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| Lake City firefighters Robert Oliver (left) and Blaiyze Neeley wrap a fire hose on top of Fire Engine 9. The department is looking to bring the vehicle out of surplus and equip it to become a reserve engine. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
Gas rates, fire service see city action
By JEFF M. HARDISON
jhardison@lakecityreporter.com
Natural gas rates are increasing next month, and the city is refurbishing a fire truck as the result of separate actions at the Lake City City Council meeting Tuesday night.
It was a busy night for the City Council. The meeting went beyond 9 p.m.
As of Oct. 1, the residential monthly customer charge of $8 for natural gas will increase to $9. As of Oct. 1, the commercial monthly customer charge of $21.15 will go to $22.
The residential distribution charge will go from 60.44-cents to 64.93-cents per thermal unit as of Oct. 1.
The commercial distribution charge will go from 24.70-cents to 28.16-cents per thermal unit as of Oct. 1.
The distribution charges will increase in the following two years as well.
Jerry Warren of WHH Enterprises explained the rate study and justification for increasing the base charge and distribution charge.
City to refurbish fire truck
As part of the action required to reduce fire insurance rates more in Lake City, Fire Chief Carlton Tunsil is requesting to purchase approximately $26,100 worth of equipment.
Funding for the items is coming from a private $100,000 donation, Tunsil said. City Manager Scott Reynolds said Target donated the funds to help the city fire department.
Lake City Fire Department Engine 9 was declared surplus on Oct. 16, 2006. Its parts were used for other engines but to reduce the unnecessary use of the ladder truck and to help reduce the ISO rating, Tunsil requested to bring Engine 9 out of surplus.
To make it active again, Engine 9 needs about $12,700 worth of hose, approximately $11,400 in radio equipment, $1,400 for a ground ladder replacement and $500 for equipment mounting brackets.
In other LCFD news, the City Council approved a 3 percent cost of living increase for members of the firefighters’ union.
That equals $19,054 in salaries, overtime, taxes and workers’ compensation. Firefighter salaries range from $26,847 to $44,893 as of Oct. 1, 2007, according to records.
Man objects to city not helping EMS
John Connell, a resident of the unincorporated county, was critical of the city not helping fund enhancements to Columbia County Emergency Medical Services.
City Councilman Michael Lee told Connell that he is just as much a part of Columbia County as a non-city resident.
Councilman George Ward said there was no agreement in writing.
The county took over the ambulance service from the hospital, Ward said.
After the city and county learned the special fees each charged were not constitutional, the city stopped contributing.
The county funds its part by using its part of a local sales tax.
Ward added that Lake City is 15 percent of the population in Columbia County but it pays 27 percent of the county’s ad valorem property taxes.
Among the other action by the municipal leaders, they:
n Approved amendment six with First Federal Bank of Florida to increase the “Irrevocable Stand-by Letter of Credit” issued to Florida Gas Utility from $195,000 to $283,000.
n Appointed Ward as vice mayor. Witt appointed Moses to John Robertson’s committees of Public Safety and Utility Advisory.
The other Council members are staying on their same committees until a new councilman is voted into office in November.
n Agreed to allow a Veterans Day on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon. The parade is set to start at the Department of Transportation office on South Marion Avenue, head north on Marion to Washington Street, and then go west to the end of Washington at Young’s Park. The parade will require closing Marion at the intersection of U.S. Highway 90.
n By a 3-2 vote, with Moses and Lee opposing it, adopted the monthly Storm Water Utility Service Fee of $3 for residential that starts on Oct. 1 by the second and final reading of that ordinance.
The new fee will be on utility bills. James Montgomery said he is concerned about the impact this will have on business interests, because they are charged based on square footage.
n Annexed approximately 62 acres into the city, at the old KOA Campground on the south side of U.S. 90.
n Approved an ordinance to install or remove speed humps in the city’s residential areas.
n Approved an invoice from City Engineer Henry Sheldon for $6,869.50 for his work in August.
It was a busy night for the City Council. The meeting went beyond 9 p.m.
As of Oct. 1, the residential monthly customer charge of $8 for natural gas will increase to $9. As of Oct. 1, the commercial monthly customer charge of $21.15 will go to $22.
The residential distribution charge will go from 60.44-cents to 64.93-cents per thermal unit as of Oct. 1.
The commercial distribution charge will go from 24.70-cents to 28.16-cents per thermal unit as of Oct. 1.
The distribution charges will increase in the following two years as well.
Jerry Warren of WHH Enterprises explained the rate study and justification for increasing the base charge and distribution charge.
City to refurbish fire truck
As part of the action required to reduce fire insurance rates more in Lake City, Fire Chief Carlton Tunsil is requesting to purchase approximately $26,100 worth of equipment.
Funding for the items is coming from a private $100,000 donation, Tunsil said. City Manager Scott Reynolds said Target donated the funds to help the city fire department.
Lake City Fire Department Engine 9 was declared surplus on Oct. 16, 2006. Its parts were used for other engines but to reduce the unnecessary use of the ladder truck and to help reduce the ISO rating, Tunsil requested to bring Engine 9 out of surplus.
To make it active again, Engine 9 needs about $12,700 worth of hose, approximately $11,400 in radio equipment, $1,400 for a ground ladder replacement and $500 for equipment mounting brackets.
In other LCFD news, the City Council approved a 3 percent cost of living increase for members of the firefighters’ union.
That equals $19,054 in salaries, overtime, taxes and workers’ compensation. Firefighter salaries range from $26,847 to $44,893 as of Oct. 1, 2007, according to records.
Man objects to city not helping EMS
John Connell, a resident of the unincorporated county, was critical of the city not helping fund enhancements to Columbia County Emergency Medical Services.
City Councilman Michael Lee told Connell that he is just as much a part of Columbia County as a non-city resident.
Councilman George Ward said there was no agreement in writing.
The county took over the ambulance service from the hospital, Ward said.
After the city and county learned the special fees each charged were not constitutional, the city stopped contributing.
The county funds its part by using its part of a local sales tax.
Ward added that Lake City is 15 percent of the population in Columbia County but it pays 27 percent of the county’s ad valorem property taxes.
Among the other action by the municipal leaders, they:
n Approved amendment six with First Federal Bank of Florida to increase the “Irrevocable Stand-by Letter of Credit” issued to Florida Gas Utility from $195,000 to $283,000.
n Appointed Ward as vice mayor. Witt appointed Moses to John Robertson’s committees of Public Safety and Utility Advisory.
The other Council members are staying on their same committees until a new councilman is voted into office in November.
n Agreed to allow a Veterans Day on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon. The parade is set to start at the Department of Transportation office on South Marion Avenue, head north on Marion to Washington Street, and then go west to the end of Washington at Young’s Park. The parade will require closing Marion at the intersection of U.S. Highway 90.
n By a 3-2 vote, with Moses and Lee opposing it, adopted the monthly Storm Water Utility Service Fee of $3 for residential that starts on Oct. 1 by the second and final reading of that ordinance.
The new fee will be on utility bills. James Montgomery said he is concerned about the impact this will have on business interests, because they are charged based on square footage.
n Annexed approximately 62 acres into the city, at the old KOA Campground on the south side of U.S. 90.
n Approved an ordinance to install or remove speed humps in the city’s residential areas.
n Approved an invoice from City Engineer Henry Sheldon for $6,869.50 for his work in August.
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citizen wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:41 PM: