New president and vice president
picked for Williston City Council
Two vacant seats on City Council

(from left) Mayor Charles Goodman and City Councilmember Debra Jones listen to City Council President Michael Cox call for a nomination for the vice president position. In Williston, the mayor is not a voting member of the City Council.

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Story and Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © May 16, 2024 at 6:45 p.m.
Updated May 18, 2024 at 9 a.m.
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     WILLISTON – After the administration of the oath of office to City Councilmember Debra Jones (Group E) and Mayor Charles Goodman, the three active members of the Williston City Council were tasked with selecting the new president and vice president of City Council on Tuesday night (May 14).

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     Former City Councilmember Meredith Martin (Group C) and former City Councilmember William Zachary “Zach” Bullock (Group D) had left the dais. Martin, who only filled the unfinished term of former Councilman Jerry Robinson -- after Robinson quit his elected post because he did not want to fill out a new financial disclosure form -- had completed her term of public service as a member of the Williston City Council.
     Bullock had completed his term in office and now is concentrating on being elected to the Levy County Board of County Commissioners, District 5, position as current Levy County Commissioner Matt Brooks (Dist. 5) seeks election to be the next Levy County Clerk of Court and Comptroller.
     (There is a separate story and photo of City Councilmember Bullock being thanked for his service on the City Council.)
     To make the election of president and vice president happen as it does, City Council President Jones gave the gavel to Mayor Goodman, who called for nominations for City Council president.
     Jones nominated Councilmember Michael Cox to be the next president. There was a 3-0 vote with Councilmember Darfeness Sheilyn Hinds (Group B) voting with Jones and Cox in the affirmative.
     Jones then looked to Hinds and said there were only two left to run for vice president of City Council, and she asked Hinds if she would accept a nomination. Hinds said she would. Jones nominated Hinds to be vice president and there was a 3-0 vote to confirm that.


Williston City Council President Michael Cox and Vice President Darfeness Hinds

     City Clerk Latricia Wright, who serves as the supervisor of elections for municipal elections in Williston, said she plans to conduct a special election on Aug. 20 to fill the vacant seats left open now that Bullock and Martin have finished their terms.
     If the plan for a special municipal election happens for Williston, and if Wright uses services from Levy County Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones for that election on Aug. 20 during the primary election for other offices in Levy County, then as the Levy County supervisor of elections told the Williston City Council and City Clerk Wright in February, candidates in that municipal election must qualify by the same deadline – June 14 at noon -- as county office candidates in the primary election to have their names placed on ballots.
     For more information call Williston City Hall at 352-528-3060.
 

Williston issues notice to boil water

This is the affected area, according to the city.

By Jeff M. Hardison © May 15, 2024 at 7 p.m.
     WILLISTON – Williston Utility Director Jonathen Bishop, at 4:43 p.m. on Wednesday (May 15) issued a boil water notice.
     Williston Utilities Director Bishop noted that a precautionary boil water notice was issued due to a broken water main, at Northeast Fourth Street and Third Avenue.
      A loss of water pressure in the city water system has been experienced, he said.
     Therefore, as a precaution, the city’s utility department is advising city water consumers that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes be boiled. 
     A rolling boil for one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used, he said.
     Consumers in the area affected are the water users in Williston, from Main Street (State Road 121) and Noble Avenue (U.S. Alt. 27), going north to the Triangle Plaza, then east to the Williston Crossing RV Resort entrance, then south to East Noble Avenue and Northeast Seventh Street, and going west along Noble Avenue, back to Main Street.
     This notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink, Bishop noted.
     People who have any questions about this issue are advised to contact Williston City Hall at 352-528-3060.

Mandy Waters introduces herself
as a candidate for Levy County
Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller

Story and Photo Provided By Mandy Waters. 
     Publisher’s Note: Every candidate for state or county office in the Tri-County Area of Levy County, Gilchrist County and Dixie County can submit one article with a photo to introduce themselves to the voters. This is a free service of the multiple award-winning daily news website. This was submitted by Mandy Waters.
Published May 15, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.

