BY TRACY LEE TATE
Special to the Times
LAKE BUTLER—At its regular January meeting, the Union County Board of County Commissioners welcomed its newest member, Donna Jackson, to the board. Jackson was appointed by the governor to fill Seat 1, which was left vacant by the resignation of Ryan Perez late last year. Jackson said she was happy to have been selected to finish Perez’s term and looked forward to working with the other board members to benefit the county and its citizens.
Public comment was light at the meeting, with only two people coming to the podium to speak to the board.
Asher Sullivan told the board that he was concerned about the county administration, feeling that three or four influential people had formed a cluster, making decisions on their own. He said he would like to see the county functions quantified.
Malory Hopwell, a member and secretary of the county recreation board, told county commissioners that she was there to address allegations that Mac Johns runs the board and hand-picks the members.
She said she was an authorized check signer for the board (two signature checks) and that she had seen no evidence of any financial misappropriation. She reminded the commissioners that all the board members were volunteers, giving their time to help the county’s young people.
During the monthly financial report, Jackson asked the board to approve her motion that the finance department provide more detailed statements, including account balances and bills. Her motion was approved unanimously.
Williams reported to the board that the advertisement for the open solid waste director had closed on Jan.3 and that there had been 12 applicants. The applicants had all been interviewed, and the top three had been selected.
Commissioner Channing Dobbs said he would like the board to meet the candidates face to face, and it was decided to call a special meeting for the board to interview them and make their pick. The meeting was set for noon on Jan. 26. Johns commented that he was unaware that the position had been advertised.
Williams also informed the board that Florida Rural County Days was coming up, Jan.24-25, at the capital in Tallahassee, and that he and two commissioners would represent Union County.
Rural County Days is an opportunity for local officials to meet with state legislators and representatives of various grant funding departments and organizations, allowing county representatives to meet these people and make the needs of their county known. In the past, these meetings have led to several appropriations and grants to the county for important projects.
The board heard a report from Johns on behalf of Fire/EMS Director Toby Witt, who was on vacation, that Fire Coordinator Paul McDavid was resigning. He said that Witt had gotten together with the firefighters, and it was decided to elect a department member as fire chief. The firefighters selected long-time Union County volunteer Mickey Foster to serve in that capacity. Foster has decades of firefighting experience and has served as a chief in other departments.
The board also updated its committee assignments to remove Perez and add Jackson. Jackson will be filling Perez’s assignments on the Brownfields Grant, Special Projects/Historic Preservation Grant, and FRDAP Grant committees and volunteering to serve on the Purchasing Policy Committee.
