Local News

The weather station on the Cedar Key dock hit the big one Tuesday morning as a line of storms moved through Levy County clocking winds gusting up to 91 miles per hour. 

Before that a weather station on the island recorded a 74 mph wind gust.

A dock behind Gulfside Motel was knocked down, but the island’s most famous landmark, the Honeymoon Cottage, was still standing. 

“It’s still there. I mean what can you say,” said Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson. 

A two-hour brainstorming session last Thursday ended with the Williston City Council telling its manager to make a recommendation on the state of impact fees.

The directive began in March 2012 when the council voted to put a one-year moratorium on the fees, assessed on new construction to help offset the costs of infrastrcuture expansion.

With the deadline looming to either extend the moratorium, at the Jan. 22 meeting, council City Manager Scott Lippmann to draft an ordinance that would abolish the fees.

The public will get its first say on a proposal to extend alcohol sales beyond midnight in the unincorporated county areas during a workshop on March 5 at 1 p.m.

The Levy County Commission scheduled the workshop after receiving a briefing from County Attorney Anne Bast Brown. Brown presented the board with a proposed ordinance to change the ban on alcohol sales, consumption and service between midnight and 7 a.m. to only between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. 

Failure to submit its annual audit in a timely manner cost the city of Williston a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)–as much as $650,000–that would have replaced antiquated sewer lines on seven city streets and added a pressure reducing valve for the water system.

The grants are awarded based on a point system that includes matching funds, impact and EEO/Fair Housing criteria.