connection - Marion County, FL

MARION COUNTY’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE
An award-winning publication
County
CONNECTION
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2011
Section
Page(s)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
•Top Story – Are you prepared? .............. 1-2
•Behind the Scenes – Code Enforcement.................. 2
•News Flash.......................... 3-5
•Employee Spotlight................. 6
•Pets of the Month.................... 6
•Garden Sense.......................... 6
––––––––––––––––––––––––
Marion County Commissioners
Mike Amsden, District 1
Kathy Bryant, District 2
Stan McClain, Chair, District 3
Carl Zalak III, District 4
Charlie Stone, Vice Chair, District 5
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Marion County Administrator
Dr. Lee A. Niblock
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County Connection Team
Are You Prepared?
PY
TSOTOR
In this Issue
By Miranda Iglesias, Marion County Fire Rescue
Are you prepared to face a Frances, Ivan, Jeanne or Katrina?
Could you survive for days without electricity, running water
and grocery stores? June 1 is the first day of hurricane
season, so don’t wait until you’re in the path of a super storm
to assemble your disaster kit and make an evacuation plan.
Follow these suggestions from Marion County Fire Rescue and
Marion County Emergency Management to better prepare for
storms that may come your way:
– Identify evacuation routes and local shelters in case of an
emergency evacuation order.
– Register individuals with special needs by contacting Marion
County Emergency Management at 352-369-8100.
–Plan alternative cooking methods such as propane and
charcoal grills.
–Check insurance policies for adequate coverage and
maintain an inventory of possessions (serial numbers,
dates of purchases and prices) to assist in settling insurance
claims.
–Store important papers such as insurance, health,
birth certificates, deeds and titles in a safe place. Keep
identification and a list of important numbers, family and
contact information safe and handy.
– Stock bottled water (enough for one gallon per person, per
day for two weeks) and non-perishable foods to last each
person two weeks. Keep special medical or dietary needs
in mind.
–Stock a two-week supply of prescription medicines and
gather medical supplies (hearing aids, oxygen, glasses and
cane).
Executive/Managing Editor
Christy L. Jergens
Marion County
Office of Public Information
Copy Editors
Natalia Cox
Marion County
Growth Management
Elaine DeIorio
Marion County
Office of Public Information
Miranda Iglesias
Marion County Fire Rescue
Mission Statement
Marion County provides professional and resourceful public services for our citizens through strategic planning and costeffective implementation of county initiatives, generating positive results that set the standard for quality local government.
“Meeting Needs by Exceeding Expectations”
County
CONNECTION
MARION COUNTY’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE
ST
TO
O
RY
P
Code
Enforcement
By Elaine DeIorio, Marion County Office of Public Information
Include the following in your emergency kit:
Flashlight.
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA
weather radio, if possible).
Extra batteries.
First aid kit.
Multi-purpose tool and other tools/supplies to
secure your home.
Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
Cell phone with charger.
Extra cash (credit card machines and ATMs
will not work without electricity).
Emergency blanket.
Area maps.
Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food and
diapers).
Pet supplies (collar, leash, license and vaccine
information, food and carrier).
Extra set of car and house keys.
Extra clothing, hat, sturdy shoes and rain gear.
Insect repellent and sunscreen.
Camera for photos of damage.
If a storm is coming to your area, listen for the words
“hurricane watch” or “hurricane warning.” This will
determine how long you have to finish last minute
preparations before a hurricane strikes.
Hurricane Watch: Hurricane conditions are a threat
within 48 hours. Review your hurricane plans, keep
informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued.
Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions are a threat
within 36 hours. Complete your storm preparations and
leave the area if directed to do so by authorities.
For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit:
www.marioncountyfl.org/Disaster.htm
A neighbor seems to have started a backyard
vehicle repair business. Engine parts litter the
property and open pans of oil and paint spill into
the soil. Some vehicles never leave the yard.