     LEVY COUNTY -- I am Mandy Waters, candidate for Levy County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller. 
     Working at the Levy County Courthouse for the past 12-plus years has absolutely prepared me to be your next clerk! I am the only candidate that can offer this to the citizens of Levy County.
     I am an avid outdoorswoman and loyal community member, and I am not only aware of the unique culture of Levy County, but I am also an integral part of it. 
     My husband Timmy Waters and I are lifelong residents of Levy County and have been together for 14 years. He is a lineman at CFEC and has been there for 16 years. He also plans to retire from CFEC. 
     I graduated from Bronson High School 18 years ago! 
     We recently built our forever home in Chiefland. We like to hunt, fish and spend time with family and friends. 
     We have been members of our church for 10 years and have helped in many ministry roles there. 
     Growing up, I surrounded myself with good people, intelligent people and I learned from them starting at a young age. I love to socialize and travel, and I absolutely love to see other people succeed!
     I served in several roles within the Levy County Clerk of Courts Office. Shortly after starting my career at the Clerk of Courts Office, I started to move around the office to different departments, to learn everything that I could to prepare me to one day run for office and be able to affectively lead my employees.
     By doing this, it makes me very adverse and qualified for this job.
     Titles I held at the Levy County Clerk of Courts Office are:
     • Felony Clerk
     • County Ordinance Clerk
     • Tax Deed Clerk
     • Value Adjustment Board Clerk
     • Backup Recording Clerk 
     • Backup Public Records Clerk  
     I also helped in the Civil and Finance Department when needed. 
     In July of 2019, I was offered a position to serve as a Judicial Assistant to the Levy County Judge. Taking this position was one of the best decisions I made to help expand my knowledge and further prepare me to serve as the Levy County Clerk of Court. 
     This gave me the opportunity to know both sides and make connections with Court Administration and other offices that are crucial to the Levy County Clerk. This also opened up my mind to view things equally, as the Judicial System should be. 
     I am a professional liaison with all elected official offices, many attorney offices, county employees, court personnel and many more. I gained these connections throughout my career at the Levy County Courthouse. It is imperative to have a good working relationship with these offices and their employees - to be able to best serve the citizens of Levy County as the Clerk of Court and Comptroller. I know all of these people on a first name bases and I know who to call when something needs to be done.
     Before serving all of the residents and visitors in Levy County in the Clerk’s Office, I held other positions to help people.
     Prior to working at the Levy County Courthouse, I worked at Perkins State Bank and Drummond Community Bank from 2005 to 2009. I was known as the young lady that was always smiling and ready to help. I started at the bank when I was still in high school. 
     After that, I moved on to be the advertising account executive for the Levy County Journal and Tri-County Advertiser.
     Just before Danny Shipp offered me a job at the Courthouse in 2011, I was the youngest department head (21 years old) at the largest nursing home and rehabilitation facility in Gainesville. There, I managed several employees, and I wore many hats as well. Thos positions of leadership included - Admissions Coordinator, Activities Director, Business Office Manager and some Human Resource work when needed. 
     As I close this introduction to show reasons to elect me to this position, I note the following:
     For the last 12 years, I have served the citizens and officials of Levy County with diligence, honesty and compassion. I worked the front lines and greeted everyone at the counter with a smile and was anxious to see how I could help them. 
     I have dreamed of holding the position of Clerk of Circuit Court for Levy County for a very long time. 
     I have walked the halls of the courthouse and sat many days in the courtrooms - watching and learning from other people throughout the years. 
     To me, this is not just a professional goal to achieve. This is not about the job title either - I truly want to do the JOB!
     I will use my attention to detail, organizational skills, vision and experience to empower the Levy County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Office, to do what is best for Levy County. 
     This is a Florida Statute-driven position and I have been reading and interpreting statutes for over 12 years. I have attended many clerk conferences and judicial conferences over the years that helped open my mind to different and more efficient ways of doing things too.
     I am young enough to give decades of dedication to Levy County and mature enough to administer the duties required of this office.
     I am excited to enter this next chapter and hope to continue to use my knowledge and experience of the Levy County Courthouse, to maintain and enhance the records of Levy County. 
     It would be an honor to be your County Clerk! I am passionate and have a desire to serve YOU, the citizens of Levy County. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. My passion for this job runs deep! I am humbly asking for your vote on Aug. 20.

