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City leaders get civics lesson
Communications improvement
potential exists

Williston City Manager Sue Beaudet (right) takes notes during the Oct. 15 meeting as City Attorney Kiersten Ballou explains how the City Charter provides the foundation for how that municipal government is supposed to function.

Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © Oct. 17, 2025 at 3 p.m.
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     WILLISTON – A report resulting from a $25,000 investigation by attorney Megan Logan and others with the Douglas & Douglas Law Firm resulted in a 90-minute discussion by four members of the Williston City Council and others Wednesday night (Oct. 15).

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     Williston City Council President Darfeness Hinds, Vice President Michael Cox, and City Council members Debra Jones and Meredith Martin, as well as Mayor Charles Goodman, were present.
     Williston City Councilwoman Alexa Haniff-Riccio was absent from the special meeting that was called to review the investigative report by the independent law firm, which served as a third party with no potential conflict of interest.
     There are at least two underlying themes found via the Wednesday night meeting – communication; and a need for parties to understand their roles in the form of government for the City of Williston. Both concepts are bound to be applied and to help the city government continue to improve with best management practices going forward in time.

Communication
     “What we've got here is a failure to communicate,” quote from the from the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke highlights the struggle between authority and individualism.
     In the film, the character Captain, played by Strother Martin, delivers the line during a confrontation with Luke Jackson, portrayed by Paul Newman. This moment occurs after Luke's defiance against the oppressive prison system. It reflects the Captain's frustration with Luke's inability to conform to the rules. 
     The full quote is “What we've got here is a failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach.”
     Applied to the scenario in Williston, the need for more communication covers an even broader spectrum of misunderstanding related to individualism and authority, which interferes with efficient completion of tasks.
     City Council members expressed their dismay with “anonymous” reporting by participants in the investigation where the interviewees’ names were published in the report. This investigation was a review of departments and individuals who are serving the public via municipal government.
     An expectation of privacy may have been beyond what is required given that any government investigation in Florida is relatively open; even though there are exclusions in some situations. 
     Going beyond that first complaint expressed by some of the elected officials at the meeting, the meat and potatoes of communication flaws that may be overcome show City Manager Sue Beaudet will put the City Council members, the mayor and City Clerk Latricia Wright on the list of recipients when she sends text messages or emails to department heads or other city workers from that point on.

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     Another communication problem that may be overcome moving forward after this special meeting was the perceived “… great divide between members of the Utilities Department, particularly as it relates to Utilities Director Jonathen Bishop and Water, Wastewater, Gas and Williston Fiber Administrator, Donald Barber.”
     Attorney Logan spent five days interviewing 37 people, whose names were listed in the report.
     A revision by City Manager Beaudet in the manner in which three supervisors formerly worked under the utility director in the city is a point that sparked the perceived need for the subsequent investigation, the attorney investigating some problems found.
     The 13-page report included a significant degree of detail about singular instances of discontent between various employees.
     During conversations at the special city council meeting Wednesday night, another communication issue appeared. Apparently, some city employees “hear” something other than what is being said.
     For instance, some employees felt that they must make a “Freedom Of Information” (FOI) request to see the report that was reviewed that night. An FOI is filed with a federal agency.
     In Florida, any person can request public records from any agency. There may be a fee for delivery of the records, and that fee is determined by the cost of the materials and the staff time required. Also, some records may be exempt from being provided, or may require some redaction, which could increase the cost.
     In this case, City Clerk Wright is the custodian of these records.
     Another conversation showed employees complaining that the city manager told them they cannot speak to City Council members.
     That is inaccurate. Employees can speak with anyone they want. This is the United States of America, and anyone can say whatever they want to any person. The point here, however, is that the City Council is not involved in the day-to-day work of any employee.


City Council Vice President Michael Cox (left) and President Darfeness Hinds listen to the city attorney.


City Council members Debra Jones (left) and Meredith Martin smile after hearing a clever remark at the meeting.

Roles of Williston Leaders
     Each of Levy County’s eight municipalities has a structure for how the governments provide public services, as well as how they generate revenue to fund the services, how those funds are spent and how policies are created and then administered related to employees and what those workers do.
     The four Williston City Council members present at this meeting were pleased to learn that the idea of a hostile or toxic work environment for the people employed in city government for Williston is incorrect, based on facts found as applied to civil law. The city does not have a hostile or toxic work environment. 
     Nevertheless, attorney Logan noted in the second to last paragraph of the investigative report some relevant facts, which City Attorney Kiersten N. Ballou of the Folds Walker Attorneys at Law firm helped clarify even more.


