minutes_december_9_2025

TOWN OF WHITE SPRINGS

MINUTES White Springs Town Council Special Session

Tuesday, December 9, 2025-Town Hall Council Room

1. Mayor Tonja Brown called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance-Reverend Wade Singletary

2. Roll Call: Council Members present: Mayor Tonja Brown, Vice Mayor Nicole Williams, and Councilwoman Cheryl McCall. Council Member absent: Councilwoman Shirley Aldridge and Councilman Robert Gamsby.

3. Additions, Deletions, and/or Amendments to the Agenda

Vice Mayor Nicole Williams added number D-Telford Hotel. Motion made by Vice Mayor Williams to add Telford Hotel, seconded by Councilman Cheryl and passed 3-0.

4. Approval of Minutes: Approve Minutes of November $ 13^{\\mathrm{th}} $ and $ 18^{\\mathrm{th}} $ ,2025.

Motion made by Vice Mayor Williams to approve Minutes of November $ 13^{\\mathrm{th}} $ and $ 18^{\\mathrm{th}} $ ,2025, seconded by Councilwoman McCall and passed 3-0.

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Motion made by Councilwoman McCall to accept the Budget/Financial report with the changes, seconded by Vice Mayor Williams and passed 3-0.

6. Citizens from the floor: (5 min. limit)

Pastor Wade Singletary of First Baptist Church White Springs Florida. Reverend Singletary thanked The Town for considering offering the church the little piece of property adjacent to the church property. He is waiting on a certified letter from the other property owner adjacent to the property, Mr. Freddy Boles' decision. Reverend Singletary checked on the cost of a survey - survey cost could be between $600.00 - $1,600.00 and timeframe for a survey is 4 to 6 weeks out.

The church is in partnership with the Pregnancy Care Church highly supports this organization. Church is bringing a mobile unit to White Springs, Florida.

enter in Lake City Florida. Looking into the option of

First Baptist recently purchased a $30,000 playground that would be open to the church members and hopefully to the community.

Every Sunday, First Baptist Church take up a Be back to the town for clothes, food, and housing donated for supporting pregnancy.

evolent offering and donate 5% for needy citizens. 2% is also

Pastor Wade Singletary wants to work with other pastors within the Town of White Springs.

7. Old Business: Second reading of Ordinance 2025-04 Gambling Recission.

Attorney Leslie Jean-Bart - change the Ordianance Attorney Leslie Jean-Bart read Ordianance 2026-0 Mayor Williams to approve Ordianance 2026 Councilwoman McCall and passed 3-0.

#2025-04 to 2026-01. After motion was made by Vice 01 and was seconded by

Since the year 2022, there have been several changes for the Loan Agreement DW240100. The Town needs to amend the agreement to approve all the changes from 2022 to now. Councilwoman McCall made the motion to approve Amendment to Loan Agreement DW240100 and the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Williams and passed 3-0.

8. New Business:

a. Approve Employment Agreement with Town Manager c. Approve Resolution No. 2026-19 ACH & Positive Pay at First Federal

Mr. Garner and Ms. Brown went to First Federal on Monday, December 9, 2025, regarding Positive Pay at First Federal, this would allow Ms. Brown, Clerk, to be able to do electronic banking. She will not be able to sign checks. These procedures would help the Town control their finances and stay on top of transactions. Vice Mayor Williams made the motion to approve Resolution No. 20226-19 ACH & Positive Pay at First Federal, the motion was seconded by Councilwoman McCall and passed 3-0.

d. Teleford Hotel

Vice Mayor Williams presented to the council members a packet - Strategic Purchase & Preservation Plan for the Telford Hotel. Vice Mayor Williams is asking permission to proceed with the purchase of the Telford Hotel, at no cost to the Town. However, before she moves forward, she would need the approval of the council members to send letters out on the Town's letterhead to people, organizations and grant programs who are willing to help with the purchase of the Telford Hotel. The hotel will be purchased by others, but the property would belong to the Town. Before the letters are sent out, they will be reviewed by The Town's Council Members, Town Manager, and the Town's attorney.

The Town's attorney, Leslie Jean-Bart, suggested that Vice Mayor form a committee and have a workshop before proceeding with the letters. Motion was made by Councilwoman McCall to allow Vice Mayor Williams to move forward with forming a committee and having a workshop, the motion was seconded by Mayor Brown and passed 3-0.

Mr. Lee Garner and Mayor Brown went to a conference in Orlando last week sponsored by the Florida League of Cities. They had a great time and met a lot of people. Mr. Garner highlighted some of the events that were discussed at the conference. Proposed changes for water bills, allowing the citizens in town and out of town city limits to have the same cost for water bills and anyone working with the election records will have employment records restricted.

Councilwoman McCall thanked Vice Mayor Williams for such a great job on the Strategic Purchase & Preservation Plan packets.

9. Comments from Departments/Committees:

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The Town received a check in the amount of $1,500.00 from 7th Son - the owner of the old school on Spring Street. 7th Son wants to rezone a portion next to the school, from residential to commercial to be allowed to open a car dealership.

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Mr. Garner told everyone that Mayor Brown and Office Manager Cynethia visited the new homes that the CDBG Grant built. These homes are well constructed and beautiful and should be ready for the citizens by the first of the year. There is about a ten-year waiting list for homes requests.

Fire Department is offering pancakes and sausage on Saturday, December 13,2025. The Fire Department is requesting a donation of $5.00.

The Sheriff Department of Jasper, Florida returned 3 cars to the Town of White Springs. A gentleman for Jasper will be here next week to remove the radio equipment, and we will keep the latest model car and surplus the other 2 along with the Crown Victoria car to the highest bidder.