BY TRACY LEE TATE
Special to the Times
LAKE BUTLER—The City of Lake Butler has decided to make some necessary purchases, using budgeted and restricted funds and is also preparing for interviews for the vacant city manager position.
At its Oct. 17, 2023 meeting the commission, on the recommendation of Mayor David Stegall, to purchase two vans from the City of Gainesville Fleet Management for $30, 460. The funds will come from the restricted cash account and are from the sale of the 2021 Chevy Suburban that served as a city vehicle for the use of former city manager Dale Walker, which had been placed in the account in anticipation of such a needed purchase. A motion was made to approve the purchase by Vice-Mayor Melissa Hendrix and approved by the board 4-0, with Commissioner Fred Sirmones absent from the meeting. Later in the meeting the board unanimously approved a motion by Commissioner Annette Redman, approved the purchase of two Husqvarna zero-turn lawn mowers from Union Power for $9,038.40 on the recommendation of Public Works Director Matthew Kelley. Kelley informed the board that there were enough funds to cover the purchase from Street Maintenance Expense Fund.
Kelley was also the subject of a discussion concerning the salary he had been given when he took over the department as director. At the Sept. 19, 2023 meeting, when Kelley was given the position his salary was set at $45,000, below the pay range budgeted for the position. At the time of his promotion, Kelley had asked for an annual salary of $53,000, but had taken the position at the $45,000 offered by the board. This was supposed to have been the salary for the vacant position of finance director, not the public works director. Motion was made by Hendrix to increase Kelley’s salary and to pay him the difference retroactively.
The issue of citizen-requested speed bumps was put to rest with the unanimous approval of the board to authorize Union County Commission Chairman Ryan Perez and the board of commissioners to install speed bumps, at no cost to the city, on Northeast 8th Ave. The street had the speed control devices at one time, but they had been removed as part of a FDOT project and not replaced.
The search for a new city manager is narrowing, with three applicants selected as the pool from which the city will choose. Originally, there were 21 applicants for the position. Motion was made to hold a special meeting on Wed. Nov. 1, 2023 to interview the three applicants – Mark Meyers, Brian Reagan and Angie Wisnant. Stegall was authorized to vet each applicant prior to the interview process and to adjust interview times as necessary. City Attorney John Maines asked that the wording “an applicant may be considered and offered the position within the duration of the special meeting” be added to the meeting notice.
