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admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:02:00 +0000

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Bill Nelson's Office, in Apalach on Thursday

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:15:00 +0000

In a press release submitted ealier today, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson announced that a representative from his Senate office will be in town tomorrow March 11, 2010, from 10:00AM to 11:00AM at the Franklin County Courthouse Annex at 34 Forbes Street, Suite 3 in Historic Apalachicola.

Nelson representative will be on hand to meet with all residents, including those with a Federal issue to discuss.

For more information, please contact Lynn Bannister, Director of Outreach/Regional Director for Senator Nelson's office at (850) 942-8415.

A Day of Hope

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:28:00 +0000

What started out as one community’s show of love and support towards a young woman stricken with cancer has ended up as a county sanctioned day of hope.

It all began in 2007, when Kathy Ingersoll a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 82 in Lanark Village received word that a young woman in her neighborhood named Tonya Bridges was battling terminal cancer and needed help with her bills.

Ingersoll quickly went to work soliciting the membership of the Auxiliary to host a yard sale and pig roast as a fundraiser to provide financial assistance to Bridges during her extreme time of need.

During her final month, members of the Auxiliary asked and received permission from both Bridges and her family to continue using her name and image to benefit other residents of Lanark Village.

However, is was during the planning of last year’s benefit fundraiser that the Auxiliary decided to expand the event to include providing financial assistance to the residents of Carrabelle that needed their help.

This year the group went before the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners to spread out the benefit to include all of Franklin County and obtained county approval to declare April 3, 2010 as Tonya’s Hope Day throughout the entire Franklin County community.

Proceeds raised through the Auxiliary’s efforts, will now go toward providing financial assistance to the families of Franklin County residents who have loved ones stricken with cancer. Items that monies raised from the benefit will cover include the cost of gasoline, tires, groceries, utilities, rent, babysitting, and housecleaning.

The Auxiliary is asking all residents of the county to come out and "HELP US HELP EACH OTHER" at the Fourth Annual Tonya’s Hope Day. The group has scheduled the event for April 3, 2010, at the American Legion Post 82 in Lanark Village starting with a huge yard sale at 9:00AM, the blessing at 12:00PM followed by a roast pig dinner for a $10.00 donation, an auction at 3:00PM and wrapping up with a Carnival Cruise drawing promptly at 6:00PM.

For more information or questions concerning Tonya’s Hope Day, please contact Kathy Ingersoll, Chairperson at (850) 697-9533.

Neighborhood Watch Meeting

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:05:00 +0000

To help you help yourself, and your community, the Apalachicola Police Department has been trying for the past several months with minimum citizen participation to establish a Neighborhood Watch Program in the City of Apalachicola.

Neighborhood Watch Programs are nationally recognized as first step programs to help make your home, your neighborhood, and your community a safer place to live. In addition, the police department really needs the eyes and ears of the whole community to help combat crime.

Therefore, come join us at 6:00PM this Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the 6th Street Recreation Center to learn what you can do to help fight crime and how to reduce your chances of becoming a crime victim.

Summerhill Designated Certified Municipal Clerk

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:04:00 +0000

At the Apalachicola City Commission March 2 meeting, City Clerk Lee Mathes presented Deputy City Clerk Cindy Summerhill with the prestigious designation of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC).

The CMC designation program has been in existence for 40 years, started in 1970 by the Florida Association of City Clerks (FACC) along with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) as a means to assist municipal clerks increase their proficiency in areas related to their work, and their professional and personal growth.

The program prepares the participants to meet the challenges of the complex role of the Municipal Clerks by providing them with quality education in partnership with 47 institutions of higher learning. To earn the CMC designation, a Municipal Clerk must attend and successfully complete an extensive curriculum provided by the association and its partners.

Mathes told commissioners during the presentation that Summerhill had successfully completed over a three-year period 100 hours of arduous educational and training courses and that she had met the requirements to become a Certified Municipal Clerk in the State of Florida.

The FACC has a statewide membership of 575 members, with 303 currently holding CMC designations and 60 holding the designation of a Master Municipal Clerk (MMC).

Mathes also holds the CMC designation and currently serves as the District Director over the Florida Association of City Clerks (FACC) Northwest District, which includes the counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.

