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City manager candidates
set for interviews in Williston
Application documents released

The graphic above shows how the City Council members ranked applicants. It is public record.

By Jeff © Jan. 24, 2025 at 8 p.m.
     WILLISTON – The top seven candidates ranked by the Williston City Council -- President Michael Cox, Vice President Darfeness Sheilyn Hind, and councilwomen Alexa Haniff-Riccio, Meredith Martin and Debra Jones are scheduled for interviews starting at 9 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 27).
     Following are the times of day when the candidates are scheduled to be interviewed. Below each of those listings is information from how the City Council initially ranked them, as well as some information from what the candidates submitted to be considered by the City Council.

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9 a.m. Kyle Woodrow Drummer
     Drummer had an average of 9 points, where the highest score in the group was 13. Councilwoman Jones gave him the lowest number at 6 and Martin gave him the highest number at 13.
     Among the reasons Drummer felt qualified for the job was his work as the director of public safety communications in Marion County from 2012 up until April of 2024. In May of 2024, according to information he provided, Drummer started working for Common Sense Solutions, in public-safety data aggregation/visualization/licensing platform for delivery of emergency service quality assurance methodologies, according to information he sent.
10 a.m. Christopher Cowart
     Cowart, who recently lost his bid for reelection as Levy County Superintendent of Schools after one four-year term, sent a resume that shows he was elected as a School Board member and served from 2012 to 2020, when he was elected to superintendent of schools.
     The average number of his ranking by the Williston City Council was 9. Cox and Haniff-Riccio both gave him the lowest number at 7.
11 a.m. Brian Byrne Carney
     Carney sent a letter to “Mr. Willis” even though Brooke Willis is a woman who is now the outgoing human resources director for the city. Apparently, he did not conduct advance research before sending the letter.
     In Carney’s letter of Nov. 22, 2024, he notes that he wants $78,000 rather than $84,000 as he had first noted on his application. As a retired military veteran, Carney said he does not need the insurance offered to city workers.
     Carney is a police chief from Georgia. He is familiar with Georgia law.
     He showed a ranking average of 9, where the highest ranked candidate had 13. Carney found Haniff-Riccio giving the highest rating at 10 and Jones gave him the lowest ranking at 6.
1 p.m. Michael Brillhart
     Brillhart showed the highest ranking by City Council of all candidates for the job as city manager. His average was 13. Jones gave him the lowest at 11 and Martin gave him the highest at 15.
     As part of his cover letter, Brillhart noted “My background in local government management will provide the leadership to successfully direct organizational resources in support of the Mayor & City Council, staff, and residents.”
     Brillhart noted his experience includes budgeting, downtown revitalization, advancing economic vibrancy and directing long-term fiscal sustainability.
     Brillhart is currently serving as the interim city manager in Crescent City (Putnam County). His resume shows from 2004 to now, he has served in government management in St. Lucie County; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Camden County, North Carolina; North Baltimore, Ohio; and Wapakoneta, Ohio.
     The six people he lists as references have phone numbers that are not redacted – like the ones for people applying for this job who were in law enforcement, or firefighting or EMS.
2 p.m. Paul Booth
     Booth, who lives in Homosassa (Citrus County), showed an average score of 10. Haniff-Riccio gave him the lowest score of 5. Cox and Hinds each gave Booth the highest score of 12.
     Booth has a strong background as a leader in public works, including when he was the director of public works in the City of Brooksville from June of 202 to August of 2023.
3 p.m. Susan Leigh Beaudet
     Currently Bronson Town Manager Beaudet is serving in the very same county in the closest geographic municipality to Williston.
     Appointed in February of 2021, Town Manager Beaudet has accomplished a myriad of goals set by the Bronson Town Council for her to complete.
     Beaudet scored an average of 11 when ranked by the Williston City Council. Martin gave her the low score of 9 and Haniff-Riccio gave her the highest score of 14.
     Beaudet has 20 years of highly progressive administrative, managerial, and sales experience. She is knowledgeable in recruiting, training and retaining quality talent in the insurance and retail industries, as well as in town government.
     She is skilled at providing superior customer service with strong interpersonal, written, presentation, and organizational skills. Her experience in research and data analysis is of value for the city. She is adept at multitasking, conflict resolution and problem-solving.
     Beaudet provided letters of recommendation from Newmarket, New Hampshire, Town Manager Stephen R. Fournier; Andrew Greene of the Florida Rural Water Association; Levy County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper; Chiefland Vice Mayor Lewrissa Johns; Levy County Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones; and others.
4 p.m. Timothy J. Day
     Day has served as manager in three municipalities in Florida.
     His average ranking by the City Council was 11. His highest score was 13 from Haniff-Riccio.
     He notes that he has worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help areas recover from disasters.
     Day has a background in law enforcement, and so some information he submitted is redacted.
     His most recent professional experience noted was from June of 2022 until July 3, 2024 when the was the community development district manager in Broward and Dade counties. A community development district is a special taxing district.
      Six applicants who were not ranked as being in the top seven are Chase Waggoner, James Weaver, Juan Fernandez, Lenz H. Gelin, Braeden Christofferson and Saira Haniff-Riccio.
     As noted, the top three ranked candidates before the interviews were Brillhart, Day and Beaudet.
     Beaudet is the top contender in regard to being the most familiar with Levy County.
     The Williston City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Monday, Jan. 27 for review and discussion with the possible action of selecting a city manager.
     If the City Council chooses a person, then more background checking will be completed and negotiations will begin to determine a starting date and annual salary, benefits and the like.