State offers of sales tax free shopping
Disaster Preparedness,
Freedom Month
and Tools For Trade Workers noted
By Jeff M. Hardison © May 10, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
     TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Department of Revenue issued the following three Tax Information Publications (TIP) on Wednesday (May 8) to let consumers know about dates to see sales tax not apply to certain purchases in Florida.     The first TIP is titled “2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays June 1, 2024 Through June 14, 2024 and Aug. 24, 2024 Through Sept. 6, 2024.”
     Florida’s first 2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins on Saturday, June 1, and ends on Friday, June 14. A second Disaster Preparedness Holiday begins on Saturday, Aug. 24 and ends on Friday, Sept. 6.
     During these sales tax holiday periods, tax is not due on the retail sale of eligible items related to disaster preparedness. To see the whole list of sales tax free items, including pet evacuation items, click HERE.
     “Freedom Month” begins on Monday, July 1 and ends on Wednesday, July 31.
     During this sales tax holiday period, tax is not due on the retail sale of admissions to music events, sporting events, cultural events, specified performances, movies, museums, state parks, and fitness facilities. 
     Also exempt from sales tax during this holiday period are electric scooters, eligible boating and water activity supplies, camping supplies, fishing supplies, general outdoor supplies, and residential pool supplies.
     To see the whole list of sales tax free items for “Freedom Month,” click HERE.
     The third period of Florida sales tax being removed from certain items is known as “2024 Sales Tax Holiday for Tools Commonly Used by Skilled Trade Workers – September 1, 2024 Through September 7, 2024.”
     To see the whole list of sales tax free items for this special event, click HERE.

Gilchrist County administrator
agrees to stay through August
Civility Month declared in Gilchrist County

The Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners as they can be seen from the audience are shown in action on May 6 in Trenton. They are (from left) Commissioner Kenrick Thomas, Commissioner Tommy Langford, Commission Chairman Bill Martin, Commission Vice Chairman Darrell Smith and Commissioner Sharon Akins Langford.

By Jeff M. Hardison © May 8, 2024 at 5 p.m.
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Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere     
     TRENTON – Gilchrist County Administrator Bobby Crosby had announced orally his intention to resign a couple of weeks ago, but as of the Monday evening (May 6) meeting, he is reportedly going to stay through the budget process that wraps up in August.
     Crosby was absent from the May 6 meeting due to him having the flu, according to what was shared as information for the general public at the meeting.
     In the absence of County Administrator Crosby, Gilchrist County Attorney David Miller “Duke” Lang Jr. served in his place, as well as providing his services as the county attorney. 
     Lang said that he and County Commission Chairman Bill Martin met with Lang regarding his oral resignation.


Gilchrist County Attorney Duke Lang helps the County Commission by discussing parts of the May 6 agenda designated for County Administrator Bobby Crosby, in addition to the county attorney's duties.


Gilchrist County Clerk of Court, Clerk to the County Commission and Comptroller Todd Newton provides county commissioners with information to help them as they take actions.

     Having spoken with Crosby earlier that day, Lang said he confirmed that the county administrator will continue working with the County Commission as he has at the same rate of pay through August, because he is aware of the need for his expertise and background with the matters related to forming the budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, which begins Oct. 1.
     After the budget is complete, then there can be discussion about whether he will continue or resign, Lang said.
Gilchrist County Proclaims Civility Month
     Although the County Commission already was one week into the month of May, it proclaimed the month as Civility Month.
     This is not an unusual practice. For instance, the very next morning (May 7) the Levy County Board of County Commisisoners May 6 through May 10 as National Teacher Appreciation Week. However Levy County did get ahead of proclaiming things because on May 7 it proclaimed May 19 through May 25 as National Travel and Tourism Week.
     The proclamation in Gilchrist County on May 6 noted that "Whereas":
      ● the open exchange of public discourse is essential to the democratic system of governments; and
      ● as a cornerstone of democracy, Americans have observed certain rules of behavior generally known as civility;
      ● civility, derived from the Latin words “civitas” meaning city and “civis” meaning citizen, is behavior worthy of citizens living in a community or in common with others; and 
      ● displays of anger, rudeness, ridicule, impatience, and a lack of respect and personal attacks detract from the open exchange of ideas, prevent fair discussion of the issues, and can discourage individuals from participation in government; and
      ● civility can assist in reaching consensus on diverse issues and allow for mutually respectful ongoing relationships; and 
      ● civility can uplift our daily life and make it more pleasant to live in an organized society.
     Therefore, Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners 
proclaim the month of May 2024 as Civility Month in Gilchrist County, and it further proclaimed that it is pleased to join with other cities and counties throughout our state in urging all residents and visitors to adopt a pledge of civility toward each other now and throughout the year.
Other Action
     Among the many other actions of the evening, the County Commission voted 5-0 to terminate Witt O'Brien for the debris monitoring contract. Gilchrist County Emergency Management Director Ralph Smith said the county has a different company for this purpose.
     The county never used Witt O'Brien, and the County Commission agreed with Smith’s request, after the director explained that Witt O'Brien was bought out by another company, about which the county has no information from its background. Also, the county only needs one designated debris monitoring company, which relates to post-disaster debris, like that left from Hurricane Idalia.

