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Columbia County News
Beginning in 2013 County & County
Commission News will be here. Earlier
years will be found in either County News or County
Commission indexes
2014
Index of Stories •
2017 •
2016-2015 •
2014 •
2013 •
2012-2009
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County News 2014
(scroll down)
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Posted December 29, 2014 06:40 am
COLUMBIA - HAMILTON - SUWANNEE COUNTY, FL –
Last Monday, December 22, the State Attorney empanelled
a grand jury to hear matters concerning the Suwannee
Valley Transit Authority. Ten days before, on December
12, 2014, the Florida DOT, Office of Inspector General
(OIG) released its long awaited Advisory Report on the
Suwannee Valley Transit Authority (SVTA).
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Posted December 18, 2014 03:25 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
The Suwannee Valley Transit Authority (SVTA) was
front and center at the Columbia County
Commission (County 5 or The 5) last night. Once
again, the SVTA ran out of money. Records that
were not made available to the public in advance
of the meeting, in violation of the County
Charter, show that on December 1 the SVTA was
$50,600 behind in its bills. The request from
the SVTA for a $50,000 grant from Columbia
County's taxpayers made it onto the County's
agenda. There was no explanation how it got
there.
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Posted December 18, 2014 11:35 am | Part II
LAKE CITY/COLUMBIA COUNTY – After City Manager Johnson's
remark about the C-A-V-E people he said the
person who wrote the letter to the City was "not
informed about what we're trying to do and the
value the project would bring to the City." As
the meeting progressed, City Manager Johnson had
a change of heart. By the end of the meeting
City Manager Johnson told the group, "Anybody is
invited to show up and sit at the table... If
anybody wants to be a stakeholder, they can show
up and participate and have the same say as
anybody else."
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Posted December 17, 2014 01:40 pm
LAKE CITY/COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Yesterday's 8:30
a.m. discussion by the handpicked "Grassroots
Blanche Stakeholder Committee" went off on time
as City Manager Wendell Johnson led the
discussion of the proposed $15,000,000
renovation of the downtown landmark. Ninety
minutes after a bit of a shaky start, the
committee seemed to have found itself heading
for a community project in which the pro and con
sides are going to have to come together to make
this successful for Columbia County/Lake City
and put its historic downtown back on the map.
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Posted December 5, 2014 08:27 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
Last night at Columbia County's infamous County
Commission, (The County 5 or The 5), decades of
tradition were bypassed when a coalition of 3
commissioners refused to move Vice Chair Scarlet
Frisina into the position of County Chair. The 5
have never used Robert's Rules or any standard
rules of procedure. The voting was a sham.
Commissioner Frisina remained "classy"
throughout the unfolding event.
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Posted December 4, 2014 01:55 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
The renovation and revitalization of downtown Lake
City's deteriorating Blanche Hotel was on the docket at
yesterday morning's Economic Development Advisory Board
(EDAB or Board) meeting. City Manager and EDAB member,
Wendell Johnson, gave the committee an update. He
announced that a committee was formed and Chamber of
Commerce Director Dennille Decker had taken "a
leadership role in putting the stakeholders committee
together."
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Posted December 4, 2014 06:20 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
Seven months into the job, Columbia County's Economic
Development Director, Glenn Hunter, is working hard for
success. The artwork over his shoulder reminds him of
that every day he comes into his office. Director Hunter
told the Observer, "For me, success means jobs and new
business for Columbia County." Your reporter spent a few
minutes with Director Hunter after Wednesday morning's
Economic Development Advisory Board meeting discussing
Ellisville, The Blanche, and the competition.
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Posted November 21, 2014 07:50 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Columbia County's County 5
met last night in a two hour plus commission
meeting. A large part of the evening was taken
up with conversations concerning water: the kind
you drink – flush – play in, water conservation,
springs protection, and the gorilla soon to be
in everyone's room, Amendment 1: what did you
really vote for?
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Posted November 20, 2014 08:10 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
A hands-on executive with an MBA and a fresh face took
the helm of Columbia County's Tourist Development
Council Wednesday morning. Paula Vann, whose appointment
by the County 5 was not without controversy, was steady
as she attended her first TDC meeting. Without a quorum
and without any elected board members present, there
wasn't much the TDC board or Director Vann could do,
besides listen and plan for the future.
