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Hazardous material mishap
at solid waste transfer site
severely injures innocent bystander
By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 6, 2026 at 12:45 p.m.
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     CROSS CITY – While every detail was not shared during the Thursday meeting of the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners on Thursday (Feb. 5), at least one man was hospitalized due to an accident involving chemicals at a solid waste transfer site in Dixie County.

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    On Jan. 21, one dumpster with five barrels of two different types of acid was brought to the transfer site, according to what was said at the meeting.
     Some of the two fluids became mixed, which caused a noxious gas to be put into the air at the site.
     A man who was depositing solid waste at the site, other than being an employee of the county or part of the company that hauled the hazardous waste to the site, became so affected that he had to be hospitalized. He reportedly is having difficulty breathing as well as experiencing some difficulty with his vision.
     Dixie County Attorney Chana Watson said preliminary research has shown county officials exactly from whence the hazardous fluids came and were brought and deposited at the solid waste transfer site.
     “So that person,” Watson said, “if that’s the case, will ultimately be the one we go after.”
     She was referring to a circuit civil court action by the victim if this came to be.
     “We may have to go through the hauler to get there,” she continued, “including the hauler, because the hauler is the one who brought it to us. But then, the hauler, it is my understanding, again (Dixie County Solid Waste Director) Tim (Johnson) has documented everything, but it was only one can from my understanding. It was roll back, right?”
     “Roll back,” Johnson replied.    
     Dixie County Commissioner Mark Hatch said he does not want to forget the man who was injured.
     When Commission Chairman Hatch spoke about the matter, he said he is extremely grateful for the response by Dixie County Fire-Rescue, the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office and the hazardous material response team. He said they were exposed to the danger at the scene as well.
     Johnosn confirmed that as Hatch said, the stie had to be closed, and then employees were sent home, only to have to return later when the danger was mitigated, and to work overtime to catch up with the demand for solid waste transfer services.
     Hatch said the man “spent multiple nights in the hospital.”
     It could have been worse, he added.
     “We dodged a heck of a bullet,” Hatch said. “Tim talked to the hazmat people. That should have been a hole in the ground out there (created by the material).”
     Hatch said hazmat professionals said the incident could have resulted in “quite a few fatalities.”
     Hatch asked County Attorney Watson and staff to keep track of the county’s losses from this incident as well as to track the recovery of the innocent bystander who was hurt there.

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Levy County Commission
seeks to switch attorneys 

Levy County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper, with Interim Levy County Attorney Evan Rosenthal of the Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson law firm of Tallahassee sitting in the background, request the County Commission to switch firms to GrayRobinson of Gainesville.

Story, Photos and Video © Feb. 4, 2026 at 5 p.m.
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     BRONSON – On a 4-0 vote, the Levy County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday morning (Feb. 3) to switch attorney firms for a trial period of up to six months, while at the same time continuing to run requests for proposals for a new county attorney or a firm to serve as an independent contractor in that role.
     Interim Levy County Attorney Evan Rosenthal of the Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson law firm, based in Tallahassee, was present at the meeting.
     Attorney Stephanie Marchman of the GrayRobinson team of attorneys, advisors and consultants based in Gainesville, was present at the meeting as well.


In this video, Terry Witt of Bronson, asks during the public comments part of the meeting, some questions, and the County Commission and the interim county attorney answer those questions. He asked his questions after the vote to switch attorneys was cast. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.

