Ash and Cook wins unopposed

Apalachicola City Commissioner's Brenda Ash (L) & Frank Cook (R)

There were no celebrations, victory parties or speeches, in fact, there wasn’t much of a campaign either, but City Commissioner’s Brenda Ash and Frank Cook both have reasons to celebrate.  They both won reelection to another four-year term on the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners without opposition.

Both victories were official at noon Friday, June 28, the last day for candidates to submit their paperwork to City Hall to qualify to run for either Seat 3 or 4 on the commission in the municipal fall election scheduled for September 3, 2013.

Cook first received appointment to Seat 3 on the city commission in 2007 to serve out the remaining two-years left on then city commissioner Van Johnson's four-year term whose election as Apalachicola mayor created the vacancy. 

Cook a retired submarine captain and former chair of the city’s planning and zoning commission went on to win a full four-year term during the 2009 election cycle.  He currently serves as mayor pro-tem and the city’s liaison on the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Ash also emerged from the five-day qualifying period, which started noon Monday, June 24, unopposed, earning herself another four years as the Seat 4, commissioner.  

New to the political arena in 2009, Ash took Seat 4 in a runoff during the municipal election that year.  A mortgage loan officer at Centennial Bank, she currently serves as finance commissioner and co-chairs the city’s economic development strategic planning committee.

City commissioners are elected at-large and earn an annual stipend of $ 5,191.20. 

City of Apalachicola July '13 Meeting Agenda

REGULAR MEETING

CITY COMMISSION 

CITY OF APALACHICOLA, FLORIDA

TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2013 – 6:00 PM

COMMUNITY CENTER @ BATTERY PARK

#1 BAY AVENUE, APALACHICOLA, FLORIDA 

AGENDA 

I.  PRAYER AND PLEDGE

II.  REGULAR MEETING

1.  Recognition of Visitors     

a.  Themo Patrioits

2.  Approve June Minute

3.  Approve May Bill List

4.  Planning & Zoning Report

a.  Proposed Comp Plan Changes relating to FLU Map, CHHA Map, & Historic Squares 1st Reading – Ordinance No. 2013-01

b.  Floodplain Management Ordinance – 1st Reading – Ordinance No. 2013-02     

c.  Historic Guidelines – 1st Reading – Ordinance No. 2013-03

d.  Proposed Land Development Code revisions relating to corner lot setback Discussion
e.  Erin Rodriquez – Encroachment Approval – 18 6th Street

f.  Confirm April & May Minutes

5.  City Administrator Report

6.  Attorney Floyd Report

7.  Other Visitors and Comments

8.  Mayor and Commissioner’s Comments    

Any person who desires to appeal any decision at this meeting will need a record of the proceeding and for this purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made which includes testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based.  Persons with disabilities needing assistance to participate in any of these proceedings should contact the City Administrator’s Office 48 hours in advance of the meeting. 

Vice President Calls for Higher Minimum Wage

Standing before a group of working Americans and saying that it's about "simple dignity," Vice President Biden called for increasing the federal minimum wage during a White House event on June 25. 

"No man or woman who works 40 hours a week should go home and look at their kids and say, 'Honey, we got to apply for food stamps,'" Biden said. 

The event commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the law that established a national minimum wage. Earlier, acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris led a discussion with workers who told him of the economic hardships they face and how they would benefit from the Administration's proposal to increase the minimum wage from its current rate of $7.25 per hour to $9 per hour by 2015. 

The workers said they would spend the extra income on groceries, car repairs and their children, a point echoed by the vice president. A minimum wage increase "ripples all through the economy," Biden said, benefitting the country as a whole as those workers spend their additional income on necessities such as food and utility bills.

Former Local Reporter writes national article about the Town of Gettysburg

The following link is to an article published in the June 25th online edition of The Washington Post written by Kevin Begos, former local reporter and executive director of the Franklin County Oyster & Seafood Task Force.  