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Posted November 7, 2015 07:45 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Wednesday morning's Columbia
County Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB)
meeting lasted almost an hour, half of which was spent
talking about the deteriorating downtown Lake City
Blanche Hotel. For the first time in many years, Lake
City was approached by developers with a plan to raise
the Blanche from the dead. This plan was provided via a
Letter of Intent to Lake City and Columbia County by the
developers, who attended the meeting to answer questions
and explain their plan for the $14,000,000 project.
There was not one question. This is typical of Columbia
County, where the real discussions of the County's
business is typically done under the cover of darkness.
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Posted November 6, 2015 06:30 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
Last night, Columbia County's legendary County 5 (The
5), Florida's quintessential good ole' boy county
commission, gave Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter
another free pass, when, without question or comment, it
returned the Sheriff's year end excess fund balance of
$140,248 back to him. According to the Sheriff's
paperwork, he wanted to replace his in-car camera
systems, which he claimed were at the end of their life
cycle.
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Posted October 30, 2014 03:15 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
Some Columbia County Firefighters are taking it on the
chin and in the pocket book, as the County drags its
feet on promotions to the firefighter Driver/Engineer
positions, that were by some accounts, promised months
ago. The County Management's reason for not filling the
positions is that there are no open positions. The Fire
Chiefs apparently believed there were. Yesterday, after
the Observer heard more rumblings from the Fire
Department regarding the failed promotions, an inquiry
was made. County Manager Dale Williams wasn't available
for comment, but Assistant County Manager Ben Scott was.
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Columbia County – New Peyton Place?
Posted October 21, 2014 10:21 pm
Lake
City/Columbia County, FL – Yesterday morning in
Federal Court, Judge Timothy Corrigan compared
the goings-on in Columbia County to Peyton
Place. The events of the past month indicate the
judge's observation to be a poignant one. Last
week, Vann king-pin, Marc Vann, a long time Lake
Shore Hosp Auth Board member, moved into action
and recommended the Authority give over
half-a-million dollars of property to Lake City,
for free. Last night, the City Council removed a
$5,000 lien from one of the Vann properties in
downtown Lake City and sometime during the day
the County hired his nephew's wife to a top
County post.
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Posted October 16, 2014 09:21 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Yesterday's high noon
meeting of the Tourist Development Council (TDC) gave no
surprise when the TDC was presented with a choice to
either buck up against the County 5 (The 5) again, and
seek a qualified TDC Director with tourism, sports, and
vacation experience, or to go along with The 5's flexed
muscle appointment of Paula Vann, the daughter-in-law of
one of Columbia County's premier good ole' boys, Marc
Vann.
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Posted October 9, 2014 09:35 am
COLUMBIA
COUNTY, FL – Yesterday's Economic Development Advisory
Board (EDAB) meeting double faulted into a meltdown of
disarray as the members questioned the purpose and
direction of the Advisory Board. Newly hired Economic
Development Director, Glen Hunter, who had been under
fire for being involved in meetings regarding grandiose
plans for a tennis center, tried to clear the air
without much success. In a bizarre action, Mr. Hunter
asked the EDAB to approve the 2015 Economic Development
Budget, a budget which had been approved by the County 5
last month.
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Posted October 3, 2014 11:59 am
COLUMBIA
COUNTY, FL – Last night, after months of backroom
dealing and squandering tens of thousands on useless and
unused salary studies, the County 5 once again had on
the table the salary of the County's in-house
programmer/web designer.
After working in the shadows
for months, The 5 finally reached an agreement that
could be publically discussed.
Sitting on a stash of
cash estimated to be about $40,000,000, The 5 finally
agreed to change the job title and admitted that the
employee had been doing much more than for what he was
hired. The unanimous raise was barely competitive and
represents .029% of the county's cash stash.
