CEDAR KEY CITY
COMMISSION MET
21 MARCH 2024
21 MARCH 2024
The Cedar Key City Commission met Thursday evening, March 21, 2024, at 5 pm at the new City Hall, now located in the renovated City Community Center at 609 Sixth Street. In attendance were current Mayor Sue Colson, Vice-Mayor Nancy Sera, and Commissioner Jim Wortham.
This meeting was attended by some forty audience members. Among them were: Dave and Amy Martinez, John Rittenhouse, Patty Jett, Mike Borelli, Savanna Barry, Jolie Davis, Jeff and Jennifer Webb, Janice Fugate, Ron Smith, Cathy Salkaln, Eileen Senecal, Jeri Treat, Paul Florence, Esta Johnson, Susan Rosenthal, Ken Wood, and Mandy and Frank Offerle,
CONSENT AGENDA
City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate explained that a “consent agenda” is a time-saving mechanism used by many official boards designed to list and forward numerous items that have been thoroughly discussed in prior meetings, without having to pass each individually. The commission, board, “consents” to pass the items with one vote. An example of such an easily moved item on a consent agenda would be minutes from previous meetings.
MINUTES:
Minutes from the October 17, 2023, November 7, 2023, and February 20, 2024, Commission Meetings were unanimously approved in this consent agenda.
Minutes from the October 17, 2023, November 7, 2023, and February 20, 2024, Commission Meetings were unanimously approved in this consent agenda.
CEMETERY PLOT:
Cedar Key Cemetery Director Ron Smith requested approval to spend $400 to buy back a Cedar Key Cemetery plot. Commissioners unanimously approved this in the consent agenda.
Cedar Key Cemetery Director Ron Smith requested approval to spend $400 to buy back a Cedar Key Cemetery plot. Commissioners unanimously approved this in the consent agenda.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
NATURE ACOAST BIOLOGICAL STATION UPDATE
Dr Savanna Barry, spoke for NCBS Director Dr. Mike Allen. Among the many recent NCBS efforts, are the following.
• Captain Kenny McCain will retire and, though irreplaceable, Adam Hursey will serve in his stead.
• Operation TRAP is doing its intended work of catching cigarette butts and candy wrappers before they enter our waters.
• six new interns will work with UF this summer.
• NCBS will host Minorities in Shark Science this summer on Seahorse Key.
• The Resilient Cedar Key revised, draft Vulnerability Assessment has been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection.
• The Cedar Key SHOReS working group has issued a request for bids for stormwater engineering firms for work in the watershed. Deployment of water level monitoring equipment is beginning in several storm drains along G and First Street.
Dr Savanna Barry, spoke for NCBS Director Dr. Mike Allen. Among the many recent NCBS efforts, are the following.
• Captain Kenny McCain will retire and, though irreplaceable, Adam Hursey will serve in his stead.
• Operation TRAP is doing its intended work of catching cigarette butts and candy wrappers before they enter our waters.
• six new interns will work with UF this summer.
• NCBS will host Minorities in Shark Science this summer on Seahorse Key.
• The Resilient Cedar Key revised, draft Vulnerability Assessment has been submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection.
• The Cedar Key SHOReS working group has issued a request for bids for stormwater engineering firms for work in the watershed. Deployment of water level monitoring equipment is beginning in several storm drains along G and First Street.
CEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT UPDATE
Mayor Colson thanked both CKWSD Board Chair Mike Borelli and General Manager John Rittenhouse for their attendance and the CKWSD report. Among the many items cited in Rittenhouse’s report were:
• meetings with FEMA to assess Idalia damage to wastewater facility;
• restoration of the board offices; and
• the acceptance of $2.5 million dollars from the state to raise additional lift stations.
Mayor Colson thanked both CKWSD Board Chair Mike Borelli and General Manager John Rittenhouse for their attendance and the CKWSD report. Among the many items cited in Rittenhouse’s report were:
• meetings with FEMA to assess Idalia damage to wastewater facility;
• restoration of the board offices; and
• the acceptance of $2.5 million dollars from the state to raise additional lift stations.