The article is concerning attempts by the Town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to establish an African-American History Museum.

http://wapo.st/14vqbzp

Celebrate Franklin Works - Remarks

My remarks from this morning 'Celebrate Franklin Works' program held at the Historic Holy Family Senior Citizen Center. The program was held to recognize and thank the various agencies that assisted the Franklin County community after the collapse of the local oyster industry.

A short clip of Morgan Martin on stage during the "Celebrate Franklin Works" program performing an inspirational dance to "Wind Beneath my Wings".

Summer fun has begun at Project Impact

There’s a host of fun activities going on at the City of Apalachicola’s Project Impact program to help kids escape the boredom of summer vacation and ready them for back to school this fall.

 

Mission San Luis Tour

Last week kicked off the first in a series of out-of-town field trips where the kids traveled to Tallahassee to visit and tour Mission San Luis.  Mission San Luis is like stepping back in time, a reconstructed Spanish Franciscan mission where up to 1,400 Apalachee Indians and newcomers from Spain lived together from 1656 to 1704.

Mission San Luis Tour

Another fun activity is the popular boat building program just starting up at the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, where Project Impact kids are learning first-hand the skill of how to build full sized seaworthy vessels.

 

Boat Building at Apalachicola Maritime Museum

On Monday's and Tuesday's Project Impact collaborates with the City of Apalachicola Municipal Library to teach hands on arts and crafts.

 

Library Arts and Craft

To round out the summer fun there’s a computer lab and a special pottery class set aside and for those students that have fallen behind in their studies, there’s a credit recovery class taught by Ms. Elinor Mount-Simmons to help them get back on track.



Pottery Classes

All brought to you by the City of Apalachicola and funded through a grant applied for by the city from the Department of Education to promote afterschool and summer enrichment programs.

Celebrate Franklin Works

Local art on display in Tallahassee

Alice Jean Gibbs (L) and daughter Lynn Wilson-Spohrer (R)

stands in front of one of their entries an honored original Plein 

Air Painting.

The work of some of Apalachicola's most talented artists' is currently on display in Tallahassee at the Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts. 

The exhibition, the "Artists' League Summer Annual" is hosted by the "Artists' League" an informal group of Tallahassee area artists' established as a League a couple decades ago.

Hanging at the show is the work of local artists' Susan L. Richardson, Lynn Wilson-Spohrer and Alice Jean Gibbs. Gibbs, now 97 is renown for her appearances in Coca-Cola advertisements during the early 1930's through the early 1950's is the mother of Wilson-Spohrer.

Out of the eighty pieces of artwork accepted at the exhibition, six were accepted from the Apalachicola trio with each artist assessed a $10.00 entry fee for up to three pieces of work entered.

Gibbs entered a large pastel piece and her daughter Wilson-Spohrer entered two pastels paintings, all three pieces submitted by the mother-daughter team were honored original Plein Air paintings.

"Christo at 80" by Susan L.

Richardson tied for fourth

place.

Richardson, who has had paintings win awards at previous exhibitions both in Atlanta and Tallahassee, submitted three of her paintings, one of which an oil portrait of local resident Christo Poloronis "Christo at 80" tied for fourth place.

This year’s exhibition was juried by Sandy Shaugnessy, a professional art judge and current Director of the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.

The exhibition theme: "To Collaborate or not to Collaborate" was selected by the "Artists' League", to encourage the entry of collaborative works by two or more League members and to encourage the concept of collaboration within works by individual League members.

The Leagues stated purpose is to enrich Florida State University and the Tallahassee community by exhibiting works of art which expand the understanding of art today and of the past and to serve as a teaching instrument for art instruction, by holding exhibitions of informational value to students and the general public and by providing student artists' with an arena to exhibit their work.

The public reception and grand opening held Friday, June 14, 2013, has since passed, but you can still take in the exhibits from now until July 19, 2013, by visiting the museum located in the East Wing of the Fine Arts Building located on the campus of Florida State University, Monday - Friday from 9:00AM - 4:00PM and from 1:00PM - 4:00PM on Saturday and Sunday.

The FCTDC Announces 2013-14 Grant Process

The Franklin County Tourist Development Council (FCTDC) released yesterday the following information concerning their 2013-14 grant application process:

The 2013-14 grant application for FCTDC marketing assistance is currently available and accessible online at http://www.saltyflorida.com/grants, with a submission deadline of June 30, 2013 for an event held during the 2013-14 grant cycle.

