Local

Complete 15-page ruling HERE

By BRYAN BOUKARI

Today Reporter

 GAINESVILLE – Following a last-minute hearing, a local judge has issued an order postponing a High Springs debt ceiling ordinance that would have immediately gone into effect if approved by voters on Nov. 6.

Judge Stanley Griffis ruled Wednesday that although the measure should remain on the ballot, the amendment will not go in effect until the court further orders.

High Springs resident Ross Ambrose, represented by Attorney Linda Rice Chapman, filed a lawsuit seeking emergency injunctive relief to stop the measure from appearing on the ballot, but Judge Griffis decided the best course of action would be to allow citizens to vote on the measure and determine later whether the measure was improper.

Judge Griffis granted part of the City Commission’s motion to dismiss, saying that although the ordinance was properly noticed to the public, there is an issue as to whether the Commission was required to re-notice the ordinance when they enacted a $2 million dollar increase in the debt ceiling.  That increase was double the advertised $1 million limit, to which the commission later turned after the city attorney was notified of the possible violation of Florida law.

Therefore, the City Commission must now file an answer to the complaint, and the issue will go to trial.

“It’s located with good access to all parts of the city,” he said.

Clarizio said the center, located at Gainesville’s Northside Park, is near Alachua, Waldo and High Springs. He said the center expected 500 people to register in the first year, and they’ve seen 2,400 registrants so far.

“This thing has just taken off,” he said.

The 17,000-square-foot center cost $5 million to build. Funding sources included the City of Gainesville and Alachua County, with each contributing $1.5 million to the project from revenue generated by the Wild Spaces-Public Places funding initiative and a $2 million state grant awarded through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

The center has a game room, classrooms, computer lab, exercise room and more. Clarizio said the number one exercise class at the center is Zumba Gold.

He said the center is working to extend its hours and allow working seniors to participate as well.

He said many seniors are losing friends and dealing with loss, and the center can help them cope.

“We have to figure out ways to replace that social network,” he said.  “Otherwise, people become depressed and isolated in their homes, and that’s about the worst thing they can do.”

Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper said he hasn’t been inside the facility, but he said the exterior impresses him.

“It’s a beautiful building with Wal-Mart right across the street,” he said.

Scott Lippman, Andrew DeCandis, Kathleen Margoles, Edwin Booth and Isabel Smith attended and were interviewed individually with a small group of residents in the audience.

Lippman has a BA in Psychology from Wake Forest and a Master’s in Management.  He received the 2003 City Manager’s Administrative Service Award, City of Dunnellon.  Lippman’s strong suit is finance and accounting with expertise in grant management.

Most recently he was Administrative Support Manager for Alachua County where he directed water utility operations, finance and accounting, human resources, supply logistics and provided technology support for a 200-employee, seven division department.

Lippman also has served as city manager for the City of Archer and finance director for the City of Dunnellon as well as Director, Financial Services and Materials Management for Hospice of Marion County and Director of Finance and Administration for The Hitachi Foundation in Washington, DC.  Presently, he resides in Williston.

DeCandis received his BA in Political Science at Pennsylvania State University and his Master of Public Administration from Marywood University.  He is a certified planner.

Currently he is Senior Director of Planning and Governmental Affairs for Orange County Public Schools in Orlando.  Previously, he was managing partner for DeCandis Group, LLC in Jacksonville, a consulting firm providing planning and development services.  He also served as Director, Planning and Development in Palm Coast and Transportation Planning Manager for St. Johns County in St. Augustine.

DeCandis’ awards and recognition center on development and transportation planning, as well as providing job opportunities for the disabled.  He currently resides in the Orlando area.

Margoles has a BA in Sociology from S.U.N.Y. College at Cortland and a MS in Human Services Administration from Nova Southeastern University.  She is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional.

Most recently, Margoles served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Lake Worth where she managed rehabilitation and redevelopment projects budgeted at over $11 million, prepared the city budget, served as Public Information Officer and co-led negotiations with labor unions.

She also served as a consultant to the Town of Lauderdale-By-the-Sea where one of her projects included a sewer rate analysis and also a program grant audit.  Margoles was project manager managing public art projects for library and park bond programs for Broward County, Cultural Division and also served as Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Lauderdale Lakes.

Margoles’ received 2004 National Recreation and Parks Association Recognition of Significant Efforts award for her efforts to educate the public and elected officials on the benefits of parks and recreation.  Margoles currently resides in Coral Springs.

Booth holds a BS in Management from Columbia College, a MA in Public Administration from Webster University, a MS in Military Science from Command and General Staff College.  He is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with more than 20 years experience in all phases of utility management, police, fire and rescue experience, budget planning and preparation, master planning, economic development and staff management.  He also has had extensive experience in zoning and planning issues and served on the Board of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council for three years.

