ARPC July ’09 Report

The Apalachee Regional Planning Council (ARPC) held its regular meeting yesterday, July 30 at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Tallahassee.

The twenty-seven member council is comprised of local elected officials and appointees of the Governor that work with citizens and local government on a host of issues including, but not limited to economic development, growth management, reviewing local comprehensive plans and large-scale developments in the region.

One item addressed by the council of particular interest to the Franklin County area was a proposed amendment to the Coastal Management Element in the City of Carrabelle’s Comprehensive Plan.

Carrabelle city officials proposed to reduce the setback from the mean high water line from 50’ to 20’ in areas designated as Velocity Zones on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.

According to an ARPC staff report, in 1993, the City of Carrabelle adopted an ordinance establishing the 50-foot setback; however, the city’s original comprehensive plan only required a setback of 20 feet, for which city officials used to review and approve development within the city. In 2006, during a comprehensive plan update, the city changed the 20 feet to 50 feet, to resolve the conflict between the two documents.

However, landowners negatively impacted by the 50-foot setback began raising issues surrounding private property rights. Citing, the City of Carrabelle was in violation of the Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act, when the city changed its comprehensive plan after the effective date of the Act, which then Governor Lawton Chiles signed into law on May 18, 1995.

Skittish over the potential liability from conflicting with the Act, Carrabelle city commissioners sought to reestablish the 20-foot setback by proposing to amend their comprehensive plan.

However, local conservationist Lesley Cox joined with former Carrabelle Mayor Mel Kelly and former City Commissioner Gathana Parmenas in leading opposition against the proposed amendment. In addition to sending email letters to the ARPC opposing the measure, Parmenas appeared before and addressed the council at the July meeting.

Both Kelly and Parmenas were instrumental during their term in office of changing the setback from 20 feet to 50 feet during the 2006 comprehensive plan update.

In their emails, the trio cited among other things water quality issues with Kelly writing, “I believe the need to preserve and protect that small margin of frontage should and must take precedence over any individual right or developer’s want… The minimal 50’ required by the current Carrabelle plan is scientifically considered to be barely adequate for the protection of water quality, aquatic life, and erosion reduction, but that measurement was accepted and approved by the City’s public at the time the current Comprehensive plan was passed.”

In their submittal, the City of Carrabelle was vague on details as there were no maps indicating affected properties nor did the city provide any scientific data justifying the amendment.

On a motion made by ARPC member Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson and second by council member and former Franklin County Clerk of Circuit Courts Kendall Wade, the council voted unanimously to recommend that the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) not approve the proposed amendment to Carrabelle’s comprehensive plan.

City tentatively adopts higher tax rate

At a special meeting held yesterday July 28, city commissioners tentatively adopted the maximum property tax rate that they could levy under state law.

A change in law that went into effect last year gives the state the authority to set the maximum millage cities and counties can impose.

Typically, local governments will set the millage rate at the maximum, in doing so they can later lower the rate. However, state law prohibits a millage increase once initially set.

Facing a $34.5 million dollar decline in property values, commissioners cautiously set the millage rate for FY 2009-2010 at the maximum 7.54 rate allowed by law, which represents a 27 percent increase over last year’s rate of 5.96.

However, due to the decline in property values, the maximum rate will only generate $69,842 more in tax proceeds for the city.

Last year’s certified gross taxable property values were at $209,729,762 with an approved millage rate of 5.96, generated $1,251,377 in tax revenues that funded the city's operations.

This year’s certified values declined significantly to $175,228,003, if the tentatively adopted maximum rate of 7.54 mills stands, the city would generate approximately $1,321,219 to run local government.

However, to keep last year’s rate of 5.96 mills, the city would have to cut spending by $207,018.

If city officials decide to keep the maximum rate, they are at least encouraged that most property owners will actually pay lower taxes due to the drop in property values.

However, before taking a vote on setting a final rate, the city will host a series of budget workshops to look at the possibility of lowering the rate.

Online Mock Election

Located on the right hand side of this blog is an interactive unscientific poll aimed at gauging the pulse of the community concerning the upcoming September 8 City of Apalachicola’s fall election. The poll has been set to allow only one vote per seat and then immediately display the results of the poll. Have fun and thanks for visiting the Mayor’s Blog.

Can I change my mind?