The process for the 2013-14 cycle is much simpler to apply, as you want have to acquire insurance to satisfy the requirements, nor have to follow up with any paperwork or canceled checks.  However, off season grant funding dollars will not be distributed to individual organizations.  If your event qualifies, professional marketing for your event will be placed by the FCTDC Contractors.

If you wish to complete an application other than online, please telephone the FCTDC Administrative Office at (850) 653-8678  to request a copy, or stop by the office at 17-1/2 Avenue E, in Apalachicola to pick up an application.

All completed 2013-14 grant applications must be submitted online or returned to the FCTDC Office no later than June 30, 2013.

If you have any questions, please call the FCTDC Office at 850-653-8678.

Florida SBDC Commends Governor Scott and Florida Legislature for Supporting Small Businesses in a New State Law

FSBDCN State Office: Governor Rick Scott signed HB 7007 into law that validates the administration’s and legislature’s priority to support Florida’s primary job producers – small business. The new law aligns and enhances the Florida SBDC Network’s position and work in collaboration with state economic development and higher education to better serve the needs of Florida’s small businesses. The law establishes a performance-based investment to expand the network’s business development services and support small business growth. 

“This is great news for Florida’s small businesses,” said Michael Myhre, Florida SBDC Interim State Director. “Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature should be applauded for understanding and supporting programs and incentives proven to help create the jobs Florida families need and be recognized as a state that supports small business.” 

State designated as the principal provider of small business assistance, the Florida SBDC Network serves the complex and diverse needs of small businesses throughout every stage of growth through no-cost professional business consulting, value-added training, and access to business data and information. Florida SBDC consulting expertise focuses on areas vital to accelerating the growth of businesses, including strategic market research; business and strategic plan development; market and revenue growth strategy development and implementation; capital access and loan packaging; financial analysis and assessment; financial literacy; feasibility analysis and start-up assistance; as well as business continuity and disaster planning.

Andre Uribe of Power Grid Engineering, LLC, an electrical engineering firm, is an outstanding representation of what the FSBDCN does for Florida’s entrepreneurs. Uribe and his business partners attended several seminars to prepare for their business venture and, over the years, continued to take advantage of extensive consulting services through the FSBDC at UCF to accelerate the growth of their business. Power Grid now has an impressive clientele, which includes several Fortune 250 investor-owned utility companies in the United States. The company continues to grow with 2012 sales of $11.6 million, 78 employees, four locations in two states, and 2013 sales are estimated to exceed $15 million. Uribe's accomplishments were recently recognized by the U.S. SBA with the presentation of the 2013 North Florida District Small Business Person of the Year Award.

“We are fortunate to have the support of high level SBDC personnel such as Pauline Davis to help us when we need assistance running our company,” said Uribe.

Myhre said, “The Florida SBDCs are proud to play a key role in contributing to the state’s priorities, in particular, job creation and economic growth.” A recent independent study showed that the Florida SBDC Network’s consulting services helped support the creation and retention of 43,856 direct and indirect jobs across the state at a significantly low cost of $119 per job to the Florida taxpayer. The study found that for every $1 invested in the Florida SBDC Network, $41.07 was returned to the state in tax revenue.

“We look forward to expanding our efforts with state economic development and our vested higher education partners to expand on our record of helping businesses grow and succeed,” said Myhre.

"Our Children, Our Future” A Community Conversation

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice invite you to come out and join them in a “Community Engagement Conversation” to share and learn about current issues facing Franklin County Youth.   

The meeting is open to the public and scheduled for Friday, June 21st from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Historic Holy Family Senior Citizens Center located at 203 Dr. Frederick Humphries Street in Apalachicola.

Topics of discussion will include, but not limited to: 

The needs of each community within Franklin County

How can the Department engage the communites and there unique requirements

Family Engagement through the Governor’s Initiative “Putting Florida Families First”

The philosophy of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is to build stronger, safer communities and healthy, positive relationships within families through engagement and collaboration with the community, so come out and join in this all important conversation concerning our children.