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Posted September 23, 2014 06:55 am
COLUMBIA
COUNTY, FL – Another budget year came to a close early
last night with the approval of the FY 2015 $104,911,711 County
budget. Throughout the entire budget process there was
barely any substantive conversation among The 5.
The Nash gas increase, a motion to increase the
gas allowances for the County's overpaid
commissioners, disappeared in the backroom,
along with a $10k increase for the newly hired
Assistant County Manager, while the $10k bonus
for the County's $85,000 a year Economic
Development Director in training still lingers
along with the Westside Library, a
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Raises for the brass: bad business done badly
Posted September 9, 2014 10:10 am |
news-commentary
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – At 5:30 yesterday evening the
County 5 met for its first budget hearing to approve or
modify its $104,911,711 FY2014-15 budget. County Manager
Dale Williams provided a total of the General Fund,
$44,851,425, but did not provide a total of the non
ad-valorem funds (gas tax and those things) component of
the budget. The 5 didn't ask for one. The amount for all
the other funds was $60,060,286.
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Posted September
5, 2014 07:40 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last night, the over
$2,000,000 in improvements to the Southside
Sports Complex once again did not include any
mention of the “Field of Dreams,” the
handicapped accessible field for those not as
lucky as The County 5, Columbia County’s royalty
packed spendthrift County Commission. The
emergency communications system upgrade report
was another whitewash by County management. As
usual, and in clear disregard of the intent of
SB50, the Florida law which is supposed to allow
public comment, Commissioner Nash made the
motions to approve over $2,000,000 of budget
amendments without any public comment.
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Posted September 2, 2014 11:40 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Meeting scheduling of Columbia
County's infamous County 5 (The 5) has once
again given the back seat to Columbia County's
residents. In order for The 5 to make a
pilgrimage to rub shoulders with other county
commissioners at the Florida Association of
Counties (FAC), a lobbying group for Florida
Counties, it has rescheduled its September 18th
board meeting. It appears, that through no fault
of its own, the rescheduled County 5 meeting is
now at the same time as the Lake Shore Hospital
Authority Budget Hearing, the special district
encompassing all of the County.
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Posted August 27, 2014 04:55 am
Columbia County, FL – County Attorney Candidate, Joel
Foreman, won handily in his race to succeed long time
County Attorney Marlin Feagle. There will be a recount in the County Commissioner
District 2 race. In County Commission District 4, Toby Witt and Evert
Phillips will be on the ballot in November. In the City, there were no surprises, with the
incumbent Council members winning handily. The School Board election returns Steve Nelson to
another term, while incumbent Linard Johnson will be on
the ballot in November against Danny Green.
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Posted August 23, 2014 09:15 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – From at least November of 2010,
through March of 2012 when Third Circuit (Lake City)
Court Judge, Paul S. Bryan, filed for bankruptcy, Joel
Foreman was representing Judge Bryan as his estate
planning attorney. The Codes of Judicial Conduct and
Professional Responsibility require the recusal of a
Judge who is being represented by an attorney, who is
appearing in front of him, and the attorney to advise
the opposing party that he is the judge's attorney.
After reading the Observer article, County Attorney
Candidate Joel Foreman: Ethics Questions Surface, Thomas
"Will" Miller stepped forward with the same complaint:
Attorney Joel Foreman did not disclose.
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Posted August 22, 2014 10:30 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – There were many factors that added
to the violence in Ferguson, Missouri after the death of
Michael Brown. Most agree that a major factor in the
violence was the police use of military equipment for crowd
control and containment. During last night's meeting of
the County 5, your reporter asked Sheriff Hunter about
the Columbia County Sheriff's use of similar equipment.
While none of The 5 seemed particularly interested,
Sheriff Hunter responded after the meeting.
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Posted August 17, 2014 02:15 am | (1
comment)
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Columbia County Florida is the
only Florida County where the County Attorney,
the attorney that represents the County
Commission in civil matters, is elected by the
people. Joel Foreman is running for the
position. The Codes of Judicial Conduct and
Professional Responsibility require the recusal
of a Judge who is being represented by an
attorney, who is appearing in front of him, and
the attorney to advise the opposing party that
he is the judge's attorney.
