Coyote Seen

A lone coyote travels through the light rain on a field used by dairy cows on Thursday morning (March 6).
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison


More Below This Ad



The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission notes all of the following (and more) about coyotes. In the western United States, coyotes are the main predator of domestic sheep, causing significant losses in select areas. They can also prey upon goats, calves, hogs, poultry and watermelons. Coyotes will also kill domestic dogs and house cats. The type of damage attributed to coyotes in Florida is similar to that in the western states, but so far, the damage has been infrequent and restricted to small areas. Coyotes are not a threat to human safety. There are a few reports from the western United States of coyotes biting humans, but this behavior is very unusual. Coyotes are normally timid towards people.If you have experienced coyote damage, or anticipate damage, several prevention options are available. The most effective approach is to use a combination of lethal and non-lethal methods. Non-lethal methods to protect livestock include exclusion fencing, corralling animals at night and using trained guard dogs. Fencing is possibly the most effective. To exclude coyotes, woven or welded wire fences should be at least 4 feet high with barbed wire above for a total minimum height of 5 feet. Adding height to the fence will increase its effectiveness. Mesh sizes should not exceed 4 x 6 inches (coyotes can squeeze through fences with larger mesh). An outward overhang of fence wire will help prevent coyotes from jumping over. Electrifying the fence may also help to deter coyotes from crossing. Though fences probably will not offer complete protection, they will keep most coyotes from crossing. Minimally, fences will guide coyotes to specific crossings, most likely a crawl space under the fence, where they can be trapped or snared more easily. If lethal control measures are necessary, they should be directed at specific coyotes or toward coyotes in a specific area. Indiscriminate killing of coyotes is unlikely to reduce coyote populations, which can withstand 70 percent annual kill. Some evidence suggests that light, indiscriminant harvesting of Coyotes may actually stimulate production and further increase numbers. There is no closed season on coyotes in Florida. Legal methods of take are by gun, bow or snare. Steel traps and can be used only by special permit issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and use of poisons to kill coyotes is illegal. A permit is not required to take coyote with a gun and light at night on private property with landowner permission.

Otter Creek keeps trying
for water deal with Chiefland
By Jeff M. Hardison © March 6, 2014
     LEVY COUNTY -- Chiefland Mayor Teal Pomeroy and Chiefland City Manager Kevin Gay both said they plan to attend the March 17 meeting in the Town of Otter Creek as part of the Conflict Resolution Procedure noted in a Feb. 28 letter to them from the Town Council of Otter Creek.
     The alleged conflict involves a proposed deal, where Chiefland had considered allowing a pipe to be built from Chiefland to Otter Creek for the delivery of drinking water.
     A special meeting of the Otter Creek Town Council on Monday (Feb. 24) resulted in a resolution that was delivered to Chiefland City Hall (Hardy Dean Sr. Municipal Building) on Monday (March 3).
     Unanimously voting in favor of the resolution were Otter Creek Mayor Cleah Martin, Vice Mayor Don Severino, Councilwoman Marie Murray, Councilman John Morris and Councilman Randy Caldwell.
      “The conflict between the Town of Otter Creek and the City of Chiefland arises from Chiefland’s breach of contract to provide water to Otter Creek and misrepresentations regarding same,” Otter Creek Town Clerk Connie Caldwell noted in the cover letter dated Feb. 28.
     While the town alleges a “breach of contract to provide water,” the votes to create a final contract never happened. At a meeting in April of 2013, Chiefland City Commissioner Rollin Hudson was against the deal altogether because he did not want to sell bulk water at a rate lower than the rate at which in-town consumers purchased it.
     Back then, the consensus of the other four Chiefland City Commission members -- Mayor Pomeroy, Vice Mayor Teresa Barron, Commissioner Sammy Cason and Commission Frank Buie -- was to keep moving forward with a plan to sell Chiefland water to the Town Otter Creek, but that plan never reached a final vote.
     Since then, Commissioner Buie died and Commissioner Cason chose against running for reelection.
     In September of 2013, after the seating of two new Chiefland City Commission members – Chris Jones and Betty Walker -- the Chiefland City Commission had a majority that expressed a belief that Chiefland water consumers were unhappy with selling water at a bulk rate to the town to the south of Chiefland.
     A Chiefland City Commission meeting in January ended after more than an hour of ironing out details, where an agreement between the City of Chiefland and the Town of Otter Creek died after a motion by Vice Mayor Barron found no person to second it.
      Back when it first started, Greg Lang of Mittauer & Associates Consulting Engineers said Chiefland would see a benefit from the construction -- creating more of a looped system at some of the end points for the current water distribution. This would have meant better flow for people at various ends of the existing line in the south end of service in Chiefland.
     The bigger pipeline on the end closer to Chiefland would have allowed for the addition of fire hydrants, and it would have opened the south end beyond the city limits more for development.
     The improvements benefiting the Chiefland system were seen as being about $1.5 million back in the first version of the project.
     As for the possible revenue stream to the city from bulk water sales, the new agreement called for Otter Creek buying the water at a rate of 25 percent higher than the residential and business customers within the four corners of Chiefland’s city limits – just like Central Florida Electric Cooperative and the state’s plant nursery pay now.
     Even at the higher rate, however, Hudson said at the January meeting that he had heard no positive comments from residents and only a couple of Chiefland’s business interests who supported the sale of water to the neighboring town.
     When it came time for a person to second Barron’s motion, Hudson mentioned to Mayor Pomeroy that the mayor could pass his gavel to make the second. Pomeroy said at the meeting in January that even if he wanted to second Barron’s motion to the deal it would still die from a 2-3 vote.
     The proverbial bottom line for Chiefland is that a majority of its City Commission in January chose against continuing to move forward with the water deal.
     On Thursday (March 6), Chiefland Mayor Pomeroy said the City of Chiefland and the Town of Otter Creek have enjoyed a good working relationship in the past. He plans to go to the March 17 meeting with an open mind, because he foresees no problem between the two municipalities that can’t be worked out in some way.
     As it is, the Chiefland Fire Rescue Department responds to calls for help from within the incorporated area of the Town of Otter Creek.
     “Chiefland considers Otter Creek to be a good neighbor,” Pomeroy said.
     He noted, however, that Chiefland entertained the idea of providing water to Otter Creek, but after two new City Commission members came on board, the majority of Chiefland City Commission members never committed to sell water to Otter Creek.
     The deal was never closed, except to reject the proposal.
     On Thursday (March 6) City Attorney Fugate said that although Gay and Pomeroy may have said they will attend the March 17 meeting, it is up to the whole City Commission to vote whether that is to occur – where Pomeroy and Gay would represent the city.
     In its letter, the Otter Creek Town Council suggested Fugate attend as well. The matter is to be discussed Monday (March 10) at the regular Chiefland City Commission meeting.
    The March 17 meeting in the Town of Otter Creek starts at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public. It will be in the Otter Creek Town Hall Building, 555 S.W. Second Ave.

