By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   During the monthly meeting of the Lee Town Council on January 8, the Council voted unanimously for Roger Parsons to fill the vacancy left by resigning Councilwoman Thelma Thompson.  Parsons is currently a member of the Planning and Zoning Board for the city and will occupy the position until elections this November.
   “All the candidates we’re choosing from are excellent.  Each has good leadership skills and many have already worked with us.  Roger Parsons is part of our Planning and Zoning Board and has supported the community as a volunteer for some time.  This certainly demonstrates his commitment and makes him the right choice to join us,” Council President Doug McNicol stated.  Mayor Ernestine Kinsey and the remaining Council members agreed.
   The Council also voted unanimously to change the job title of current Town Administrative Assistant Janice Miller to that of Deputy Clerk.  “The title is more reflective of Janice’s daily activities and has an official designation that will allow her to participate in state sponsored training and education that will be extremely beneficial to the Lee community,” Lee Town Manager Cheryl Archambault explained.  “Janice has been doing a great job and is a very valuable resource to all of us,” Archambault added.
   Next there was a brief discussion among the Council regarding access provisions for a few parcels that encountered healthy debate, concluding with parties agreeing to review the property more closely to ensure the interests of all involved are protected.  There was also a vote to officially update the Employee Handbook, bringing it current on the topic of holiday pay.
   The last item of agenda business was an update to the Council regarding a proposed wastewater project with Nestle Water that Archambault has been working on with Nestle Director of Operations Rob Fisher for the past year.  Essentially Fisher said that Nestle is introducing a new process at the plant that will allow the function to been executed without the need to build out additional wastewater facilities.  Until this decision was made, the alternative would have included a significant partnering with the Town of Lee.
   Archambault noted, “The substantial future revenue represented by this type of project is the type of opportunity we will always be motivated to pursue.  However, considering the fact that the alternative they’ve chosen is so environmentally positive, being part of the greater “green” programs sweeping American Industry, we are still very pleased to have Nestle as such a good neighbor.”
   In closing the meeting, a fire department update presented by Councilwoman Shirley VonRoden included an announcement of the Annual Fish Fry Fundraiser to be held at the Lee Volunteer Fire Department on February 2 from 4:00 to 8:00.   Plates are only $7.  The LVFD is located adjacent to Lee City Hall on SR 255 just north of US 90.  Michael Curtis can be reached by email at michael@greenepublishing.com.

Planning And Zoning Keeping County Organized For Growth

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   2007 is the first year that Madison County had a staffed Planning & Zoning Department.  And although this was only a staff of one, that being Madison County Planner Jeanne Bass, her prior experience working alongside County Coordinator Allen Cherry allowed her to hit the ground running.  In effect, she had been performing many of the functions already.
   Previously, Planning and Zoning duties were performed either by an administrative assistant to the Board of County Commissioners, the County Coordinator or personnel from the Building Department or Code Enforcement.  But with the recent growth in Madison County, P & Z issues have become a full time job.  Additionally, Bass assists the Madison County Development Council, providing guidance and information to businesses looking to locate in, or expand into, the county.
   During the 2007 fiscal year, Bass saw several large scale Comprehensive Plan (essentially the working papers for laying out the county) Amendments, among them the areas north and south of Interstate 10 between SR 53 and CR 255 that was started in 2005.  This infrastructure, which includes water and wastewater, was built to encourage economic development in this corridor.  One of the first businesses to respond to the addition of the infrastructure was Love’s Travel Stops of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  In addition, Fast Track is rebuilding an expanded facility at the interchange of  SR 53 and I-10 following a total loss to fire.
   “Our vision is to keep Madison County rural, but also plan for economic growth,” Bass explains.  As the website details, “The mission of the Planning and Zoning Department is to provide fair and equitable administration and enforcement of the County's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations as approved by the Board of County Commissioners; AND to do so in a manner that is courteous, respectful, and expedient for the citizens and property owners of Madison County.”
   The statements in the P & Z section of the county website located at www.madisoncountyfl.com also note, “Madison County is zoned approximately 90 percent Agricultural, with Urban Development zones surrounding each municipality, the unincorporated community of Pinetta, and the Cherry Lake crossroads.  Rural Development areas follow each arterial roadway south to their respective I-10 interchanges, three of which (SR 53, SR 14, US 221) are zoned Highway Interchange.”
   Moving into 2008, Bass will oversee the visioning process and continue to update the Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map to reflect the changes in the county.  Bass will also coordinate or update the Land Development Codes, Development Review Committee and the Historic Design Review Board. 
   To Bass’ enormous credit, as complex as these activities may be, there is no room for error.  Each function is absolutely essential to the county, as there are practical, legal and even financial consequences if not performed in a timely, efficient and extremely accurate manner.  This, among other notable accomplishments, is the reason Cherry gave her such high praise during the recent Annual Report to the BOCC.

Children Survive, One Passenger Killed In I-10 Rollover

By Michael Curtis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
   According to the accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol, driver Isabel Ramirez (59) of Cape Coral lost control of her Ford SUV while traveling east on I-10, resulting in the vehicle rolling over several times and the subsequent death of passenger Irmo Marino (88) also of Cape Coral.  Another passenger, Dayana Caballero-Duarte (25) was ejected from the car during the wreck, but she and the remaining four passengers survived.  They, too, are from Cape Coral.
   The report stated that the vehicle drifted off the right shoulder of the interstate, over-corrected back to the left, turning over on its right side as it went into the median, where it then rolled over several times.  The report showed charges of “Careless Driving” were issued.
   Marino was officially pronounced dead on New Year’s Day at Shands Hospital in Live Oak.  Seriously injured passenger Imperia Torres (34) was also taken to Shands, although ejected passenger Duarte was delivered to Tallahassee Memorial. 
   Counted among the blessings of this horrible incident is that the three children on board, Israel Torres (7), Victoria Torres (2) and Zion Estrada (1) escaped with minor injuries.  Trooper Gus Smyrnios was the Crash Investigator for the Florida Highway Patrol.