Local

Alachua achieved unqualified opinions on basic financial statements, federal awards and state project sections, which is the highest rating a city can receive. All comments or concerns from prior years had been addressed, including an issue that could have placed the city in a financial emergency several years ago.

Ron Whitesides of Purvis Gray & Company informed commissioners that a previous $1.7 million deficit in restricted funds had been converted into a $3.6 million excess. While residents faced rate increases, the city managed to turn around all the deteriorating conditions, and Whitesides presented a clean audit to the commission.

“It’s night and day from where we were in 2009,” Commissioner Ben Boukari said.

The 2008-2009 fiscal year audit report, which was presented in early 2010 revealed an unreserved fund balance deficit of $1,720,770 as reported on the governmental funds balance sheet, and unrestricted net assets deficit of $310,782, as reported on the proprietary funds statement of net assets.

Shortly after the auditor’s assessment in 2010, Alachua City Manager Traci Cain met with staff, a meeting which resulted in $1.2 million in cuts from the city’s annual budget. The city raised utility rates, resolved a problem with the utility billing software and implemented a hiring freeze. Due primarily to those actions, the city saw improvements within one fiscal year.

In 2011, at the 2009-2010 audit presentation, the city was in better financial shape as Whitesides reported that the city had reduced its deficit from $1.7 million to $15,771.

After hearing the good news this year resulting from the most recent audit report, the commission thanked Cain and her staff for their hard work.

“I am so proud of the finance department, our management team and the entire staff,” said Cain. “They have worked really hard, especially during these challenging economic times to be creative, to be resourceful, to be diligent and everything that we’ve done to ensure the citizens of Alachua have the infrastructure and the services that they’ve needed to maintain the quality of life that they’re used to and that’s attracted so many people to call the Good Life Community home.”

Old West shootouts complete with desperadoes and smoking guns set the stage for the 36^th Annual Pioneer Days in High Springs this past weekend.

 HIGH SPRINGS – Steven Warren stood armed near a house, “Come out, and no one will be hurt,” he shouted across the dirt space.

“Like I’m gonna believe that,” one man barked from the house.

More words were exchanged, but finally Warren gave orders to an armed gang surrounding the area. “Alright boys, let’s take ‘em.”

As the gang started to approach the house, a loud crack interrupted the attack. The men scrambled to take cover as a shootout between the gang and the family inside the house began.

When the gang tried to flank the house, the encroaching attacker fell to the ground with a thud.

He wasn’t really dead, though. The “gang member” was part of the “Not So Young Guns,” a team of men and women who travel around the state performing reenactments.

There were four showings of the reenactment in downtown High Springs Saturday and Sunday. It was part of the 36^th Annual Pioneer Days. More than 38 vendors participated in the town’s annual return to the 19^th Century time of cowboys, presented by the High Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Ocklawaha resident Barbara W. Silagi watched a man nearby crack a whip on the dirt road. He could kill a rattlesnake with that if he wanted to, she said.

While the whip cracked back and forth, Silagi continued spinning threads of fabric into pendants. She was wearing a floral-printed bonnet and a matching long-sleeved dress that flowed down to the ground.

Silagi wasn’t the only one to dress up for the event. There was a kids costume contest on Saturday, featuring children from toddlers to 9-year-olds. Alyssa Bunkley, 4, of Gilchrist County, donned a lime green bonnet and matching long dress that her great-grandmother made for her. She tied for first place in her age division.

Wildwood resident Harry Driggers showed his enthusiasm for the pioneer days in a different way. He brought his prized covered wagon on Saturday. The wagon was originally purchased in Montana in 1912. Driggers purchased the sheep herder wagon in 2007 and restored it to look authentic.

Driggers said his interest in the pioneer era stemmed from his father, who was one of the “old Florida cracker cowboys.” His father worked the cattle near Paynes Prairie, Driggers said.

Retired from a career in law enforcement, Driggers returns to a more peaceful lifestyle in Wildwood. He said the wagon both reminds him of his heritage, but is also kind of like a toy for him.

“When you get old you gotta have something to play with,” Driggers said.

Other vendors presented their products in a more modern way. Melissa Diedricks, of Ambrosia Candies, didn’t dress up in pioneer costumes to sell peanut brittle, but enjoyed seeing the costumed visitors walk up and down the street of vendors. “We love all the costumes,” she said.