Tobacco Products Placement Resolution

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:03:00 +0000

The Apalachicola City Commission unanimously adopted Resolution 2010-03 at their March 2 regular scheduled meeting, at the behest of David Walker, Human Services Program Manager with the Franklin County Health Department.

Walker requested the resolution in response to an intense campaign that the Chapters of the Tobacco Free Franklin Partnership and the Franklin County Students Working against Tobacco (SWAT) have waged against the sale of tobacco products to minors under the age of 18.

According to a 2008 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, smokeless tobacco use among Franklin County High and Middle School students are among the highest in the State.

The Resolution adopted by the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners at the March 2 meeting:

Resolution # 2010-03

TOBACCO PRODUCTS PLACEMENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has enacted laws, located in Chapter 569, Florida Statutes, that provide for increased regulation of the retail sale of tobacco products; and

WHEREAS, The Florida Legislature has, in Chapter 569, provided for civil, administrative, and/or criminal penalties for the sale of tobacco products to an underage person and for the possession of such tobacco products by an underage person; and

WHEREAS, the State of Florida has entered into a settlement with the tobacco industry for billions of dollars to reimburse the state for some of the health care costs incurred by the state due to the prevalence of tobacco use; and

WHEREAS, the government and residents of the City of Apalachicola are also concerned about the use of tobacco products by underage persons; and

WHEREAS, a reduction in the availability, both visually and physically, of tobacco products to underage persons will lead to a reduction in underage persons obtaining tobacco products which will likely lead to a reduction in tobacco product use by underage persons.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA COMMISSIONERS THAT: it supports the placement of all tobacco products “behind the counter” in all retail establishments so as to limit underage accessibility to such products.

THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA
Mayor Van Johnson

Nelson Acts on Fishing Regulations

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:02:00 +0000

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, Florida (D) took several steps to help fishing communities in Florida that have been hurt by federal regulatory closures. He introduced two bills: one would end the current ban on red snapper fishing in the South Atlantic, and the other would prevent the federal government from shortening the red snapper fishing season in the Gulf of Mexico.

Additionally, Nelson requested that the Senate Commerce Committee examine the ban on red snapper fishing and fisheries closures in Florida to determine whether federal officials are using reliable data to support the tough fishing restrictions. “What’s troubling is too often these closures are based on limited data and sporadic stock assessments,” Nelson wrote to committee leadership. He also asked the panel to examine whether economic aid could be provided to communities hardest hit by the fishing bans.

Healthcare Associated Infections

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:01:00 +0000

Hand washing helps prevent Healthcare-associated infections (HAI)

When someone develops an infection at a hospital or other patient care facility that the person didn’t have prior to treatment, the healthcare industry refers to this as a Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) or hospital-acquired infection.

HAI’s are a global crisis affecting both patients and healthcare workers alike.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at any point in time, 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infections acquired in hospitals.

A Center for Disease Control (CDC) report published in March-April 2007 estimated the number of U.S. deaths from healthcare associated infections in 2002 at 98,987.

The risk of acquiring healthcare-associated infections in developing countries is 2-20 times higher than in developed countries.Afflicting thousands of patients every year, HAI often leads to lengthening hospitalization, increasing the likelihood of readmission, and adding sizably to the cost of care per patient.

Financially, HAI’s represent an estimated annual impact of $6.7 billion to healthcare facilities, but the human cost is even higher.

Until recently, a lack of HAI reporting requirements for healthcare facilities has contributed to less-than-optimal emphasis being placed on eliminating the sources of healthcare associated infections. However, growing public anxiety regarding the issue and resulting legislation on state and local levels demanding accountability is serving to accelerate initiatives to combat HAI’s.

To learn more about the impact of healthcare-associated infections for both medical professionals and patients, please visit www.haiwatch.com.

City Commission to discuss fire hydrants tonight

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:25:00 +0000

The Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners will hold their regular scheduled meeting tonight at 6:00PM at City Hall located at 1 Bay Avenue in Historic Apalachicola.

Time has been set aside at the top of the agenda to give residents the opportunity to discuss the February 8 fire that destroyed the Wright residence located off 16th Street.

At the time of the fire, fire fighters, residents and the city commission were surprised to learn that the water department had shut off a fire hydrant closest to the fire for repairs.

Personnel from the water department reported at a February 10 staff meeting called by the Mayor and attended by the City Administrator, and the Fire Chief that the hydrant and four others had been offline for repairs for over a year.

