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Candidate forums on tap for tonight
County Commission at the Ft White Community
Center •
Announcement
City Council at the Richardson Community Center
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Announcement
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Columbia County, FL (Posted July 29, 2010 05:30
am)
County
resident, Laura "I really love Lake City" Pitman
Moody, came to the Downtown Master Plan public
meeting with pictures, magazine articles and a
ton of ideas... Over the past thirty five years,
there have been at least three downtown
redevelopment or revitalization plans... (1
comment)
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Columbia County, FL (Posted
July 27,
2010 03:30 pm)
On Thursday
evening, July 29th, Neighbors Equine Assistance
Team, "NEAT", is sponsoring a Candidate Forum
for County Commission Candidates from Districts
2 and 4 at the Fort White Community Center...
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Letters
Columbia County, FL (Posted
July 26,
2010 03:45 am)
In the tough
economic times, you would think the City of Lake
City would at least attempt to make their large
purchases in the local area... This is one time
the city should take lessons from the county.
I appreciate your concerns and it amazes me how
citizens will take the "word on the street" and
run with it...
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Columbia County, FL (Posted July 23, 2010 06:30
am)
The City Financial Team and Raymond James Bond
representatives met this week to complete the
required interviews with “Credit Rating”
Agencies... The final budget changes resulting
from the last two weeks of Staff reviews is
nearing completion...
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Columbia County, FL
(posted July 23, 2010 08:25 am)
At
Tuesday's July 20th Special Utility Meeting, County
Commissioner Ronald Williams has once again set meeting
decorum and common sense on its ear. The legendary
Williams, long known for his erratic behavior which runs
the gamut from charming to rude...
lived up to his billing at the County Commission Special
meeting this past Tuesday night, demonstrating once
again why many Columbia County citizens don't get
involved in county meetings...
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Columbia County, FL
(posted July 22, 2010 09:05 am)
Hard economic
times mean nothing to a County Commission drunk
on its own power and known for backroom dealing
and working in the shadows... Last minute
changes and additions to county agendas are a
way of life in Columbia County, however, a
change to an ordinance, unless it is of a minor
nature, requires re-noticing of the ordinance
and subsequent public hearing...
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Columbia County, FL
(posted July 22, 2010 06:50 am)
Tuesday night
the Columbia County Commission approved three
utility ordinances and rewrote one in the
continuing saga of the Ellisville Utility
Boondoggle... Citizens Against Forced Utilities
member Patrick Lee told the Commission: "I have
concerns with the economy of scale with this
program. We have not discussed the elephant in
the room"... At least 5000 residents were
opposed and silenced...
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Columbia County, FL (Posted July 19, 2010 05:15
am)
During the past few months a great deal of
discussion has occurred involving the future use
of the old City Jail and property. Council had
declared the property surplus to the City's
needs and authorized demolition of the jail and
gas department buildings... Councilman...
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Columbia County, FL
(Posted July 18, 2010 02:10 pm)
The Library
developed a Florida Author Series during our
year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration in
2008-2009. The series became very popular and we
have continued it with usually one program per
month... It was fun to see her four year old
daughter respond with expertise when asked,
"Which fork do you use for salads?" (Click the
title to read the story.)
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Columbia County, FL (Posted
July 18,
2010 06:30 am)
By Terry Rauch (Op/ed
• Mr. Rauch
the Republican Candidate, Florida
State House, District 11 • His views are his own.)
Florida has
very large problems. Our taxes are too high,
people are unemployed, property values are in
the tank. What has Tallahassee done for these
problems? Not a thing.
The answer is
very simple: Shrink the government, deregulate
and lower taxes. In other words, "use common
sense."
