Levy Commission passes on Inglis meeting

Lou Elliott Jones
Special to the Chronicle
INGLIS — The Levy County Commission is saying “thanks but no thanks” to an invitation to attend a public meeting in Inglis to discuss an upcoming vote on dissolving the city’s police department.

The vote on the proposed amendment to the city charter is March 13. To that end, city officials invited the county commission, Property Appraiser Oz Barke and Sheriff Johnny Smith to attend the public meeting at 6 p.m. March 6 at the town hall.

“The purpose of the meeting will be to allow the residents of Inglis to receive information to make their voting decision on the dissolving of the Inglis Police Department,” Town Clerk Sally McCranie wrote in the invitation.

Commissioners declined the invitation.

“I don’t see where the Board of County Commissioners has anything to do with a local issue,” said County Coordinator Freddie Moody.
Commission Chair Danny Stevens, D-Williston, agreed. Stevens represents District 5.

“We don’t need to be there,” he replied. “The sheriff has been there and told them what he will do.”

District 3 Commissioner Marsha Drew (R-Yankeetown) said, “It’s up
to the sheriff to tell them what he will do.”

Moody said the town has to negotiate coverage with the sheriff if the residents vote to dissolve the police department.

Sheriff Johnny Smith did not attend Tuesday’s County Commission meeting when the matter was discussed due to a family medical situation. But Maj. Evan Sullivan said the sheriff had previously indicated he would attend.

The town is voting on the amendment after a little over 10 percent of the residents signed petitions calling for dissolving the police department and merging it with the sheriff’s office.

The amendment’s wording was challenged in court and 8th Judicial Circuit Judge Robert Roundtree Jr. reworded it to only call for the department’s dissolution and said the vote could go ahead on March 13, which is also the date for city elections.

Lou Elliott Jones is the editor of the Chiefland Citizen.