Several turn of events surrounding the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners Seat 4 race has cast a shadow over Commissioner Valentina Webb’s run for reelection. Webb’s apparent inability to decide whether she’s serious about seeking a second term has left city officials in a state of bewilderment.

A couple of weeks prior to the beginning of the July 20 qualifying period, Commissioner Webb announced that she wasn’t going the seek reelection to the Seat 4 post. However, when the qualifying process opened, Webb tossed her hat in the ring seeking a second turn on the city council, only to submit a letter withdrawing her candidacy moments after the qualifying period closed at noon on July 24.

Webb notified city administrator Betty Taylor-Webb and later hand delivered a letter to city hall withdrawing her bid to run for office.

The letter read in part:

“I, Valentina Webb Commission Seat #4 officially have withdrawn myself from the upcoming Commission Seat #4. Because I am a woman of God and I personally feel as if it would cause a division between Anderson William, who is my uncle and who would have been one of my opponents. Wanting to be obedient to God, His will for my life and having standards that must be upheld.”

City staff filed Webb’s letter and forward a copy to the Franklin County Supervisor of Elections office to ensure that Webb’s name wouldn’t appear on the fall election ballot. However, late Sunday night July 26, Webb again notified Betty Taylor-Webb that she had changed her mind and wanted to reenter the race.

After contacting the Florida Division of Elections and consulting with the city attorney, it was determined that no laws existed that prohibited Webb from gaining reentry into the race.

Webb than submitted another letter which effectively guarantee that her name will appear on the ballot.

The letter in its entirety:

“I, Valentina Webb, who currently holds the Seat of Commissioner Seat Four, I delivered a letter on Friday, July 24th, 2009, at approximately 2:30 pm regarding withdrawing from the upcoming election after the qualifying time was over. When I understood it was after the qualifying time that the city of Apalachicola had received the letter, I reconsidered and informed the city administrator, Betty Taylor Webb, that I was cancelling the letter and it was not to take effect. I want to confirm that I had already qualified in accordance to the Florida Statutes/the City of Apalachicola policies as a candidate on time and I am very much interested in seeking re-election to the Commission Seat Four.

I regret any confusion and I understand that the ballots will be printed with my name on them. I personally feel as if the people should decide who is best qualified for the position and who will best serve our people’s needs.”

As of this post, Webb rejoined both Brenda Ash and Anderson Williams in the Seat 4 city commission race.

The Jacksonville Observer

Despite Landmark Ruling, Waters Wars Will Likely Continue

Five qualified to run in city election

When the qualifying period for the city’s fall election ended at 12 noon July 24, five candidates had qualified to run for seats on the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners.

However, before a single ballot could be casted only four candidates remained in the race.

In the Seat 3 race, Jerry Hall is attempting to unseat incumbent City Commissioner Frank Cook, while incumbent Seat 4 Commissioner Valentina Webb picked up opposition from two political newcomers, Brenda Ash and Anderson Williams.

However, within an hour after the qualifying period ended, Webb notified City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb, that she was withdrawing her bid for reelection.

In a hand delivered letter to City Hall, Webb cited that she felt her continued presence in the race would have caused a division between herself and Anderson Williams. Williams, who happens to be Webb’s uncle, signaled earlier in the year his intent to run for a seat on the Apalachicola City Council and Webb had announced prior to qualifying that she was not going to seek a second term.

Webb apparently reconsidered and filed her papers to run early in the process followed by Williams. After the qualifying period ended, Webb withdrew her bid to stay in the race.

While I certainly respect Commissioner Webb’s decision to withdraw from the race, I only question the timing, as I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if only Webb and Williams had qualified to run, especially when considering the contents of her letter.

One could only conclude that Williams would have captured a seat on the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners, without the benefit of opposition. As it stands now, candidates Ash and Williams will be vying for Seat 4, and the incumbent Cook, and Hall for Seat 3.

At any rate, Ash is a mortgage loan officer and treasurer of the Franklin County Democratic Executive committee and Williams is retired from the Apalachicola Police Department as its Chief of Police. Cook is retired from the U.S. Navy and served on the city’s planning and zoning board, and Hall is a downtown merchant and a longtime Chamber member.

At least with these matchups, the taxpayers will save some money, as there will be no need for a runoff election.

Attachment:
Commissioner Webb’s Letter

Progress Energy requesting rate hike

The Florida Public Service Commission has scheduled a hearing for 1:00PM Thursday, July 30, 2009, at the Battery Park Community Center in Apalachicola to gather public input on a petition for a rate increase by Progress Energy.