Across the county, a family wants to replace their
tarp with a roof. A nameless “contractor” offers to
do the job for half price if no questions are asked
regarding permitting or licenses.
Meanwhile, another homeowner decides to turn
his house into a bar. His home is in a residential
community with families living right next door.
Business is booming, and so is the music that’s
heard nightly by his now sleepless neighbors.
Even though they occur on private property, the
above are all violations of the Marion County Code
of Ordinances. Eleven county employees – code
enforcement officers – are tasked with upholding
the county’s ordinances and working to educate
(and sometimes cite) citizens and businesses
found to be in violation.
Code enforcement officers have the unenviable
task of injecting themselves daily into the lives and
livelihoods of others in order to enforce the law.
This means knocking on the door of the home/bar
owner and informing him his property isn’t zoned
for that type of establishment and his music is too
loud. To the family – the roofing job has to be shut
down. And for the repair business/junkyard owner,
that the litter and spilled fluids are polluting the
water runoff and the property needs to be cleaned
(and the business moved to a properly zoned area).
“It’s definitely challenging,” said Garie-Lyn Lasher,
code enforcement officer IV. “We go into all types
of environments and situations to tell people ‘no’
and to stop what they’re doing. We find ways to
work with the citizens, show them alternatives and
educate them to gain their compliance with the
law.”
It’s a daily walk along the fine line of private
property rights, and one that can be contentious.
“But we try to ensure each citizen can enjoy his
or her property safely and peacefully,” Code
Enforcement Manager Sammie Luckey said.
“For example, homeowners can hold parties with
music, but within the regulations meant to prevent
disturbance.”
Code enforcement officers cooperate with the
many local agencies, from Animal Services to
Zoning, that have ordinances on the books. Most
recently, four officers, including Lasher, were
cross-trained with experts from the Building
Department to help crack down on unlicensed
contractors.
“Unlicensed contractors can sometimes complete
a job for less money,” Lasher said. “But if the job
isn’t completed or completed correctly, many times
your insurance won’t cover the damage and you’ll
have little chance of recovering your money or
catching the crook. Sometimes you may even be
held liable if one of the workers gets hurt on your
property.”
These four code enforcement officers are trained
to check for permits and licenses at worksites and
work with the Building Department to shut them
down if they are operating illegally.
“In this economy it’s tempting to cut corners and
use questionable companies that don’t have the
proper licenses or permits,” Luckey said. “But it’s
a gamble with your own money and safety, and
it’s illegal.”
“Meeting Needs by Exceeding Expectations”
2
County
CONNECTION
MARION COUNTY’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE
NEWSFLASH
2011 Citizens Academy participants graduate New Solid Waste
Director named
By Christy Jergens, Marion County Office of Public Information
By Elaine DeIorio, Marion County Office of Public Information
In a unanimous vote, Marion County commissioners
confirmed Michael Sims as Marion County’s Solid
Waste Department Director in May. The position had
been vacant since March, when the former director,
Ken Whitehead, accepted a similar solid waste position
in Colorado.
Sims began serving Solid Waste as a hazardous waste
technician in 1992. He progressed through the ranks
and became assistant solid waste director in 2005.
Over the past six years, Sims has supervised projects
ranging from budget preparation to construction and
landfill assessments.
Newly-minted county experts have emerged in the
community. Those experts? Marion County’s 2011
Citizens Academy graduates.
From scaling the Baseline Landfill to learning about
the myriad of services provided under the Community
Services umbrella, this year’s academy participants got
an up-close view of county services and learned how they
tie into the overall organization.
This year’s participants attended sessions focused
on the county’s Building, Community Services, Fire
Rescue, Growth Management, Public Library System,
Public Safety Communications, Solid Waste and Utilities
departments in addition to an overview of county funding
and operations.