In this video, some of the explanations from City Attorney Kiersten Ballou show how the Williston City Charter provides the foundation for how that municipal government is supposed to function. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     That evening, sitting next to Ballou, was attorney A. Derek Folds, senior associate in the firm.
     Attorney Logan, the third-party investigator from Douglas & Douglas, noted, “It is undoubtedly the purview of the City Council to set the direction and course for the City of Williston, which it largely does through policy and ensuring it has made wise personnel choices to implement that vision. To that end, the City should select, to the extent it has not already, and encourage a City Manager in which it places its individual and collective trust, authority and confidence until no longer warranted. This individual needs time and the flexibility and freedom to “right the ship” and fix the problems that have been created and allowed to fester for a significant time without intrusion or fear of termination.”
     City Attorney Ballou, an associate at Folds Walker, attempted to help the mayor, the City Council members and the city clerk understand their roles in the operation of the government.
     Ballou helped the City Council members understand facts rather than opinions in regard to how the city government functions.
     Section 2.06 of the Williston City Charter the powers of administration in the city are given to the City Council, except those given to the mayor, or the charter officers, or those specifically reserved by the Charter to the electors (voters) of the city, she said.
     There are specific powers in the Charter provided to City Clerk Wright, provided to City Manager Beaudet, provided to City Attorney Ballou, provided to Mayor Goodman and provided to the voters, she said.
     Other than those powers, the City Council has all power for governance of the city, she added.
     “When you look at what the city manager is responsible for,” Ballou said, “her powers under these (Charter laws) – directing and supervising, according to the ordinances and policies as adopted by you all (City Council); the administration of all departments, except police and fire, and the Office of the City Clerk.”
     Ballou went on to explain that appointing, demoting, dismissing city employees who are under the supervision of the city manager; as well as authorizing department heads to exercise those powers regarding subordinate employees singularly the duty of the city manager.
     The chain of command in the City of Williston is two-tiered, Ballou said.
     “There two different chains of command and there’s a lineal connection at one point,” Ballou said. “So, you all as the City Council sit over and are in charge of all of the charter officers. The mayor sits over and is responsible for police and fire (departments).”
     Every single city employee who is not in the police or fire departments, the city attorney explained, or is not in the city attorney’s office, or is not in the city clerk’s office, reports to City Manager Beaudet, Ballou said.
     The City Council is the chain of command to whom Beaudet answers, Ballou said.
     There is no chain of command where -- after City Manager Beaudet -- there is the City Council as far as all of the employees are under the direct or indirect supervision of the city manager, she said, according to the City Charter.
     The Charter provides exclusive authority to the city manager regarding those city employees for all employment decisions, and for all administrative decisions.
     “You all decide, based on policy decisions that you make – your HR (human resources) policy, or you pass you ordinances,” she continued. “You all set the goals and the missions of the city.”
     If the City Council has a mission of “efficient customer service,” then the council instructs and directs the city manager to “go forth and create efficient customer service.”         
     The city manager decides which persons are responsible for the various tasks required to meet whatever mission the City Council sets as its policies, missions and goals, Ballou explained.
     The “how to” accomplish missions is under the exclusive authority of the city manager and it is not reviewable by the City Council, the attorney said, on a decision-by-decision basis.
     There is no “appeal process” for city employees to the City Council to override the city manager’s decisions, Ballou said.
     If Beaudet fails to accomplish the goal of establishing “efficient customer service,” for example, then the City Council can tell Beaudet that the goal is not being met. The City Council cannot say the goal was not met as a result of the city manager assigning some duties to person “A” and some duties to person “B.”
     Goals, missions and policies on a citywide basis are to be reviewed by the City Council in regard to the city manager meeting those objectives, Ballou said.
      The chain of command for all employees – Ballou said – stops at the city manager. There is no appeal process, or review process, for specific employment decisions that were made by the city manager. That is not the duty of the City Council.
     The City Council can conduct an analysis of whether the city manager is meeting the policies, goals and missions, and the objectives that the City Council will have clearly provided to the city manager.
     Councilwoman Jones said she has spoken to city workers and found what she felt were people being bullied, or treated unfairly and unjustly, and then she has spoken with the city manager about those allegations.
     Vice President Cox said he goes around town and visits with employees who are working. He said he has interactions with them.
     Ballou explained how this type of action can create confusion with workers.
     Ballou said that is not a problem. Something City Council members may remember is that they are seen as the ultimate power by some workers. 
     “When you talk to employees, that’s fine,” Ballou told Cox. “There’s nothing wrong with discussing with them. The problem can arise when, theoretically what should happen is, let’s say you go out and talk to an employee.
     “An employee says, ‘We are just having the roughest time getting this piece of equipment.’ And you say, ‘Hmm, maybe I can help with that.’ Then you come to Sue (Beaudet),” Ballou continued. “And you say ‘They’re having a really rough time getting this piece of equipment. Is there anything that can be done? Can I help you in any way? Do you need anything from me?’ or ‘I know this guy.”
     Then the city manager says, “That is awesome, can you contact your guy?” Or she tells Cox that she has it under control.
     “Then, that is the end of your authority, under the Charter, to act on that,” Ballou said to Cox, “because the day-to-day decisions that have to do with the administration and executing of things falls (singularly) to your city manager.”
     The problem is not speaking with workers and gaining information from them, she told the city councilman. 
     The problem arises when an unintentional suggestion from a City Council member to a city worker is to “maybe try this thing” and then the employee hears it as a command from a City Council member to “try this thing.”
     This deviation of the actual chain of command would result in all workers perceiving that they have six bosses, the five City Council members as well as their actual chief executive officer – the city manager.
     

