Opportunities To Meet!

I wanted to let everyone know that I will be at the corner of 1st and Main Friday October 2nd during Fantastic Friday!  I'll be in the yard of the little "yellow building" at the corner from 7 to 9 PM.  If you would like to stop by, say hello, meet me and ask questions I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

If you can't make this Friday consider coming to the Grady House on Sunday October 11th.  There will be food available between 4 and 7 PM.  Come anytime to meet me and say hello.

If you are interested in a yard sign please email me or call.  I'll be happy to get a sign to you.  Thank you for visiting the website and I'll appreciate your vote on November 3rd.

Fire Department Promotions

I think it was Jimmy Stewart that said, “Even if you are on the right track you will get run over if you are not moving forward.”  When it comes to a first rate fire department High Springs continues to move forward.  Tonight High Springs promoted its’ first Lieutenants; now we have officers and Supervisors on our shifts, responding to your emergencies, just like any other Fire Department.The bond between firemen is critical.  Having a chain of command is important.  Recognizing service is important; even more so is recognizing the training and skills these Officers have and make available to our community.

I don’t know of any successful business or operation that has high expectations that does not reward and recognize the efforts of its’ employees.  Organizations that nurture, train, challenge and REWARD performance benefit well beyond what they pay “employees”. 

Tonight at City Hall, there were only two candidates running for election at this ceremony.*  I learned a lot about the men that received promotions tonight and how residents of High Springs have benefited.  As a citizen I’m willing to look for opportunities to praise these men before I need their help.  Promotions were the right thing to do and the citizen’s of High Springs will benefit in a number of ways for years to come.

* Post Script:  I learned of the ceremony from Commissioner Travis during a conversation on Sunday.  I also learned of the ceremony while attending the Economic Development meeting the same evening.  I'm not sure how the event was formally publicized but I learned of the event because I had been speaking to people in the community.  If the event was not made public that was a shame but not anything that this candidate was involved with.

Economic Development

We often hear conversations about "Economic Development". Let's be accurate: Successful development does not happen quickly nor with out planning. Hindsight is always better. Historically, the lack of a sewer system in downtown and along 441 has prevented any business that required heavy septic usage from being established in High Springs (Restaurants in particular). [Note: the State and NOT the City of High Springs set septic requirements for businesses such as restaurant] We now have a sewer system but it takes time to create development. The Great Outdoors could not have reopended with more than 35 seats if we did not have a sewer system. So how does the City help? The City does control its local ordinances.

Data shows that people do not shop, especially in confined "historic" districts unless there are places to eat. The same data shows that businesses that are not supported by nearby restaurants don't succeed. People seeking to bring restaurants to High Springs have gone elsewhere simply because they cannot either find a location or were prohibited from selling alcohol on Sunday. The most desired downtown locations are not an option because they are too close to a church. In the City of High Springs, while you can now sell beer & wine on Sunday's, you still cannot do so with in 500' of a church. So the First Avenue shops and 50% of the downtown district cannot seek to attract a business that wishes to sell alcohol.

Lets be clear about some things:

1) The laws preventing the sale of alcohol in High Springs were created in 1963 at an Emergency Meeting of the City Commission when Alachua County voters voted to allow the sale of alcohol.
2) That since the City Commission allowed Sunday sales of beer & wine there has been no increase in accidents, arrests or other reported problems in the City of High Springs,
3) Restaurants report that it is not the value of the sale of beer or wine that is important but the value of the food products that are sold with an alcoholic beverage.
4) National chains that were approached about coming to High Springs said the inability to sell alcohol (including mixed drinks) on Sunday was an end to the conversation about coming to High Springs.

So, if the goal is to create economic development that serves those that live in our community and those that visit our waterways we should be seeking to remove barriers. Yes, we have allowed Sunday Sales. Stop in any of the local convenience stores or Winn-Dixie and ask if sales OVER ALL have increased on Sunday. The answer is yes. However, the current City Commission has not been able to reach agreement and has declined to allow sales within 500' of a church.

Not allowing sales within 500' of a church seems fine, and could be. It would be a statement of community values. Except it affects only the downtown area and a few areas along Rail Road Avenue that are zoned Commercial. Except that is does not prevent someone from opening a business that sells beer & wine and NOT food. In the City of High Springs any business that sells beer or wine for off premises consumption can operate seven days a week, including Sunday after 1 PM - EVEN IF THEY ARE NEXT TO A CHURCH. However, a restaurant, that is within 500' of a church cannot serve been or wine on a Sunday. This is all philosophical until it puts a business out of business. Coconuts worked hard to survive but without any dinner business they could not attract enough customers to survive. Remember, we are not talking just Sunday sales - we are talking ANY sales within 500' of a Church. Coconuts could not sell beer or wine at ANY time and neither can any business in more than one half of the downtown retail area in High Springs. This has slowed the development of the former “Vogel’s” property.