The City Administrator along with representatives from the water department, the fire department, and a representative from the City’s engineer firm Baskerville and Donovan who assisted with the design of the water system and has extensive background in fire service and emergency management will be on hand to assist in the discussion.

Haiti Needs Our Help

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:05:00 +0000

On January 12, a 7.0 earthquake struck 10 miles south of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince affecting approximately 3 million people with mudslides, collapsed buildings, and down power and communication lines. Eight days later, on January 20, a 6.1 magnitude aftershock hit the already devastated nation and sent thousands rushing into the streets in fear of their lives amidst the ruins of previously collapsed buildings.

Right after the initial earthquake an emergency response team from International Medical Corps responded in force to provide medical assistance to the earthquake victims. The Corps founded by volunteer doctors and nurses is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through relief and development programs.

However, even with the efforts of the International Medical Corps, thousands of injured Haitians are still seeking medical treatment with approximately 80% in need of surgery. For some, time is running out, especially with the tremendous aftershocks still devastating the country.

The Corps team is treating crush injuries, trauma, substantial wound care, shock and other critical cases with few available supplies. They’re in it for the long haul, but they need our help.

For more information on how to help, or to send a donation visit the International Medical Corps website at http://www.imcworldwide.org/haiti.

City adds Social Service Component

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:04:00 +0000

At a special meeting held December 31, the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners signed a contract with the Area Agency on Aging to take over as the lead agency for senior services in Franklin County commencing with the New Year.

The Area Agency on Aging will now make available to the City of Apalachicola approximately $480K per year to provide in-home services, lunches, and Meals on Wheels to the county’s senior population.

Elder Care Services, Inc. once served Franklin County seniors prior to their departure from the county on December 31, 2009. Dr. James Croteau, President, and CEO of Elder Care made it known to city officials during the latter part of last year the agency’s plan to leave the county.

However, while here, over the past year Elder Care provided 32,054 Meals on Wheels to 100 homebound seniors, 2,824 congregate meals at 2 sites, 3,260 trips to congregate sites, grocery shopping and other essential errands and 6,000 hours of in-home services, such as home making, personal care, and care management to 240 individuals.

With the move, city officials have effectively added a social service component to the operation of city government, something literally unheard in small communities.

During the transition, senior activities and congregate meals will operate out of the 6th Street recreation center until somewhere around mid-2011.

At that time, the renovation of the 81-year-old Holy Family School into a dedicated place for seniors using the $1.5 million dollar grant from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs should be complete and ready for use.

Two recognized at City Commission Meeting

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:03:00 +0000

Kenneth Wilson receiving recognition from the commission

The Apalachicola City Commission took a few moments from their regular scheduled meeting held on January 5 to recognize two members of the community for providing outstanding service to the citizenry of Apalachicola.

Both standouts reside in Apalachicola, Kenneth Wilson at 195 Ave L and unrelated Charles Wilson at 409 Brownville Road. Kenneth was selected employee of the month and Charles received recognition for his work with local veterans.

Kenneth employed in the city’s Public Works Department under the supervision of Wilbur Bellew was selected employee of the month for December 2009. Bellew cited Kenneth for dedication and going beyond the call of duty in carrying out his assignments for the residents of Apalachicola.

Charles one of the founders of the Franklin County Vietnam Veterans organization and the driving force behind the All-Veterans cookout held annually at Battery Park for Franklin County Veterans and their families. Drafted at the age of 18 and sent to Vietnam in 1967, Charles served as a demolition expert with the Cu Chi 25th Infantry Division until 1968.

Photo by Tami Ray-Hutchinson

New Administrative Office

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:02:00 +0000

The City of Apalachicola has reestablished a present in the downtown business community with the creation of the new Administrative Office at the site of the old City Hall located at 1 Avenue E.

“The creation of the new Administrative and Community Development Office has already proven to be a step in the right direction toward the continued progress of the governmental operations for the City of Apalachicola,” said City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb.

Occupying the offices at the new location will be Webb, along with building inspector Gene Osburn, grants writer Cindi Giametta and Cindy Summerhill who assists with the Project Impact afterschool program.

Residents trying to reach the new office will simply dial the same numbers they would to reach City Hall. The callers will be transfer over and connected to the party they are trying to reach.

