Several Jefferson County property owners will be getting an early Christmas present of sorts in the form of a little tax relief in the coming weeks, compliments of Property Appraiser Angela Gray and the County Commission.

At Gray's urging, county commissioners on Thursday evening, Nov. 19, agreed to return a combined $25,000 to property owners who either are 100-percent war-disabled veterans or who are being charged commercial rates on their landfill special assessments for second structures on their agricultural zoned lands.

Gray told commissioners that she was receiving innumerous calls from property owners concerned about whether they were going to get relief on the current tax bill relative to the commercial rate assessments being applied to non-commercial second structures on their properties.

The issue is one of several inequities relating to the special assessments that Gray first raised with commissioners more than a month ago and asked them to redress. These inequities involve the inconsistent and sometimes arbitrary seeming application of the fire and landfill assessments, with some property owners paying for second structures on their lands and others not, and many another paying commercial rates on structures actually being used for agricultural, recreational or seasonal purposes, among other problems.

Commissioners left the impression at their last workshop on the subject on Oct. 22 that they would discuss the issue further at their next evening meeting and solicit public's input. But the only thing discussed on Thursday evening relative to the assessments was Gray's request for the possibility of immediate relief in the two named categories.

She said if commissioners would address the second structure assessment in particular, it would tremendously reduced the number of calls her office was receiving.

"I'm asking to go back to the 2009 taxes and credit these individuals for the landfill assessments at least," Gray said.

She alleviated commissioners' expressed concerns about the reduction's potential impact on the budget by pointing out that the refunds to property owners who were being charged commercial rates on second structures on their ag-zoned properties would amount to $16,000, well within the 5 percent that the law required be held in abeyance in the budget.

Commissioner Felix "Skeet" Joyner said he saw no reason why property owners in agriculture-zoned properties with second structures such as barns and sheds on their lands should be assessed a separate assessment, especially at commercial rates. It made no sense, he said.

Gray agreed that it made no sense. But it was the way that it had been done in the past, based on the assumption that if the second structure was not residential, commercial was the only other option, she said. But she would be glad to remove the assessments, she said.

Commissioner Hines Boyd agreed that the particular unfairness should be redressed, especially as it would not impact the budget significantly. But he cautioned the commission not to make a host of exceptions absent a more comprehensive review of the problem and potential ramifications of proposed solutions, lest "we open a can of worms".

The commission's vote to correct the inconsistency was unanimous.

Gray next raised the possibility of exempting war-disabled veterans from the two assessments. It would be a nice gesture, in recognition of the debt owed to veterans and the recent Veterans Day celebrations, she said.

As Gray explained it, the total impact to the county in lost revenues for the latter category would be $9,000, or $2,500 on the fire assessment and $6,500 on the landfill assessment. She said the guidelines for who would qualify as disabled veterans were very stringent and set by the federal governments. The guidelines, she said, required that the individuals be 100-percent disabled; that the disability be combat related; and that the individual be a resident of the county granting the exemption.

The vote to approve the latter measure again was unanimous.

On a related note, C. P. Miller inquired about the probability of churches no longer enjoying exemption from the two assessments, a point that commissioners briefly discussed and left hanging at the Oct. 22 workshop.

The board's only response came from Joyner.

"No action has been taken," Joyner repeated three times: loudly, clearly and emphatically.

Sandra Saunders, incoming School Board Chair, accepts the gavel from Outgoing Chair Ed Vollertsen at the Reorganization Meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 17.

According to School Board Policy, each year brings a new chair, in numerical order of the Districts they represent. Board Members and their districts are: Vollertsen, #1; Saunders, #2; Washington, #3; Marianne Arbulu, #4; and Charles Boland, #5.

Elected to various committees were: Arbulu, Small School Districts; Washington, Legislative Committee; Saunders, Building A Committee; Boland, Interlocal Agreement for Public School Planning Committee; and Washington, Jefferson Education Foundation representative. Arbulu is a Jefferson Education Foundation Board Member.

In other School Board news., Shirley Washington presented Superintendent Bill Brumfield with a plaque, from herself, in appreciation of his efforts during his first year as superintendent.

She also presented a similar plaque to Asst. Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Norton, for his efforts and assistance to the Superintendent Brumfield.

Director Serafin

Roldan's first accuser was retired Methodist minister Rev. Carl Hanks, head of the Friends of the Library, a volunteer organization that helps the library with fundraisers and other promotional projects. Hanks spoke during the non-agenda part of the meeting, when citizens are allowed three minutes to address the commission on any topic.

Hanks told of having strong discussions and disagreements with the library director. He said Roldan had informed him in no uncertain terms that if the Friends didn't get rid of the treasurer, he (Roldan) would get rid of the Friends and appoint his own committee. Being one who shied from public controversy, Hanks said he had encouraged the treasurer to meet privately with the director and try and work out their differences.

"I don't know what happened, but after the discussion with Serafin, he quit," Hanks said.