Tobacco Free Florida helps implement
tobacco policy in In Levy County schools
Information Provided By Joelle Higgins and Tobacco Free Florida
Published Jan. 21, 2025 at 4 p.m.
     WILLISTON -- Tobacco Free Florida in Levy County helps ensure all students, faculty, staff and visitors are protected from exposure to tobacco, including new and emerging products.
     The program hopes to raise awareness of free and effective tobacco cessation and prevention resources available to schools. With the introduction and widespread popularity among youth of new nicotine delivery products such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), these policies must be kept up to date to protect the health and wellness of the area’s children and teens.
     The increase in youth e-cigarette use has slowed, however 12.5 percent of high schoolers are still using e-cigarettes, according to the annual Florida Youth Tobacco Survey. The U.S. Surgeon General and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have both been vocal in expressing concern about youth e-cigarette use, declaring it a national epidemic. Despite legislative changes and FDA actions, popular brands of new disposable e-cigarettes such as Puff Bar and HQD (Cuvie) continue to entice children with flavors like “Blue Razz” and bubblegum.  
     “We have made significant progress in reducing tobacco’s negative health impact on our school campuses by implementing new tobacco free policy language. We have seen new tobacco and nicotine products like e-cigarettes threaten to undo the work we’ve done,” Joelle Higgins said. “Leaders in Levy County schools are doing a great job in implementing new tobacco policy that helps students become educated on the dangerous effects of using tobacco products and they are helping students make better decisions for their mental and physical health.” 
     Local organizations, including Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) and other community-based groups are available in every county to help school districts review tobacco free school policies to ensure alignment with current best practices and support implementation efforts for maximum effectiveness.
     These practices include working to prioritize protecting people from secondhand smoke/vapor exposure, counteracting influence from the industry, increasing access to cessation resources, and allowing for a supportive, cessation-focused approach to discipline. Tobacco Free Florida is dedicated to keeping these standards for comprehensive tobacco free school policies up to date, helping address threats to today’s school-aged children.
     Across the state, the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida provides free tools and services for Floridians 18 years of age or older who are considering quitting. The Quit Your Way program offers Phone Quit and Web Quit options. Group Quit classes are available for every county in Florida in-person or virtually and all tools and services provide free nicotine replacement therapy such as patches, gum and lozenges where medically appropriate.
     Services can be accessed by calling the toll-free number 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (1-877-822-6669) at any time. 

