Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Hamilton County residents packed the courthouse on Monday, Feb. 10, to voice their opinions on a proposed bill to dissolve the White Springs Town government. The bill, introduced by Representative Jason Shoaf and Senator Corey Simon during their Legislative Delegation meeting, sparked a range of reactions from the community. Despite hearing arguments both for and against the proposal, Shoaf and Simon unanimously agreed to advance the bill, a decision that frustrated several White Springs officials.
Tensions ran high during the meeting, escalating when Town Manager Vanessa George was escorted out after repeatedly interrupting and refusing to stay quiet, defying Shoaf and Simon's requests. Shortly after, resident Ivan Udell was also removed for disruptive behavior, which led many supporters of the town government to leave the courtroom in protest, voicing their discontent as they exited.
"Corey Simon, you're wrong," Councilman Randolf Williams shouted as he exited.
The meeting, initially scheduled for just one hour, extended well beyond its planned timeframe due to the large number of speakers. Residents expressed concerns about the town's financial instability, referencing comments previously made by George in public meetings about the town being "broke." Some even accused council members of profiting from illicit gambling activities.
Town Attorney Leslie Jean-Bart was among the first to speak during the public testimony. She questioned the legality of the dissolution proposal and criticized the delegation for poor communication. "We found out from an article in the newspaper," she said pointedly. "Is that how we conduct business?" When she brought up racial implications, Shoaf quickly interrupted.
"I don't look at things through demographics," he stated firmly.
"We will not get into accusations that this is about race."
"We're not going into race because it's not racial," Senator Simon added. "If you notice, I am a Black man sitting up here as your state senator. I was the one who requested this bid because I sit on the legislative auditing committee. I've also spoken to members of your town, both Black and White. So this isn't racial; it comes down to economics. Are we doing what's best for the people of White Springs?"
Simon also criticized the town council for raising taxes on residents and for their lack of response to his outreach efforts. "People from Hamilton County and White Springs should hold their government accountable," he asserted.
Roger Green, a lifelong resident of White Springs, voiced his support for the dissolution. "There are three primary reasons for disincorporation: population decline, economic crisis, and corruption," he stated. "Guess what? White Springs checks all those boxes." He detailed the town's financial struggles, mentioning issues like late water bill payments and the town's authorization of sweepstakes gambling, which has since been declared illegal by the State of Florida.
George eventually approached the podium to defend the town's hiring of an outside security agency, which was armed with weapons. She alleged she and council members had received racial threats and cited the lack of support from previous town administrations. "I have emails and voicemails," she said, referencing the racist and sexist remarks. George also argued that the town was not in financial ruin. "We have $391,000 in reserves from ARPA that we have not touched."
Vice Mayor Anita Rivers and Councilwoman Audre Ruise echoed George's concerns, sharing their experiences with harassment and false accusations. Rivers criticized individuals who had recently moved to White Springs, accusing them of causing much of the current unrest. She also expressed frustrations with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office for dismissing concerns about threats and bullying at government meetings.
Mayor Jacqueline Williams took the podium next, passionately advocating for the citizens' right to vote on the matter. "Please allow the citizens to decide through the process of a vote and let their voices be heard," she urged.
After all public testimony was heard, Shoaf and Simon declined further debate, voting unanimously amongst themselves for the bill to proceed through the committee process. Simon attempted to calm the increasingly tense atmosphere, stating, "This is the start of a conversation to gather all the facts, not just 'he said, she said.'"
"When we hear complaints from a community, like the town had no election in three years, that becomes problematic," Simon continued, addressing the White Springs Town Councilmembers in attendance. He continued, mentioning that a member of his legislative team was present when the council appointed Randolf to fill a vacant seat instead of putting it through the proper election process.
"It's sad when one side wants to speak but won't listen to the other," Shoaf remarked, addressing the divided audience.
The bill will continue through the committee process, where additional opportunities for public input will be available. The final decision will rest with the state legislature.
For the full Hamilton County Legislative Delegation meeting, visit www.facebook.com/theriverbendnews. Keep an eye out for further updates on this developing story.