BY CAROL MOSLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
BROOKER – The Town Council had a special visitor to the monthly meeting. Commissioner Carolyn Spooner was there to encourage Brooker to take part in the strategic planning sessions she is initiating throughout the county.
She will use a “SWOT” analysis to guide the participants in examining strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in achieving measurable goals and objectives. A town hall is scheduled in Lawtey for Aug. 21 with hopes of bringing Hampton and Starke on board as well.
The Brooker council agreed to formally advertise a town hall meeting so all council members can attend as a group with the public invited to participate. The Brooker town hall will be held Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Brooker Community Center, 17435 Tetstone Ave., at 6 p.m. For more information call 352-485-1022.
Interim Clerk Charlene Thomas pointed out that the inside of the community center has been painted and any discolored ceiling tiles replaced. She said the building is being rented on a regular basis. Thomas will remain as interim clerk until October so that the ARPA-funded projects can be completed. She has received several qualified applicants for the position and feels sure they will find a good fit for the new clerk within the batch. She suggested the salary be increased to $1,000 per month for the part-time position from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. three days per week.
Mayor Gene Melvin attended a conference in Gainesville that was attended by 22 mayors from around the state. He said the biggest concern he brought up was the need to get a fire rescue station, especially with the charter school now open in Brooker. He appealed to visiting Spooner, as he does when Commissioner Diane Andrews sits in, to impress upon the county commission how important this is for Brooker.
Melvin said it could take 18-20 minutes to get there from Sampson City. Council Member Joe Tolleson, whose bailiwick is the fire department, said as far as he’s concerned Brooker had the finest volunteer fire department in the county, maybe even the state. Melvin agreed and said the county’s decision to close the Brooker station leaves them vulnerable. “The county said they can’t fund a volunteer fire department.”
Spooner responded that the county is stretched to get funding for fire departments with the millage rate already maxed out. The county is considering a means of income from possible property assessments, or a franchise fee added to electric bills as a means of funding.
“It will be important for both Brooker and the county to look at all possible sources of funding,” she said.
The town has been investigating grant possibilities on its own.
Democratic Women meet Aug. 24
The Democratic Women’s Club of the Lakes Area’s regular monthly meeting will begin with a presentation by Danielle Hawk who ran for Congressional District 3 and currently leads statewide candidate recruitment. All Democrats are welcome.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. (speaker at 7 p.m.) at the Melrose Historic Homemakers Club, 25728 Park St. For further information, please call 352-235-4161 or email [email protected].