Levy County focuses
on cleanup of litter and
enforcement of law on county roads 
Information Provided
By Levy County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper
Published Jan. 17, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
     BRONSON -- The Levy County Board of County Commissioners has received significant feedback from the community about litter along county roads.
     As a result of this feedback, the County Commission has begun focusing on the cleanup and enforcement of litter along county roads.  
     The following efforts are now in progress:
     ● Levy County Road and Landfill staff members have been deployed to clean up trouble areas that have excessive litter and trash.
     ● The Road Department has a driver who is assigned to work ahead of the mowers to pick up trash bags, pillows, etc., so these items are not mowed over. There are four mowers and one driver who picks up ahead of the mowers. Scheduling efforts are being intensified to ensure the driver stays ahead of the mowers.
     ● The county manager and Road Department are working closely with the Florida Department of Corrections to arrange for a dedicated crew of prisoners to work under the supervision of the Levy County Road Department to pick up litter alongside county roads five days a week. 
     ● County employees are investigating potential proactive enforcement opportunities to reduce litter that may be the result of loose loads that are being trucked to the county landfill.
     The county commission welcomes the public to continue sharing their ideas with commissioners to help them prioritize the future work-efforts in Levy County.

Yankeetown continues hurricane recovery

The A.F. Knotts Public Library in Yankeetown is closed until further notice as a result of damage from Hurricane Helene.

By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
     YANKEETOWN – Just like many places along the west coast of Florida, Yankeetown suffered severe damage from Hurricane Helene and others this season.     A spot tour of the area on Friday afternoon (Jan. 10), after a meeting in Inglis with some Withlacoochee Gulf Area Chamber of Commerce members and others, provided a glimpse of how Yankeetown is recovering.
     Just as the Cedar Key Public Library remains closed, so too does the A.F. Knotts Public Library. They are two of the five public libraries in Levy County. There is no word about when the libraries in Cedar Key or in Yankeetown will reopen.
     Not too far from the A.F. Knotts Public Library in Yankeetown, nevertheless, there is a ray of shopping sunshine scheduled to become active again.
     The Yankeetown-Inglis Woman's Club Thrift Shop is set to reopen on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. that day.
     After months of volunteers cleaning, rebuilding, painting and sanitizing the building, the thrift shop is almost ready to open. 
     Hurricane Helene damaged not only the clubhouse, sheds and the public library, but the hurricane shut down the Thrift Shop for months.
     The hurricane failed to break the spirit of the volunteers.
     The Yankeetown-Inglis Woman's Club Thrift Shop allows the Woman's Club to support the community through scholarships, and to support the Kidz Eatz weekend meals for children at Yankeetown school. The Woman’s Club also maintains the A.F. Knots Public Library.
     The thrift shop is located at 5 56th St. in Yankeetown.


The United States Coast Guard facility next to Riverside Drive in Yankeetown had four feet of water in its first floor. The USCG Station has recovered from the hurricane event.


This metal plaque shows the United States Coast Guard Station Yankeetown was dedicated in May of 1990.


Located next to the Withlacoochee River, the Blackwater Grill and Bar continues serving great food and drinks. It is back in business and will be a completion point for the Feb. 22 Tour of the Towns, which is being hosted by the Withlacoochee Gulf Area Chamber of Commerce.


Salt marshes leading to the Gulf of Mexico appear as they have in years past after the hurricanes. 


Looking across a salt marsh toward Citrus County the cooling towers from Duke Energy Florida show steam rising. Duke Energy bought Progress Energy Florida, which started out as Florida Power Corp. This location near Crystal River no longer has a nuclear power plant, however it provides plenty of electricity for the area.


A boater in a relatively small vessel makes his way upstream on the Withlacoochee River as he goes away from the Gulf of Mexico on Friday afternoon.


One of the two floating docks next to the Levy County boat ramp at the end of Levy County Road 40 (aka Follow That Dream Parkway) is not able to be used. The parking lot has giant humps just before the ramp and the lines to show where to park are very faded.


A couple of people fish off the floating dock next to the Levy County boat ramp that leads to the Gulf of Mexico from Yankeetown on Friday afternoon (Jan. 10).

A seagull launches from the pavement, flies very close by a parked vehicle and joins some fellow feather friends in a tree that has stood the test of time for at least two decades now.


While there is not an abundance of business in Yankeetown, it is a pleasant place to visit to fish or watch birds. The clouds on seen Friday from the boat dock area were interesting.

The pavilion with picnic tables is closed. This county park is not able to be used now. There is no projected date for when it will reopen. The large vertical black structure is an old warning siren from the days when Florida Power Corp. and then Progress Energy Florida, near Crystal River, had a nuclear power plant.