parents.

      Big Red from K-Country kept things lively with a K-Country remote and couldn’t resist participating in the shoot outs along with the re-enactors.

      Music in the Park Series proudly served as the music host for the 37th Annual Pioneer Days Event and was sponsored by Hardees of High Springs. Twelve different musical groups were on hand to entertain during the two-day event. Michael Loveday, Music in the Park organizer, explained that a different group performed every hour.

      Visitors enjoyed Kettle Korn, corn on the cob, hot dogs and hamburgers, slushies, barbecue, pulled pork and chicken, fried pickles, corn dogs and funnel cakes as they visited booths, Kids Korral and Heritage Village. Some clubs and organizations sold food to raise money for their own or another organization. The Elks Club donated proceeds from the sale of their barbecue to High Springs Community School’s Music Department and the sale of corn on the cob to the Save the Priest effort. Kiwanis Club members plan to use the proceeds of their sales to do more projects in the community.

      The Priest Theatre participated in the event by holding free tours of the theater and offering free showings of the western classic, “Winchester 73,” starring James Stewart and Shelley Winters. Donations were accepted and went toward the Save the Priest campaign.

      “We couldn’t have ordered up a more perfect weekend for a festival,” said one festival goer. “This has been the best attendance I have seen at this festival for the past five years that I have been coming to Pioneer Days,” said one veteran festival visitor. “Attendance was steady to downright crazy busy, exclaimed one of the festival organizers. “Saturday afternoon was especially busy,” she said.

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HIGH SPRINGS – A railroad museum may be in the future for High Springs. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is looking into the old railroad station, which housed The Station Bakery & Café for several years, in an effort to secure a permanent location for the High Springs Railroad Museum,

City Manager Ed Booth spoke with the building owner on behalf of the CRA and said the owner was interested in renting or selling the building.

CRA members are acting on requests from the public to establish a permanent location for a railroad museum as a way to preserve the importance of the railroad to the community.

Booth said that once the Florida Department of Transportation begins talks with CSX Railroad about the Rails-to-Trails program, he hopes the City will be able to obtain a locomotive from CSX for the museum.

The Railroad Museum and restoration of the front of the Priest Theater are two projects earmarked by the CRA.

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ALACHUA – Alachua city commissioner Shirley Green Brown celebrated her first anniversary pn the City Commission by becoming Alachua’s new vice mayor April 22.

Brown has served on the Alachua City Commission since April 2012. She succeeded Commissioner Robert Wilford as vice mayor and will hold the position for a year.

“I was humbled and honored by the nomination,” Brown said.

Brown has been an Alachua resident for about 40 years. She worked for the Alachua County School Board for 31 years and taught at Alachua Elementary School and W.W. Irby Elementary School. She continues to be involved with education by tutoring students in the community.

She retired as a career-speech and language pathologist in 2012.

Brown is active in the Alachua community with involvement in many organizations.

Brown is a member of the Friends of the Library, President of the Alachua Woman’s Club and serves on the School Advisory Council for Irby Elementary School. She is also the leadership chairperson for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Mu Upsilon Omega Chapter and a State of Florida Special Olympics representative.

In her term as Vice Mayor, Brown hopes to increase jobs, improve youth programs and continue to promote the revitalization of the city of Alachua.

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