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Columbia County, FL (posted July 15, 2010 09:25 am)
It is unknown if the latest initiative in the
Lake City Hood is going to continue to gain
traction even though funding at any level is
uncertain. For months, a group of local
government officials from various local
governmental agencies, collectively calling
itself Weed and Seed, after the terminated
federal program of the same name, has been
meeting monthly to develop a strategy to clean
up the Lake City Hood. (click title to go to
story)
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Columbia County, FL (posted July 13, 2010 10:30 am)
The Columbia County Federated Republican Women
held a candidate forum last night for the
candidates of House District 11, a seat now held
by Debbie Boyd. Moderator Sherryl Huseonica
asked the candidates a handful of questions,
which unsurprisingly had mainly to do with the
dire economic conditions in which the state now
finds itself...
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Columbia County, FL (Posted July 10, 2010 12:25 pm)
During the last 12 months our conservation
measures really paid off. The City's electric bill was reduced by
$231,944 from the previous 12 month period. This
represents a 19% reduction for the past year...
(Scroll down this week's
staff report for more important
information).
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Columbia County, FL (Posted July 9, 2010 009:25 am)
Lake City put its best foot forward last night as it
hosted the monthly Suwannee River League of Cities
dinner. Municipal members from the counties of Columbia,
Dixie... packed the room to listen to the Board... One
of the highlights of the evening was the cooking mastery of Lake
City's own Councilman, Jake Hill - the Barbeque
King...
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Columbia County, FL
(posted July 06, 2010 04:45 pm)
Ronald
Williams, the long time Columbia County District
1 commissioner announced during the Thursday,
July 1st County Commission meeting that he is
running for another term as county commissioner.
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Columbia County, FL
(posted July 06, 2010 07:30 am)
The North Central Florida 9-12 Project
invites you to join them at 7:00
p.m. on July 8, 2010 to hear and ask questions of local
and state candidates. Columbia County Commission
candidates Toby Witt, Mark Kazmierski and Stew Lilker
are scheduled to attend. Also on the 9-12 docket are
Alex Snitker, Libertarian Candidate for the U.S. Senate
and Steve Nelson, candidate for Columbia County School
Board.
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Columbia County, FL
(posted July 5, 2010)
Columbia County's Chamber of Commerce, the Lake
City Reporter and the TDC's Harvey Campbell
worked hard ensuring a memorable Independence
Day celebration for the families and residents
of Columbia County and the surrounding counties
of north central Florida.
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Columbia County, FL (Posted July 3, 2010 10:35 am)
The airport project consists of a new 6,000 sq.
ft. multi-use airport terminal building and
adjacent asphalt vehicle parking areas, a 1,100
foot access road... The Energy and Operational
Enhancement Project - substantial savings can be
realized through improved efficiency....
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Columbia County, FL
(posted July 01, 2010 08:58 am)
This project,
which has been instigated by rogue commissioner
and Jack Berry protégé, Jody DuPree, is an
example of good old boy cronyism gone mad. Of
course, the laws regarding many aspects of this
Com DuPree project have apparently been violated
both in fact and spirit -- nothing new at the
Columbia County Commission. (photo: Com DuPree)
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Columbia County, FL
(posted June 28, 2010 11:30 am)
The State operated Driver License office located in
the Florida Highway Patrol building at 1350 W. US Hwy 90
in Lake City is now the West Branch office of the Tax
Collector’s office. All duties relating to the issuance of a Florida
Driver's License or Florida ID card will fall under the
direction of my office at our new West Branch office.
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Columbia County, FL (Posted June 27, 2010 10:15 am)
The City continues to be busy with the budget.
This week we met to make sure that we are
connecting all the dots and are moving in the
right direction. We also met with the bond
underwriter. We’re on schedule and things are
looking good. I also put out a call for
estimates. (The Observer
spoke with Mr. Johnson for this week's City
Manager's report)
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Columbia County, FL (Posted June 25, 2010 10:20 am)
At yesterday morning’s governmental focus group
the Columbia County Commission was invited and
chose not show up, not to send the County
Manager or any other representative of the
County government. The lack of County interest
in the downtown of Lake City continues.
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Columbia County, FL
(posted June 21, 2010 10:30 am)
The
helter-skelter world of Columbia County
continued at this past Thursday's County
Commission meeting when the County Commission
once again demonstrated that modern world
finance, accountability and plain old common
sense aren't even a dream of the legendary
Columbia County Commission.