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During the Great Recession The 5 Gave Its Auditor 5%
Every 2 Years
Posted August 10, 2014 09:58 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – County Manager Dale
Williams has been the County's County Manager
(CM) for the past 30 years and Richard Powell
has been the County External Auditor, County
Financial Advisor, County Budget Advisor, and
advisor to the County Internal Auditor for the
same length of time. How involved in the
Columbia County budget process is External
Auditor Powell? On Thursday night, CM Williams
told the County 5 and County residents, "He most
definitely plays a role and has been as long as
I've been [County] Manager." Not surprisingly,
Florida's quintessential good ole' boy backroom
county commission didn't have a single question
about the negative audit findings brushed over
by Auditor Powell.
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Posted August 6, 2014 09:30 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The
Columbia County Department of Health (CCDOH) and
WellFlorida have partnered to improve health
outcomes in Columbia County. In August of 2013, CCDOH
Administrator, Mark Lander, formed the Columbia County
Health Advisory Panel (CHAP) whose membership is
composed of community and municipal partners ranging
from the Governor appointed Lake Shore Hospital
Authority, Columbia County and Lake City, health care
providers, Chamber of Commerce, and representatives of
the educational community.
In July, with the help of CHAP, the CCDOH and
WellFlorida developed a health survey to identify the
most pressing health issues in Columbia County. The
survey deadline is this Friday.
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Posted
July 18, 2014 09:58 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Just when you think Columbia
County's infamous County 5 can't outdo itself, it does.
Last night, in an admitted backroom deal brokered by
County Commissioner Bucky Nash and the County's external
auditor and financial advisor, Richard Powell, The 5
gave the Sheriff $659,780 in current and future
commitments for salary adjustments, while at the same
time leaving its other County employees in the dark
about their financial future.
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Posted June
24, 2014 05:15 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last night's meeting of
the County 5 had garbage on the front burner.
Long time resident Robert Long had emailed the
County advising that residents in his
neighborhood put out old and broken furniture,
dryers, box springs and rubbish on the wrong
days for pick up. He wrote, "It negatively
affects home values and neighborhood appearance.
It seems to be an increasing trend." The
instances of garbage and trash being put out to
the curb on the wrong day in Columbia County are
nothing new.
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Posted June 14, 2014 10:55 pm | Part II |
Part I
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – In one of the few light moments
during Thursday's Public Service Coordinating Council,
County Judge Tom Coleman quipped about the Public
Defender, "Blair’s the Public Defender – he thinks the
jail should be abolished.” Everybody laughed, but it
was clear throughout the conversation that none of the
officials took incarceration or the loss of someone’s
liberty lightly.
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Posted
June 13, 2014 03:40 pm | Part I
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last night at 6 o'clock
sharp, the Columbia County Public Safety
Coordinating Council (PSCC) met to assess the
population status of the County Jail. The
conversation was between the State Attorney, the
Public Defender, the Sheriff, the County Court
Judge, and the Jail Administrator. County
Commission Chairman Ronald Williams was absent
due to family reasons. None of the other County
5 showed up. County Manager Dale Williams
facilitated the conversation.
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Posted June 12, 2014 09:40 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Tonight at 6 o'clock, the Public
Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC), an advisory board to
the County 5, meets for the first time since 2006 at the
School Board Admin. Bldg. For decades, the County has
claimed it needed a new jail. The purpose of the PSCC is
to assess the population status of the County Jail. The
eternal foot dragging of Florida's quintessential Good
Ole' Boy County Commission, and its wheeling and dealing
with County funds, may once again put the County's
taxpayers and residents on the hook. This time for $30 -
$35,000,000.
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Posted June 06, 2014 07:55 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
The sudden passing of long time Columbia County Tourist
Development Director, Harvey Campbell, will not end his
dream of a Field of Dreams, an ADA Miracle Field, where
all children can play. In 2011, Hotel Owner Nick Patel
brought up Mr. Campbell's dormant idea of a Miracle
Field to the Tourist Development Council. While the
County 5 earmarked millions to the Southside Sports
Complex, it didn't consider ten cents to implement Mr.