CFEC members win
at 85th Annual Meeting
Meeting includes different entertainment

An American flag hangs over the entrance for parking at the May 4 annual meeting of CFEC held in the City of Fanning Springs. Two members of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office serve as gatekeepers directing handicapped drivers to the limited spaces for those vehicles and everyone else is sent to a grassy field, which had plenty of space for parking.

Story, Photos and Videos By Jeff M. Hardison © May 5, 2024 at 5 p.m.
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Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere     
     FANNING SPRINGS – Every member of Central Florida Electric Cooperative (CFEC) who registered as attendees at the 85th Annual Meeting on Saturday morning (May 4) is promised a $30 discount on their next monthly bill for electricity.
     Investor-owned utility companies, like Duke Energy Florida (DEF), or municipal-owned utility providers like the City of Williston, have customers. Rural electric cooperatives have members. All three forms of electric service providers have different benefits as well as the singular benefit of electric power service.
     Among the benefits for CFEC members from attending the May 4 meeting – in addition to the $30 one-month discount – included having an annual meeting full of information; hearing a review of who is serving on the CFEC Board of Trustees; enjoying a variation from the traditional annual meeting entertainment; free lightbulbs, free information, a free spiffy flashlight and ink pen; and the potential to win $100 cash; $250 cash or $500 cash; as well as a plethora of entertaining activities for family-oriented fun beyond the meeting.


Lindsey Burk of Lulabell’s Cinnamon Rolls stands ready to sell that treat. There was also a mobile outlet for people who wanted to buy drinks from Moo’s Lemonade in the parking lot in front of the pavilion.

     For the second year in a row, the annual meeting was held at the Suwannee River Fair (and Youth Livestock Show and Sale) Pavilion 17851 N.W. 90th Ave., in the City of Fanning Springs. Last year, the reason for the change was said to be from the needed space for equipment used by Fiber By Central Florida, the for-profit CFEC-owned subsidiary that is bringing significant improvements in service to people who use the Internet in the Tri-County Area.
     The SRF pavilion has a better comfort level for temperature via air-conditioning, rather than the fan cooled CFEC warehouse. Some members dislike the trade-off for less ease in parking, which includes longer walks across a grassy field rather than golfcarts providing access to vehicles that are parked distantly away from the entrance to the meeting area.
     Some members with handicapped parking designation for expressed their discontent with inconvenience by having to walk rather than having golf cart transport from those farther out handicapped parking spaces.
     As far as a return to the warehouse for the annual meeting, which moved from October to May a few years ago, also seems extremely unlikely now to return to the way it was. Meetings are in a different time of the year and in a different place than some time ago.


Mark Story of CFEC Engineering (left) and Cody Cross of CFEC Right-Of-Way are among the staff ready to help members understand about these aspects of the rural electric cooperative. Other employees were at stations to show members the tools used in their profession; and there were still other booths for people to learn about Seminole Electric Cooperative – an electric power-generation co-op; Fiber By Central Florida; as well as an area for CFEC staff members to answer any questions from members about CFEC.


CFEC General Manager Denny George (left) speaks with Vice President of Member Services Tony Wasson before the meeting. Sitting at the table in the background is Plant Accountant Shelby Allen.


Before the start of the meeting, Levy County Property Appraiser Jason Whistler was noticed speaking with CFEC member Susie Robinson as Susie’s granddaughter Emersyn Robinson, 6, accompanied her grandmother. They agreed to a photo opportunity to be among the hundreds of people enjoying the pavilion before the meeting started.