City Commission lets CAAA
keep using city park
CAAA four-member board
continues to hold secret meetings

The five members of the Chiefland City Commission are seen in action during the Monday night (Oct. 13) meeting where they decided against doing anything in regard to a contract they have for the CAAA to use Charles Strickland Recreation Park.

Story, Photos and Videos By Jeff M. Hardison © Oct. 14, 2025 at 5 p.m.
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     CHIEFLAND – Coaches, players, parents, grandparents and all others who are involved in the Chiefland Area Athletic Association (CAAA) may take the advice inscribed above the gates of Hell, as noted in the first part – Inferno – in an epic poem, The Divine Comedy.
     “Abandon hope all ye who enter here.”
     The Divine Comedy is an Italian narrative poem by Dante Alighieri, begun in 1308 and completed around 1321, shortly before the author’s death. It is widely considered the pre-eminent work in Italian literature and one of the greatest works of Western literature.
     The Divine Comedy is structured into three parts -- Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. It allegorically represents the soul’s journey from sin to God.
     While the actual meaning within the Inferno part of the classic poetry is a warning to souls entering Hell that they have no hope of ever leaving or being saved, and that all is lost for eternity, and there is no salvation or escape from the realm of eternal damnation; it is not quite that bad with the CAAA.
     The five members of the Chiefland City Commission decided Monday night (Oct. 13) to not change anything; except, perhaps, to have better communication with CAAA, and maybe to hold it a little more firmly to one of the specific conditions in the contract.
     It seems as if today’s CAAA is not like the one from decades ago.
     The CAAA Board of Directors has reduced from 11 to four officers, as best as can be determined from records, and which fact the president of the group will not confirm or deny because he will not answer questions.


Chiefland City Attorney Norm D. Fugate speaks with Chiefland City Manager Laura Cain before the start of the Oct. 13 meeting.
 

    “… the organization (CAAA) is not operating in accordance with its bylaws, such as maintaining records, executing payments properly, providing a monthly report of expenditures, holding meetings, and keeping minutes. Although CAAA is not operating in accordance with its bylaws and, as a business, engages in several poor business practices, this does not constitute a crime.”
-- FDLE Special Agent Christopher Perryman
 

CAAA President Leedary ‘Lee’ Bell is seen at the lectern that has ‘The Pledge of Civility’ in a plaque on the front. Bell said he would not answer questions from the Chiefland City Commission about the sports group. He did shout from the back of the room a few times, though.


City Commissioner Chris Jones is seen at the dais during the conversation about the CAAA and the City Commission.


Jimmy Anderson tells the City Commission that in the first set of articles of incorporation, the CAAA lists seven board of directors. He notes that by 2023 there are only four directors. There is no treasurer at all listed for more than one year. However, President Lee Bell served as treasurer as well as president in 2023, 2024 and now in 2025. He has the power to appoint directors, but has not done so, according to the bylaws. Even within his three minutes of allotted time to speak to the City Commission, Anderson was able to show the CAAA is in violation of at least one requirement in the contract with the city, where it repeatedly failed to report to the city the number of children participating in various sports. He was cut off from providing any information beyond what he could state within three minutes. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved


Shirley Goins, who for 19 years was among the CAAA leaders who annually brought in hundreds of T-ball competitors to Chiefland in tournaments, uses some minutes to address the City Commission. Beyond the number of children participating in sports, she let the municipal leaders know CAAA is not operating in accordance with its bylaws. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved

    Attempting to communicate with CAAA President Leedary “Lee” Bell presented a hopeless obstacle for a journalist immediately after the meeting; especially with his mother interjecting comments in a conversation that was not with her.
     Bell refused to answer questions put to him by the City Commission earlier in the evening.
     During the Oct. 13 meeting, Chiefland Mayor Lewrissa Johns (Group #2), Chiefland Vice Mayor Norman Weaver (Group #5) and city commissioners Kim Bennett (Group #4), Chris Jones (Group #1) and LaWanda Jones (Group #3) determined the appropriate course of action concerning the CAAA’s Facilities Use Agreement for the Charles Strickland Recreational Park, located at 2340 Old Fannin Road, was to do nothing.
     Mayor Johns mentioned something about building a bridge for better communication between the CAAA and the city government, but there was no plan for City Manager Laura Cain or the “recreation committee” to confer regularly with Bell.
     Likewise, Bell could not, or just would not, tell the mayor when the next meeting of the “CAAA Board of Directors” was going to happen.
     Bell literally refused to answer questions from the City Commission. He complained that being asked questions was harassment. Bell and others complained about a clerical error where some records that were not redacted.