“I speak not only for myself, but also for the departmental
staff and committee members, in saying the 2011
graduates were an extraordinary group of folks, and we
enjoyed them immensely,” said Executive Administrative
Manager Jeannie Rickman, coordinator of the Citizens
Academy program. “Citizens Academy is one of Marion
County’s most important programs and an opportunity for
participants to experience the full scope of the county’s
operations, from the daily processes and procedures to
the big picture considerations that the county deals with
each day.”
The Board of County Commissioners reinstated the
Citizens Academy program in 2010.
Congratulations to the 2011 Citizens Academy graduates:
− Beverly Baird
− Tom Begley
− James Brockman
− Jane Brockman
− Burton Eno
− Louis DiGiovanni, Sr.
− Georgia Edwards
− Pamela Guenther
− Richard Hagin
− John Hennessy
− Charles Hughes
− Pauline Jumper
− Lucy Knechtel
− Roger Knechtel
− Linda Hughes
− Edwin Million, Jr.
− Margaret Million
− Thomas Sanders
− Robin Springer
− Jack Stackman
− Nicholas Yancura
Sims was among seven applicants, some traveling
from as far away as Texas and Connecticut, who
interviewed for the position. The interview panel that
recommended Sims consisted of Doug McCoy, District
Manager of Waste Management Inc. of Florida; Skip
McCall, City of Ocala Sanitation Division Head; and
Jeannie Rickman, Executive Administrative Manager
of the Marion County Office of Strategic Services.
“Michael is extremely competent in the areas of
finance, management and administration, and has
a total understanding of the issues surrounding the
landfill,” said Assistant County Administrator Larry
Thacker, Ph.D.
Sims has a bachelor’s degree in plant sciences from
the University of Florida. He is a Certified Landfill
Manager and a Certified Transfer Station/Material
Recovery Facility Operator. His starting salary is
$73,569.60, which is $25,812.40 less than the
previous department director’s salary.
During the same May commission meeting,
commissioners also approved the reclassification
of the assistant solid waste director position to an
administrative staff assistant position, resulting in an
additional savings of $39,803.41.
“Meeting Needs by Exceeding Expectations”
3
County
NEWSFLASH
CONNECTION
County staff marches for Marion’s babies
By Barbra Hernández, Marion County Office of Public Information
On any given weekday, you may spot them patching a
road, repairing a pipe or greeting customers at a front
desk. But outside work hours, you may just as well see
Marion County employees continuing to labor for the
community. That’s because, every year, county workers
partner with local charities to help improve the quality of
life for disadvantaged Marion residents.
Recently, staff joined the March of Dimes Foundation in
a series of fundraisers culminating in the local hosting
of the March of Dimes March for Babies walk. On
April 30, dozens of Marion County employees tied on
their walking shoes and, along with staff from various
constitutional offices and local agencies, trotted the
Baseline Trailhead to help raise money for young ones in
need. In anticipation of the walk, they collected donations
through everything from personal gifts and online pledges
to candy bar, baked goods and T-shirt sales. The county
Tax Collector’s Office even held a benefit car show and
azalea sale to aid efforts.
“Our partners are benefitting Marion County babies and
others as well,” said Sky Wheeler, community director
for Marion County March of Dimes. “The money raised
is applied toward grants for research and education on
beginning of life issues, such as prematurity, birth defects
and infant mortality. We wouldn’t be able to do many of
those things without this support.”
As of press time, the support from county employees and
partnering agencies (the Marion County Tax Collector’s
office, Clerk of the Court’s office and Marion County
Property Appraiser’s office) has translated into more than
$46,000 collected for March of Dimes.
Calendar
— of —
Events
Find out what events are
coming up in Marion
County. Check the online
calendar of events.
“Meeting Needs by Exceeding Expectations”
4
County
CONNECTION
Discover the
world this
summer at
your local
library
By Karen Jensen, Marion County Public Library System,
and Barbra Hernández, Marion County Office of Public
Information
Are you longing to travel without the worries of packing
or waiting in endless lines at an airport? Well, this
summer you can at your local library. The Marion
County Public Library System invites county residents
to celebrate diversity and learn about world cultures
during its “One World, Many Stories” Library Summer
Reading Program.
