BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
LAKE BUTLER — The Union County Board of Commissioners, at its July 17 meeting, has approved, on second reading, an ordinance declaring a moratorium on the acceptance of applications and the processing of special exception applications for travel trailer parks and campgrounds for one year to allow the county to look into developing and possibly adopting and/or regulations for such entities in the future.
The board has discussed several issues concerning campgrounds and travel trailer parks, including the possible adverse effects on county services such as law enforcement, fire and rescue, all are paid for with tax dollars or special assessments.
Also being looked into are such factors as roads and traffic, appropriate property tax determination for property which may serve as a “home base” for persons living in travel trailers – a growing trend. These land uses are businesses being run on a for-profit basis, not single family homes on a lot.
Commissioners and County Coordinator Jimmy Williams are researching the issue, checking Florida statutes and talking with representative from other nearby counties to see how they are handling the issues and will discuss the options, advantages and liabilities over the year provided by the moratorium.
In other discussion and business, the board:
—approved a resolution enacting an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for the maintenance and operation of specified traffic signals installed on the state highway system. FDOT will compensate the county for the work. This is an ongoing agreement between the county that has been in place for some time that must be renewed periodically.
—heard a presentation from the Thomas Howell and Ferguson Accounting Firm proposing an agreement where the firm would provide a monthly evaluation of county financial reports, working with Union County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Kellie Hendricks Rhoades and her staff, to produce documents which are more accessible to commissioners understanding.
They will also assist with the generation of county policy documents, most notable the new procurement/purchasing policy that the board has been discussing for several months.
The firm has extensive experience working with state and federal grants. Their fee will be hourly, but will not exceed $2,000 per month and Williams told the board he thought he might be able to find a grant to help pay for the service.
“This is a step in the right direction,” Commissioner Channing Dobbs said as he made motion to hire the firm. Seconded by Commissioner Mac Johns, the motion passed unanimously.