Melinda Hogan, mother of CAAA President Leedary ‘Lee’ Bell, says the City Commission has nothing to do with the CAAA. Mayor Lewrissa Johns said that after a 'recreation committee' meeting, this issue is now before the City Commission to decide if the contract that allows CAAA to use city property should be modified or ended, or just let to go as it has been going. Commissioner LaWanda Jones shares her perspective on the matter, as does Commissioner Chris Jones and City Manager Laura Cain. This video shows Hodges interrupting the mayor repeatedly. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved


CAAA Baseball Coach Wes Burton tells the City Commission that he cares about baseball. He feels like the city is letting Strickland Park's baseball fields deteriorate more and more each year. He found that people who wanted to volunteer, including with the donation of material and equipment, are stopped by the CAAA leadership. He would like to see the city take more action to communicate with CAAA to improve scheduling, including helping him see rosters for teams. He said there is no way to join the CAAA leadership. Other people speak in this video as well. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved


Cecilia Jones says she feels the city should respond when the city hears complaints about the baseball fields. Mayor Lewrissa Johns and City Manager Laura Cain tell her that the CAAA has provided no complaints about filed conditions. Coach Wes Burton said he did not speak to the city about problems. Mayor Johns said that she did not want to end the contract on Oct. 13 because then children in CAAA may not be able to play in their sports. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved


City Commissioner LaWanda Jones talks about the contract requirement showing how many children participate being something she sees as not being needed. Mayor Lewrissa Johns said in her years on the City Commission she never saw how many children participate in different CAAA sports. Vice Mayor Norm Weaver learns the CAAA has responsibilities. City employee Shane Keene says baseball fields 1, 2, 3 and 4 are serviced before spring. Repairs are made when a city employee or a CAAA leader calls to say there is a need for maintenance. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved
 

     City Commissioner LaWanda Jones got onboard with the concept of the CAAA being independent of any regulations by the municipal government entity that owns the park, which was built with grant funds from the state government decades ago.
     LaWanda Jones questioned why city leaders even need to know how many children participate in CAAA sports, as noted as one requirement in the “contract” between the municipal government and the non-profit group.
     And yes, the CAAA has bylaws allowing its four leaders to meet in secret, outside the prying eyes of the nosey people who are merely county taxpayers that fund the CAAA to a significant extent. And the CAAA leaders’ meetings are outside of review by the city leaders as well. However, as the FDLE discovered, the CAAA does not abide by its own bylaws, according to records.
     Mayor Johns, Vice Mayor Weaver, and commissioners Bennett, and Chris Jones and LaWanda Jones did not vote on making any changes in what happens from the city government’s perspective, even though those five people are supposedly the stewards of the park facilities. There was no motion or second to do anything.
     As far as amending anything in the existing agreement between the city and the sports group to address recently exposed management issues, they are leaving things as they exist now.
     The CAAA was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for possible embezzlement, according to records.
     Currently, although the city government has a recreation committee, it does not have any direct control over the CAAA. The CAAA has received thousands of dollars from the Levy County Board of County Commissioners’ Procurement Department, according to records, for payment to a Dallas, Texas, sporting equipment retailer. And there is an appearance of the CAAA Board of Directors hedging on following its bylaws as well as providing public records when requested, according to several records.
     Documents from the FDLE, complainant Jimmy Anderson, complainant Shirley Goins, CAAA President Leedary “Lee” Bell, the Chiefland Police Department, Chiefland City Manager and Ex-Officio City Clerk Laura Cain, the Smith Law Firm of Chiefland, and invoices from BSN Sports of Dallas, Texas, are among the information supporting a request for the City Commission to consider revision of its current “hands off” approach to trying to regulate or guide anything regarding the administration of the CAAA organization.
     Under the agenda item for the Chiefland City Commission to discuss and take possible action, it is noted in the agenda packet “Review of FDLE Report on Chiefland Area Athletic Association and Discussion on Facilities Use Agreement.”
     Currently, the children involved in CAAA sports use the facilities as Strickland Park for team sports.
     The FDL E has completed an investigation into the NCAA regarding potential embezzlement. The findings of the report concluded that there was no evidence of embezzlement discovered; however, the FDLE noted, significant concerns regarding poor management practices within the organization were identified.
     Failing to plan is planning to fail. The five Chiefland City Commission members on Monday night took no decisive action to improve the situation, nor did it officially put the CAAA leaders “on notice.”