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Columbia County, FL (Posted June 20, 2010 06:00 am)
At the
request of the City, Jones Edmunds Engineers,
Inc. has completed a Structural Engineering
Assessment and issued the final written report
on June 15, 2010... Budget ... No later than
July 19, 2010, the Staff will distribute the
draft budget and request Council to approve a
proposed millage rate for TRIM Notice purposes.
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Columbia County, FL (Posted June 15, 2010 01:15
pm)
It was business as usual in Columbia County last
night as the good old boys of the Lake Shore
Hospital Authority dug in and turned their backs
on going out to get the best deal for the
residents of Columbia County at the County Owned
Hospital, Shands at Lakeshore... Lake City
Medical Center's Attorney, Stephen Ecenia's
(photo) explanations of the law fell on the
usual deaf ears.
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 Columbia County, FL
(posted June 06, 2010 11:30 pm)
CAFU
celebrated their accomplishment of getting four
thousand signatures on their petitions to stop
mandatory water hookups in Ellisville and
countywide this past Friday night... They also
celebrated standing tough against the county,
after County Commission Chairman, Ronald
Williams, proposed a secret meeting between
himself, County Manager Dale Williams and four
members of the executive board of CAFU, in which
the press and public were banned. The purpose of
the meeting – to negotiate a compromise with the
group.
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Columbia County, FL
(Posted June 5, 2010 11:45 am)
Grayson Cason,
Executive Director of Admin. Services: "We are
all working together to prepare these reports.
These reports are our yardstick to see how we
are doing." (The
June 6th staff report is available here)
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Columbia County, FL (Posted June
3, 2010 0915 am)
Columbia
County's Lake Shore Hospital Authority is
entering a new phase with the recent acquisition
and partnership between leaseholder
Shands and
Hospital Management Associates. Lake Shore
Hospital Authority Chairman Marc Vann and
Authority Manager and former Chairman Jack Berry
spoke to the Observer regarding the
merger/takeover and the new lease agreement.
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Columbia County, FL
(posted June 02, 2010 06:35 am)
On Thursday
morning May 27th, at 8:30 am, the biggest dog
and pony show in the history of Florida's
Columbia County took place at the Richardson
Community Center in Lake City. Every past and
present local politician and wannabe showed up
to see, be seen and rub flesh with their
brethren, bringing to mind Rodney King's famous
refrain, "Why can't we all just get along."
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Columbia County, FL (Posted May June 1, 2010 10:30 am)
I have seen this scenario, i.e. infrastructure
coming out of nowhere, blindsiding the citizens.
The County should have a Master Plan for the
Ellisville area and if that plan has been
dormant for 20 or 30 years, why now...
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Columbia County, FL (Posted May 30, 2010 08:40 am)
I have been keeping up with the utilities in
Ellisville for some time now. I was born in Lake
City in 1974 and lived my whole life in
Ellisville, so I have heard this issue for the
last 30 years a lot...
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Columbia County, FL (Posted May 22, 2010 07:40 am)
The Staff will move aggressively to develop the
capital improvement schedule for streets,
curbing, sidewalks and storm water upgrades and
intends to begin work within the next 90 – 120
days... To supplement this effort the Staff has
initiated discussion for a...
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Columbia County, FL
(posted May 18, 2010 10:35 am)
There was a
jubilant scene at the Columbia County Supervisor
of Elections Hdq after the Citizens Against
Forced Utilities filed their petitions for a
referendum to stop mandatory utility hookups in
Columbia County. This would not have been
necessary had the county commission made an
attempt to listen to the people that elected
them, instead of Columbia County's "good old
boys." (2
comments)
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Columbia County, FL
(posted May 17, 2010 08:45 am)
In November of
2006, your reporter presented the County Charter
Review Committee (CRC) with an amendment to the
County Charter called Enhanced Public Notice.
