Another half-hearted attempt at journalism in The St. Augustine Record. Hastings is a neglected, majority-minority community, but you'd never know if from this article. October 2, 2017 is Liberation Day; looking forward to GateHouse Media replacing racist rebarbative MORRIS family Republican values. Ed's note: I've printed two scatological words from the Record's comments board, without censoring them, to show that the Record would rather print obscenities while deleting criticism of the Establishment and the Record's journalism.
Posted August 16, 2017 12:02 am - Updated August 16, 2017 07:04 am
By SHELDON GARDNER sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com
Hastings residents to decide in November whether to dissolve government
Hastings residents will decide in November whether they want their town government to dissolve.
Town commissioners voted 3-1 this week to put the question to a ballot, and Commissioner Jeanette Bradley was among those who voted in favor of the move.
“[I voted yes] so that the people could say once and for all whether or not they wanted to remain a town or dissolve. … I would encourage them to inform themselves as much as they can before they vote,” Bradley said.
Kim Lewis-Felder voted against the motion, and Mayor Tom Ward was absent, according to the adopted ordinance.
The vote will be included on the general election ballot on Nov. 7, which is expected to include a couple of Hastings commission seats. Because it’s included on that ballot, there is no additional cost, said Vicky Oakes, St. Johns County supervisor of elections.
Ward is running against Carlos Felder, and Lewis-Felder is running against Chris Stanton.
Stanton and others voiced concern about the town’s finances, and St. Johns County Administrator Michael Wanchick said many people believe the town will eventually fail financially.
Another seat had been up for election, but Christopher Coleman was elected after the qualifying period ended because no one else qualified, Oakes said.
“I think … one of the key things for me is the citizens making the decision on whether they want to [dissolve], and I’m just preparing myself for either way,” he said.
The dissolution needs a majority of votes to pass, Oakes said. The town recently had about 440 registered voters. Oct. 10 will be the last day to register to vote.
The dissolution would mean that Hastings would become an unincorporated part of St. Johns County, and would fall under the county’s care and management. The process is governed by state law.
If dissolution is approved, the charter would be revoked on Feb. 28 along with any taxes, fees or charges created by the town as well as its ordinances. The Town Commission would also have to adopt a dissolution plan by Jan. 19, including severance packages for employees. The mayor and commissioners wouldn’t get a severance package.
Wanchick, via letters, has let the town know that under county management the town millage rate would go away, and that water rates are expected to be lower than what residents are paying now.
The county would have to assume the town’s assets, utility system and its liabilities.
The town’s debt includes $639,400 in water and sewer revenue bonds, and $309,757 in debt from the Florida Department of Transportation and a building and maintenance improvement loan, according to the ordinance.
The St. Johns County Commission will have control on how the county absorbs Hastings, said county spokesman Michael Ryan. The board will have options to consider at their Sept. 5.
The cost of taking over Hastings could mean, for the county, pulling from reserves, tacking a fee onto utility rates or implementing a special taxing district, Ryan said. But it’s not clear yet what the county will present in September, he said.
Ryan said Hastings residents will know before they vote what their water rates would be under county control.
“The big missing component of this equation is the question of the water rates,” Ryan said.
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Hastings residents invited Mr. Ken Bryan and me to help them fight annexation of 800 acres at the behest of developers led by Robert Michael Graubard. Hastings then City Attorney Ronald Wayne Brown claimed: (a) he did not know what an "option" was; and (b) he did not recall what the Fifteenth Amendment said. Hastings is/was a majority-minority community, and the attempted dimunution of minority voting strength was unconstitutional. Of course, the developers' pipe dreams of "planting Yankees" came to nothing. There were no plans to add sewer or water capacity. Now Hastings can vote to abolish itself, furhter diluting minority voting influence in St. Johns County. What do the African-American people of Hastings think about this?
Mr. Reynolds knows nothing, I repeat nothing about the decision to be made by the people of Hastings. He should keep his mouth shut about something he knows nothing about. The vote will be by the people, for the people.
As stated above, residents should reeeeely inform themselves of pros and cons to decide for themselves
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It is time to let our little Town die a peaceful death. As an ex-Mayor, I support the de-chartering , as it seems like there are harder times ahead if the Town remains on it's current course. Very sad, but it is simply too small to exist as a municipality anymore. So sad.
Jody, our little town has been dead for about 40 years. This is 2017. The people who still live there are hopeful and excited about the future. I agree with you that dissolving the charter is the right thing to do. I do not feel the sad you feel about the past. I am looking forward to the future.
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Johnny, I just see where is no light at the end of the tunnel. We agree it appears there is no bright future for Tater Town, and I do not want it to end tragically. Do it now, before it is a forced action.
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It's just more folks lining up at the county trough because they are broke. Of course they are going to dissolve, and immediately look for the county Dallas.
Mr. Duer. The people of Hastings pay county taxes just like the people of crescent Beach and ponte vedra and Valencia and located. The people will decide how they want to be governed just like you do.
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Mr. Reynolds is right. With three municipalities under current law, we can use tourist bed tax funds to pledge to sell bonds, at low interest over 30 years. Florida Statute 125.0104(5a)(5b) & (5d). If Hastings ceases to exist, Johnnie, we don't have three municipalities any longer. Ask Mr. Wanchick and Mr. McCormack if they have thought this through. Of course, Mr. Wanchick has no plans to replace the pier, no interest in replacing the pier, and does not give a fig for the people. He is a developer enabler.
I do not give one shit about three municipality's. All I care about are the people who live in Hastings and that they deserve the same quality of services the rest of you assholes receive. The citizen's of Hastings will decide this matter and I could care less what want of you think because you do not have a vote in the matter.
But Hastings is where God is still God and Sin is still Sin, so where will god and sin go if Hastings dissolves??? And what of the billboard that reminds us of this each time we drive through?
Ms. Mullet, next year we will refer to the community of Hastings not the town of Hastings I can assure you God or sin will not leave the area. Both are deeply rooted their.hopefully the sign will stay.
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