     By having children who may not be able to participate in sports, the CAAA rulers hold all the cards and all of the power. The city government can do nothing with its “contract” to persuade President Bell and whoever is in that secret group to change the operations that have evolved to what exists today.
     What led to the Chiefland City Commission, again, discussing the CAAA? City Attorney Norm Fugate had already told previous city leaders that it cannot be involved in anything within that organization. It could stop the CAAA from using the facilities as an organization by ending the contract for use of the facilities. The city cannot tell the CAAA that it must abide by its own bylaws.
     That’s it. The people involved with CAAA can abandon all hope now of changing the what the leadership of that group does anything.
     One group of parents started a “new league” a few years ago with hope of using Eddie Buie Park as they adopted an idea that hope springs eternal. It has failed and appears to have dropped completely off the radar.
     The facts leading to the Chiefland City Commission even putting the “contract” on the agenda for Oct. 13 have a history.
     Jimmy Anderson wanted to know who the officers, the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the CAAA are. He also sought to find who the CAAA commissioners for baseball, softball, basketball, football, soccer, concessions and the at-large commissioners are.
     He asked who is on the election committee, as well as who completes background checks on commission members and coaches.
     Anderson asked many more questions that went unanswered more than a few months ago, in May.
     Even information that is noted as being required by the city in the contract with CAAA was not available to Anderson from the city. On July 1, he asked the city for the reports from CAAA that show the number of children involved in the various sports. The city did not have the answer, because it repeatedly failed year after year to hold the CAAA accountable to that requirement of the contract.
     Limited to only three minutes at the Oct. 13 meeting, Anderson did not even have a chance to review the current history of the CAAA officers. And, as best as can be determined, there are no “commissioners” for any of the sports or the concessions.
     CAAA President Bell does not answer questions from the City Commission. He sees being asked questions as being harassed. And he wants it to stop.
     The FDLE investigated a complaint because Jimmy Anderson is a member of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, and his brother is the police chief of the Chiefland Police Department (CPD).
     A six-page FDLE investigative report showed that on July 28, Shirley Goins and Anthony Spadavecchia filed complaints with the CPD.
     On Aug. 11, FDLE Resident Agent In Charge Will Porter assigned FDLE Special Agent Christopher Perryman to investigate a complaint that had been sent to the FDLE from the CPD.
     Funding for the CAAA is derived from participant registration fees, team fees, fundraising activities, local sponsorships, as well as equipment purchases made by the Levy County Board of County Commissioners, the FDLE report noted.
     As of the July 28 report, Bell was serving as both president and treasurer of CAAA, according to the FDLE report. As noted, President Lee Bell served as treasurer as well as president in 2023, 2024 and now in 2025. He has the power to appoint directors, but has not done so, according to the bylaws.
     Goins and Spadavecchia reported that parents and coaches have been forced to purchase essential gear out-of-pocket and the condition of fields is poor, the FDLE noted.
     During the Oct. 18 meeting of the Chiefland City Commission, Goins provided the most telling statement about the difference between the years when she served as a director on the CAAA.
     For 19 years, Goins and the other 10 directors hosted T-Ball tournaments at Strickland Park that attracted hundreds of people to Chiefland. That tournament has dropped off the map as of at least a few years ago.
     FDLE Special Agent Perryman met with Jimmy Anderson and Goins.
     Perryman spoked with CAAA President Bell and Elise Frost, who was CAAA Secretary in 2021, and became “minimally involved” as CAAA Vice President in 2025.
     “Frost stated upon her return there were two additional board members identified as Brion Sims and Monique Deloach,” Perryman noted. “Frost additionally stated that Kahle Rix was placed as the secretary, and she learned from Sims that they did not have any meetings in her absence.”
     On Aug. 18, Perryman met with President Bell, Secretary Rix, Bell’s mother Malinda Hogan, community activist Cecilia Jones, NAACP representative Nicole Jackson and CAAA Board Member and Coach Breon Sims (which is spelled Brion Sims in the report, too).
     FDLE Special Agent Perryman concluded his report with a statement.
     “Based on the totality of the investigation, SA Perryman did not find evidence of criminal conduct,” he wrote. “It is worth noting that the initial complaint documented by CPD did not include any evidence of a crime being committed, but rather pointed more toward gross mismanagement.
     “SA Perryman reviewed the bylaws of CAAA and determined that the organization is not operating in accordance with its bylaws, such as maintaining records, executing payments properly, providing a monthly report of expenditures, holding meetings, and keeping minutes,” the investigator noted. “Although CAAA is not operating in accordance with its bylaws and, as a business, engages in several poor business practices, this does not constitute a crime.”