Recently, Booth has been the Town Administrator for Surfside Beach, SC.  Previously he served as the Town Administrator for Malabar, Fla.; the City Manager in Ayden, NC; Commander, Dugway Proving Ground, UT, with 1200 housing units under military control; City Manager, West Point, NE; and Community Manager Fulda Military Community, with 1,800 housing units under military control.  He currently resides in Surfside Beach, SC.

Smith has an AS Degree in Interior Design and an AA in Journalism from Miami Dade Community College as well as a BA in Political Science from Florida International University.

Currently Smith is a Utility Billing Clerk with the City of Newberry.  Previous employment includes real estate sales for Coldwell Banker, Administrative Assistant and Financial Secretary for Bethel Baptist Church in Trenton, Administrative Assistant for the White Foundation in Bronson, Deputy Clerk and Administrative Assistant to mayor, City of Fanning Springs, and Administrative Specialist for Florida Power & Light, Miami.  Smith resides in High Springs.

Two other candidates chosen to interview were Marty Simone and Douglas Hewett, both of whom removed their names from consideration as they were unable to attend the interviews.

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Email Cwalker@alachuatoday.com

Brandi Everrett of Lake City accompanies her son, Tanner, as pony ride instructor Gerson Eddy leads the pony at rogers Farm.

ALACHUA COUNTY – People looking for a way to celebrate fall are invited to visit Rogers Farm’s Octoberfest.

The fall festival, located at 3831 NW 156^th Avenue, is open to the public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Schools and children’s groups are invited to book field trips during the week to visit the farm.

Once guests enter the farm, they are greeted with a variety of games and attractions. The festival features duck races, pony rides, games, slides and swings, a petting zoo with cows, pigs and another farm animals, and more.

Larry Rogers, owner of Rogers Farm, said he’s lived in the area his entire life.

“We’ve been here forever,” he said. “I was born right down the road.”

He said he came up with the idea for a fall festival after seeing it on a friend’s property in Georgia. He said he’s pulled a lot of ideas from fall festivals around the country to create the best event possible.  This is the fourth year Rogers Farm has offered a fall fest.

“We like to see the kids have fun,” he said.

After 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the farm offers a 10-acre haunted corn maze and spook trail. Rogers said the farm sees an increase in college students those nights.

“We really do it in the daytime for kids,” he said. “We try to cater to the kids.”

Rogers Farm advertises on local radio stations, but he said a lot of their customers hear about the farm via word-of-mouth.

The festival opened Sept. 29, and it will run until Oct. 28.  It’s $8 admission for the games and activities, and $8 for the corn maze and spook trail.  Attendees can pay $12 and participate in all activities. Children under 3 are admitted for free. There is a covered picnic area and plenty of burgers, hotdogs and treats offered through onsite concessions.  Friday hours are from 5 p.m. until midnight, Saturday hours are 10 a.m. until midnight and Sunday hours are 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.  If you’re traveling from Gainesville, you can reach the farm via SR 121 North to NW 156th Avenue.

Rogers recommends that all residents come out and visit.

“I’ve never seen someone not enjoy it,” he said.

Karla Jones, a Gilchrist County resident, visited Rogers farm during the day with her homeschool group.  She brought her young children with her.

“I find it interesting,” she said. “We’ve never been.”

Alesha Waller of Lake City brought her children as well. She said she came because she thought it looked fun.

“It’s very nice,” she said. “The kids are enjoying it.”

Alachua Girl Scout Troop 1893 created their “zombie” for Scarecrow Row on behalf of the Alachua Lions Club.

Sponsored by the Alachua Chamber of Commerce and Alachua businesses, the annual ritual is a prelude to Trick-or-Treat on Main Street, which occurs on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 6 – 8 p.m.  In the space of those few hours on Halloween, Main Street will be flooded with pint-sized goblins dressed in every imaginable costume, seeking sweet treats from Main Street merchants who will be handing out candy.  In addition to the carnival atmosphere and “good spirits” that are certain to pervade the event, a costume contest will be held with prizes awarded in various age categories.

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Full video of the High Springs commission candidates forum hosted by the High Springs New Century Woman's Club, Inc.

Approximately 65 residents of the 3,366 registered voters attended the hour-long forum as candidates expressed diverse opinions in answer to questions posed by the High Springs Woman’s Club.

Following a two-minute introduction by both candidates, each had three minutes to respond to prepared questions asked by moderator Alison Horvath.  Candidates had one minute each to rebut his opponent’s answers.  Once the prepared questions were answered, Horvath drew names of audience members who asked questions from the floor.

