The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - August 8, 2007
NOTICE OF HEARING TO IMPOSE AND
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
PROVIDE FOR COLLECTION OF
Yankeetown Mayor's Report
FIRE PROTECTION SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
A Guest Commentary by Mayor Dawn Clary
Notice is hereby given that the Board of County Commissioners of Levy County, Florida
The future water plant of Yankeetown is again my subject as last week's edition of
will conduct a public hearing to consider the continued imposition of annual fire protection special
assessments for the provision of fire protection services within the boundaries of the Levy County
the No See'Um News has reported much misinformation. Since the author/s do not identify
Municipal Service Benefit Unit for Fire Protection Services, which includes all of the unincorporated
themselves, this is the only venue that I have to inform the Concerned Citizens of Yankee-
areas of the County and the collection of the fire protection assessment on the tax bill.
town. The opening paragraph stating that the new water plant has been downgraded is
The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. on September 4, 2007, in the County Commission
simply wrong. The plant configuration voted on by the council will have a capacity of 432,000
meeting room of the Levy County Courthouse, 355 South Court Street, Bronson, Florida, for the
purpose of receiving public comment on the proposed assessments. All affected property owners
gallons per day which has been the capacity designed for since a water facilities plan adopted
have a right to appear at the hearing and to file written objections with the County within 20 days of
in March of 2006 increased the design flow to meet possible future development growth
this notice. If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board of County Commissioners
should it occur.
with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings
The plant configuration selected July 17th has THE SAME CAPACITY. The second
and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon
which the appeal is to be made. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons
weird thing on the front page was the discussion of the permit application to the Florida
needing a special accommodation or an interpreter to participate in this proceeding should contact
Department of Environmental Protection that I signed on June 21st. The FDEP had been
the County Clerk's Office at (352) 486-5266, at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the hearing.
informed of our situation and that we had a set back due to geo-technical analysis test results
Hearing impaired persons can access the foregoing telephone number by contacting the Florida Relay
received very late. They advised us to submit our application anyway by the June 25th
Service at 1-800-955-8770 (Voice) or 1-800-955-8771 (TDD).
The assessment for each parcel of property will be based upon each parcel's classification
deadline which was required to meet the consent order. We followed their direction. You
and the total number of billing units attributed to that parcel. The following table reflects the
might note that the Professional Engineer working on the design of our plant also signed the
proposed fire protection assessment schedules.
same statements as meeting the applicable code.
FIRE PROTECTION ASSESSMENTS FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008
I suppose the No See'Um author/s know more than he. The application gives a
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY USE CATEGORIES
Rate Per Dwelling Unit
Residential
$40
proposed design but openly states that changes may follow pending the final selection by
LAND PROPERTY USE CATEGORIES
Rate Per Parcel
the town council. No See'Um continues to imply that there was some "requirement" for a
Land <= 160 acres
$3
particular disposal rate which is not true. This misinformation appears to grow from a lack of
LAND PROPERTY USE CATEGORIES Rate Per Each Additional Acre (added to rate/parcel)
understanding of the evolution which occurs between the conceptual design and the final
Land - 160 acres and < 640 acres
>
$0.02
NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY USE CATEGORIES
design.
Building Classification (in sq ft ranges)  Commercial
Industrial Warehouse
Institutional
No See'Um authors seem to see the original Water Facilities Plan as cast in stone,
<= 1,999
$198
$57
$378
however, your final design will not be cast in stone until the permitting process is complete,
2,000 - 3,499
$395
$114
$755
which has just started. The plant design has been changing/evolving and re engineered since
3,500 - 4,999
$690
$200
$1,320
5,000 - 9,999
$986
$285
$1,886
day one. The original capacity was increased in March of 2006 to accommodate higher future
10,000 - 24,999
$1,971
$569
$3,771
growth. That water facilities plan published in March of 2006 proposed a configuration of
>=25,000
$4,927
$1,422
$9,427
Ultra Filtration and Reverse Osmosis. That configuration was later changed to a resin system
MAXIMUM FIRE PROTECTION ASSESSMENTS
and RO, based upon the two pilot programs that we ran. The bottom line is that the disposal
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY USE CATEGORIES
Rate Per Dwelling Unit
Residential
$60
"requirement" is what ever your design produces and that varies from design to design.
LAND PROPERTY USE CATEGORIES
Rate Per Parcel
The statement that "we have to re engineer the water plant because the town failed to
Land <= 160 acres
$5
buy land that would meet the known requirements" is ridiculous. As Joe Mittauer explained in
LAND PROPERTY USE CATEGORIES Rate Per Each Additional Acre (added to rate/parcel)
the July 17th meeting, there really is no perfect land in this area. Whether the misinformation in
Land > 160 acres and < 640 acres
$0.02
NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY USE CATEGORIES
the No See'Um News is the result of honest ignorance or maliciousness cannot be commented
Building Classification (in square foot ranges)  Commercial  Industrial Warehouse
Institutional
on, only the Concerned Citizens know the answer. Good Night and Good Luck.
<= 1,999
$293
$85
$560
2,000 - 3,499
$585
$169
$1,119
3,500 - 4,999
$1,023
$296
$1,957
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
5,000 - 9,999
$1,461
$422
$2,796
R&M
Rebuilt - Repaired - Resealed
10,000 - 24,999
$2,922
$844
$5,591
Complete Auto Repairs
>=25,000
$7,305
$2,108
$13,976
A/C - Brakes - Front End - Exhaust - TuneUps
Copies of the Master Service Assessment Ordinance, the Initial Assessment Resolution, the
Final Assessment Resolution, the Preliminary Rate Resolution and the updated Assessment Roll are
Computer Diagnostics
available for inspection at the Office of the County Coordinator in the Levy County Courthouse
Oil Changes While You Wait
located at 355 South Court Street, Bronson, Florida.
4X4ís - RVís - Trucks - Autos
The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill to be mailed in November
Foreign & Domestic
2007, as authorized by section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. Failure to pay the assessments will cause
Free Estimates
a tax certificate to be issued against the property which may result in a loss of title.
If you have any questions, please contact the County Coordinator at (352) 486-5218,
352-447-0704
Visa - Mastercard - Discover
Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Accepted
Fax Line 447-6040
e-mail your news to: newscast@atlantic.net
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, LEVY COUNTY, FLORIDA
12:00 N - 9:00 P M.
.
Published August 8, 2007