     On a motion by Levy County Commissioner Charlie Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Desiree Mills, the 4-0 positive vote to Kennedy’s motion was by Kennedy, Mills, Commissioner Johnny Hiers and Commission Chairman Tim Hodge. County Commissioner Rock Meeks was absent.
     One key element in switching to GrayRobinson from the Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson was the need for an attorney to drive from Tallahassee rather than to drive from Gainesville. Former Levy County Attorney Nicolle M. Shalley, who was fired without notice or warning, lives in Levy County.
     Attorney Shalley now is part of the team of attorneys at Folds Walker Attorneys At Law, which is the firm that serves as the attorney of record for the City of Williston, and others.
     Levy County Manager Mary-Ellen Harper noted in her justification for approval by the County Commission of the request, as noted on the agenda and supporting documents, that the County Commission terminated the previous county attorney’s employment on Oct. 21, 2025. (To see one of the stories about that, click HERE). https://hardisoninkarchive.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/10-21-25-levy-county-commission-fires-county-attorney-in-3-2-vote-.pdf
     The firm Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson was selected as the Interim County Attorney on Nov. 4, 2025 (approximately 90 days ago), Harper noted. The agreement with that firm was for 90 days to start.
     The request for Levy County legal services was scheduled to be issued during the last week of January, with proposals due back by the end of February, Harper said. It is reasonable to anticipate that the County Commission will complete the review process and be positioned to select a new county attorney in March or April (potentially an additional 60 days), Harper said. 
     Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson have served Levy County for 90 days as interim county attorney with distinction during this transition, Harper said.
     Due to that firm being based out of Tallahassee, they are not interested in serving as the permanent county attorney, Harper said, but they are willing to continue to provide litigation and other services as needed by Levy County. 


Levy County commissioners (from left) Johnny Hiers and Desiree Mills, and Chairman Tim Hodge and Vice Chairman Charlie Kennedy are seen as they listen to information about the potential change of attorneys.


Attorney Stephanie Marchman of the GrayRobinson team of attorneys, advisors and consultants based in Gainesville, speaks to the County Commission.

     GrayRobinson proposes to serve as interim county attorney for up to six months. GrayRobinson currently serves as one of Levy County’s contracted firms to resolve labor and employment legal issues.
     Harper noted that GrayRobinson is willing to submit a proposal to serve as the permanent Levy County attorney.
     The adopted motion by Commissioner Kennedy notes the agreement with Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson to serve as interim county attorney is terminated, and it authorizes Levy County Manager Harper to sign a letter of engagement so that GrayRobinson serves as the interim Levy County manager.
     His motion shows the switch is effective on Feb. 3 although the transition is to be complete within 30 days.
     Commissioner Mills commented, before voting in favor of the motion, that Levy County appreciates the service provided by Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson.
     The interim agreement with GrayRobinson is for up to six months, although the county is still accepting proposals from other law firms or individual attorneys.