In this video, Jimmy Anderson brings the City Commission and city clerk copies of pictures that show how this fall season there were dangerous issues with baseball field care. The city does not maintain the field in the fall for baseball. Commissioner Chris Jones alleges some improper behavior from years past, although he is not specific. He remembers how he was told years ago that the City Commission can do nothing to rule on what the CAAA does or does not do. City Attorney Norm Fugate again confirms that the contract with CAAA does not allow the city any power to regulate over the group beyond what is noted in the contract. Most of the issues are within CAAA, he said. Fugate said the CAAA can modify itself from within. He said the City Commission can change the contract. The city chose against doing anything with the contract. This video shows the city leaders choosing not to not do anything about the contract the city has with CAAA for use of a city park. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved

Levy County starts forming
requests for legislators’ consideration

Liberty Partners Vice President Tim Parsons speaks with the Levy County Commission about what the county would like the state to help it with this year. Parsons warned that he sees a tight budget from the people who were elected to the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate.

Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © Oct. 8, 2025 at 8 p.m.
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Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     BRONSON – Levy County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper on Tuesday morning (Oct. 7) presented five requests the Levy County Board of County Commissioners might ask from the Florida Legislature this year.
     Present for that regular twice-monthly County Commission meeting were Levy County Commission Chair Desiree Mills, Vice Chair Tim Hodge and commissioners Johnny Hiers and Charlie Kennedy. Commissioner Rock Meeks was ill and unable to attend.
     State Sen. Stan McClain (R-Gainesville, Dist. 9) and State Rep. Chad “Cracker” Johnson (R-Chiefland, Dist. 22) are the Levy County Legislative Delegation. They are both scheduled to be at the Levy County Legislative Delegation’s Public Hearing in the Levy County Commission Board Auditorium on Oct. 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. (or until the conclusion of the speakers, whichever comes first).
     Florida Senate District 9 covers all of Levy and Marion counties and southern Alachua County.
     Florida House of Representatives District 22 includes all of Levy and Gilchrist counties and the southwest corner of Alachua County.
     County Manager Harper asked the four County Commission members present to finalize their January 2026 Legislative Session priorities to allow staff time to finalize the request and presentation documents.     Harper noted the following five requests that the Levy County Commission might consider when they are in the Oct. 21 meeting, as well as via the proper methods beyond then.
     1. Replace the University Oaks Water System mains. 
     Levy County owns the University Oaks Water System. The system serves 160 customers.
     By replacing these main water lines, Harper noted, it will: 
     ● Reduce water loss / leaks - The existing system has aging, deteriorating mains and leaking pipes, which lead to water loss and inefficiencies. Replacing old mains helps conserve water, lower operational costs, and reduce waste. 
     ● Improve reliability & service quality - Upgrading to new pipe (e.g., 6-inch PVC) and replacing deficient segments helps ensure continuous, safe, dependable water delivery to customers. 
     ● Meet Regulatory / Environmental Goals - Because the University Oaks system is a public water system, maintaining system integrity is crucial for meeting water quality and regulatory standards. Also, conserving water and reducing unnecessary withdrawals helps protect aquifer resources and reduce environmental stress. The project is tied to cost-share programs for “repair/replace leaking infrastructure.” 
     ● Support Growth / Future Capacity. As demand grows, a stronger infrastructure is needed to accommodate more customers or higher usage. Upgrading capacity and reducing weak links is part of preparing for future needs. The county has secured a cost-share agreement with the Suwannee River Water Management District for more than $300,000 to support this project. Final engineering plans have been accepted by the county and the project is shovel ready. 
     The request of the state will be $850,000 to help pay for the estimated total project cost of $1,160,000 (about $1.2 million).
     2. Landfill Expansion. 
     Levy County operates a Class III Landfill. The county must open an additional cell specifically for construction demolition (C&D) debris because the existing cell is reaching capacity and was stressed by recent hurricane events.
     The request of the state is $3 million for this project that will cost an estimated $5 million.
     3. Install a Generator for the Levy Country Government Center.
     The Levy County Government Center is a central node for county administration, emergency coordination, public records, and essential services. In recent storms and outages, the facility has experienced interruptions in function, delaying critical decisions, hampering service delivery, and increasing public risk. To ensure resilience and continuity of government operations under all conditions, the installation of a modern standby 
generator is warranted.
     The request of the state is $1 million for this project that has an estimated cost of $2 million.
      4. Amend provisions of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program to expand purchase assistance eligibility to include mobile homes, modular homes, and manufactured homes by allowing the purchase of homes manufactured after 1994 that are regulated under HUD Code and governed by the Florida Building Code, meeting Wind Zone III certification with installed slab foundations including hurricane resistant anchoring to increase homeownership affordability. The estimated total project cost is within existing appropriations. 
     5. Endorse statewide participation in the State Investment in Rescue and Emergency Medical Act (SIREMA). SIREMA guarantees one fully staffed ambulance in every county in Florida and provide state funding for salaries, benefits, operating costs, and replacement of that single unit with a prioritization of 
fiscally constrained counties first. Funding of a fully staffed ambulance to include salaries, benefits, operating costs and replacement of that unit. The estimated statewide cost is between $35 million and $50 million.


Liberty Partners Vice President Tim Parsons speaks to the Levy County Commission on Oct. 7, 2025 about the potential requests to be made to the Levy County Legislative Delegation on Oct. 21. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison - All Rights Reserved

     After Levy County Manager presented the five possible requests that the County Commission may make of the Florida Legislature, Liberty Partners Vice President Tim Parsons told the commissioners that the state leaders have started their interim committee meetings before the session that is slated to start in January.
     The Florida Senate is scheduled to hear from state economists about the long-range financial outlook, Parsons said, and lobbyists -- like Liberty Partners -- expect the state leaders to be “sort of tightening the strings” this session in preparation for the next two years, which may be even slimmer for state revenue.
     Parsons said the five requests that Harper noted cover different aspects of potential state help. He said the request for help with funding an emergency generator for the Levy County Government Center did not succeed last year, however it may this year.
     The University Oaks water project is “shovel ready,” he said and the state leaders like seeing those proposals.
     After Parsons gave his review of the five Commission Chair Mills spoke about a federal matter related to a dam that affects people in Yankeetown. Mills mentioned that she had spoken with a congresswoman about a study that needs to be completed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
     That study would take between three and five years, and cost $5 million, she said, adding that Levy County would like to see the Florida Legislature support the study starting, even though it would not contribute any money.
     County Manager Harper asked Mills if she would like to add that to the list of requests. Mills declined that and said the list is good as it stands.
     Harper told the County Commission that staff will now complete the documentation for these requests to be properly submitted.

