Leah Androski
reporter@greenepublishing.com
Members of the Lee Town Council met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m. Public comments started off with Heather Breckinridge raising concerns about people making donuts with their cars on the soccer fields at Ben Blair Park, in Lee.
She stated that when the cars did this they were damaging the soccer fields, which the Madison Youth Soccer uses for their games and practices. She also added that Madison Youth Soccer is looking to expand their soccer fields all the way to the trees and asked if Lee was able to place barriers, like a fence or posts, to keep cars out. Town Manager Sona Hayslett mentioned that this situation had been trouble in the past and that if Madison Youth Soccer placed a barrier, it would be at their own expense. Mayor James Ruzicka approved Madison Youth Soccer placing a fence at Ben Blair Park and mentioned asking the Madison County Sheriff’s Office to place a deputy there for night watch.
From there, the council moved to old business where they reviewed past due accounts and heard Renee Demps’ monthly report. Afterwards, they moved to new business, where they opened discussion for finalizing the lease for the microschool at the old Lee school. The microschool would be using the room across from Kellie’s Kindergarten Prep and sometimes the gym.
The second new business item on the agenda was the placement of speed bumps on Dale Farm Rd. and Peach Tree Rd., in Lee. Members discussed the appropriate size, where the signs should be placed and how to warn drivers about the newly placed speed bumps. Council member Lloyd Burke raised concerns over people coming to the monthly meetings with claims of damage to their cars from speed bumps. He further went on to explain that the city would have to pay for the damages. “I don’t know what the legal aspect of protecting that would be, because where I was at in Sumter County, they had so much money they didn’t care. They just paid for it,” stated Burke. From there, Diana Keller suggested placing rumble strips before the speed bumps.
“We’re trying to slow them down, not warn them,” responded council member Edwin McMullen. Another alternative to speed bumps would be placing traffic cameras in those locations, however that was quickly turned down due to the fact that in Florida you have to write a ticket to a person, instead of a vehicle. Then, Mayor Ruzicka asked if the council members could look at case studies to see if the town could prevent people from coming to meetings and asking for money for car repairs. Council members also were not sure how big or long these speed bumps needed to be. Rhett Bullard, the town lawyer, brought up the suggestion of checking with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and seeing what they suggest. From there, council members tabled this discussion until the next monthly meeting.
Steven Breckinridge, the Chief of Lee Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD), provided the council with the fire department report. He mentioned that the LVFD was talking about erecting a new sign that would be placed between the flag pole and the building. The flagpole also needs to be replaced. The LVFD has four people in Firefighter One training and a total of 12 people on the roster.
Council members then asked Keller if there was anything they could do to help with getting the microschool ready for opening. Air conditioners and carpets are being placed in the rooms being used later this week. Keller mentioned she was meeting with the parents of the children attending the microschool on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and that school would start on Monday, Aug. 25, so she would have plenty of time to get things ready for the start of school.
Ronnie Bass, council member, then asked for an update on the generators. Hayslett mentioned that they would be doing repairs on them to get them running for hurricane season.
County Commissioner Rick Davis was not in attendance. All council members were present at the Lee Council monthly meeting.
The next Lee Council meeting is set for Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. The Lee Council meetings are held at Lee City Hall in Kinsey Hall, located at 286 NE CR 255, in Lee.