The purpose of this amendment required the
County Commission to post their agendas and
associated backup material on the county web
site... That November, the voters approved the
amendment with an 82% majority... After a slow
start, the county is up to speed and the
Observer spoke with County Manager Dale Williams
for his thoughts on this important piece of
citizen approved legislation.
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Columbia County, FL (Posted May 15, 2010 04:15 am)
The FY2010-11 Budget Workshop process continues
at 5:30 pm this Monday night. In contrast to the
previous meetings, this workshop will spotlight
the potential financial impacts resulting from
the further decline of General Fund revenues.
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 Columbia
County, FL (Posted May 13, 2010 09:50 am)
Following in the tradition of Lake City's
popular Mayor, Steve Witt, the star of the
review process was Chairperson Ann Skinner, who
took the Mayor's gavel and kept Lake City's
policy of timely public comment and the free
exchange of ideas alive. Unfortunately, over the
ninety day tenure of the Board, only a handful
showed up from the public to observe or
participate.
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Columbia County, FL (Posted May 01, 2010 08:00 am)
The City’s Financial Consultant and
representatives from two financial institutions
will provide an overview of their financing
proposals and answer questions... The Employee
Classification and Pay Plan was distributed to
Council for initial review and consideration on
March 29, 2010.
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The man in charge is Com Jody DuPree.
Columbia County, FL
(posted March 30, 2010 09:55 am)
The
Ellisville Utility Boondoggle continued rolling
along at Tuesday morning's Columbia County
utility committee meeting as the county prepared
to pick the pockets of all Columbia County
residents to pay for its own big dig. The
brazenness of the shameless Columbia County good
old boy out of control governance harked back to
the bygone era of
Boss Tweed, when Columbia County Manager
Dale Williams chose county financial consultant
and inside-outside auditor, Richard Powell, to
help design the final utility rates. (1
comment)
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Columbia County, FL (Posted April 26, 2010 12:35
pm)
Walking in
the footsteps of giants in the history of the
NAACP and America, the 28th annual Columbia
County Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Luncheon went
off without a hitch this past Saturday.
(Photo: These
two youngsters, are looking at a different
future, thanks to those who came before them.
Observer Photo)
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Columbia County, FL (Posted April 24, 2010 05:25
am)
As reported last week, the Sales Tax and Utility
Bond initiative is progressing as planned.
The Request for Funding Proposals (RFP) process
exceeded expectations and 10 proposals were
received on Monday, April 19, 2010...
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Columbia County, FL (Posted April 23, 2010 02:55
pm)
Decision time
is on the horizon for the Lake City Charter
Review Board, whose decisions may well affect
the future of Lake City for the next ten years
and beyond. Last night, in the absence of
Chairperson Ann Skinner, charter review veteran
and Vice Chair, Mario Coppock led the review
board in its usual high level of discussion.
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New •
Meeting
Calendar •
New
Confused about what is going
on in the city and county. The new Observer calendar is the place to end that
confusion. Agendas and other meeting material are linked at
the bottom.
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•
County Gov't phone book
•
Save it to your desk top -
have all official county phone numbers and
emails at your finger tips
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Available for
download or viewing
•
First draft 2009-10
County budget. There are no yearly
comparisons looking backward or forward and this
is not an accident.
This file has been reduced in size
to 121kb for readability, to save space
and for for
dialup download as a service to Observer dial up
readers. While Columbia County is in the stone age of internet
access, the Observer thanks County WebMaster Patrick
Weaver for providing the raw file.
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(posted
July 24, 2009)
It is business as usual in Columbia County as
once again the County web site was behind the
times in getting information on line. Posting
information in timely fashion has been an issue
that the County Manager, Dale Williams, is not a
stranger to and an issue that he has continually
ignored.
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Lake
City – There will be a plan
worst in Columbia County Commission
Lake
City out of compliance?
Boyd challengers quizzed by
River League of Cities
First
out of the gate for 2013 
Westside
Community Center on the docket
opens new office
today
County
Commission MIA
Hon
P. DeWitt Cason, the man that signs the checks
speaks out
Lake
Shore Hospital Authority