The power company has asked the Public Service Commission (PSC) for consent to increase their base service rates collectively by $499 million a year, if approved that would mean a $14.18 per month increase to each power customer for every 1,000-kilowatt hour of electricity used.

The purpose of the hearing is to take testimony from the public on the quality and adequacy of Progress Energy’s service and other matters related to the power company’s petition for the rate increase.

The procedure at the hearing shall be as follows:

Progress Energy will present a brief summary of their case and then members of the public may present testimony. Members of the public who wish to present testimony are urged to appear promptly at the scheduled hearing time since the hearing may be adjourned early if no witnesses are present to testify. All witnesses shall be subject to cross-examination at the conclusion of their testimony. One or more of the Commissioners of the Florida Public Service Commission may attend and participate in the meeting.

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this all-important meeting, for more information contact the Florida Public Service Commission, Office of Commission Clerk, at 2540 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0850.

Neighborhood Watch Program

Approximately three months ago, the Apalachicola Police Department established under the auspices of the city’s Community Pride Partnership Initiative a neighborhood watch program as a means to crime prevention.

Since that initial meeting, only a handful of concerned citizens have actually attended follow up meetings to volunteer their time to participate in the program.

However, for the watch program to succeed, the police department needs maximum community participation, especially in areas of the city where criminal activities are suspect.

Community involvement is paramount, as it will serve to build bridges between neighborhoods and cause people to look out for one another. The program will also serve as a deterrent to criminal activities that could greatly reduce your chances of becoming a crime victim.

The police department has scheduled the next meeting for 6:00PM Tuesday, August 25 at the 6th street Recreation Center and we hope to see you there.
.
In the meantime, should you have any questions about the program or are interested in participating, please feel free to contact Lt. Pam Lewis at (850) 370-6055.

Apalachicola Election Update

On Monday, July 20, Frank Cook the incumbent Seat 3 Commissioner on the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners qualified to run in the city’s fall election scheduled for September 8, 2009. City commissioners appointed Cook to the council after the 2007 Mayors race, prior to his appointment Cook served on the Apalachicola Planning and Zoning Board.

Also on Monday, local business owner Jerry Hall submitted his papers to run for the Seat 3 commission seat. As a longtime businessman and Chamber member, this marks Hall’s second bid for a seat on the council, Hall first ran in the 1997 election.

As of the close of business Tuesday, July 21, the incumbent Seat 4 City Commissioner Valentina Webb had no opponent as she filed her qualifying papers to run for reelection. Elected in 2005, Webb is finishing her first four-year term on the council.

The qualifying period to run in this year’s fall election ends Friday, July 24 at 12 noon.

Qualifying for city election begins today

The qualifying period for the City of Apalachicola September 8, 2009 fall election begins today, July 20, 2009, at 12:00PM, and will run through Friday, July 24, 2009, at 12:00PM to fill the expiring offices of the Seat 3 City Commissioner for a term of four years and the Seat 4 City Commissioner also for a term of four years. If a runoff election becomes necessary, the city will hold such on Tuesday, September 22, 2009.

Currently serving on the Apalachicola City Council as the Seat 3 Commissioner is Frank Cook. Cook is finishing a two-year appointment following the 2007 Mayors race in which he replaced former Seat 3 City Commissioner Van Johnson. City Commissioner Valentina Webb is the current holder of Seat 4; Webb captured the seat during the 2005 election after defeating former Seat 4 City Commissioner Robert Davis.

Those desirous to enter the race may do so by picking up and returning the qualification forms to City Hall at 1 Bay Avenue and by paying the qualifying fee of $226.80, which is 4.5% of the first year’s city commissioner salary. In addition, candidates must reside within the City of Apalachicola and be duly registered to vote in the State, County, and City. Apalachicola city elections are nonpartisan and held at large.

Those wishing to vote that are not registered, may register at the Supervisor of Elections office now up to 4:30PM on August 10, 2009, for the general election and Monday, August 24, 2009, should there be a runoff. Early voting will commence on August 31, 2009 and run through September 4, 2009, from 8:30AM to 4:30PM, Mon – Fri, also at the Supervisor of Elections office at 47 Avenue E.

All residents of the City of Apalachicola not currently registered to vote are encouraged to register and participate in this year’s election.

