BY DAN HILDEBRAN
During Lawtey’s November 4 council meeting, Council Member Emily Hoffman’s motion to approve a memorandum of understanding between Lawtey and Bradford County died for lack of a second. The agreement would have clarified the terms under which the county would use Lawtey’s fire station.
Hoffman said the only remaining sticking point for the city was the county’s insistence that the city pay the utility bill for the station.
Fire Chief Ben Carter said that the city has always paid the station’s electric bill and that the county is funding approximately $750,000 a year for fire personnel, with additional salaries for EMS staff.
Carter acknowledged the city’s donation of a fire truck to the county but added that the vehicle needs $30,000 in repairs and that the county’s truck ownership relieves the town of insurance costs for the apparatus.
City Clerk Lisa Harley said the monthly power bill for the fire station averages around $600.
Now, the county is operating out of the station without an agreement with the city, and the city is footing the Florida Power and Light bill.
Fire rescue wins statewide award
Carter announced that the Florida Department of Health awarded his department its top Emergency Medical Services designation last month.
“We are incredibly proud of that,” he said. “It’s the highest honor the Department of Health gives for fire rescue regarding EMS.”
Carter also reported that Medic 5 ran 76 calls from the Lawtey station during October and that Engine 50 responded to 79 calls.
“You’ll notice that the engine actually ran more calls than the medic unit,” he told council members. “What we’ve been trying to do is to limit the number of unnecessary trips out of the station for the ambulance. So, if it’s a fallen patient and they just need assistance up and to get back into their chair or something like that, we’ll just send the engine by itself and not send the rescue unit, just to try and mitigate some of its call volume and keep mileage and everything off of the ambulances.”
Complaints about speeding, roads, and parking
Attendee Vyunda Strong complained about speeding on Lake Street and asked why a caution light was removed from a city intersection. She also complained about the lack of maintenance on Middleburg Road and other streets on the east side of the CSX railroad tracks, the city’s lack of economic growth, the council’s inaction on various topics, and where City Attorney Dan Sikes parked his truck before the council meeting began.
Harley said the caution light was removed because it was obsolete and no longer working.
A representative from Lawtey Police said the department has stepped up traffic enforcement on Lake Street but that, “If you go fishing, you ain’t going to catch all the fish.”
Citizen John Mercier asked about progress on the city’s website.
Harley responded that she had located a provider who agreed to set up the site for $2,000 and host it for $100 a month.
Water and general funds up $160K
Mayor Jimmie Scott reported that through September, the city’s water fund had a surplus of $96,553, and the general fund had excess revenues of $64,498.
Jill Shea of Reddish and White presented the city’s 2022-2023 audited financial statements, which reported excess revenues of $64,936 for the year ended September 30, 2023, and excess revenues of $9,999 the year before.
The accountant noted that 38% of the city’s water fund revenues came from one customer: Lawtey Correctional Institution.
Shea also said that as of September 30, 2023, Lawtey still owed nearly $2 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for bonds issued in 2006 and 2016.
The debt financed improvements to the city’s water and sewer system. The 2006 bonds are payable in annual installments, including interest at 4.5% per annum, on September 1 of each year. The final payment is due in 2044.
The 2016 bonds are payable in annual installments on September 1 of each year, including interest of 2.625% per annum.
Debt and interest payments total $109,132 annually through 2044, with lesser amounts due afterward because of the satisfaction of the 2006 bond issue.
Forecasted principal and interest payments from 2024 through 2055 total $2,993,606.
Recreation board to be reduced
The council approved the publication of an ordinance reducing the city’s recreation board from seven to five members.
During previous meetings, council members said that the measure would reduce the number of meetings canceled due to lacking a quorum.
The ordinance must pass twice during two separate council meetings for adoption.
Passing of former council members
Scott announced that two former council members died in October.
Russ Miscally passed away on October 23 in Orlando. The Jacksonville native worked for CSX before retiring from Jacksonville Fire Rescue.
Wayne Massey died on October 28. In addition to his service on the city council, the 1957 Bradford High School graduate served in the U.S. Army and Florida National Guard and retired from the Florida Forestry Service.