Annual Levy County Legislative Delegation
Public Hearing set for Oct. 21
Deadline to be placed
on printed agenda is Oct. 10
Information Provided
By Levy County Legislative Delegation Chair
Stan McClain (R-Gainesville, Dist. 90)
Published Oct. 6, 2025 at 2 p.m.
     BRONSON – State Sen. Stan McClain, chair of the Levy County Legislative Delegation, recently announced that the Legislative Delegation’s Public Hearing for the 2026 Session is scheduled to be held at the Levy County Commission Board Auditorium on Oct. 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. (or until the conclusion of the speakers, whichever comes first).     The Levy County Commission Board Auditorium is located at 310 School St. in Bronson.
     This annual public meeting is an opportunity for residents and visitors, as well as elected officials from municipal governments, and other organizations to address the delegation before the start of the 2026 Legislative Session.
     Anyone who wants to be placed on the printed agenda, is asked to please fill out this form found at https://forms.gle/EQeHXwQHHnWa2CT18 and to send any documents for the delegation to treiber.jennifer@flsenate.gov before noon on Friday, Oct. 10.
     The speaker’s form and information documents should be submitted by this date to be included in the Delegation’s workbook. 
     Individuals may also complete a Speaker’s Form on the day of the meeting, and they will be afforded time to speak in the order in which it was received that day.
     Individuals who do not send information ahead of time, are asked to please bring two copies of all handouts to the meeting for distribution to the delegates.
     Individuals who have an appropriation request, please provide information in your handout. If a Delegation Member decides to sponsor your request, you will need to contact them for the required House of Representative and Senate forms. If you would like more information regarding this meeting, please contact Jennifer Treiber by email (treiber.jennifer@flsenate.gov) or call 352-732-1249.

High-powered economic development
interests visit sawmill

Dixie County Commission Vice Chairman Mark Hatch (left) and SBDC State Director Greg Britton are seen moments before the meeting starts.

Story, Photos and Videos By Jeff M. Hardison © Oct. 4, 2025 at 8 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     CROSS CITY – A multi-county tour included a stop at Cross City Lumber on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 2), where visitors enjoyed Subway sandwiches for lunch, listened to the history of the sawmill, heard about the economic impact of the timber-to-lumber industry and they enjoyed a quick tour of the sawmill.
     The Small Business Development Center (SBDC), based on the campus of the University of West Florida in Pensacola, hosted the daylong event.
     The agenda for the day showed that it started at Big Top Manufacturing in Taylor County.
     Since 1979, Big Top Manufacturing in Perry has been a trusted leader in engineered fabric structures, delivering durable, cost-effective, and highly adaptable solutions for military, construction and industrial operations.
     After the Big Top visit in Perry, the group went to Perry Precast in Lafayette County (Mayo). Perry Precast Inc. is an active Florida business entity incorporated May 15, 2008. Sheila Perry acts as the agent for this company.
     From Lafayette County, the group went to Cross City Lumber in Dixie County. 
     The tour ended at Big Bend Technical College in Perry (Taylor County), where there was a four-hour session to review everything from the visit to the three sites, and more.
     While there were a number of people listed for the big session at the technical college in Perry, there were significant representatives from the public and private sector that were on the site at Cross City Lumber too.


SBDC State Director Greg Britton (left) shakes hands with City Manager John Driggers of Cross City. Cross City Lumber Procurement Manager Andy Chesser is in the immediate background in a green shirt.


Dixie County Manager John Jenkins speaks with Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin, who is the head of that state agency.


CareerSource Florida President and CEO Adrienne Johnston joins colleagues on the trip as she prepares a Subway sandwich. Johnston is the top leader of all CareerSource regions in the state.


FloridaCommerce Chief Manufacturing Officer and Deputy Secretary of Economic Development Jason Mahon stands ready to serve as he learns more about the timber and sawmill industry.


North Florida Economic Development Partnership Director, Rural Economic Development Services, Diane Scholz of Tallahassee, is a key mover for the business development team in rural North Florida.


Cross City Lumber Procurement Manager Andy Chesser is seen as he sits at a table. Chesser connects pine tree farmers with the sawmill and procures this natural resource that is vital to the sawmill’s continuing to thrive.

Trucks bring pine trees to the sawmill and are seen Thursday afternoon.

     Among the visitors to Cross City Lumber Thursday afternoon was SBDC State Director Greg Britton; Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin, the leader of this statewide agency; Florida CareerSource President and CEO Adrienne Johnston, the leader of this statewide agency; and FloridaCommerce Chief Manufacturing Officer and Deputy Secretary of Economic Development Jason Mahon.
     The single most-recognized mover and shaker for economic development in North Florida present on the tour was North Florida Economic Development Partnership (NFEDP) Director, Rural Economic Development Services, Diane Scholz of Tallahassee. She was accompanied by NFEDP Executive Director Jeff Hendry.
     Elected local government leaders at the sawmill included Dixie County Commission Vice Chairman Mark Hatch and Cross City Mayor R. Ryan Fulford. Karen VanAernam, who is the relatively recent Dixie County replacement for Carol West on the NFEDP, was also present.