Mayor's Election Proclamation

The City of Apalachicola has set the stage for its 2013 Fall Municipal Election with the execution and issuance of the following Mayor's Election Proclamation.

CITY OF APALACHICOLA

MAYOR'S ELECTION PROCLAMATION

I, the undersigned, VAN W. JOHNSON, SR., Mayor of the City of Apalachicola, by authority of law and pursuant to City Ordinance No. 91-4, do hereby proclaim that on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 an election will be held to fill the offices as follows:  City Commissioner for Seat 3 for a term of four years, and City Commissioner for Seat 4 for a term of four years, and a Run-Off Election, if necessary, will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2013.

Candidates wishing to qualify may do so at the City Office from 12 Noon Monday, June 24, 2013 until 12 Noon Friday, June 28, 2013.  City Office is located at #1 Avenue E, and regular office hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday-Friday.  Each Candidate must pay to the City Clerk at the time of qualifying a qualifying fee of 4.5% of the first year’s salary, must be a resident of the City of Apalachicola, and must also be a qualified voter of the State of Florida, County of Franklin, and the City of Apalachicola.

All persons not previously registered to vote may register to vote anytime from now up to 4:30 PM on Monday, August 5, 2013 for the General Election, and Monday, August 19, 2013 for the Run-Off Election at the Office of the Franklin County Supervisor of Elections located at 47 Avenue F, Apalachicola, Florida, hours 8:30AM to 4:30PM, Monday-Friday.

The polling place will be at the National Guard Armory located at 66 4th Street in the City of Apalachicola and will be open at 7:00AM and close at 7:00PM.  Absentee ballots may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Franklin County Supervisor of Elections at place and time noted previously.  Only qualified electors will be permitted to vote.  Early voting will be conducted from August 26, 2013 to August 30, 2013 (5 days only) at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 47 Avenue F, Apalachicola, Florida from 8:30AM to 4:30PM.

All residents of the City of Apalachicola not currently registered to vote are urged to register and take part in this election.

Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor

City of Apalachicola, Florida

A Call To The Franklin County Business Community

The 2013 Franklin County AAA All-star District Champs

This year we have an unprecedented four Franklin County All-star District Championship Teams that have earned the right on the field of play to represent the Franklin County Community at the state level.

The teams in question are the Franklin County Dixie Girls Debs Softball Team, Majors and the AAA and AA Boys Baseball Teams and they all need our support and help just to get there.

At this time and as a fundraiser the AAA All-star Champs are having a banner made up to display and hang on the field while at state.  The banner will have the teams photo affixed and with a donation of $50 or more, the name of your business or your individual name will also appear on the banner. This is a great way to show your support and advertise your businesses all at the same time while helping the team cover the expenses of the trip, and whether they win, lose or draw, it will be our kids that we're sending off to represent our community.

For more information, or to donate, contact Chala Parish at (850) 370-0832 or email at chaklin@yahoo.com.

Thanks much for your kind consideration.

Van-

Dr. Fred Humphries to discuss Grant Opportunities

Dr. Frederick S. Humphries

Meeting with City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb, Franklin County District Three County Commissioner Noah Lockley, Jr., and former president of Tennessee State and Florida A&M University Dr. Frederick S. Humphries.

Humphries traveling from Orlando asked for the meeting to discuss local grant options and opportunities with both city and county officials.

The meeting will take place at 11:00am today, June 10, 2013, inside my office at the Community Service Complex - 192 14th Street, Suite 1 - Apalachicola.

TDC To Pool Marketing Funds For Grant Recipients

Beginning this fall, non-profit groups looking to the Franklin County Tourist Development Council (TDC) for help in promoting their events and activities will be able to tap into a marketing pool of more than $300,000 to help promote local nonprofit events.

The plan, developed by the TDC and approved by the County Commission earlier this Spring, would combine event promotion funds with funds used to promote the Franklin County brand and would enable local organizations to benefit from the full marketing resources of the TDC instead of the previous grant program that parceled out small allocations to individual groups for marketing.