Otter Springs Park and Campground
to return to Gilchrist County ownership
By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 3, 2026 at 8 a.m.
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     TRENTON – After a 10- or 11-year attempt at creating a place for United States military veterans to relax and rehabilitate, ForVets Inc. is on the brink relinquishing its ownership of Otter Springs Park and Campground back to the possession and stewardship of the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners.
     Gilchrist County Administrator Bobby Crosby announced Monday evening (Feb. 2) that he had met with leaders from the park and campground recently.
     Gilchrist County Attorney David Miller “Duke” Lang Jr. has started drafting documents for probable approval at the Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day) meeting of the County Commission to complete the cancellation of the 99-year lease agreement, both the county administrator and county attorney said.
     “They (ForVets Inc. leaders) are doing this willingly,” Crosby said. “And, so, I just wanted everybody to know they have asked everybody to start moving out of the campground.”
     People have started asking him, Crosby said, if the county intends to reestablish the campground and park.
     Comments from the meeting showed the county leaders intent to refurbish some of the infrastructure as well as to create fees for use of the campsites. This conversion is not going to happen overnight.
    Gilchrist County Finance Director Richard Romans said the County Commission budgeting process will be restarting an account as a department for the financial aspects of this revised situation at that facility. There will be budget amendments required as well as to determine the source of funding for improvements as well as continued operations of the park and campsite.
     Crosby told Romans on Feb. 2 that he will have a tentative budget for the operation of the park and campground, even before the Feb. 16 meeting.
     Romans is among the staff members of Gilchrist County Clerk and Comptroller Todd Newton who began his multi-term leadership in that office at a time close to when the conversion from the county operating the park and campground was converted to the ForVets Inc. management, which had a multimillion dollar vision of creating a place for veterans to relax and rehabilitate after their service to America in the pursuit of maintaining a democratic republic where all people are equal under the law, where there is a peaceful transfer of power after free and fair elections, and all of the other ideals of the founders of the nation.
     “One thing we know,” Crosby said, “is that it is a beautiful park. I would hate to see it close. We’ve seen the success of Hart Springs (Park and Campground), and I know it would be great to see the success of Otter Springs as well.”
     In fact, earlier during the Feb. 2 meeting, the County Commission voted 5-0 to move forward with a plan that shows 100 added RV sites in the campground part of Hart Springs Park and Campground.
     Gilchrist County Commission Vice Chairman Bill Martin said he remembers the heyday of Otter Springs Park, and he would like to see a return to that, and perhaps to even excel beyond the previous scenario of a wonderful place for visitors and campers to visit and stay.
     Commissioner Sharon A. Langford said she felt the county should be able to find grants to help fund improvements, and she mentioned that while it is too late this year to approach the Florida Legislature for some assistance, this may be on the list for requests from local state leaders to put that on the radar for the next year’s set of legislation by the state government.
     County Attorney Lang said this project came to full force as the start of a great vision for the future to help American military veterans, and even though it never reached the point of opening full-force in the manner it was envisioned to reach, during the 10 or 11 years of service to the residents and visitors of Gilchrist County, this operation took the financial burdens from the county government and showed a degree of progress.
     Lang mentioned the previous County Commission members who brought this project to a start.
     County Commissioner Kenrick Thomas, a United States Marine Corps veteran, said he is thankful for ForVets Inc. President Dan Cavanah, who is the primary leader of the Camp Valor project at Otter Springs Park and Campground. Commissioner Thomas said he believes no other person could have tried harder than Cavanah to ensure this project would succeed for Gilchrist County.
     More of the finer points of the peaceful transfer of ownership and management of the park and campground are destined for discussion and possible action at the next meeting of the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners.
     One monthly program that has been continuing in 2026, so far  at the park, is for veterans and their families to enjoy recreation for the mind, body and soul.
     Otter Springs Park and Campground is a 636-acre parcel of already developed facilities for people to enjoy. As the county government retakes the ownership, it is not starting from nothing. It has been improved over the years, even though there has been some “wear and tear” of certain aspects that would have occurred regardless of who managed the property.
 

Construction starts Monday
at Levy County Government Center
Parking and front entrance access detoured
By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 24, 2026 at 6:15 a.m.
     BRONSON – People who plan to visit the Levy County Government Center in Bronson for business with the Levy County Board of County Commissioners, the Levy County Manager, Levy County Development Services (building/planning), and the Levy County Tax Collector, who normally may park in the front of the building and use that entrance will be redirected starting Monday (Jan. 26) to another area to park and enter the structure, according to information in a press release from the County Commission.
     The night meeting of the County Commission slated to start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 26) in the auditorium of the main building will be among the first points where this change may be noticed.
     People using services of the Levy County Property Appraiser’s Office may have already discovered that office has moved within the campus of the Levy County Government Center, as noted in the Oct. 30, 2025 story and photos that may be seen by clicking HERE.
     The Levy County Government Center’s campus is the former campus of Bronson High School. The front entrance is located at 310 School St. in Bronson.
    Building renovation activities at the front entrance of the Levy County Government Center will begin Monday, as noted in a press release from Tacia Guthrie, an administrative assistant for the County Commission, and as mentioned at a previous meeting of the County Commission. These improvements are part of Levy County’s ongoing efforts to enhance the safety, accessibility and functionality of county facilities.
     During the construction period at the Levy County Government Center, the front parking lot and front entrance will be closed to the public. To ensure continued access by the public of county services at that location, all visitors must utilize the east parking lot and the east entrance when visiting the facility.
     Clearly marked and appropriate signage will be installed and maintained to direct the public to the designated parking and entrance areas during this construction period.
     The five elected leaders of the Levy County Commission recognize the construction activities may cause temporary inconvenience, Guthrie noted, and they all appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation throughout the duration of this project. Levy County remains committed to maintaining a safe environment for residents, visitors, employees and contractors, while making every reasonable effort to minimize disruptions to daily operations, Guthrie added in the press release. 
     For more information, please call the Levy County Commission’s office at 352-486-5218.

