BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
LAKE BUTLER – The annual and forensic audits are complete and city commissioners and others will finally get some answers concerning the spending of previous city manager Dale Walker.
A review copy of the audit was received at city hall last week and was gone over by Interim City Manager Richard Tillis, City Finance Director John Sapp and Commissioner Melissa Hendrix with an eye towards areas that needed corrections or additional information.
A special meeting has been set for Thursday, June 29, at 6 p.m. in the board meeting room at Lake Butler City Hall with representatives from city auditors Powell and Jones presenting the document to the commission. The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
In other discussion and action at the commission’s June meeting:
The city working with the Union County Historical Society on plans to move the old county jail from its present location (so that it can be replaced by a public safety complex which was recently funded by the Florida Legislature). The society wishes to move the building closer to the Townsend-Green Building, where the Union County Historical Museum is located on the second floor.
The family of Jimmy Whitehead would like to donate the historic building (the oldest jail still in operation in the state at this time) to the historical society. The move will require careful planning, according to both Tillis and Sheriff Brad Whitehead. The city will have to draft a resolution reserving easement for the water and sewer lines that lie in the right of way. Whitehead has requested the closure of Northwest First Street between North Lake Avenue and Northwest First Avenue, which is already a restricted access road used for access to the current jail facility. The closure is needed now to allow the preparation, the running of utilities, enhancing security efforts and prepping the area for construction.
In a related topic, there are three problems with the Townsend-Green building, including at least one leak in the building’s roof. Tillis said he is getting quotes for a temporary repair, as the city has a grant funding the repair and replacement of the roof and the floor in the first floor of the building (which has developed a large soft spot). The grant has been approved but the funds have not been sent to the city yet.
The third problem with the building in the possibility of termite infestation on the second floor. This has been a problem in the past and what has been observed may simply be damage from the previous issue as no live termites have been seen. The building has been serviced for the problem monthly since the original problem.
Tillis, Sapp and Interim Public Works Director Mike Banks have been working on methods to improve and clarify the fuel log process. Each employee will be given a fleet card and a logbook, that will stay with them as they move between vehicles rather than being left in a specific vehicle. The report from the card provider (WIX) tracks purchases by the individual, not the vehicle, so the method will prove easier to collate purchases at the end of each month.
Tillis is also working on defining the chain of command as it pertains to work requests sent to the various city departments. In the future, requests will be sent to the city manager, with copies sent to the specific department’s director. The matter will then be scheduled when workers will be available, and everyone will be on the same page
