NETTIE HODGES SELECTED
TO REPLACE GENE HODGES,
FIRST BUDGET WORKSHOP CANCELLED
July 16, 2014
The Cedar Key City Commission met last evening, July 15, 2014, at 6pm in City Hall. In attendance were Mayor Dale Register, Vice Mayor Sue Colson, and Commissioners Tina Ryan and Royce Nelson. Solemnly, Register expressed missing recently deceased Gene Hodges; the group nodded agreement.
Register opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, the latter invoking Gene Hodges to “nudge us when we need it.”
ANNETTE HODGES SELECTED
Register requested that the discussion of Gene Hodges’ replacement be moved from the bottom of the agenda to the top; commissioners agreed. Register reported that tradition has it that, when a seated commissioner passes away, a qualified family member be asked to fill the remainder of the deceased’s term, in this instance ten months, until May 2015. In Hodges’ case, one such qualified relative does live in Cedar Key, Hodges’s wife Annette, or “Nettie.”
Commissioner Sue Colson made the motion that Annette Hodges be selected to replace Gene Hodges; Royce Nelson seconded the motion; the motion unanimously passed.
Register shared that he approached Annette Hodges earlier, and that she pondered the issue and decided that she “would do it for Gene.” Staffer Lisa Fine was directed to telephone Mrs. Hodges and invite her to the meeting; Hodges arrived shortly thereafter.
Mrs. Hodges was given the oath of office in private and after a short while, she took Gene Hodges’s chair and took part in the meeting.
The seating of Mrs. Hodges may mark the first time in Cedar Key history when women comprised the majority of the city commission.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Tobacco Ordinance Rescheduled:
Resident Jeri Treat asked when the proposed tobacco ordinance would be brought to the commission for its second reading as it was not on the agenda for the evening as expected. Register reported that the item will be on the August 19, 2014, agenda.
Election Signs Discussed:
Resident George Oakley commended the commission for lowering the inner marina boat slip rates, saying it was a “wise business decision.” Oakley also requested that the commission consider an ordinance requiring election sign placement be limited to one month before the election, one week after the election, and not allowed on public property. Commissioners noted the issue and will consider the matter at a subsequent time.
CLERK’S OFFICE
Bank Selected:
City Clerk Teresa George requested that the commission decide upon a bank to lodge the city’s accounts, which are now diminished from approximately ten to four. Citing no complaints with Capital City Bank, George’s recommendation was that the city use Drummond Community Bank for “ease of doing business,” fewer fees, and quicker responses. Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation.
Minutes Approved:
Commissioners approved the June 3 and June 17, 2014, City Commission Meeting minutes.
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Ethics Training Rescheduled:
The ethics training session scheduled for July 11, 2014, and cancelled because of Gene Hodges’ funeral services, will be rescheduled. Fugate will suggest several dates, preferably in early August; commissioners will select one and the session will be posted beforehand. Attorney Fugate and Cedar Key Water and Sewer District General Manager will deliver the instruction.
Lein Researched:
Attorney Fugate will report soon on the placing of a lien on a property owner with an unpaid garbage bill.
Resolution 354 Passed:
Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 354 which reduces the cost of the inner marina boat slip rentals from $75 to $60, includes a launch pass for the registered boat and eliminates the insurance requirement.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Auditor Invoice Held:
Mayor Register reported that he received and $13,500 contract, for the audit of the 2013-2014 fiscal year books, from Purvis and Grey, the auditors who have worked with the city for years. Last fiscal year’s auditing bill was $23,000 plus $6,000 for financial management advice.
The city hired Beauchamp CPA at $12,500 for the current fiscal year at the last commission meeting. His job is to work with the city clerk to streamline the books and ready them or an audit which will require less auditor time on site.
Desiring an even smaller contract from Purvis and Grey, the commission decided not to respond to the contract at the moment and to form an audit committee, to be composed of Register, Nelson, and Teresa George. The committee will be necessary and utilized if the commission does not use Purvis and Gray’s services and wishes to select another firm.
First Budget Workshop Cancelled:
Commissioners cancelled the first budget workshop scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2014. The second is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at 6pm in City Hall.
City Mission:
Commissioner Nelson requested that the budget workshop start with a discussion of a vision and mission statement for the city that would set goals and could be used to hold everyone accountable even the commission. He reported looking at many such missions of late.
CHW Engineering:
Nelson reported having met with CHW’s Rory Casseaux and Public Works Director Virgil Sandlin to revamp the RESTORE Act project to enhance the scoring criteria and potential score.
Land Transfer:
Mayor Register commented on a letter he had received regarding a parcel of vacant land that the owner would like to donate to the City. The land, 2.68 acres, is a very narrow parcel at the southeast corner of Piney Point with about 1000 feet of beach on the Gulf. He advise the commission to study the proposal and be prepared to discuss it at the next meeting.
At 7:10pm, Mayor Register called upon Mrs. Hodges to make the motion that the meeting be adjourned, as Gene Hodges always did.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, the 5th of August, 2014.
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