More felons to visit Trenton
City police force dwindles
GCSO near full strength
Chief deputy retires

Soon after the start of their one meeting in January, the Gilchrist County Commission (from left) Vice Chairman Bill Martin, Chairman Darrell Smith, Commissioner Tommy Langford and Commissioner Sharon Langford prepare for their duties.

Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 17, 2026 at 7:45 a.m.
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     TRENTON – As felonious probationers and parolees switch from mandatorily checking in at Chiefland to going to the future office in Trenton as of March, it means the level of convicted felons visiting Trenton will increase, Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz told county commissioners Thursday evening (Jan. 16).
     Schultz, who is the high sheriff of Gilchrist County, had more than just that update -- and he shared finer points about all of the news for the County Commission that Thursday.
     It was the singular scheduled meeting of the Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners for January, when normally there are two, usually on the first and third Mondays starting at 4 p.m.
     The first Monday of 2026 was Jan. 5. The third Monday of 2026 is Jan. 19, which is a federal holiday to honor slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Jan. 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968). Hence, the commission advertised the special meeting of Jan. 15, and it kept that promise to the public -- as the meeting started promptly at 4 p.m. on that Thursday. 


Clerk of the Court Todd Newton looks at his computer screen during the meeting.


County Administrator Bobby Crosby and County Attorney David Miller ‘Duke’ Lang Jr. look toward the County Commission.


Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz prepares to tell the County Commission information regarding the Sheriff’s Office, as well as the municipal law enforcement agency in Trenton and the state agency regulating probationers and parolees for this part of Florida.


Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz announces that former Chief Deputy Robert Willis retired after 25 years. The sheriff gave details about that. He spoke about Trenton downsizing its former police department. The sheriff announced, too, that the office for the Florida Probation and Parole felons from part of Alachua County, as well as all of Dixie County, Gilchrist County and Levy County is moving from Chiefland to Trenton in March. He spoke about this and more during the special meeting of the Gilchrist County Commission on Jan. 15 -- the only meeting that month for that County Commission. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video by Jeff M. Hardison -- All Rights Reserved