Cross City Lumber Chief Executive Officer Michael Tate is the first to speak from the lectern in a conference room of the sawmill on Thursday. To see and hear the video, click on the PHOTO.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved

     Cross City Lumber Chief Executive Officer Michael Tate opened the program as he spoke from a lectern in the conference room in the front office building at the sawmill.
     Tate welcomed everyone and apologized for the Subway sandwiches, which were self-served buffet style with lots of “fixings.” The limited visiting time planned for the sawmill stop left few choices on the lunch menu. Tate said the next time, if the visitors can stay longer, there could be barbecue.
     He introduced many of the visiting guests.
     To see the story and photos from the Cross City Lumber grand opening of May 22, 2019, click HERE.
     Tate introduced some of the other leaders of Cross City Lumber, including -- General Manager Morgan Thomas; President Wes Grant; Daniel Dicker, a shareholder; Chairman of the Board Robert Pearce; and Procurement Manager Andy Chesser.
     Steve Conner, the founder of the sawmill who brought it back to life, Tate said, shared that there were three things that convinced Conner this was a viable business opportunity back in 2017 -- when Conner began rebuilding the business that Georgia-Pacific had abandoned.
     First, Cross City has always been a multigenerational town of sawyers. Tate said there were sawmills in this town back to the 1920s – a century ago.
     “It’s multigenerational today,” Tate said. “We have grandfathers and grandsons that work here today.”
     The two shifts at the sawmill are overseen by a father and son, Tate said, with one leading each shift. 
     Conner saw that a workforce was in the area that is oriented toward sawmilling, Tate said.
     Another factor, Tate said, gave Conner confidence in this business investment. The timber grown in this part of Florida is abundant and well-managed, providing “an abundant fiber basket” that can support the logging mill that produces lumber.
     The third influence moving Conner to invest in revising the sawmill was the support from people in state and local government and private interests as well, Tate said. The support from the local and state interests, then and now, serves as a testament to the reason for success when people work together.
     There are 150 employees who work every day at Cross City Lumber, Tate said. The mill runs around the clock, except for Sundays.
     “It’s a meaningful place for those folks to work,” Tate said. “And we are proud that we give that opportunity to those folks.”
     Since 2017, Cross City Lumber has committed $35 million to capital investments, he said. 


Cross City Lumber Shareholder Daniel Dicker is the second to speak from the lectern in a conference room of the sawmill on Thursday. To see and hear the video, click on the PHOTO.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved

     Dickert was next to address the audience.
     He opened by asking everyone to pray for the lumber market.
     Dickert has been in Cross City for all of his life, and his father started Suwannee Lumber Co., which is on the north end of town.
     Dickert has been in this business for 41 years now, he said, in the career he entered when he was 14 years old by working in a sawmill.
     This sawmill produces yellow pine lumber as it provides a $10 million annual payroll for the 150 workers, Dickert said. 
     Dickert said Procurement Manager Chesser brings 350 loads of logs a week.
     Southern Yellow Pine is the tree of choice.
     Dickert mentioned the shutdown of sawmills in the area, and he spoke a little about September of 2023 -- when Georgia-Pacific employees at the Foley Cellulose mill in Perry learned about the plan to permanently close the facility.
     The market has become challenging, Dickert said, and right now it is depressed. 
     With Buckeye (Foley Cellulose) shutting down, Cross City Lumber must now send chips 120 miles to a pulp mill when they used to go 40 miles to Perry. Also, with other pulp mills shut down like the one that used to exist in Perry, Dickert said, the remaining mills are seeing an overabundance of chips from sawmills, which drops the price that chips can be sold at.
     Dickert said timber prices have increased, and this means lumber prices must increase.
     He let leaders from FloridaCommerce, CareerSource, the NFEDP, the SBDC and everyone else know that people in the Florida sawmill industry, including Cross City Lumber, owners and investors are looking for help from anywhere.
     Dickert mentioned a potential development in the area that would use chips from Cross City Lumber if that proposed business came to fruition. If that does not happen, then people are looking at whatever options work for best management practices to keep the business viable.
     Cogeneration is a possible business plan that was mentioned.
     For sawmills, cogeneration is a highly efficient process that uses wood byproducts to simultaneously produce electricity and heat for the mill's operations. It provides a sustainable method for waste disposal and offers significant economic and environmental benefits. 
     Sawdust, wood chips, bark and other wood residuals that were previously treated as waste are collected and stored. This waste provides a consistent, low-cost fuel source for the system.
     The wood waste is fed into a boiler and burned at high temperatures. The resulting heat converts water into high-pressure steam that turns turbines to generate electricity.
     After exiting the turbine, the steam or excess heat is captured instead of being wasted. This is the crucial step that distinguishes cogeneration from traditional power generation.
     The captured heat is piped to other areas of the sawmill for industrial processes, most commonly for drying lumber in dry kilns. This second use of the same energy source maximizes efficiency.
     The proverbial bottom line from the short visit to the sawmill by state leaders is that public and private interests who care about good economic development heard about various needs of manufacturing companies that exist in North Florida, including thanks to a luncheon meeting and quick tour at Cross City Lumber.
 

189^th Performance

Reggie “Reggie Starr” Stacy, country music singer, performs the HardisonInk.com jingle at the Hispanic Heritage Festival in Bronson on Sept. 13, 2025. There have been entire groups of people performing the jingle, including from the Levy County Supervisor of Elections Office as well as some trustees for Central Florida Electric Cooperative. Mark “Clawhammer” Johnson is the only professional performer who has played the jingle as a solo hit on the banjo, so far. 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.com. 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 © Sept. 24, 2025 at 4 p.m.
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