Campbell's ADA accessible Field of Dreams where all
children could play.
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Posted June 04, 2014 06:00 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last Thursday, May 29,
2014, the Columbia County Economic Development
Department met for an emergency economic
development work shop to gather information in
order to be in compliance with the terms of a
$40,000 economic development grant from the
state. Columbia County is the pilot community
for what Enterprise Florida called the "Next
Level" Community Competitiveness Grant. Dragging
its feet, the County now has its back up against
the wall. The County's taxpayers had to pony up
$17,250 to pay a consultant to
finish the grant. This story really began in 2009 – in
secret.
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Posted May 28, 2014 11:10 am | (4
comments)
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Yesterday morning's marathon
budget workshop lasted almost 4 hours. The
legendary Columbia County 5, The 5, have run
Columbia County for decades from the back rooms
using the public's money as private buckets of
cash to curry favors, take care of its friends,
and pick the pockets of the taxpayers. The 5 is
finally beginning to hear the music as it is
faced with public safety issues which will cost
in the neighborhood of $50,000,000 to fix.
Sheriff Mark Hunter admitted that he is bleeding
experienced road deputies, has other staffing
issues, and needs a new jail.
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Posted May 20, 2014 06:45 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – At 6 pm last night the
induction ceremony into the National Junior
Honor Society began at the School Board
Administrative Complex auditorium for the
students from Lake City Middle School. The
auditorium was filled with the students, their
families, and teachers. Missing from the event
were the Superintendent and the members of the
School Board.
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Posted May 19, 2014 12:35 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – A miraculous transformation seems
to have occurred between Thursday evening and Friday
noon, when the formerly aircraft carrier based Navy A-7
Corsair fighter plane displayed along I-75 in Columbia
County went from a mold and excrement covered, ignored
aircraft to one that glistened in the sun. The Lake City
Reporter, Lake City's daily print newspaper, the self
proclaimed cheerleader for Columbia County, ran its
purported Friday photo on Sunday.
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Posted May 16, 2014 11:25 am |(1
Comment)
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
Last night the Columbia County 5, The 5, unanimously
voted to contact the Department of Defense for "disposal
instructions" for the County's display along I-75 of a
Navy A-7 Corsair fighter plane. The 5 have allowed the
display to fall into disrepair; the light to go out; and
turned the other way as the aircraft became covered in
bird excrement. The 5 did what it usually does, made its
decision in the back room and rubber stamped it during
its public meeting. Your reporter, along with other
veterans and non veterans alike, were offended by this
action of The legendary Columbia County 5. There is not
one veteran on the Board.
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Nash keeps SVTA on track
Posted May 14, 2014 10:55 am
LIVE OAK, FL –
Last night's Suwannee Valley Transit Authority
(SVTA) meeting was a two hour and thirty two
minute marathon in a packed, almost sweltering
room. The contentiousness that earmarked the
reign of the recently departed Administrator
Gwen Pra and Operations Manager Bill Steele is
subsiding as Interim Administrator Teresa
Fortner, with the help of the Commission for the
Disadvantaged (CTD), guides the agency through
choppy waters.
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"My family goes back six-seven generations"
Posted
May 8, 2014 09:59 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – County Manager Dale Williams told
the Board, "I get to introduce somebody that needs no
introduction. The County has extended an offer and Glenn
has accepted the offer as the County's new Economic
Development Director. The thing that impresses me most
about Glenn is his energy and his desire to help the
community. He has Columbia County's best interest at
heart."
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FL's Sunshine Law a problem for Mr. Hunter
Posted
May 4, 2014 07:25 am | news/analysis
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Columbia County Florida has for
generations been famous for good ole' boy
cronyism; backroom dealing; questionable
financial oversight; failing schools; racism and
sexism; and a Hapsburg mentality that puts one's
pedigree before one's degree. The appointment of
one of Columbia County's good ole' boys, former
long time school board member Glenn Hunter fits
the mold that has given Columbia County its well
earned reputation that is most always greeted by
a snicker and a smirk.