Chief Deputy Retires
     Schultz announced that former Chief Deputy Robert Willis, who was also known as Gilchrist County Undersheriff Willis, retired after 25 years of service to the people of Florida.
     Willis is an attorney. He rejoined the Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office as an assistant state attorney in December of 2006 while State Attorney William Cervone served in that elected post for 20 years, from his election in 2000 until his retirement on Dec. 30, 2020. Cervone had previously worked in the State Attorney’s Office before being elected and Cervone also served as an assistant state attorney under State Attorney Rod Smith after returning to prosecution in 1992. 
     As for Willis, he joined the GCSO team in 1997 as a road deputy, beginning his law enforcement career there under former Gilchrist County Sheriff David P. Turner, and later returned in 2019 as the undersheriff before retiring in December of 2025. 
     Sheriff Schultz said Willis has now entered private practice as an attorney. During Willis’ tenure as chief deputy, Schultz said, he did a great job.
     Willis helped put the GCSO in a good position fiscally as well as operationally, and although he is moving into a different aspect of his professional career, the GCSO is not going to be significantly impacted with this reduction in administrative force, Schultz intimated. 
     That vacant post will not be filled, according to Sheriff Schultz’s current plan, he said, although he may revise that, too, by reestablishing the post if needed.
     Instead, the sheriff said he plans to use what would have been Willis’ salary to fund an investigator’s position. As for the rest of what would have been his chief deputy’s salary, the sheriff said he may purchase some things he could not otherwise afford as well from that reduced expense.
     As for staffing the GCSO this year, Schultz said he has completely filled the posts for law enforcement officers. In the dispatch section of his office, the sheriff said there are one or two seats open, although he believes staffing for those posts is readily available. In regard to corrections, or the jail staff, he sees a couple of openings – while also foreseeing filling those vacancies very soon as well.
     The sheriff mentioned that at the conclusion of fiscal years when he has money to return to the County Commission’s coffers, those funds usually come from him not filling vacant positions in the GCSO. Right now, the sheriff said, the GCSO is right on track with funding for this fiscal year, according to the GCSO’s Chief Financial Officer Jeannine Pfannschmidt.
     Gilchrist County Commission Director of Finance Richard Romans and Assistant Director of Finance Tonya Howell serve under Gilchrist County Clerk and Comptroller Todd Newton, and the County Commission funds the GCSO, since the Sheriff’s Office is not a taxing authority.
     After speaking about the retirement of Undersheriff Willis, staffing and funding, Sheriff Schultz spoke about the City Council of Trenton downsizing its police department.
     The sheriff announced, too, that the office for the Florida Probation and Parole felons from part of Alachua County, as well as all of Dixie County, Gilchrist County and Levy County is moving from Chiefland to Trenton in March.
Trenton Police Force Reduction
     Schultz said he believes that as of Jan 14, the city does not have an active municipal police force anymore.
     The city is advertising for a new police chief, he said, and while the City Council did not eliminate that law enforcement agency, it did downsize it, Schultz said.
     When city leaders asked Schultz what impact this will have on the GCSO, he told him that he did not know at that minute; nonetheless, the sheriff said his office will continue to provide law enforcement for Trenton, just as it does for the Town of Bell and the unincorporated part of Gilchrist County.
     “No more, no less,” than in Bell or other parts of Gilchrist County, the sheriff added in regard to the level of law enforcement coverage now in Trenton by the GCSO.
     In Levy County, after the Inglis Police Department was abolished, that City Commission voted to pay the Levy County Board of County Commissioners to fund the Levy County Sheriff’s Office to provide more service than the LCSO provides in the unincorporated part of that county.
     The sheriff said he believes that Gilchrist County is one of the safest counties in Florida and in the United States of America, and that is because of the work of everyone at the GCSO serving the residents and visitors of this county – One Team, One Mission.
Visiting Felons
     The State of Florida Probation and Parole, which is formerly known as the Office of Community Corrections, a division of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), is moving its office from Chiefland to Trenton in March, Schultz said.
     The staff in this FDOC office oversee felons on probation or parole from part of Alachua County, and all of Levy, Gilchrist and Dixie counties, he said.
     FDOC Secretary Ricky D. Dixon is the lead of the department for the whole state. Dixon was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in November of 2021. Dixon assumed responsibility for the operation of the third-largest state prison system in the United States. He is responsible for the care, custody and control of more than 89,000 inmates and more than 144,000 offenders on community supervision. He oversees nearly 24,000 staff members, according to records.
     Dixon began his career in 1996 as a Correctional Officer at Lancaster Correctional Institution. He was promoted through the security ranks and was appointed Correctional Officer Colonel of Florida State Prison, according to records.
     The Gilchrist County Jail will be used to house some of these offenders for some time when they fail to abide by the rules set for them by their probation or parole status, Schultz said, and arrest warrants are served on them.
     That will be taxing on the two transport officers at the GCSO, he said. 
     “We’re going to try to get them out of our jail as fast as we can,” he added. “But some of those things, it takes a little while.”
     County Commission Vice Chairman Bill Martin asked if the state is funding this. The sheriff said “No.”
     “Why did they choose us?” Commissioner Sharon Langford asked.
     “I didn’t ask those questions,” Schultz said. “And it was a done deal before” he was told about the move that is going to happen.
     The GCSO will have responsibility for the care, custody and control of those visiting inmates while they are in the Gilchrist County Jail, Schultz said. That includes food, medical costs and other expenses.
     The sheriff said that after six or seven months he will have a better gauge of the financial impact this move by the state will have on this county.
     On a slow month in that office in Chiefland, Sheriff Schultz said he was told there are 10 to 20 felons who violate their probation or parole conditions and they must be incarcerated. After that, the suspected violator goes before a judge who rules on what that violation means for the defendants’ lives – prison, extended parole or probation, etc.
     Commissioner Sharon Langford asked if the elected officials representing Gilchrist County in the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives can have any sway on where those felons are overseen during their parole and probation periods.
     The sheriff said he was told to expect the change to be in March. He presumes the state chose the facility where it found the least cost for rental of office space as far as the deciding factor on where that office exists.
     Perhaps the Chiefland office was inadequate to meet the state’s needs, or maybe the lease fee was too steep, the sheriff said, in comparison with what the FDOC found in Trenton.
     Or maybe this part of the FDOC wanted to be more central to Alachua County -- where one of the district offices is located in Gainesville, he surmised.
     The sheriff said he does not think this is going to be a huge deal. Schultz added, however, that just like with the reduction of the municipal police force in Trenton, he cannot know the impact on the county or the city in the future. As things unfold, he assures the County Commission members that he and the GCSO will respond accordingly. There may be a need for more funding from the County Commission.