TDC Considers Next Step in Regional Marketing

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:01:00 +0000

When Coastal Vision 3000 closes its doors later this month, it opens a window for direct marketing communications between tourism boards stretching from Franklin to Escambia County. The Franklin County Tourist Development Council will continue to participate in the effort to market a unified region.

According to Helen Spohrer, Chairman of the FCTDC, “regional marketing through the area’s Tourist Development Councils is the next logical step in promoting the area, now that Southwest Airlines service is a reality.” Coastal Vision 3000 was instrumental in bringing Southwest Airlines to Panama City’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. Southwest will begin flying out of the new airport in May.

Dedicated to building Northwest Florida’s tourism industry, Coastal Vision 3000 successfully created a regional brand, “THE BEACH” to unify a seven-county coastal area. The organization’s structure and assets, including a comprehensive website, will remain intact with coordination shifting to the Walton County Chamber of Commerce.

The FCTDC now has direct access to the organization’s media contacts, database, and marketing materials.

As a Founding Member of Coastal Vision 3000, the FCTDC literally placed Franklin County on the marketing maps, providing continued international exposure. Southwest’s decision to locate service at the Panama City airport rather than at locations further west was impacted in a significant way by the involvement of the Franklin County TDC.

Spohrer said, “Our TDC’s involvement in combined marketing efforts has been a win, win for everyone. We’re looking forward to continuing this work directly with the tourism councils across the region in the future.”

Special City Meeting

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

The Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners will hold a special meeting tomorrow Thursday, Dec 31 at 12:00PM at City Hall - 1 Bay Avenue, Apalachicola.

City officials called the meeting to discuss and possibly act upon the City of Apalachicola taking over the contract from Eldercare Services to provide senior services for Franklin County.

As always, city officials invite and encourage members of the public to attend all city meetings.

Happy New Years from the City of Apalachicola

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:03:00 +0000

The Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners and staff would like to wish you and your family a safe and prosperous new year. We also ask that you patiently bear with us as we continue in our efforts to improve the quality of life of each resident within our beautiful city. May God Bless and continue to keep you throughout the year. ~ Mayor Van W. Johnson, Sr.

Apalachicola receives word on FDOT sidewalk construction grant

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:02:00 +0000

Earlier this month city officials received word from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) concerning an application submitted several months ago by staff and the Franklin County Community Traffic Safety Team (FCCTST) for a sidewalk construction grant.

On Monday, December 21, Stanley Rudd, FDOT Community Traffic Safety Team Coordinator notified city administrator Betty Taylor-Webb via electronic mail with news that the City of Apalachicola will receive $550,000 to construct a pedestrian sidewalk from Battery Park down Bay Avenue to 12th Street and from 12th Street to Avenue E.

The grant is the second sidewalk construction grant applied for by the city in collaboration with the FCCTST to encourage and improve the flow of pedestrian traffic throughout the community.

The first sidewalk project connected Scipio Creek boat basin located at the end of Market Street to Battery Park located off Water Street and the new grant will connect Battery Park to 12th Street.

Local resident Bob Dieter chairs the FCCTST, with the group aggressively pursuing State funding to improve both vehicle and pedestrian traffic throughout Apalachicola and Franklin County.

According to the notice Webb received, the FDOT has allocated $75,000, for design from the States 2010 funding program and $475,000 for construction from a Federal 2011 funding program. Both design and construction will be contracted through the State and Federal funding programs.

Other projects on the horizon for the City of Apalachicola in 2010

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Construction has started west of town on the city’s new $8,000,000, wastewater reclamation facility. Once completed, the facility will take wastewater received from homes and businesses throughout the city and treat it for reuse in commercial and eventually residential applications.

The city received funding for the project from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection State Revolving Fund Division.

City officials are expecting construction to last at least two years and to create short-term employment opportunities for local carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and laborers. Job applications are currently available at City Hall located at 1 Bay Avenue in Apalachicola.

Also, scheduled to begin in early January is the renovation of the old Family Dollar Store located at the corner of 10th Street and Avenue E into the city’s new Police/Fire Station.

The project’s funded through the American Recovery Act (stimulus funding); however only $150,000 is an actual grant, the remainder is a $506,000 low interest loan to the city by USDA Rural Development.