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Posted
May 1, 2014 04:00 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The legendary Columbia
County 5, The 5, was poised tonight to vote to
replace the North Central Florida Regional
Planning Council (NCFRPC) as the Designated
Planning Agency for the Transportation
Disadvantaged (TD) with the Suwannee Valley
Transit Authority (SVTA). Buried in tonight's
consent agenda was a resolution which stated:
"The Board requests the Florida Commission for
the Transportation Disadvantaged to designate
the Suwannee Valley Transit Authority as the
Designated Official Planning Agency for the
regional service area of Columbia, Hamilton and
Suwannee Counties." The NCFRPC is presently the
planning agency for the TD program.
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Posted April 24, 2014 07:50 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – For the last two and a half
years the Suwannee Valley Transit Authority (SVTA) Board
Chairman, Ronald Williams, the SVTA Administrator, Gwen
Pra, and Director of Operations, William H. Steele,
claimed that the SVTA was running like a well oiled
machine and they were the great saviors who brought the
SVTA back from the brink of extinction. Any employee
who disagreed with the company line and knew the real
truth about the $2,000,000 of debt overseen by Chairman
Williams was fired or demoted. Non employees who
disagreed were vilified, libeled, slandered, and/or
stalked. While this was going on, Chairman Ronald
Williams and the rest of the SVTA Board sat back and did
nothing.
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Posted April
22, 2014 07:35 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last night Congressman Ted Yoho
came to Columbia County. The audience was filled
with supporters, fence straddles, doubters, and
the curious who had never seen a real live
United States Congressman. Congressman Yoho, a
large animal veterinarian, had not spent his
life at the public trough, worked his way
through school and after becoming a veterinarian
spent 28 years being one. He didn't like the
direction America was taking and ran for
congress. This November he is running for his
second two year term.
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Posted April 18, 2014 08:15 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last night after almost 4 years of
inaction, The Columbia County 5, The 5, finally
decided to pay to put lighting in the Fort White
in the woods library parking lots. Dedicated in
a private "invitation only" ceremony for The 5,
some County staff, and County royalty in
November 2010, the parking lots have remained
unlit. The County claimed it couldn't afford the
lights. During the intervening years, The 5
spent millions on anything they felt like, such
as the $28k-$100k on the Boondoggle in the
Boondocks debacle, or an outright donation of
$80,000 to the Lake City Chamber of Commerce for
a three year study to determine what you are
thinking about before you buy a six pack of
beer.
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$1.3 Mil plus on the Consent Agenda
Posted April 17, 2014 08:35 am | news/analysis
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
The Columbia County 5, "The 5", is up to its old
tricks tonight having packed the Consent Agenda
with over $1.3 million in
un-budgeted/unexplained expenses. Kevin Kirby's
Public Works Department is, as usual, the big
winner in the County's scheme to move
un-budgeted money around. Item 5 on the Consent
Agenda is lighting for the Built in the Woods
Ft. White Public Library. Suddenly, Commissioner
DePratter, who is up for reelection, has
discovered there are no lights outside the
Library in the Woods.
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Posted
April 10, 2014 12:50
I was looking at the Observer right after I took
me a big swig of Budweiser yesterday and damn if
it didn't make me blow beer right out my nose
and all over the keyboard when I seen this
article about adding on 5 cents to the gas tax.
I had to check the date and make sure that
article wasn't posted on April 1, for some kind
of April Fool's Day joke... But at least when
it's Washington doing it I don't have to look
the folks doing it to me in the eye every day.
Posted
April 9, 2014 08:25 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Yesterday morning, in another 9 am
budget workshop that froze out the working
public from attending, the County 5, The 5, met
to discuss funding Columbia County into the
future, specifically next year. Massive
spending, both current and proposed have The 5
scrambling for sources of revenue. One source
that will impact Columbia County's working
families is a proposed 5¢ hike in the County Gas
Tax.
