BY CAROL MOSLEY
Special to the Telegraph
The city of Hampton will celebrate its 100-year anniversary of incorporation in 2025. The city council decided it was time to update the city charter as well.
The goal is to get rid of invalid language; not change governmental structure or operating procedures.
According to City Clerk and Administrator Mary Lou Hildreth this is just an update from the 1925 version because it had “so many things” in it that were no longer applicable, like the prohibition on tying up your horse to the ice plant.
The city attorney and city council have been discussing the various elements of the plan over time, but it is the voters who must decide to amend the founding document.
It is one of two local charter amendments on Bradford ballots. The Hampton referendum will appear solely on ballots for Hampton voters, while Starke voters are being asked to remove references to the police chief and department from the Starke charter since the department no longer exists.
The budget
The budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25 was adopted. The millage rate will be 2 mills on the assessed value of taxable property in the Hampton. That represents a 15.41% increase. Hildreth noted the increased administrative costs in all areas. She gave examples of the insurance rate, which is now almost $23,000. Audits have risen from $15,000 to $24,000, and utility costs have increased as well.
It was decided to seek an increase in the rental rate of the old fire station to Funtastic Fire Brigade. When the contract was initiated, it was set at $50 per month. Lots of local activities were anticipated in the building. The council felt that an increase to $100 per month would be a reasonable rate.
The fee for the city attorney was approved with an increase from $750 per month to $1,000.
Play ball
There was discussion about use of the ballfield at Bobby Shepherd Memorial Park. Bradford Youth Athletics came out and cleaned it up in anticipation of long-term use. They have agreed to maintain it as well. They play every day except Wednesday and Sunday. However, the local Hope Baptist Church team also needs a place to play, only less often.
The council is grateful for the clean-up efforts and appreciates their dedication to the sport, they have a strong desire to find a solution that will be acceptable to all. The Hope Baptist team is local to the community but would not have the same needs for the field as the athletic association. It was suggested that perhaps the ball field in Melrose might be available or even the field at the former school that is now part of the Arc of Bradford for the Hope Baptist team to practice.
Hildreth will continue negotiations in search of a solution.
Ending maintenance contract
The council has decided to sever their decade-long relationship with Swamp Cutters. They are in search of a new company, or companies, to handle the various aspects of grounds maintenance.
Hildreth noticed that significant amounts of herbicide were purchased that was not representative of the past. In 2023, the cost was nearly $3,500. When she questioned Swamp Cutters, she was told that a former employee had wasted it by not diluting the solution properly.
Hildreth said she was told by a source that the herbicide was used at another client’s property.
The clerk contacted Lawtey, Brooker and Waldo, which informed her they do not use herbicide, except perhaps on rare occasions, such as twice per year on the baseball diamonds.
Mayor Dale Wiseman and Chair Bill Goodge felt there had been a general decline in service and accountability to the contract, such as providing work logs and inventory control.
Attorney Will Sexton advised that Hampton should inform the company that Swamp Cutters is no longer an authorized purchasing agent and inform Swamp Cutters that they are responsible for the paying the bill from the herbicide seller.