Mayor puts newly created DIB on hold

City administrator Betty Taylor-Webb is in the process of sending notices to members of the recently created Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) notifying them that they can’t meet, organize, or act until further review.

The city commission appointed the sixteen-member board at their July 14, special meeting at the behest of the downtown merchants to promote economic development and historic preservation in the downtown commercial district.

However, the next day Webb discovered and immediately notified commissioners that the appointments were made contrary to established city procedures.

In an email alerting the Mayor to the discrepancy, Webb wrote:

“Whenever possible and as time permits, I study and focus on all items placed on Commission agendas prior to the meeting in an attempt to gather information and research past board actions that may be related to the topic to assist you and the Commissioners in making the most informed and best decision possible for our City. I have in the past brought information to the Board’s attention that I believe has resulted in a more thorough and unbiased decision-making process.

Time did not allow me to follow my procedure for the items listed on the agenda prior to last night’s Special Meeting. After a follow-up review this morning, I feel I must bring it to your attention that, in my opinion, the Downtown Improvement Board issue should be readdressed by way of the Ordinance adoption process. The City, in the past, had an appointed Downtown Development Association (aka: DIB) that was “De-Authorized” by the Commission in an effort to establish a Community Redevelopment Agency, this action was taken pursuant to Ordinance Number 88-11, dated January 3rd, 1989. Therefore, I believe legally to re-instate such an agency it must follow suit to be designated and its members appointed by means of an Ordinance adoption.

I may indeed be incorrect so I will have the City attorney review it as well, but in the meantime I strongly urge you and the Commissioners to take this information I have brought forth under advisement.”

Accordingly, Webb was instructed to put on hold all activities of the newly appointed board until city attorney J. Patrick Floyd could review the procedure and advise the commission.

A Spectacular Grand Opening

More than 200 men, women, and children from throughout the Franklin county community attended Friday’s grand opening held at the former Apalachicola high school campus, which now serves as the city’s new Recreation & Community Services Complex.

There were loads of kid’s activities, games, demonstrations, free food, tours of Project Impact and live entertainment as the city breathed new life into the abandon campus, closed two years ago due to the opening of the new consolidated school in Eastpoint.

Highlighting the entertainment and to the delight of the crowd were the famed FAMU Strikers All-Star male dance crew, which preformed on both the inside and outside stage.

The Eastpoint Church of God’s drama team, performed their renowned Christian skit titled, “Shouting John” and Jeanette Taylor’s Zumba class swaggered to some high paced Latin tunes, while Abby Harrison a local up and coming teen singer belted out a couple of Miley Cyrus’s hits.

Other entertainment included Kimberly Harrington; the first local female country rapper out of Carrabelle who performed her new hit single Bass Pro Shop. It has been reported that during the past few weeks, Bass Pro Shop has been the most requested single on local Country radio station WOCY 106.5FM, surpassing the 17-year run of Billy Ray Cyrus’s Achy Breaky Heart.

City commissioners were also recognized and commended for their role in accepting and transforming the old campus into a safe gathering place for Apalachicola’s youth and Betty Taylor-Webb, city administrator for embracing the concept and making it happen.

According the city commissioner Valentina Webb, the city of Apalachicola went outside the box with the festivities surrounding the grand opening.

Photos courtesy of Cindy Summerhill

Judge rules in 20-year old Water War

On Friday, July 17, United States District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson for the middle district of Florida issued a ruling in the 20-year old Tri-State Water Rights Litigation favorable to Florida, Alabama, and the City of Apalachicola.

In a ninety-seven page order, Judge Magnuson stated that, “the Corps’s failure to seek Congressional authorization for the changes it has wrought in the operation of Buford Dam and Lake Lanier is an abuse of discretion and contrary to the clear intent of the Water Supply Act”.

Consequently, Magnuson granted in part Florida, Alabama and the City of Apalachicola’s motion for summary judgment.

In doing so, the judge stayed phase one of the litigation for three years to allow the U.S Army Corps of Engineers the opportunity to obtain Congressional authorization for the operational changes requested by the Metro-Atlanta area to Buford Dam.

During the stay, the Court ordered that the current level of water withdrawn from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system remain the same and ordered that the Corps not increase levels without an agreement from all parties involved, which includes the City of Apalachicola.