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The rule of law is what Florida's infamous good
ole' boys say it is
Posted
April 4, 2014 01:45 pm | 1 comment
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Florida's quintessential good ole'
boy County Commission, The 5, has proven once
again that when it comes to back room deals
Florida law will not slow it down. Shortly after
last night's meeting got underway, a 12th hour
$500,000 plus real estate deal was added to the
agenda. As usual, not one of The 5 asked for an
explanation of its sudden appearance. Thirty
four minutes later, backed by The 5, Board Chair
Ronald Williams dug in and refused public
questions or comment before the unanimous
approval to commit to what will no doubt add up
to another $600,000 more of unbudgeted funds to
a project which is part of the Bascom Norris
Bypass to Nowhere.
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Posted
April 3, 2014 08:02 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Buried in tonight's consent
agenda, along with another $159,379 in
unbudgeted expenditures which The County 5, "The
5", are expected to rubber stamp without a word
of discussion, is the approval of a tax
incentive to an anonymous company. Item 9 on the
consent agenda reads, "Agreement – Project
Breeze – Final Agreement." The 5 will have to
decide if they are willing to commit County
taxpayer dollars to an anonymous company, or
wait for the confidentiality release, which may
happen before the the meeting.
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Posted
March 26, 2014 01:05 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The infamous County 5, The 5, is
putting a new chapter in its book of legendary backroom
dealing as it moves ahead considering replacement of its
antiquated VHF Public Safety Radio Communications System
at a proposed cost of $18,000,000. The 5's duplicitous
Request for Qualifications had one responder. This
appears not to have been an accident.
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Posted March 13, 2014 01:05 pm
SUWANNEE COUNTY, FL – Yesterday afternoon, the
Observer confirmed that on March 6, the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) informed
Columbia County Commissioner and Chairman of the
Suwannee Valley Transit Authority (SVTA), Ronald
Williams, the Authority is going under the
microscope. The FDOT and the Agency for Health
Care Administration (AHCA) Offices of Inspector
General (OIG) are initiating an examination of
the Authority. During Monday night's SVTA
meeting, Chairman Williams did not mention a
word about the audit/investigation.
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Posted March 11, 2014 01:30 pm
SUWANNEE COUNTY, FL – Last night the Suwannee
Valley Transit Authority (SVTA) Board, chaired
for as long as anyone can remember by Columbia
County Commissioner Ronald Williams, met at SVTA
headquarters. Having received the stamp of
approval from Chairman Williams, the SVTA
continued to maintain a level of secrecy that
has given the agency, along with the Lake Shore
Hospital Authority, a reputation as one of the
two most secretive public agencies in Florida.
Agendas and supporting material had been
available only to board members. Electronic
delivery of documents had still not been
discovered by the SVTA's
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Late Breaking: Chairman Williams wants to
hear the Harris proposal
Posted
March 10, 2014 03:20 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – This past Thursday night, The
Columbia County 5 revisited the proposed $18,000,000 911
communications system upgrade after ignoring public
comments and emails from Harris Communications.
Harris recently claimed it could save the County a sum
approaching $10,000,000. The 5 agreed to move forward with "the process to
purchase property for the construction of new [radio]
towers" for a Motorola system which the County has yet
to be approved. None of the proposed expenditures were
budgeted during last year's budget cycle.
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Posted February 27, 2014 08:05 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL –
For months, Columbia County has been looking
forward to this morning's budget work shop.
Florida's infamous County Commission, The 5,
could have scheduled the workshop or workshops
when both the public and the County's workers
could have attended. The 5, the $800 plus a week
royalty that run Columbia County, made sure to
schedule this meeting when barely anyone could
attend. The promised review of the salaries of
County workers, many of whom are on food stamps,
or too proud to be, have been relegated to only
a passing mention at the bottom of the barrel.
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This time for locker room
extensions.
Posted
February 21, 2014 10:25 am (1
comment)
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last night Florida's infamous
County Commission, The 5, demonstrated once again that
its quest for votes trumps fiscal responsibility when it
comes to County taxpayer dollars. While many teachers in
the cash strapped school district dig into their own
pockets for school supplies – children can't read and
the district can't afford books – District II
Commissioner Rusty DePratter, through a series of
relays, bypassed the School Board and decided it would
be nice to build a quarter million dollars of locker
room extensions at Ft. White High School. The rest of
the good ole' boy five gave it their rubber stamp of
approval without missing a beat.