Bronson defers merge offer

Bronson Interim Fire Chief Dennis Russell and volunteers Mark Marrazo, Cecilia Rainvilla, John Stephenson, Scott Bulson, Travis Raphael and Jesse Baggett were greeted with enthusiasm by the Bronson Town Council on Monday night.

Story and Photo
By Jeff M. Hardison © March 4, 2014
     BRONSON -- The Bronson Town Council unanimously deferred an offer to merge the Bronson Fire Department, or to lease the fire station and equipment, to the Levy County Department of Public Safety.
    The Monday night action marks at least the second time the city told the county that it wants to keep its volunteer fire department separate from the LCDPS. Bronson, Cedar Key, Chiefland, Fanning Springs and Williston are towns and cities with their own fire departments, which also cover the unincorporated part of the county that surrounds them.
     It was on a motion by Town Councilman Bruce Greenlee, seconded by Councilman Berlon Weeks that this motion passed unanimously. Town Attorney Steven Warm suggested the word "defer" rather than "reject," because there may be a time in the future when the town would accept some sort of merge offer from the county.
     In other fire-oriented news from Bronson, Interim Chief Dennis Russell continues making strides to improve the department after the departure of former Chief Jeff DiMaggio, who seemed more inclined to want to merge with the county. The Town Council unanimously approved giving Russell administrative pay of $500 a month.
     DiMaggio had started at $500 a month and was earning $700 a month when he resigned from Bronson.
     On Monday night, Russell brought six of the seven volunteers he spoke to the Town Council about. They are Mark Marrazo, Cecilia Rainvilla, John Stephenson, Scott Bulson, Travis Raphael and Jesse Baggett. Russell said he sees no reason why Bronson Fire Rescue can't be the best fire department in Levy County.
      As for scheduling, Russell said that with his core group of volunteers now, the department is safely scheduled with firefighters. Town Councilman Aaron Edmondson is the liaison between the Fire Department and Town Council.

Town keeps motel closed
By Jeff M. Hardison © March 4, 2014
     BRONSON -- Town Building Inspector Robert Niffenegger told the Bronson Town Council on Monday night (March 3) that he was posting notices on the Bronson Motel, 315 N. Hathaway Ave. (U.S. Alt. 27), that it has been deemed uninhabitable.
     Although there was a fire Thursday that caused the electricity to be turned off, it was not until Monday night that Niffenegger made the announcement and it is not until Tuesday that the Levy County Sheriff's Office will be asked to mandate people to vacate.
     The American Red Cross is providing a place for motel residents to stay at an Econo Lodge in Gainesville, as part of its disaster relief program. However, some motel tenants did not want to accept that charitable offer.
     Niffenegger said he believes that rather than the cause of the fire being arson, as one of the owners thought, the flames originated from an electrical problem. As a result, it will not be until the motel has an electrician completely check out the motel for more issues to prove it is safe. He is also not going to allow the motel to be occupied by residents again until it is inspected for other fire safety compliance.
     The building official said the motel is not able to be lived in without electricity.

ANYONE CAN SIGN UP FOR FREE E-MAIL ALERTS TO KNOW WHEN NEW STORIES ARE POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE. USUALLY, THERE IS ONE ALERT A DAY. PLEASE CLICK ON THE ICON BELOW (LEFT) TO SIGN UP.