Children go up in carriers from bucket trucks. The travel high into the air for a bird’s eye view of the area. Other free fun activities this year for children included touch-a-truck, a bounce house, a video game trailer and live demonstrations by law enforcement of canine operations.


Behind the pavilion before the start of the business meeting, where many activities were located, CFEC Purchasing Manager A.D. Goodman (left) and CFEC Vice President of Operations Jim Beauchamp are seen talking.


Children enjoy free rides on ‘train cars’ pulled by a ‘train engine’ that requires no railroad tracks to operate. 


Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Charles Brabham tells people about how the 2019 Dodge Challenger FHP cruiser is some of the equipment he uses to help him teach aggressive drivers that there are consequences to violating Florida’s traffic laws, such as following too closely, speeding and the like. 


Florida Highway Patrol Trooper and K-9 Handler C. Burk tells listeners about plans by himself and his fellow k-9 trooper to demonstrate the skills of FHP K-9 Smoke as that dog stops a suspect.


Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz (left) speaks with Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum at the event. The Levy County Sheriff’s Office, the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies had areas where people could learn more about them.


A CFEC employee tells a member information about the electric transmission service provided by the co-op by using a portable set of equipment used for such lessons.


One part of the huge pavilion shows some of the hundreds of CFEC members who attended the annual meeting. Members had a two-hour registration window, and even before halfway through that time span there were enough registered members to equal a quorum for the business meeting to occur.


Bell High School JROTC members serve as the color guard for this event. In the background to the left in this picture are CFEC staff members who sat at the table 'Tools of the Trade,' including Equipment Operator Joe Gay, Lineman Travis Smith, Supervisor of Operations Bret Plemmons and Crew Supervisor Lester 'Dusty' Aldrich Jr.


Jessie Robinson (left) became the CFEC Trustee for District 3 on May 4 as Trustee Tony Weeks retires from his service in that CFEC district which includes the Bronson area.


     Members who brought their children to the one-hour business meeting found a bounce house; free “rides” up into the air in “cherry-picker” bucket trucks; utility trucks; and demonstrations by a Florida Highway Patrol canine crew to be added for a higher level of family-oriented entertainment.
     Registration of members for the business meeting started two hours before that 10 a.m. start, providing a great window for members to arrive and find seats in the big pavilion.
     A cinnamon bun seller and a lemonade vendor added options for CFEC members who wanted more ease in buying some treats that morning; however, those vendors’ setups did reduce the number of closest parking spaces for vehicles tagged for handicapped co-op members.
     As for entertainment, a gospel band that has been performing for several years between the first moments of registration and the start of the business meeting was replaced by pre-recorded country music. One song included the word “bullshit” as an adjective or as a noun – however, country music nowadays seems to be trending toward more violence and vulgarity.


This is a demonstration by an FHP K-9 Smoke that shows the dog can secure a suspect if needed as his handler FHP Trooper C. Burk instructs Smoke to stop a ‘suspect.’ The demonstration was May 4 at the SRF grounds in the City of Fanning Springs (Levy County) and was part of the available activities to watch outside the annual meeting of Central Florida Electric Cooperative. Comments from onlookers heard in the video include one woman not seeing the demonstration because the dog handler was between where she was standing still to watch and the dog reaching its target. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video by Jeff M. Hardison. All Rights Reserved. 

The Business Of CFEC

CFEC Board of Trustees President James McCain welcomes everyone to the annual meeting.

     The business meeting of CFEC this year, its 85th year of existence, began with CFEC Board of Trustees President James McCain (Dist. 1) calling the meeting to order. The Rev. Tony Parker of Hardeetown Baptist Church (Chiefland) gave the invocation. The Bell High School unit of the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps sent its Color Guard to present the colors, with that presentation followed by CFEC Trustees President McCain leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.


CFEC Board of Trustees Secretary Alan Mikell speaks to the people from the lectern. The members voted positively on a motion to forego a reading of the minutes from the previous year’s meeting.


CFEC Trustee Larry Thompson (Dist. 9) and Trustee Bo Markham (Dist. 8) are seen on stage at the meeting. The plaque in the empty seat next to them is in recognition of the late Kenneth O’Steen (Dist. 7).