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Posted February 20, 2014 08:10 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Columbia County's legendary County
Commission, The 5, Florida's infamous backroom boys,
will be living up to their reputation on tonight's
docket when they will be voting once again to pick the
pockets of the County taxpayers to fund another $200,000
plus School District capital improvement project. Buried
in the consent agenda is a $200,000 plus cost overrun on
the County's Big Dig, the Bypass to Nowhere, the Bascom
Norris Bypass. The 5 will also be
voting to further restrict the public's right
to participate and will be acting on something yet to be
disclosed regarding the replacement of the County's
recently resigned Economic Development Director.
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Posted February 7, 2014 06:50 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The Great Columbia County
Commission cash giveaway continued last night as
the County Commission, The 5, donated another
$200,000 of Columbia County tax reserves to the
School District. The School District, strapped
for cash, this time had let the football field
run down with reported "humps and bumps." In
November, The 5 donated $200,000 for a girl's
softball field at the high school. Commissioner
Williams warned of more School District
financing to come.
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Posted
February 6, 2014 07:30 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Columbia County's infamous County
Commission is a legend in Florida. Like
Washington, where the will of the people is
generally meaningless, The County 5 do most of
their real business and deciding in the back
room. Tonight, The 5 will decide whether to
impose a special assessment in a subdivision
where the vote was overwhelmingly not to have
one.
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Posted January 17, 2014 08:54 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Last night, in an abbreviated
County Commission Meeting, the County 5 (County
Commission) began planning for next year's budget.
Sheriff Hunter, without submitting the required request,
kicked off his year by requesting and receiving a
$335,000 unbudgeted transfer for bonuses. The money will
come out of the general fund and was approved by
resolution. Board Chairman Ronald
Williams, after looking at the list of eight budget
priorities said about the top two, "You're talking about
a maximum of $18,000,000 on the 800 MHz communications
system and I just hate to guess what it’s going to cost
to implement the salary survey. We promised our
employees that we’re going to implement one, so that’s
something that we’re going to have to do.”
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He will bring $100,000s of suggestions before The 5 in
Feb
Posted
January 9, 2014 11:50 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The Economic Development
Advisory Board met yesterday morning for the
first time in the New Year with long time
Commissioner Ronald Williams at the helm. After
almost an hour of discussions regarding site
planning and spec buildings, Com Williams told
the Board he would be bringing back their
suggestions to County the Commission (The 5) for
discussion during the year's first budget
workshop on February 27th. It is not clear how
the site prep and the spec building(s) will be
financed.
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Posted January 6, 2014 12:03 pm | updated 04:28 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – Emergency Management
Director Shayne Morgan is staying in touch with
the meteorologists at NOAA to keep county
workers and residents updated on the severe cold
weather situation as it develops. Director
Morgan told the Observer, "Anyone driving should
be on the lookout for black ice on the roads,
either from today's rain or frozen irrigations
systems that have flooded the roads. All drivers
should exhibit extreme caution until the
thermometer rises again." Director Morgan also
went over the 5 P's of cold weather safety.
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Posted January 3, 2014 12:15 am
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The first meeting of the County
Commission (The 5) began where it
left off last year, not adhering to the spirit of
Senate Bill SB50, which many consider requires enhanced
public comment on items being considered for action by
the County Commission. The number one item before the
Commission was a request from Waste Pro, the trash
haulers for Lake City, asking for a free pass from the
increased county landfill tipping fees until next
October, 2014. (Photo: In 2008, Billy Ray Franks didn't
get a free pass)
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Posted January 2, 2014 03:00 am
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Updated 01:30 pm
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – During its last meeting of
2013, the infamous Columbia County Commission, The 5,
missed a golden opportunity to bring in the New Year by
enacting rules that embody the Spirit of Senator Joe
Negron's Senate Bill 50, which mandated public comment
on items to be voted on by public bodies throughout
Florida. The 5, used to maintaining the barest minimum
standards and making decisions in the back rooms, let
stand a rule, which allowed a total of 5 minutes of
public comment on all matters which come before the
Commission, undermining the spirit of Florida's new law.
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