Offered every year as a public service to encourage
literacy and reading skills among local youth and adults,
the program spices up for this year with educational
activities from around the world. Children, teens and
their families can enjoy countless hours of reading and
learning about other countries, immersing in hands-on
arts and crafts projects or simply enjoying live cultural
performances by groups such as the Spirit of Ocala
Irish Dancers and the Liang Acrobatic and Comedy
Show, one of China’s most famous acrobatic shows.
Games, contests and prizes will complete the lineup,
which runs June 11 – July 29.
“The Library Summer Reading Program nurtures
literacy among children and teens at a time when they
are out of the classrooms and at risk of losing valuable
reading skills,” said Nancy Young, children’s services
division manager at the Headquarters-Ocala Public
Library. “We encourage parents and families to join us
in celebrating the joy of reading.”
A list of scheduled events is available at www.
marioncountyfl.org/library.htm. For more information,
call 352-671-8551 or stop by your nearest library to
discover the world at your fingertips.
NEWSFLASH
If you go…
Mark your calendar and attend some of the Library
Summer Reading Program’s headline events:
One World, Many Stories Youth Program
June 11- July 29, Preschool - 6th Grade
Pick up a reading log at your library and keep
track of your reading. Come in each week for
something special! Available at all library locations.
Feel the Beat with Tampa Taiko
Saturday, July 9, 10:30 a.m. - Dunnellon Public
Library
Saturday, July 9, 2 p.m. - Headquarters-Ocala
Public Library
Experience the Tampa Taiko drumming ensemble
as they perform contemporary drumming to
ancient martial arts rhythms. All ages welcome.
Spirit of Ocala Irish Dancers
Thursday, July 14, 2 p.m. - Forest Public Library
The Spirit of Ocala Irish Dancers will demonstrate
authentic Irish dance and dress. All ages
welcome.
The Magic Fish: a fairy tale told with
puppets
Wednesday, July 20, 10:30 a.m. - Fort McCoy
Public Library
In the Sea of Japan, a fisherman catches a
magic fish and is granted three wishes. All ages
welcome.
Liang Acrobatic & Comedy Show
Saturday, July 23, 2 p.m. - Headquarters-Ocala
Public Library
Experience the talents of one of China’s most
famous acrobats (and America’s Got Talent
former contestant), Liang, with a touch of comedy
provided by her quick-witted counterpart, Bill Patti.
All ages welcome.
Say goodbye to the bite:
Protect yourself
and others from
mosquitoes
By Barbra Hernández, Marion County Office of Public
Information
Summer is finally here with its breezy afternoons, balmy
evenings and – swat! – yes, those pesky mosquitoes.
As the warm weather settles in Florida, these bloodsucking insects claim every inch of space possible in
the hunt for their next meal.
Female mosquitoes feed on human blood and, as
such, bear a risk of spreading infections and diseases.
Mosquito-borne infections in humans can cause
headache, dizziness, fever and other symptoms.
This summer, protect yourself and say goodbye to
the bite with these handy tips from the Marion County
Health Department:
COVER UP. Wear clothing that covers your skin when
planning to spend long periods of time outdoors. When
possible, avoid field time during dusk and dawn, when
mosquitoes are more active. If you must apply mosquito
repellent, follow instructions on the product label.
KEEP THEM OUT. Repair broken screens on windows,
doors and porches around your home to prevent
mosquitoes and other insects from buzzing their way in.
DRAIN AND WASH. Keep an eye out for and remove
potential mosquito breeding sites such as old tires,
drums and any outdoor containers which could collect
water for long periods of time. Check vehicle and boat
tarps for water collection spots and replace water in
plant trays and birdbaths at least once a week. Wash
these and other water collection devices frequently to
prevent mosquito eggs from adhering to their surfaces;
some mosquito eggs can survive drying for months and
could hatch when wet again.