He said he had encouraged Roldan not to have a book sale during the Watermelon Festival, but it was to no avail.

"He spun on his heels, walked away from me and said 'I don't need any advice from the Friends of the Library," Hanks said.

Another difference arose over the idea of establishing a foundation to support the library, Hanks said. Although his group was supportive of the idea, it was the Friends' position that the project should be pursued cautiously if it was to be successful. But next thing, he had received an email from Roldan informing the group that he (Roldan) had decided to proceed with the project.

"I didn't respond because I was being told was what being done," Hanks said. "Sorrowfully, five members of the Friends, including myself, are ready to resign. I would hate to do it."

Hanks' comments elicited no response from commissioners, as the rules specifically preclude commissioners from responding to citizens' input during this section of the meeting.

But subsequently, during the itemized part of the agenda, Cheryl Turner, director of Wilderness Coast Public Libraries (WILD), addressed the commission on the same topic under an agenda item titled "library update".

Turner neither wasted nor minced words in getting to her point. During the last five or six months she had both had altercations with Roldan and had observed his "irrational behavior and temper tantrums", which made for a hostile workplace for certain of his employees, she said.

"His people aren't speaking out because they're afraid of retribution and of being fired," Turner said. "He's not adept at personnel matters and it's led to personnel problems."

She cited the recent firing of a library worker as a case in point. There was also the personnel grievance that had been in process for months and that now appeared was headed for resolution via mediation, she said.

Before Turner could go any further, County Attorney Buck Bird interrupted to ask, "where are we going with this?"

"This has to be set for a public hearing so that everybody has proper notice," Bird said. "Citizens are expressing concerns about the conduct of the library director, but this needs to be discussed at a special meeting rather than in a meeting where not everybody is prepared."

Turner responded that the reason she had chosen to bring up the matter in the manner she had was because the information otherwise wasn't getting to the commission via the normal channels.

County Coordinator Roy Schleicher responded that it had been the board's decision that personnel matters should be handled by the process set forth in the personnel policy manual, a point Bird affirmed. His advice to the commission, Schleicher said, was that it not tackle the library director and grievance issues simultaneously, lest it prove detrimental to one or the other.

"I'm afraid it we stack things it could get out of hand," Schleicher said. "I recommend we conclude the other one before this one, which sounds like it could be a civil case also."

Asked by commissioners about the status of the grievance between the two library employees, Bird said he had contacted a certified mediation and personnel management expert in Tallahassee who was willing to meet with the two employees and try to mediate a resolution.

"He estimates it will take two to three hours," Bird said. "At $80 an hour, it will cost between $300 and $500. He can do it at the start of next week."

The commission gave Bird authority to contract the mediation expert and proceed with the mediation the week of Nov. 9. Turner, meanwhile, asked that her complaint be placed on the next agenda for a full discussion.

Her request followed C.P. Miller's observation that commissioners needed to be more vigilant in monitoring what was stated as the topic of an agenda items. He pointedly referred to the "library update" entry, which he said gave a misleading implication of what was to be discussed.

"It says 'library update'," Miller said. "Other items give details. A lot of things we heard about the director shouldn't have been said. You need to monitor this better."

A related issue surfaced concerning Roldan, a proposal for the county's purchase of a bookmobile and WILD, but that, as it's said, is another story.

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Roldan offered the Jefferson Journal his side of the story.

Roldan said he had been especially surprised by Hanks' remarks. He considered Hanks a gentleman and a respected minister, as he himself was a minister, Roldan said. He didn't want to say anything negative about Hanks, whom he considered a venerable man; but Hanks had a short memory and some of the things he had stated were incorrect, Roldan said.

"That treasurer left the room hollering and shouting at me," Roldan said. "He pointed a finger at me and said, 'I'll get you fired'. I have witnesses to that."

He had had differences with Hanks in the past but he had thought that these differences had been resolved.

"It was old news," Roldan said.

As for the Friends of the Library, he regarded the group as essential and a wonderful support organization that helped with fundraisers and other worthy projects.

"But they don't set forth policy," Roldan said. "The director sets policy in conjunction with the coordinator and the commission."

As for Turner, WILD was a consortium, not a library per se, he said. WILD was there to offer funding and technical assistance and classes and other help, but its function was not to set policy at the local level, he said. Nor did Turner have any supervisory authority over him or was she able to evaluate his performance, he said.

"WILD works as our aide but the authority lies with the director," Roldan said.

He dismissed the charge that he created a hostile work environment for his staff. On the contrary, Roldan said, he tried to empower his employees and always involved them in all discussions and decisions relating to the library.

"We work as a team," he said.

Almost a month after the Jefferson County Road Department began four-day workweeks, Superintendent David Harvey is giving the changeover high marks, within reason.

Harvey acknowledged on Tuesday, Oct. 27, that it was yet too early to tell if the program would prove beneficial. But from what he had seen so far, "I'd give it an A+", he said.

How so?