Another vendor, Shauna Lee, of High Springs, came to advertise her new business, Vintage Fudge. Lee said that the fudge shop will open on Main Street, across from The Great Outdoors Restaurant.

Visitors could enjoy live music from Cowboy Dave, Velvetta Underground, Chris Newman and other musicians at the gazebo, judge the pie contest entries at Heritage Village and then grab a seat for the shootout.

Many of the visitors said the food and atmosphere keep them coming back to the annual event, but the younger visitors were intrigued by the bounce houses and rock climbing in the Kids Korral. Kaelyn Kinney, 5, of High Springs, said her favorite part of the event was the slide.

Sandra Webb, the events manager for the High Springs Chamber of Commerce, said that although this year’s parade was cancelled, she feels like this year’s event was a success. She said the volunteers from the Criminal Justice Academy at Newberry High School ensured the event ran smoothly.

“Everyone seems like they’re having a good day,” she said.

During a city commission workshop on Thursday, May 3, the commission directed City Finance Services Director Helen McIver to calculate numbers based on a five percent increase in the sewer base rate for both residential and commercial users, and a jump from 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of usage allowed on residential sewer bills without extra charge. Vice-Mayor Bob Barnas also proposed a $10 monthly charge on vacant properties as the City has already invested in the infrastructure to serve those properties.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction to cure the problem of our bill,” Barnas said.

Currently, the city finds itself $8.5 million in debt to pay for the sewer system. As it is now, residents pay $34.41 for the first 5,000 gallons of sewer usage each month, and commercial users pay $46.44 for the first 5,000 gallons used.

In an earlier commission meeting, Barnas told the commission that sewer rates would have to be set at $63.86 to cover the cost of the sewer debt and its operating expenses, but that would not provide enough for a profit.

“If we don’t get it corrected in the next few years, the state will step in and they will correct it. They will raise your fees and they won’t ask you,” said High Springs Mayor Dean Davis. Even though he ran on a platform on not raising taxes, Davis said during the meeting that, at the time, he did not realize how dire the situation was.

Sewer is the city’s biggest concern, said McIver.  Even with money being transferred from the water fund, the sewer has eroded its reserves.  McIver estimated that the city needs an additional $75,000 to $100,000 in sewer revenue annually to keep the sewer fund afloat, especially since there has been a decline in water revenue over the past four years.

With rising maintenance costs and warranties expiring, McIver said she would lean toward the latter to cover the future expenses.

During the May 3 workshop, the commission agreed not to increase water or garbage rates for the time being. However, a $1 increase on garbage was discussed, and may be looked at in the future. The city considered an audit on garbage users to ensure all those using city garbage services are being charged.

The commission hopes to use the USDA $1.6 million grant funding to conduct a study to evaluate the performance of the sewer system.

City manager Jeri Langman said the city’s engineering firm maintains that similar systems in other communities have a significantly longer lifespan while experiencing fewer problems, adding that the study “…would go a long way in helping us provide better service to our residents, to find out what the issues are…”

If USDA approves use of the funds to pay for the study, the city will then send it out for bid. After bids are received, the City will have 60 days to provide plans to the USDA.

At the April 26 commission meeting, Vice-Mayor Bob Barnas requested that the commission hold a workshop to discuss potential rate changes. That workshop has been scheduled for Thursday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m., City Manager Jeri Langman said.

While the vast majority of the estimated 1,100 sewer customers currently pay $34.41 for the first 5,000 gallons of usage each month, Barnas said the sewer rates would have to increase to $63.86 to pay for the cost of the sewer. This figure would not allow for the city to make a profit, simply cover debt and operating expenses.

Currently, commercial customers pay $46.44 for the first 5,000 gallons.  After the first 5,000 gallons, both residential and commercial customers pay $6.87 per 1,000 gallons of usage.

In early March, the commission said the city was $8.5 million in debt because of the sewer, and Barnas pointed out a $40,000 deficit on the 2011-2012 fiscal year in the sewer fund during the April 19 budget workshop. All five of the commissioners listed the sewer as one of their top priorities. In the past, the city has taken money from the water fund to cover the rising sewer debt, Barnas said.