LET IT FLOW. Remove vegetation or obstructions that
prevent the flow of water through gutters, drainage
ditches and pipes. This will keep water from collecting
and providing additional breeding places for mosquitoes.
For more information on mosquito bite and
disease prevention, contact the Marion County
Health Department at 352-629-0137 or visit
www.myfloridaEH.com.
“Meeting Needs by Exceeding Expectations”
5
County
CONNECTION
MARION COUNTY’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE
Pets
SQ POTLIGHT
Month
AND A WITH
––
E M P L O Y E E
of
the
––
GARIE-LYN LASHER
CODE ENFORCEMENT
OFFICER IV
By Elaine DeIorio, Marion County Office of
Public Information
By Elaine DeIorio, Marion County Office of Public Information
How long have you worked for Code Enforcement
and what position do you hold? I’ve worked at Code
for a little over six years. I’m a certified Code Enforcement
Professional. That means I’ve had more than five years of
experience and I’ve completed four different 40-hour courses
and a legal issue paper through the University of Central
Florida.
What led you to work in this field? I chose this career
because I enjoy the everyday direct contact with people.
Are you from Marion County originally? No, I lived
in Niagara Falls, N.Y., until 1998.
Garden Sense
Junebug
What’s a typical day like in Code Enforcement?
There is no typical day! Our service requests can range from
noise complaints in the middle of the night to unserviceable
vehicles left on a neighbor’s property.
Tell me about your home life. I live in Orange Lake with
my husband, two sons, four dogs, three cats, one leopard
gecko, one bearded dragon and two chickens.
What’s one of your life goals? Be self-employed.
Do you have a motto or a quote you try to live by?
If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, where are you
going to find time to do it again?
MasterTips
Snuggling comes naturally for some, and
Animal Services currently has a cuddler
extraordinaire in Junebug, a black and white
cat who loves to curl up with someone just
as much now as when she was a kitten.
See, Junebug knows that everything is better
when shared with someone else...she’s just
lacking a special someone right now. So,
make this summer (and all of the ones after)
your best yet by adopting your new feline
friend, Junebug, today.
By Jo Leyte-Vidal, UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Service (Master Gardener)
Dayzee
−Did you check that the plants are not root bound and
roots are white and firm?
After you put these lovelies in the ground, be sure to
water, mulch, and deadhead regularly. Some annuals
easily planted now are celosia, coleus, crossandra,
kalanchoe, nicotiana, portulaca, and zinnia.
Coleus
If you’ve visited your local garden centers lately, you’ve
no doubt seen color everywhere with flats of annuals
stretching across the aisles. Before you load your cart
with your favorites, though, check for the following:
−Does the plant have a label with a name and care
instructions?
−Did you choose a plant with more buds than
blooms?
−Does the plant have more than one stem?
June is also a good month to check your grass
for deficiencies. Mid-June is the best time to treat
bahiagrass for mole crickets. Sprays and granules
are available; just be sure to follow product label
instructions. If you have St. Augustinegrass and yellow
spots are showing, treat it with an iron supplement, not
fertilizer. Adding fertilizer in the summer will stress the
grass since it will already be growing very rapidly.
Dayzee, a one-year-old German Shepherd
mix loves all things bright, fresh, cheerful and
sunny. Though she loves to romp around the
yard, she’s leash-trained, so taking her for a
walk is more of an enjoyable experience than
an adventure. Her smile is infectious, and
she knows you’ll be smiling, too, when you
find out that she’s housetrained. The sun is
shining, the flowers are blooming; come get
your very own Dayzee today!
The adoption fee for Junebug (a041684) or
Dayzee (a032462) is only $40 and includes
their spay surgeries, county licenses, current
vaccinations and microchips. Call Marion
County Animal Services at 352-671-8700
for more information or visit the department
Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
or Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
“Meeting Needs by Exceeding Expectations”
6