 

Dixie County votes to force
commercial garbage haulers to pay 
‘Mom and pop’ ventures included

Dixie County Commission Vice Chairman Jamie Storey speaks about the need to collect tipping fees of $50 per ton from all garbage haulers, except Dixie County residents that pay an annual assessment, for garbage hauled to the main solid waste transfer site. This fee will generate hundreds of thousands of dollars at the current rate of garbage being delivered to the solid waste transfer site. This includes ‘mom and pop’ garbage haulers with trailers.

Story and Photos By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
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     CROSS CITY – A lengthy and laborious discussion about an ordinance from 1991 in Dixie County, which including verbal input via telephone by a person named “Mary” on Jan. 8, resulted in a 4-0 vote by the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners to force people and companies that are paid to deliver garbage to the solid waste transfer stations in Dixie County to pay the tipping fee of $50 per ton, with $50 being the minimum fee.
     The discussion began when Dixie County Manager John Jenkins said that a review of that 1991 ordinance by Dixie County Attorney Chana Watson showed those fees are to be paid.
     Dixie County Commission Vice Chairman Jamie Storey made a motion for Waste Pro -- and all other haulers who collect money to transport residential garbage there -- to pay the $50-per-ton fee for garbage that is brought to the dump site. That motion was seconded by County Commissioner Daniel Wood III.
     The Storey-Wood motion passed 4-0 with Commission Chairman Mark Hatch and Commissioner David Osteen being the other two gentlemen to vote in favor of it with Storey and Wood. Dixie County Commissioner Jody Stephenson was absent due to a significant health problem that kept him away from the meeting that day.
     The discussion went sideways with some conversation about the $18 monthly fee for Cross City utility customers. Hatch intimated his belief that the annual special assessment for all county residents should be refunded to any municipal utility customers who pay for garbage service, because those people pay the Cross City municipal government, or other municipal government entities. People in municipalities, such as the eight incorporated towns and cities in Levy County enjoy benefits in addition to those of people who live in unincorporated parts of Levy County. The same is true in all Florida counties and cities.
     The people who live within a municipality’s limits, nonetheless, are still within the county where that town, city or other geo-political subdivision exists. If the special assessment is for the funding of the solid waste transfer sites and not for the transport of garbage from homes to those sites, then a city that imposes a utility fee for the transportation services in addition to the service provided by the county government for all of the people within the county, then that does not exclude those city residents from paying that special assessment to the county.
     Still, the county government leaders can opt to give municipal residents a benefit not enjoyed by all other county residents. That may be questioned by people joining in a class action against the county, and a judge or jury might have to decide whether that special benefit provided to the city residents is fair.
     The proverbial bottom line for all people in Dixie County who use the services of Waste Pro, or those who pay “mom and pop operators” for their unlicensed, uninsured trash transport service to collect residential garbage will now pay the tipping fee in Dixie County – as of Jan. 8 -- via increased prices from those services providers to let them remain in business in this market.
     Waste Pro and other haulers are bound to increase fees to offset the new cost they will see from Dixie County mandating tipping fees to be paid.
     In Dixie County, residential property owners pay a special assessment, which is part of the funding for the solid waste transfer sites – not to cover the cost of transporting garbage.
     For the residential customers who pay Waste Pro to collect garbage, as Vice Chairman Storey said he does, there is no rebate on the special assessment he pays to the county annually for solid waste.
     Apparently, Waste Pro had not been paying a tipping fee on garbage collected from Dixie County’s residential customers when that household debris was deposited at the solid waste transfer sites in Dixie County.
     Dixie County hauls that type of garbage to a regional landfill site rather than establishing a new landfill. The old Dixie County Landfill has been decommissioned.
     Some people at the meeting Thursday seemed to think Cross City government leaders would object to the County Commission voting to force tipping fees to be paid by Waste Pro and others who haul residential garbage -- because it is bound to cause prices for that service to increase. This action was listed on the agenda only as matters under the county administrator. The agenda for Dixie County Commission is not as specific as the agendas published in Levy County and Gilchrist County for the public in those counties.