Once completed, the station will house both the Police and the Fire Department and serve as the city’s Emergency Operation Center in the event of an emergency.

Scheduled to begin before mid-year is the renovation of the old Holy Family Catholic School into a senior citizen center.

City officials are intent on turning the 81-year-old structure located on Dr. Fred Humphries Street into a dedicated place where area seniors can congregate. In late 2008, the city received funding for the project from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs in the tune of $1.5 million dollars.

City Staff are presently in an ongoing discussion with Eldercare Care Services the current provider of senior services for Franklin County and the Area Agency on Aging for North Florida concerning the possibility of transferring senior services to the City of Apalachicola.

City officials are also waiting on word from the application submitted through the Apalachee Regional Planning Council (ARPC) for joint funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs to fund the renovation of the Scipio Creek boat basin to create and sustain seafood related jobs.

Further, the city is waiting to hear from the submittal of two Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grants to fund renovations to both Battery and Lafayette Parks. The maximum grant amount requested for each park could not exceed $200,000.

Scheduled to go before the county commission in early January is Dieter Ambos, chair of the city’s newly activated Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Members of the CRA are ready to implement Tax increment financing (TIF) to help finance improvements to distressed or underdeveloped areas of the city where development might not otherwise occur. This includes, but not limited to the C-2 (commercial residential) zoned area in the African-American community.

Ambos will be asking county commissioners for the future increases in tax revenues or “tax increment” collected by the county from within the established CRA boundaries to go back into the area for redevelopment.

Lastly, the county’s road paving project within the city is well underway. Roads scheduled for paving and/or resurfacing during this cycle includes the following: 8th Street, 9th Street, 13th Street, 15th Street, 16th Street, 17th Street, 20th Street, 21st Avenue, 24th Avenue, 25th Avenue, Avenue F, Avenue G, Avenue L, Jacobie O’Neil Lane, Timothy Simmons Street, Earl King St (Ave M & 13th St ) and Sunset Circle.

Project Impact to hold Holiday Camp

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:05:00 +0000

Over the Christmas holiday season the City of Apalachicola’s Project Impact afterschool and summer program will be providing a “HOLIDAY CAMP” for children 4-years-old and up.

The camp will be held at the City’s Recreational Complex the site of the old Apalachicola High School campus from 12:00PM to 6:00PM on Wed, Dec 16, Thurs, Dec 17, and Fri, Dec 18, and from 8:00AM to 5:00PM on Mon, Dec 21, and Tues, Dec 22.

Parents are invited to drop off their child or children at the complex for Christmas art, crafts, games, cooking classes and basketball, the game room and cyber café will also be open.

For more information, please contact Faye Johnson, director of the City of Apalachicola Project Impact Program at (850) 653-1325.

Alex Moody recognized for his role as Santa

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:04:00 +0000

The Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners presented a key to the city and a certificate of appreciation to eighty-year-old Apalachicola resident Cleveland Alex Moody at their Dec 8, regular scheduled meeting.

The commission singled out Moody to receive the acclamation at the suggestion of Anita Grove, executive director for the Apalachicola Bay chamber of commerce.

For the past 17-years, Moody has assisted Grove during the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and has brought smiles to the faces of many Franklin County children in the role he has played as Santa Claus.

According to Moody’s wife Laura, due to health related reasons this year will be the last year that the man who really resembles Santa, with his natural white beard will grace the city with his outgoing personality, and jolly laughter.

Due to sickness, both Moody and his wife were unable to attend the meeting. However, Grove was on hand to accept the award on Moody’s behalf.

While making the presentation, Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson commented, “Alex Moody never complained about what the city wasn’t doing for him, he just rolled up his sleeves and showed what he could do for his city and for that we are eternally grateful”.

Revamped golf cart ordinance comes with fees and concerns

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:03:00 +0000

At the Dec 8 city commission meeting, commissioners held the first public reading to amend the city’s golf cart ordinance to allow for golf cart rentals within the City of Apalachicola.

Entrepreneur Lisa Hooker requested the change several months ago to allow for the rentals, which the current ordinance prohibits. The commission moved unanimously with City Commissioner Mitchell Bartley making the motion to allow Ordinance No. 2009-05 to proceed forward through the adoption process with changes for final approval.

City Commissioner Brenda Ash recommended the inclusion of an annual registration fee for all golf carts including those rented.