Morale was up a notch and production had substantially increased, Harvey said.

"Substantially increased," he repeated.

The claim of higher morale among workers on four-day workweeks is one commonly echoed by other government entities that have embraced the program. As for the claim of increased production, Harvey said all four of the department 's motor graders were now in operation. And although he didn't have the figures in hand, he would venture that the department was back on schedule and that all major dirt roads had been graded at least once during the month and possibly twice in some cases, he said.

As for the expected savings, Harvey said he didn't think these would come in the form of energy conservation and reduced overtime, as his operation was too small for such factors to make a significant difference.

"Where I believe the real savings will come in the long run is in increased production," Harvey said. "I think the public will see more and better graded roads, more work done on a timely basis, and it will be a better Road Department overall."

Contributing to the increased productivity, Harvey added, were the personnel and other changes that he had made within the department, including the promotion of several individuals to key supervisory positions.

Harvey said one of his concerns had been that workers would begin showing up late for work; but so far, tardiness hadn't been a problem.

"That tells me the team is onboard with the program," Harvey said.

The Road Department went to four-day workweeks starting Oct. 5 for the expressed purpose of increasing productivity and efficiency. Adoption of the four-day workweek followed the examples of neighboring counties such as Hamilton and Madison, and of states such as Delaware and Utah.

Typically, the increased productivity results from longer workdays that reduce the mobilization and takedown times for equipment and allow workers more time to dedicate to the actual task at hand. The shorter workweeks also tend to reduce fuel and energy consumption, as some operations shut down completely during the three off days.

One commissioner's expressed concern was that four-day workweeks would lead to increased overtime, especially if a severe storm struck on a weekend and crews had to repair damage roads on an emergency basis. He feared the increased overtime eventually would cancel the other benefits.

Interestingly, Utah — the country's first state to go to the four-day workweek in August 2008 — is reporting an unexpected $4.1 million in overtime savings after its first year, according to an Oct. 22 Associated Press (AP) news article. It seems that "state employees were eager to leave after the longer workday and weren't inclined to work an extra hour or two," according to the AP article.

"The state envisioned some energy savings, but that overtime number was not anticipated," Utah Governor spokeswoman Angie Welling is quoted saying.

In fairness, however, it must be pointed out that the circumstance in Utah and locally are quite different. Utah state workers in the four-day program largely work in operations that can be shut down for the three days. Road Department crews, on the other hand, may have no choice but to work on a Friday or on a weekend if an emergency arises.

The way Harvey is handling the situation, as he explained it on Tuesday, is that on rainy days when the department can't go at full tilt, he will allow certain of the employees a couple of hours off to take care of personal business. These men in turn must put their names on list, in the event that they are needed on a Friday.

"We do it as makeup work," Harvey said. "It's all don in-house."

Members of the Foundation for the Preservation of Historic American Music display some of the autoharps from the collection the group acquired from Arnold Burkart. From left, front row: Jack Carswell and Burkart. Back row, from left: Katrina Walton, Dan Schall and Barry Kelly.

An excited Jack Carswell, one of the foundation's founders, informed the Journal on Tuesday, Oct. 27, that the group had just purchased a collection of 50 instruments from Arnold Burkart, a retired music professor and Monticello resident who is moving back North and who has in his possession extensive collections of ethnic and other musical instruments from around the world.

Carswell said when he heard about the availability of the autoharps collection, he couldn't let the opportunity pass. Burkart, he said, wanted a $1,000 for the set, which includes both autoharps and the instrument's precursor, the harp. Carswell saidsome of the instruments date from the 1700s, others from the late 1800s, some are in excellent condition and others not so excellent. But overall, he said, the collection is priceless, in terms of the goal the foundation has set for itself of establishing a museum here.

"This is an important step for what we're trying to do," Carswell said.

A stringed musical instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers that when depressed act to mute all the strings except for those desired in the chord, autoharps can be used to play either rhythm or melodies and figure prominently in early American music, particularly folk and bluegrass. The instrument is said to be relatively easy to learn to play and has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in recent times.

Among the better-known professional musicians who have employed the autoharp in their music are Maybelle and Sara of the Carter Family, June Carter Cash, Sheryl Crow, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful, Mike Seeger and Bruce Springsteen.

Carswell said the collection would be housed in the Wirick-Simpson for the time being and exhibited to the public on occasion as the situation permitted. He said another idea was to mount a traveling exhibition that could be shown at the Jefferson County Public Library and the foundation's various musical events, among other venues. But ultimately, the goal was to house the collection in a permanent exhibition at the envisioned museum, he said.

"That's a long ways down the pike, but this is a first step," Carswell said. "It's a small step, but it's an important first step."

Formed a little more than two years ago for the expressed purpose of promoting and preserving traditional American music, the nonprofit foundation has since sponsored two bluegrass festivals, a jazz night and several concerts at the Opera House. The group's annual Southern Music Rising Festival in April has become its signature event.