With all five commissioners present Tuesday night, July 20, Cedar Key`s City Commission revisited the question of solid waste rates to commercial customers, the issue on which the Commission had deadlocked at its July 6 meeting. Following discussion and agreement on the commercial rate structure and several other rate categories in the City`s proposed agreement with WastePro, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the amended franchise agreement, with the effective date of August 1. In the public comment portion of the July 20 meeting, preceding the commissioners` final action on the new WastePro agreement, Cedar Key Energy Advisory Panel member Dale Register announced that informational meetings to answer citizen questions re the new once-a-week trash pick-up and curbside recycling are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, July 28, and 7 p.m. Thursday evening, July 29, in the Cedar Key Library`s upstairs meeting room. Health Care in Cedar Key? Also speaking in the public comment portion of the meeting, Cedar Key residents Bill Delano and Dr. John Andrews reported on preliminary research they`ve undertaken, originally with Commissioner (then Mayor) Sue Colson`s encouragement, regarding options for a local health care service in Cedar Key. Dr. Andrews reported on the Palms Medical Center in Trenton, FL (formerly, Trenton Medical Center) and its satellite facilities in Chiefland, Williston, and Bell. The Palms Medical Center could give Cedar Key a proposal for such a satellite presence, but first would need to make a demographic study of the city and its service area. Commissioner Scott Dennison asked if the group had consulted with Levy County or considered whether improved transportation options could take the place of a Cedar Key-based facility. After discussing whether or not the inquiry should continue augmented by a City Commission-appointed committee, Mayor Pat O`Neal asked Commissioner Heath Davis to serve as the present group`s liaison with the city commissioners until such time as a formal committee may be required. Clamerica 2010. Reporting for the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association, University of Florida aquaculture extension agent and Cedar Key resident Leslie Sturmer provided figures from this year`s Clamerica celebration, held in Cedar Key July 4th. Ticket revenues exceeded $27,000, some 20% over Clamerica 2009`s figures, and food sales brought in nearly $25,000, 13% higher than in 2009. Anchor Hole. Leslie Sturmer appeared before the Commission later in Tuesday night`s meeting, again on behalf of the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association, to recommend that fees for the Anchor Hole parking facility be capped at the present rate of $200. Under the terms of the Aquaculture Association`s agreement with the City to operate and maintain Anchor Hole through the 2010-2011 year, the association has been required to increase users` fees by 25% each year. Ms. Sturmer reported that the total number of users has held steady at 37 over the last two years, although individual users have dropped out when annual increases have been imposed. After discussion, a motion was made, seconded, and unanimously adopted to authorize the Aquaculture Association to roll back the rate to its the original $150 level. Fine tuning the new solid waste agreement
Director of Public Works Josh Wilson and City Attorney David Coffey responded to commissioner questions regarding the remaining open issues with respect to the WastePro agreement. In preparation for the City Commission meeting July 6, city staff had proposed a reduced rate for small commercial users (which was adopted July 6) and, for larger commercial users, staff had recommended a rate schedule adjustment designed to encourage commercial recycling. At this Tuesday night`s meeting, at the urging of Commissioner Dennison, the commissioners acted to reduce staff-recommended rates for both residential users and larger commercial users. In addition, the commission voted more flexibility for non-profit customers, multi-family residences, and multi-occupancy commercial buildings in electing whether to utilize commercial or residential rates. At the conclusion of the meeting, Public Works Director Wilson promised a revised rate sheet in time for the information meetings to be held July 28 and 29. | 