Currently the city requires registration but collect no fees from the 75 or more golf cart users registered with the city.

“We… the city should at least tack on a registration fee for golf carts…I think that it’s something that can bring in more revenue to the city and there are an extremely lot of golf cart users in the city”, said Ash.

Also added at the suggestion of City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb, was a provision prohibiting the use of golf carts on city sidewalks.

In addition, the commission agreed that no more than 30 total golf carts at any given time and no more than 10 per business shall be available for rent in the city. Further, the operator of the rented golf carts shall sign a hold harmless and indemnity statement to the City of Apalachicola.

However, Bob Dieter, Chair of the Franklin County Community Traffic Safety Team commented that with the advent of the golf cart ordinance, he has witnessed all sort of all terrain vehicles including Kawasaki Mules on the sidewalks and crossing U.S. Highway 98. Most without registration and often driven by kids less than 12-years old.

Dieter stated that from an enforcement point of view, the commission handed Chief of Police Bobby Varnes a runaway train. He cautioned that the golf carts are not insurable, and that those who sign waivers will not be able to defend the city in the event of an accident.

Retail sales up in Apalachicola

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:02:00 +0000

At the Dec 8 city commission meeting, Anita Grove executive director for the Apalachicola Bay chamber of commerce reported that the Friday, Nov 27 holiday celebration resulted in the biggest days in retail sales for downtown Apalachicola.

Grove told commissioners that several merchants reported that their sales were up over last year and that the restaurants were full during the weekend’s festivities. She also noted that visits to the chambers website were up significantly.

Grove thanked Betty Taylor-Webb, city administrator and public works supervisor Wilbur Bellew for working with the chamber to make the holiday celebration a great success.

In addition, Grove told commissioners that the City of Apalachicola continues to receive exposure from both home and abroad. Canadian freelance writer Ilona Kauremszky and Jan Ekholm editor of a Swedish travel magazine along with Nate Long with Visit Florida all requested and received information on the uniqueness of the area.

Poloronis awarded Police/Fire Station contract

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

City grant manager Cindi Giametta told commissioners at the Dec 8 meeting, that Poloronis Construction submitted the low bid to construct the new Apalachicola Police/Fire Station and recommended awarding the construction contract to the local company.

Poloronis submitted a bid of $362,913 to renovate the old Family Dollar Store located at the corner of 10th and Avenue E into a station to house both the Police and Fire Department.

According to Giametta, the long awaited construction project is scheduled to begin in early January 2010.

The commission unanimously approved awarding the construction contract to Poloronis Construction.

City of Apalachicola meets tonight

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:02:00 +0000

The City of Apalachicola will hold its regular meeting for the month of December at 6:00PM tonight Dec 8, at 1 Bay Avenue in Apalachicola.

Tonight’s agenda lists a public hearing and second reading to adopt Ordinance 2009-04 – concerning the city’s Water Supply Plan, and the first reading of Ordinance 2009-05 – to allow for the rental of golf carts in the city.

Sherman Thomas is also on the agenda to discuss community issues along with staff reports and reports from other agencies and organizations.

Tri-State Governor’s to restart water-sharing talks

admin@mayorvanjohnson.com (The Mayor) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

The governors of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama have finally scheduled a meeting to restart negotiations into sharing water from the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint (AFC) River system.

The expected but long overdue meeting is set for 12:30PM CST, on December 15 in Montgomery, Alabama at the Wynfield Plantation in the Conservatory.

The last time the Tri-State Governor’s held meetings to discuss the AFC were in late 2007 and early 2008 and even then, they left the meetings without reaching an agreement.

Since that time, U.S. District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson issued a ruling that should have sent the State of Georgia flying back to the negotiation table.

Instead, Georgia’s Governor conducted a media campaign declaring that he would “fight to the death” to retain Georgia’s right to withdraw water from Lake Lanier.

However, Judge Magnuson ruling set a timeline of three years for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fix the problem before he would issue a final ruling ordering Lake Lanier’s water levels back to the baseline levels of the mid seventies. Which in turn would drastically reduce the amount of water that growing Atlanta could withdraw from the lake.

The judge ruled that the Corps had abused its discretion when they continued to allow Georgia to withdraw more and more water from Lake Lanier for municipal purposes, without first seeking approval from Congress.