Non-profit grant-seeking groups will continue to receive small stipends from the TDC and would also be eligible to receive a package of marketing services that could include print design, video and web-based marketing specifically designed for their event, said TDC administrator Curt Blair.

According to Blair, the proposed plan, scheduled to go into effect this fall, is intended to provide an equal playing field for all eligible event promotion requests and will allow the TDC to pool its marketing resources to purchase advertising in bulk from media in proven geo-demographic markets as well as specifically targeted outlets. “We expect this plan will allow us to make bigger ad buys and reach more people than would be possible from individual grant promoters working with small advertising budgets,” he said.

Non-profits groups interested in applying for Franklin County TDC marketing assistance will fill out an application online at www.saltyflorida.com. Eligible applicants would be entered into the pool of events promoted as part of the TDC’s countywide event advertising program. The deadline to participate in the 2013-14 grant program is June 30. Notification of award will be sent to successful applicants by July 19 pending approval by the TDC grant committee at its July 17 meeting.

Since its inception in 2005, Franklin County’s tourist tax has generated more than $9 million in revenue that has been used for promotion of events and activities as well as construction, operation and maintenance of recreational, cultural and historic amenities countywide.

Public Notice of Downtown Street Closure

Starting Monday, June 10 through Wednesday, June 12, Commerce Street from Avenue D to Avenue E will be closed to thru traffic so that contractors can install a water line underneath the road to the public restroom facility now under construction.

Only vehicles traveling down Commerce Street from the vicinity of the U.S. Post Office will be allowed entrance into the Centennial Bank drive thru area for the expressed purpose of banking and exit unto Avenue E in front of the bank.

Please bear with your city leadership as we complete this all important project that will greatly benefit the entire community.

I thank each of you in advance for your understanding and patience during this temporary phase of construction.  

Safe Schools Improvement Act

In a release today, Florida U.S. Senator Bill Nelson announced his cosponsorship of the "Safe Schools Improvement Act"(SSIA), which aim is to prevent bullying on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. If passed, the law would require that local and state agencies measure all incidents of bullying or harassment in a series of reports. The reports would then be shared with parents and educators, and the appropriate agencies would provide grievance procedures for redressing such conduct. 

Resolution: The Study of Local History

NOTE: The Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners moved and unanimously passed at the June 4, 2013, meeting the following resolution requesting the Franklin County School District add the study of local history to it's curriculum.

CITY OF APALACHICOLA, FLORIDA

RESOLUTION

The Study of Local History

A resolution of the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners respectfully requesting the Honorable Franklin County School Superintendent Nina M. Marks, and the esteemed Franklin County District School Board, to consider complementing the curriculum of Franklin County students with the study of local history.

Whereas, Franklin County, a Political Subdivision of the State of Florida is comprised of  within it boundaries both incorporated and unincorporated communities, all of which are rich with multigenerational history that dates back to the early eighteen hundredths and;

Whereas, such history was given prominence and placed into perspective during the recent Civil War History Weekend sponsored by the Apalachicola Maritime Museum and;

Whereas, the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners find it imperative, that such history be further shared and taught to every child within Franklin County that falls under the purview of the Franklin County School District and;

Whereas, the teaching of local history without doubt will greatly influence a positive evolution of Franklin County and its communities by stirring within the hearts and fostering within the minds of each child, a greater appreciation, admiration and understanding of the communities in which they live and call home respectively and collectively.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners does hereby go on record as being supportive of any current or future endeavors of the Franklin County School District to add the study of local history to its curriculum.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this duly elected governing body of the Great City of Apalachicola, under the Laws of the State of Florida and the Official Charter of the City, hereunto collectively and jointly set our hands and has caused the Official Seal of the City to be affixed.

Adopted at the regular scheduled monthly meeting of the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners this fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen.

IN AND FOR THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA:

Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor                                       

Frank Cook, Mayor Pro-Tem

Brenda Ash, Commissioner                                        

James Elliott, Commissioner

Mitchell Bartley, Commissioner                                 

ATTEST:

Betty Taylor-Webb, Administrator