(from left) CFEC Board of Trustees Secretary Alan Mikell (Dist. 6), Trustee Donald Lane (Dist. 5) and General Manager Denny George are seen on stage at the meeting.


(from left) Trustees Kyle Quincey (Dist. 4), Tony Weeks (Dist. 3), Carl Roof (Dist. 2) and CFEC Board of Trustees President James McCain (Dist. 1) are seen on stage at the meeting.

     McCain welcomed everyone and all of the Trustees were introduced with the areas their districts represent – McCain (Dist.1); CFEC Trustees Vice President Carl Roof (Dist. 2), which includes Inglis, Yankeetown and southern Levy County; Tony Weeks (Dist. 3), which includes Bronson and Raleigh; Kyle Quincey (Dist. 4), the Chiefland area; Donald Lane (Dist. 5), areas east of Chiefland; CFEC Trustees Secretary Alan Mikell (Dist. 6), northern Levy County and southern Gilchrist County; Houston “Bo” Markham (Dist. 8), Cross City and northern Dixie County; and Larry Thompson (Dist. 9), northern Gilchrist County.
     Three different trustees are elected each year. Trustees serve for three-year terms.
     With the recent passing (April 8) of CFEC Trustee Kenneth O’Steen (Dist. 7), 78, of Horseshoe Beach (Dixie County) his seat on the stage at the meeting was vacant except for a plaque honoring his 48-plus years of service to the people of CFEC. A special election is happening for members in District 7 to select the next trustee for CFEC District 7.
     With the retirement of CFEC District 3 Trustee Weeks this year, Jessie Robinson was elected as the trustee for CFEC District 3, which includes the Bronson area of Levy County.


CFEC General Manager Denny George invites Trustee Tony Weeks to the lectern to speak to the members after George presented Weeks with a plaque upon the trustee’s retirement from the Board.



Tony Weeks who is retiring from the Central Florida Electric Cooperative as a member of the Board of Trustees tells members during the annual meeting that he is grateful for the years of service he enjoyed on the board, and that CFEC is healthy and sound. He also said people will love their Internet service when they connect with Fiber By Central Florida. Weeks was given a plaque during the annual meeting, which he did not expect, and before he made his comments, he let listeners know that he is not one to seek publicity for his service to the cooperative. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison. All Rights Reserved.

     CFEC General Manager Denny George provided a report of the co-op’s activities in the past year, which shows the trustees and employees of the rural electric cooperative continuing a traditional level of excellent service, while keeping the cost of electric power service as low as possible for the members.
     After a setting a new record of time without lost time from accident or incident being reached at 1,830 days (just over five years), beating the previous safety record of 1,740 days (4.8 years), an accident involving a CFEC vehicle took that daily safety record count back to zero in December of 2023, General Manager George said.
     The idea of watching days passed with safety is not simply to record it, George said, but instead it is to encourage, create and foster the best safety culture possible to assure workers return home safely after they complete work for the members of the rural electric cooperative.
     General Manager George spoke to the members about the five days without power that some members endured after Hurricane Idalia hit last September.
     For the first time ever in 85 years, he said, CFEC had to call for help from Storm Services, a vendor that organizes sleeping and feeding in a location to allow workers to help restore electric service. 
     The co-op brought in an additional 550 workers to restore power to every CFEC member in the Tri-County Area within five days of that devastating hurricane sweeping through this part of Florida.
     CFEC General Manager George said he made that call for help at 5:05 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. By noon the next day, the 550 people were ready to work, sleep, eat and have laundry services performed until the job was done, he added, thanks to Storm Services. 
     Hurricane Idalia cost the CFEC members about $9.6 million, he said, including anticipated interest. The CFEC Board of Trustees must await federal reimbursement for those costs, George said, and there is a recovery-cost for members as a result. That is a $3.36 monthly increase for customers in the 1,000 kilowatt-an hour range.
     With Seminole Electric Cooperative, the electric producing cooperative that sends power for transmission by CFEC, reducing the cost of producing electricity thanks to lowered natural gas prices, the CFEC members are seeing a $3 credit for the 1,000-KwH customers. That offsets all but 36-cents a month from the hurricane costs for the 1,000-KwH customers.
     The bottom line, he explained, shows electric costs slightly lower than years ago. In 2014, the typical 1,000-KwH customers paid $132. Now, those 1,000-KwH customers -- with the Hurricane Idalia costs and the Seminole Electric Cooperative credits – see a monthly bill of $129.86, he said.
     The average electric cost now in Florida is $168 for 1,000-KwH customers, he added, which shows CFEC customers paying at a rate that is below average for monthly electric service in Florida.
     This relatively low cost for electric service from CFEC exists even after the co-op deal with increased prices for poles, wires, transformers and other equipment which increased, George said as he provided exact percentages of those increases.