Yes, again, I'll remind you that City law allows a store selling beer or wine for off premises consumption to go in anywhere. What kind of economic development would you like in downtown - a number of package stores or a cluster of unique restaurants? Let's have City Ordinances that make sense and are consistent

Community Values

Communities "feel" different. The feeling is created by history, beliefs, ethnic make up and any number of other hard to qualify elements. Change happens and change that fits is achieved by respecting the history, beliefs and values of those that have helped to create what we now value.

About Me - Part II

I’ve been a volunteer in my community since I was a child. Being willing to do the work of a City Commissioner and serve my community is an extension of my life long volunteerism.

I graduated from Kalamazoo College with a BA in Theater Arts & Communications. My focus was lighting for live performance and film making. Upon moving to High Springs, I quickly became involved in the Community Theater. I’ve never acted on stage but enjoy helping to build sets and design lighting. During this campaign I’m not active at the theater but I believe institutions like our Community Theater play a vital role in creating a sense of community. Aside from helping with the actual plays (including a number of youth productions such as Charlotte’s Web pictured here) I assisted with the maintenance of the building – including overseeing a major remodel that resulted in new bathrooms for the patrons.

In addition to my work with the Community Theater I was appointed to the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board twice and recently served as a member of the City’s Historic Commission Task Force. Serving in these capacities allowed me to learn more about our city and how our government is working. I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with City Staff and gain unique perspectives as projects are developed, learn about the history of High Springs and work with fellow citizens who were also volunteering time to make a difference with the City.

Just over four years ago a group of citizens established a Certified Main Street Program (www.mainstreet.org and www.HighSpringsMainStreet.org). I attended an introduction meeting and became involved in the Design Team. We have been involved in the placement of new benches, trashcans and light poles in the downtown area. We designed and worked to install all the new Gateway Signs to High Springs (the four that have yet to be landscaped will be done by the end of October). We created a set of colorful banners that appear around downtown. We have worked to help create a Pocket Park along Rail Road Avenue and assist in the design of lighting and benches for James Paul Park (the sink-hole behind City Hall). Both the Pocket Park and James Paul Park are ongoing projects that will see work completed in 2010. This is a lot for volunteers and I’ve learned patience. Community projects don’t happen quickly but a little volunteer work by a lot of people goes a long way.

The Main Street program is a part of the Community Development Corporation (CDC) here in High Springs. The CDC was originally created to operate the Youth Center that was run out of the old school for many years. I volunteer as the Treasurer of the CDC and am responsible for financial reports and paying the organizations bills (mostly related to the Main Street Program).

Part of how I make my living is to “organize things”. This past Spring I had the opportunity to work with the BMX track here in High Springs (www.HSBMX.com). In April of this year the four-year-old track hosted their first National BMX Race and this November 13, 14 and 15 the track will host up to 3000 people for a Dual State Race. Facilities like the BMX track are a community resource as they draw people to the area. Sustained Economic Development is built not only on large employers but also by the many small businesses that serve the tens of thousands of visitors to our area every year.

Aside from my volunteer work I like to dive, camp and attend live music festivals. I like to make a difference in my community and stay busy. With all I’ve been involved in being willing to serve, as a City Commissioner, is a responsibility I’m willing to accept. I will appreciate your vote on November 3rd.

Video #2: Tax Dollars

All of us that own property and pay taxes in the City of High Springs recently received a estimate of what our tax bills will be this fall. Even while property values have declined the bill may have not decreased - and may have gone up. However, when we examine the bills we can clearly see that City Tax Payers are NOT paying more to the City of High Springs. Where we are paying more is for our schools and to Alachua County.

The City needs to make good use of tax dollars collected. I've participated in the budget workshops for this City for the past three years. I've learned a lot about our budget, the different City Departments, City Staff and services. What I know now will help me be a part of the budgeting process and insure we are making good decisions with your money.

Video #1: Being A Good Commissioner

I plan on posting a number of short videos so that you can hear me speak. This is the first video. As always, your comments, emails and phone calls are welcome. Thanks for visiting the site to find out more.


You can also view this video on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XALoUZ0b3SU