During the April 19 workshop, Commissioner Scott Jamison expressed concern about the fact that some High Springs residents had already paid in money to the sewer when installations were being made. He paid $6,000, but other neighborhoods were covered by grant money and didn’t have to pay anything for the installation.

In December 2011, Mayor Dean Davis, Barnas and Commissioner Linda Gestrin opposed raising water, sewer or solid waste rates, despite the fact that the increase had already been factored into the fiscal year budget. At the time, Finance Services Director Helen McIver warned the commission that not passing the rate increase could create a $70,000 shortfall in the budget.

During the April 26 meeting, the commission also discussed the possibility of refinancing the sewer debt. However, City Manager Jeri Langman said that refinancing through the government program the city had in mind would be impossible because the program was only for transportation debt.

Langman said she could continue to search for options, but felt the city would have trouble showing its ability to repay. Barnas said he would keep searching for options and report back to the commission.

On July 1, the city must report to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office the decision it makes regarding the CCC. If High Springs chooses to stay with the County, the city will be required to rename its streets and change street signs to be consistent with the rest of the county.

Alachua County operates on a grid system, which is centered on Gainesville’s University Avenue and Main Street. Because street addresses in High Springs do not conform to the grid system, when a call comes into the CCC, the current street names direct emergency responders to two separate addresses, one in High Springs and one in another part of Alachua County.

The cost of returning to a city-operated dispatch may be more than the city can afford, even though the commission seems to be in favor of bringing it back. Ron Langman, City Manager Jeri Langman’s husband, worked with city employee Ginger Travers and city Finance Services Director Helen McIver to provide the commission with estimates of the additional costs High Springs may incur if the transition occurs.

Ron Langman said the city could end up paying between $104,958 and $130,486 more a year than they already pay with the Alachua County Combined Communication Center. Annually, it is estimated the city’s local dispatch could cost between $225,072 and $246,100. Currently, the City of High Springs pays an annual average of $82,111 for the CCC.

Commissioner Linda Gestrin advocates bringing the dispatch back to the city to create autonomy. She said it is a drawing point to people searching for a future hometown that High Springs has its own police department and fire department.

“I’d like to express my reservations about the process of granting an MOU, which guarantees future employment to an individual employee. Let me emphasize, my concern is with the process, not the individual,” Commissioner Scott Jamison said. “This is a slippery slope we do not want to go down.”

Police Chief Holley sought a MOU to ensure that he would return to his previous job as police sergeant if he was fired from the police chief position. Jamison felt management was attempting to protect an employee, but he wondered why Holley was the focus of the MOU. Other employees, such as the city’s fire chief, do not have an MOU guaranteeing a job with the city should they be removed from a department head position.

Jamison expressed two issues focused around the MOU, one a legal issue and the other a fairness issue.  He stated that legally the commission, under Charter Section 206, had no authority to promise a position of a city employee, especially being that Holley is not a Charter officer. By approving the MOU, the City of High Springs would be inserting politics into the hiring process of city employees.

It was also a matter of fairness that caused Jamison to have concerns. He said the MOU would send a message to other employees that Holley was a favorite of the commission, adding that every employee should be treated fairly and equitably.

Vice-Mayor Bob Barnas supported the MOU as a way for the city to avoid a contract that might contain a hefty severance package, referencing $77,000 plus benefits paid to former Police Chief Jim Troiano.

The MOU “was done to be good to a man who had devoted his life to the city and done more than any previous Police Chief had done,” Barnas said referring to Holley.

In response to comments made by Jamison, Barnas said the MOU should be discarded and Holley should seek an iron-clad contract similar to contracts held by the former police chief and city manager.

Previous Police Chief Troiano had a contract with the city allowing for his termination with or without any reason or cause. In return, he received six months’ severance. His contract, or MOU, also didn’t allow for him take a patrol officer position should he be removed as chief. He was dismissed, as cited by a city press release, due to possible structural changes.

Commissioner Linda Gestrin said that City Clerk Jenny Parham has an MOU with the city commission that guaranteed her job as city clerk after her time as interim city manager was over. Jamison countered that Parham is different because she is a Charter member.

After a debate, the commission tabled the agenda item concerning a MOU with Holley until the next meeting. They directed City Attorney Raymond Ivey to return with options about how the city could proceed, including a potential employment contract.