Attorney Woodroe Blake Fugate tells CFEC members that the Board of Trustees runs efficient and effective meetings -- even better than the other groups where Blake and his father Norm D. Fugate (wearing a red tie and sitting in the background), the senior partner of Fugate & Fugate, serve. Those other groups served by that law firm include the Town Commission of Inglis, the City Commission of Chiefland, the City Council of Cedar Key and the Board of Directors of Nature Coast (Levy County) Business Development Council.

Internet Service
     The launch of Fiber By Central Florida included the first customer enjoying that improved Internet service on June 12, 2023, George said.
     In less than a year after the first customer started using this service, as of May 3, Fiber By Central Florida has connected 5,300 customers, George said.
     He said the planned time for completing the task of four to five years was revised to make it reach completion much more quickly. The project would have been easier if it went more slowly, he said; and while that would be all well and good for the first people receiving service, it would not be as pleasant of a method for those who would have been waiting four years away from being served in comparison with being a year or two away from being connected with Fiber By Central Florida.
     There have been between 200 to 250 new customers connected each week, he said, and this rate of success has not been easy.
     While it is a daunting task, George said he is proud of the leadership team and what has been accomplished so far. He foresees the trend of progress persisting into the future through the day when every CFEC member, and all of their neighbors on other electric service lines, will have the option to connect with fiber optic Internet service.
     This momentous undertaking is likely the largest construction effort ever, so far, in the history of the Tri-County Area of Levy County, Gilchrist County and Dixie County, George said.
     This plan for fiberoptic Internet service includes people who are served by Clay Electric Cooperative, Sumter (County) Electric Cooperative, Duke Energy Florida and by municipalities within the CFEC service area.
     CFEC General Manager George said helping neighbors is a good policy morally, and it is the best business practice because the more urban customer base has a high per-mile concentration of customers, which reduces the overall cost.
     As he concluded his report, the CFEC general manager who has been active in this role for six years recited Galatians 5 verses 22 through 26, which he hopes reflects gracious traits that all people in the community will seek to practice.
     CFEC Board of Trustees President McCain spoke about history, including when on May 20, 1936, Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act. This was one of the most important pieces of legislation passed as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal.
     This law allowed the federal government to make low-cost loans to farmers who had banded together to create non-profit cooperatives for the purpose of bringing electricity to rural America.
     That led to more Americans, including in the Tri-County Area starting 85 years ago, to have electricity. McCain noted that by the rural electric cooperatives in Florida taking up the job of providing fiberoptic connections, this concept of helping people have electric service is now extending to provide Internet service to more people in rural Florida.
     After the business meeting, there were drawings for cash prizes. There were eight $100 prizes, one $250 cash prize and one $500 cash prize awarded to members who had entered a free numbered ticket to be randomly selected.
     In years past, there were more drawings for door prizes; however, the $30 for each member registered as attending is very well received – especially because that really means every CFEC member present wins.
 

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171^st Performance

171^st - This is the 2024 set of officers for the Cedar Key Woman's Club singing the HardisonInk.com jingle at the Spring Market on March 16, 2024. They are (from left) Parliamentarian Judy Duvall, President Marci Wilcox, First Vice President Jan Hendrix, Recording Secretary Betty Belair and Treasurer Jean Garbaty. 
If you see Jeff M. Hardison and you want to sing the jingle, just let him know, or send an email to hardisonink@gmail.com. Jeff M. Hardison asks people to sing the jingle, and some of them agree to sing it. (Thanks people!) CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO SEE AND HEAR THE VIDEO ON YouTube.c0m.
The very first person to sing the jingle was in Chiefland in March of 2013. HardisonInk.com started as a daily news website on Feb. 1, 2011.
Photo and Video by Jeff M. Hardison © March 16, 2024 at 8 p.m.
All Rights Reserved