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
KIOSK TRANSFER
Commissioners unanimously approved the transfer of the Tidewater Tours kiosk from Phil Collins to Paul and Holly Florence.\
Commissioners unanimously approved the transfer of the Tidewater Tours kiosk from Phil Collins to Paul and Holly Florence.\
PUBLIC WORKS
INNER MARINA DREDGING
Four responses to the Request for Proposals were submitted:
• Gulf and Bay Dredging for $248,000;
• Bayside Dredging for $315,000;
• Civil Engineered Maintenance for $359,000; and
• Waterfront Property Services for $419,000.
Based on cited experience and the ability to complete the job in a month, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain requested approval of the second lowest bidder, Bayside. Commissioners unanimously approved the request.
CEMETERY DIRECTOR POSITION
After citing the works of current Cemetery Director Ron Smith, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain requested that commissioners make the position of director a paid part-time position at $520 per month, to be funded from the cemetery Fund.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to the request.
After citing the works of current Cemetery Director Ron Smith, Public Works Supervisor Jamie McCain requested that commissioners make the position of director a paid part-time position at $520 per month, to be funded from the cemetery Fund.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to the request.
Among Smith’s accomplishments thus far are: 3
• updated permit process;
• work progress guidelines for all work done in the cemetery;
• procedural understandings with funeral homes and monument producers;
• post-Idalia tree and stump removal; and
• identified veterans’ graves and placed flag holders on each site.
• updated permit process;
• work progress guidelines for all work done in the cemetery;
• procedural understandings with funeral homes and monument producers;
• post-Idalia tree and stump removal; and
• identified veterans’ graves and placed flag holders on each site.
Ongoing projects, among others, include:
• regular clean up;
• mapping graves by sections;
• arranging for funerals with loved ones and funeral homes;
• replacing trees; and
• extending the watering system.
• regular clean up;
• mapping graves by sections;
• arranging for funerals with loved ones and funeral homes;
• replacing trees; and
• extending the watering system.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
TAKE-HOME CAR POLICY
Cedar Key Police Chief Edwin Jenkins presented his revamped policy, to be added to the Cedar Key Police Manual, relating to an officer taking a Cedar Key Police Department car home with him/her. Commissioners approved the policy which allows the car to be driven 60 miles from Cedar Key, unless otherwise approved by Chief Jenkins, and assures that adequate insurance protects the city.
Cedar Key Police Chief Edwin Jenkins presented his revamped policy, to be added to the Cedar Key Police Manual, relating to an officer taking a Cedar Key Police Department car home with him/her. Commissioners approved the policy which allows the car to be driven 60 miles from Cedar Key, unless otherwise approved by Chief Jenkins, and assures that adequate insurance protects the city.
COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS
SEATING NEW COMMISSIONERS
After researching the issue at length, Commissioner Jim Wortham encountered conflicting legal information regarding the seating of the new commissioners. After a brief discussion, commissioners unanimously agreed to seat Jolie Davis and Jeff Webb at the April 2024 meeting.
After researching the issue at length, Commissioner Jim Wortham encountered conflicting legal information regarding the seating of the new commissioners. After a brief discussion, commissioners unanimously agreed to seat Jolie Davis and Jeff Webb at the April 2024 meeting.
CITY HALL
Two bids were submitted to the city responding to the Task Order for a site evaluation and assessment for two alternatives, repair or raise, the Old City Hall on Second Street. Mitauer Engineering submitted a bid for $8,000. CHW submitted a bid for $5,500. The bid paperwork for CHW was not included in the agenda packet for the meeting, Commissioners unanimously approved the CHW bid.
Two bids were submitted to the city responding to the Task Order for a site evaluation and assessment for two alternatives, repair or raise, the Old City Hall on Second Street. Mitauer Engineering submitted a bid for $8,000. CHW submitted a bid for $5,500. The bid paperwork for CHW was not included in the agenda packet for the meeting, Commissioners unanimously approved the CHW bid.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.
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