In his opening statement Rush cited lack of communication between the citizens and city government.  Citizens “are not sure where the money is being spent…what the commission is doing…or the different functions of the city,” he said.

Attending meetings where commissioners talk to the city manager and attorney didn’t seem satisfying to Rush.  He expressed a desire for a more hands-on approach.  “I took the opportunity to go around and tour the sewer repair with some of the workers here in town and I think that type of involvement – meeting with the employees – helps to educate and let you know what’s exactly going on.”

Williams discussed his lifelong history and education in High Springs, his service to the city as mayor, vice-mayor, commissioner and pastor of a local church.  He stressed that he did not “serve any particular group, but instead all of the citizens of High Springs.”

Saying he would like to restore the city’s reputation as “a friendly city…a place where people can come and meet a person on the street and say hi and shake their hands.”  Fondly remembering the days when everybody spoke to everybody else on the street he said, “That’s the kind of High Springs I’d like to see again.”

In answer to a question about the amendment to the city’s charter to restrict municipal borrowing to $1 million on any single loan transaction unless a majority of commissioners and the voters approve a higher loan amount, Rush responded saying that the city is “$8.5 million in debt on a sewer system that loses money on every single user.  It was a bad idea,” he said, indicating a gravity system would have been a better choice.

“Those of you on the system are on a grinder pump and they fail routinely,” he said.  “Now we’re $8.5 million in debt on that.”  Indicating the sewer system loan was a 40 year loan, he said, “I will be 95-years old” when it’s paid.  “It must be stopped.  We’re going to go broke if it continues.  Yes, I think it was a reckless thing in the past and I’d like to see it stopped,” he added.

Williams expressed concern that if the funds are needed for an emergency, there might not be time to bring it before the commission and then before the citizens in a referendum.  “It would take you forever,” he said.  “You’ve tied the city’s hands.”

Indicating that commissioners are elected to act in the best interests of the city, he explained it will be confusing and divisive for citizens “and it’s time out for all that confusion and division in the city of High Springs.”

In rebuttal, Rush said, “It really wouldn’t affect my vote in the city as I have no intention of taking out loans for a million dollars… It’s real easy to take out loans.  The reason I feel that this amendment is important is because it has happened in the past.”

Rebutting Rush’s comments, Williams emphasized the possibility of an emergency in which the city might have to act quickly.  He explained, “If an emergency situation comes up, we don’t want to leave our citizens hanging around,” he said.  “We elect our commissioners to make a judgment…a sound, sensible judgment to do what’s right for the city of High Springs.  In spite of what other people may say or think,” he emphasized, “it can be done.  It’s been done in the past,” he said.

In answer to their position on expansion of the sewer system, Williams said, “The city made the decision on the sewer system around 2000.  I came onto the commission in 2003.”  Citing figures indicating that if the current city population, which consists of 1,456 dwellings, was hooked up to the sewer system upon construction completion and at the city’s current rate of $34.41 per month for 12 months, the amount of money the city would generate would be $601,211.

Should the city decide to raise the rate to $69.45 per month, again with the same number of dwellings, the city would receive “$1.2 million per year,” he said.

“That’s easy math,” said Williams, who also said he was concerned that the city’s water system might be affected if the sewer system is not completed and expressed even more concern about the possibly of citizens being required to buy bottled drinking water.

Williams spoke about his concern regarding the “fairness” to those already hooked up of not completing the system.  “It’s just not fair,” said Williams emphatically.

Rush countered by saying, “This is one huge difference between Mr. Williams and myself. I disagree with every single word he said.”

Rush went on to explain that half of his water bill was going to pay for people who were on the sewer.  “In total we get about $180,000 per year, which is taken out of the water fund to pay for the sewer.  That’s money that’s lost,” he said, “because the sewer loses that much money.  An additional $8,000 comes out of trash pickup.  We are dropping about $260,000 a year.”

Rush added, “Everyone who is not on the sewer is helping to pay for the sewer…This system is just a calamity.”

Because this election coincides with the national election, the Supervisor of Elections must certify the election results prior to declaring any candidate a winner.  In past years, the winning candidate would have been sworn in at the next regular commission meeting after the election.  This year it is estimated that swearing in of the new commissioner may not take place until possibly the second regular commission meeting in November.

The Supervisor of Elections office reports 3,366 registered voters for High Springs.  During the 2011 election, 771 votes were cast by High Springs residents.

Voting locations this year are at Precinct 20, located at the High Springs Civic Center, 330 NW Santa Fe Blvd. (US 441) and Precinct 60, located at Fellowship Church of High Springs, 16916 NW US Hwy 441.

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Email Cwalker@alachuatoday.com