The Court further ruled that at the end of the three-year period, without Congressional approval or some other resolution, the level of water withdrawn would return to the baseline levels of mid-1970. That would require that the off-peak water flow return to 600 cfs and that only the Cities of Gainesville and Buford would have authorization to withdraw water from the system.

Judge Magnuson rightly recognized that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers are not the sole blame for this dilemma, the judge cited as part of the problem local government’s allowance of unchecked growth and the like of sufficient planning for the resources unchecked growth requires.

By entering the historic lawsuit the City of Apalachicola has effectively secured itself a seat at the table, should anytime over the next three-years an agreement is negotiated outside of Congress, by the parties to the lawsuit. As a result, city officials are pleased with the outcome of the Court’s ruling.

The city entered the litigation on January 17, 2008, out of concern that the reduction of freshwater flow in the river system was causing irreparable harm to Apalachicola River and Bay and subsequently to the city’s way of life.

Youth Center Grand Opening

Park Opens at 3:00PM

Water Slide, Games, Prizes,
Contest, Basketball, Karaoke,
Art Activities, Music and More!

Free Food at 5:00PM
Strikers Dance at 6:00PM

Sponsored in Collaboration With:

Project Impact

The City of Apalachicola Anti-Tobacco Program

The Franklin County Health Department
Location at AHS 14th Street

For more information call 653-9319

Apalach Signs Police/Fire Station Grant

A press release distributed by U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd’s office announced earlier that the City of Apalachicola was the recipient of economic stimulus funding to fund the city’s new police/fire station through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

As a result, city officials called a special meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, to review and sign obligatory documents for the funds through the USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility Program.

The economic stimulus package enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, was worth $787 billion and intended to provide a stimulus to the U.S. economy in the wake of the economic downturn.

However, after giving the city an overview of its obligations, Mary Miles, area specialist for rural development told commissioners that the stimulus funding was in the form of a $506,500, 30-year low interest loan, and a $150,000 grant. Combined with $250,000 already received from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) the estimated total project cost is $906,500.

In addition, as part of its obligation, the city has to pledge through the passage of a resolution all future revenues from its Alcoholic Beverage Licenses Tax, Fine and Forfeitures and the Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) Tax over the next 30-years toward the loans repayment.

What's more, the city is required to “Buy American” to ensure that only iron, steel, and manufactured goods produced in the United States are used during construction, and to adhere to the wage rate requirements outlined in the Recovery Act.

City officials felt that its obligations under the Act were minor when compared to ensuring continued and adequate police and fire protection for the citizens of Apalachicola.

Downtown Improvement Board Created

In other business before the city at its special July 14 meeting, commissioners approved at the request of downtown business owner Joe Taylor the creation of a Downtown Improvement Board (DIB).

Taylor told commissioners that the mission of the DIB would be to unify a broad range of interests in order to plan and coordinate a downtown revitalization program to promote economic development and historic preservation.

He further stated that the DIB would maximize public and private resources to recommend and implement improvements to promote the downtown area by developing identity for “Historic Apalachicola” as a National leader in cultural and heritage tourism.

Taylor said that the DIB would create an inviting atmosphere in the commercial district that conveys a positive visual image while maintaining the unique character and appropriateness of historic Apalachicola and that the DIB would support existing businesses and recruit compatible new businesses.

City commissioners appointed the following members to the DIB: Susan Gary, Lynn Wilson-Spohrer, P.J. Trowell, Dixie Partington, Amanda Kollar, Steven Bartlett, Donnie Gay, Steve Rash, Beverly Hewitt, George Mahr, George Coon, Tom Daly, Anna-Maria Cannatella, Harry Arnold, Joe Taylor, and city commissioner Valentina Webb.

Special City Meeting Today

The City of Apalachicola will be holding a special meeting at city hall 12 noon today to meet with representatives from the USDA Rural Development to review for signature the obligation forms for the $506,459 loan and $150,000 grant for the Police/Fire Station Project.

The city will also consider a request from the downtown merchants to create a Downtown Improvement Board.

As always, the public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Historical Society Request Trust Funds

The Apalachicola Area Historical Society requested funds from the Oven Trust to address emergency roof and ceiling repairs along with other maintenance need at the Raney House Museum.

According to City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb, members of the Oven family unexpectedly setup the trust after a family member who lived in Apalachicola years ago, passed away. Afterward, the family of the deceased set aside $50,000 for exclusive use at the Raney House for repairs and maintenance of the city owned building.