John Locklear, a professional engineer, tells Dixie County leaders how commercial and residential garbage is defined differently.

     John Locklear, who has 32 years of experience advising interests on matters related to solid waste management, helped County Commissioners understand that residential garbage and commercial garbage are defined by the source that creates it. For instance, debris generated from a family in a house is different from debris generated at a commercial interest, such as a business or manufacturing site.
     Commissioners decided that when Waste Pro collects garbage from a residence, it becomes the property of Waste Pro, which is a commercial interest. Hence, the County Commission feels Waste Pro must pay the per-ton fee for that “commercial” garbage it takes to the solid waste transfer site in Dixie County, even though it was collected from residential garbage sources.
Other Actions
     In other actions at the Jan. 8 meeting, the County Commission:


Greg Bailey of North Florida Professional Services speaks to the County Commission on Jan. 8.

     ● Heard updated information from Greg Bailey of North Florida Professional Services about projects NFPS is involved with in Dixie County, including construction of fire stations and roadwork, as well as the Horseshoe Beach Working Waterfront Project, and the three approved RESTORE Act projects -- the Jena Highway Bridge replacement, the Suwannee community’s seawall, and for work on Shired Island Park Beach.
     ● Heard from John Locklear about projects he is involved with in Dixie County, including revising the purchasing policy manual; and updates on the dredging projects off of Horseshoe Beach and Shired Island.
     ● Heard Code Enforcement Officer Steve Fremen say the next Code Enforcement Hearing is set to be in the Dixie County Courthouse before a judge on Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.


Dixie County Road Department Director Michael Gainey is granted permission by a 4-0 vote to advertise for crushed rock that is needed for roadwork.

     ● Agreed by a 4-0 vote to approve the reduced number of CareerSource Board of Directors members required for a quorum to conduct business. Dixie County is in CareerSource North Central Florida (Region 26), along with the five other counties -- Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, and Union Counties, providing career services, job training and business support for the area. The minimal number of members present was reduced from six to four. Levy County is in the Citrus Levy Marion CareerSource region, which include three counties – Citrus, Levy and Marion.
     ● Heard an update from Dixie County Attorney Chana Watson regarding a lawsuit against the county in regard to a traffic accident.

196^th Performance

Key West Kevin performs the HardisonInk.com jingle at the Driftwood Bar & Grill on Jan. 24. The bar and grill was a cornerstone for the 2026 Tour of the Towns, which was organized by the Withlacoochee Gulf Area Chamber of Commerce to help business interests in Inglis and Yankeetown. This was filmed on Saturday (Jan. 24, 2026). 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 Danesh “Danny” Patel of Danny’s Food Mart 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 © Jan. 24, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
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