Terms of the trust allow 15 percent to be withdrawn from the principal each year along with all the interest income with the exception of the first year’s proceeds.

The Historical Society manages and oversees the daily operations of the museum under an authorized management agreement it has with the city.

Due to needed roof and other repairs, city officials granted at their July 7 meeting, $5,530.41, the amount allowable under the terms and conditions of the trust to the Society to make those repairs possible.

This past year, the Carriage House, which is part of the museum had major damage to the back of the building and were in need of immediate repair to save the structure. At that time, city officials allocated funds from the trust to affect those repairs as well.

Fewer citations issued in Apalach

Since the month of April, the number of traffic citations issued by city police officers, has significantly dropped in Apalachicola.

In early April, city officials took the recommendation of the Franklin County Community Traffic Safety Team and unanimously voted to lower the speed limit on all city owned streets, from 35MPH to 25MPH.

As a result, Apalachicola Police Chief Bobby Varnes, starting beefing up the enforcement of traffic laws in the city, ahead of the official posting of the new lower speed limit, which is scheduled to go into effect July 15.

Varnes told city commissioners at the recent July 7 meeting, that during the month of June, his officers wrote 14 traffic citations, mostly for speeding, down from 21 in May and 30 in April. City officials are contributing the drop in the issuance of citations to the commitment of Varnes to beef up enforcement ahead of the new lower limit.

Varnes also reported that his department received 172 calls, made five direct arrests, received three warrant requests, investigated five traffic accidents, and issued ten warnings for golf cart violations.

Daly presents P&Z report to commission

At the July 7, commission meeting, Tom Daly, vice-chair of the city’s planning & zoning board gave commissioners an overview of several items currently under review by the planning board.

Daly told commissioners that P&Z members were looking at an ordinance that will govern requests for temporary road closures throughout the city, he also stated that board members were engaged in a continued discussion concerning revamping the city’ sign ordinance.

Daly further told commissioners that the zoning board was working with Cindy Clark and Rebecca Jetton on an EAR-based amendment update to the comprehensive plan. Clark is the city’s paid consultant on comp plan matters and Jetton is on loan from the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to help with the process. The comp plan update is to identify and plan for water supply sources and needed facilities to serve existing and new development within the city’s jurisdiction.

According to Daly, the planning & zoning board will also address and make recommendations in the comp plan concerning traffic on U.S. Highway 98 and address the need for affordable housing.

Daly concluded his report by telling city commissioners that planning & zoning members would also look at resolving the conflicts that exist between the comp plan and the land development code.

Apalachicola area receives exposure

Anita Grove, executive director of the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce reported to commissioners at the July 7, city commission meeting that the Apalachicola area has recently received some great exposure from several prominent magazines and newspapers. The publications writing articles about historic Apalachicola included the National Geographic Traveler, the St. Petersburg Times, Southern Living, and Southern Accents.

Gove also reported that other publications have requested information and/or photos on the area concerning the Big Bend Scenic Byway, John Gorrie and the recent Fourth of July celebration.

Grove informed the commission that the planning and zoning board asked her to review and comment on a special events ordinance currently under consideration and that she suggested changes to the sign ordinance under review by planning and zoning to help make the ordinance more users friendly.

She further stated that both the Apalachicola City Square Community Garden and Mike Cates with Cates Electrical Services, Inc., were new members that recently joined the chamber.

Project Impact, making an IMPACT

Faye Johnson, director of the City of Apalachicola’s Project Impact updated the commission at the July 7, meeting on the progress of the summer program activities. Johnson reported that the program just completed at all three sites its first summer camp session.

The first session ran for three weeks from June 15 through July 2, and is now gearing up for a second session scheduled for July 13 through July 30.

The three sites include the old Apalachicola High School campus, the ABC Charter School, and the dropout prevention program at the Franklin County Consolidated school in Eastpoint.

Johnson spoke of a well-rounded program where students have received help with credit recovery, have access to the Wilderness Coast Public Libraries bookmobile, take weekly field trips, swimming lessons, participate in sports activities and Zumba classes.

Johnson especially highlighted the activities at the old Apalachicola High School campus, which now serves as the City’s Youth and Community Service Center. She stated that during the first session the Mary Brogan Museum brought in and set up their inflatable planetarium called StarLab.

StarLab is a 20’x22’ portable planetarium that features age appropriate shows for grades K-12. The shows include current night sky, basic astronomy, constellation identification, celestial navigation, mythology, world geography, plate tectonics, and ocean currents.

Johnson also announced the grand opening scheduled for July 17, from 3:00PM to 6:00PM at the Apalachicola site. The event will feature an inflatable water slide, bounce houses, music, movies, free food, and the famed FAMU Strikers All-Stars, which recently competed on MTV season three of the America's Best Dance Crew show.

Photos taken by Gail D. Johnson

No Blues for Apalachicola

Jerry Garlick, organizer of the annual outdoor blues festival appeared before city commissioners at the July 7, meeting to request approval to either block off the road between Water Street and Commerce or use Riverfronts Park to host the Annual Blues in the Lot concert.

Garlick explained that the tragic fire that destroyed the Apalachicola Bank building almost a year ago has altered the downtown landscape. The lot where Garlick normally host the annual Blues Festival, which the bank owns, now serves as the temporary location for the bank.

With that, Garlick asked commissioners for permission to host the concert on the stated properties along with a waiver from the city ordinance that prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public property. Garlick also offered to collaborate with the volunteer fire department to use the event as a possible fundraiser.

However, city official’s reluctance to depart from its ordinance due to increased liability exposure, prompted Garlick to withdraw his request to host the event on city owned property.

Garlick stated that he didn't want to take on the risk of liability either, should someone during the concert bring alcohol on site in violation of the ordinance prohibiting such.

He told commissioners that he would wait until next year before hosting the event, in hope that by then, the construction of the new bank is completed, and the lot once again cleared for use by the blues festival.

Greene reports on library activities

During the July 7, regular scheduled meeting of the Apalachicola City Commission, Municipal Librarian Caty Greene reported that 853 patrons visited the library during the preceding month of June, and that 338 of those visitors requested use of the computers.

In addition, Greene reported that volunteers have logged in over 100 hours helping at the library, which she credited the overall increase in statistics to the implementation of the summer reading program.

The reading program has attracted over 60 children from K-5 as Project Impact selected the municipal library as a site for their weekly field trips.

Greene also informed commissioners that the library would be expanding their hours of operation through the month of July, where the library will remain open until 6:00PM during the weekdays and from 11:00AM to 3:00PM on Saturdays.

She further reported that the library is participating in a statewide coloring contest with the NFL Miami Dolphins franchise football team and the State Library system. The state library will judge all entries and give out sport memorabilia as prizes. For their participation, the Apalachicola Municipal Library received 75 books for inclusion in their inventory.

Library Board Chair Susan Clementson thanked the citizens, merchants, and Trinity Episcopal Church for their overwhelming support of the summer reading program and announced that next Tuesday, July 14, 2009, from 9:30AM to 10:30AM the library will be hosting in front of the library an event involving a cadre of trucks.

Celebrating our Nation’s Birth

This past Friday, July 3, inaugurated the use of the newly refurbished Riverfront Park as a large crowd of both locals and visitors gathered in the park for an ice cream social following the Old Apalach Independence Day Parade.

Keeping with local tradition, the parade held the day before the start of the official holiday commenced at Lafayette Park, made its way down Avenue B to Water Street along the river and ended at Riverfront Park.

Both young and old alike donned patriotic garb as they strolled the park and commercial docking area as they joined in the celebration of our nation’s birth, which occurred some two hundred and thirty-three years ago.

Although missing from the event was the traditional display of fireworks, the beautifully landscaped park served as a backdrop to live patriotic music that stirred the souls of many, more so than the imagery of bombs busting in the air.

Taking part and adding to the celebration was a duck race sponsored by the Apalachicola Rotary Club as a means to raise funds to help in their fight against polio.

Overall, everyone in attendance appeared to have enjoyed the celebration along with the soothing savor of ice cream while watching the kids cool down on the hot July afternoon by splashing their feet in the water fountain recently installed as part of the parks renovation.

Photos and video taken by Gail D. Johnson

Happy Independence Day

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the 13 United States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies.

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

Today’s Events

*Apalachicola City Hall will be closed today so that staff can join with their families to observe July 3, as Independence Day. Offices will reopen for business Monday morning July 6.

*The Old Apalach Independence Day Parade and Ice Cream Social sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and their partners will begin today at 6:30PM at Lafayette Park.