Please summarize your education and career(s), past or present. And how long have you lived in Dunnellon?

I graduated from CFCC with an AA in 1972 and graduated from Florida State University with a BSBA in 1974 specializing in Accounting, Finance and Business Law.

From 1974-2004, I worked for the International Accounting Firm of KPMG. The last 18 years I was a tax partner with the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama, office where I ran the tax department with over 50 tax professionals.

From 2005-2006, I obtained an Alabama Real Estate license and bought and sold real estate for myself and others.

From 2006-2008, I was tax partner at the Regional Accounting Firm of Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI) where I started and ran the Birmingham tax department. From 2008-2017, I was tax partner at the Regional Accounting Firm of Dixon, Hughes Goodwin LLP (DHG) where I started and ran the tax department in the Birmingham office.

In 2017, I retired and returned to Dunnellon where my family had a home on the Rainbow River for over 40 years, which I had purchased some years earlier. I have lived here in Dunnellon permanently for the past five years.

If you’ve served in office before, please summarize your political experience.

I have never run for or held a political office of any kind.

Please summarize your past and present community involvement.

I was president of the Magic City Kiwanis Club, in Birmingham, Alabama. I also volunteered annually for our Kiwanis Club’s “Ring the Bell” campaign for the Salvation Army in Birmingham for a number of years.

With the help of the National FSU Alumni Association, I formed, started and ran the FSU Alumni club in Birmingham for a number of years. Later, I was elected and served four years on the National FSU Alumni Association Board of Directors in Tallahassee, Florida.

I coached Little League baseball and softball for 14 seasons.

I volunteered for and was a Jail Bird for the American Heart Association in Birmingham, where I had to raise money for the American Heart Association to stay out of Jail. I met my funding goal.

When Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, were hit by a major tornado, our office closed and we all volunteered to pass out food, clothing and water to everyone in need.

I volunteered for the Florida Wildlife Corridor project when they came to Dunnellon with a group of high school students.

I volunteered to fill sandbags every year Dunnellon has needed help filling sandbags.

I volunteered working with the Dunnellon Beautification Committee on many of their projects across Dunnellon.

For the past four and a half years, I have grown my hair long and given it away to a charity, “Wigs for Kids.” This organization makes wigs for children that lose their hair because of medical issues, at no cost to the children.

What experience and skills make you a good fit for the Dunnellon City Council?

As a practicing CPA most of my working life, I have assisted all of my clients with their tax and accounting issues including reviewing and auditing company financial statements, budgeting, acquisition and transaction planning. I feel this experience is greatly lacking and needed on our city council.

What are three of your priorities for serving Dunnellon?

To develop a detail oriented business plan for the City Dunnellon to follow which is currently lacking and desperately needed.

To reduce all the city’s wasteful spending and reduce the tax burden for all residents including the wasteful spending of the city’s limited CRA monies.

To improve our roads and streets in Dunnellon.

What motivated you to run for the Council?

Going to the monthly Dunnellon City Council meetings and watching one bad decision after another being made by our city council and staff. Things need to change now.

What differentiates you from your opponent?

My opponent has served on this Dunnellon City Council for many years and the city continues to make bad choices and decisions with her on the council. It is time for change.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Dunnellon?

Changing the entire culture of the Dunnellon City Council and Dunnellon City staff. The council and staff serve the residents of the city, not the other way around.

What would you most like voters to know about yourself and your campaign?

I will not waste your and my tax dollars that we give to the city of Dunnellon, nor will I waste our limited CRA funds. I will do everything in my power to never raise our property taxes.

DUNNELLON — The Dunnellon City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution objecting to the proposed northern extension of the Florida Turnpike.

During a special meeting held at City Hall, council members agreed that the resolution should be signed by Mayor Bill White and immediately presented to the County Commission, which on Tuesday is scheduled to debate and ultimately decide what stance it will take on this controversial matter.

A copy of the resolution also will be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis, the secretary of the Florida of Department of Transportation, the FDOT project manager for Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, the president of the Florida Senate, the Florida speaker of the house, and other appropriate parties.

The meeting started at 9 a.m. and lasted an hour. Several people who came to the podium told the council that they were not in favor of the project, which features four proposed routes that would extend the turnpike north and west of its current northern terminus in Wildwood.

The speakers said state officials should have conducted an independent study on the proposed paths and more strongly considered expanding existing roads. They also said the project would destroy homes and the environment.

Michael McGrath, a representative from the Florida chapter of the Sierra Club and the No Roads to Ruin Coalition Steering Committee, applauded council members for holding Monday's meeting and taking a strong stance against the proposed road.

McGrath said it's clear that Dunnellon residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the four proposed paths, and he hope all the local governmental bodies whose communities will be affected by the roadway will unite in opposition.

City Council members Jan Cubbage, Louise Kenny, Valerie Hanchar, Anita Williams and the mayor all voted yes for the resolution.

White, in a presentation to the council and those in attendance, showed pictures of what could happen if the roadway comes near the area. He said it would leave a "scar" on the community for a considerable time, and traffic in the area would be severely impacted if the roadway is allowed to come close to Dunnellon.

Nearly two weeks ago, the five council members had directed staff to put together a resolution signaling their intent to fight the measure.

That meeting was attended by more than 100 people. They packed the auditorium.

Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118, austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb.

The economic health of our beloved small city of Dunnellon is in serious jeopardy. The City Council is actively reviewing an ordinance that would choke off vacation rentals. Considering the new costs the city would need to absorb, along with declining business revenues, taxes and property values, the financial outlook is dire.

In Spring of 2022, the Planning Commission took up an ordinance on Short Term Rentals (STRs). It was compiled from bits and pieces of other Florida cities, much bigger cities with much bigger budgets. State law says counties and cities cannot restrict the frequency or duration of rentals, but they’re allowed to regulate them. Make no mistake, burdensome, overreaching regulation is death by 1,000 cuts.

Visitors come to Dunnellon and spend approximately $200 per day. That’s a lot of money to our restaurants, grocery stores, shops and services we stand to lose if we lose vacation rentals. With fewer patrons, businesses need fewer workers, impacting jobs. When home values decline, so do property taxes. Lower tourist taxes to Marion County means less funding for our City budget for the essential services that are funded with tax revenues. It’s a downward spiral, financially, and a distraction from the things we should be doing!

Heavy handed regulation introduces costs we simply cannot afford. There are substantial costs to build a program to regulate vacation rentals, and to hire and train people to administer it. Worse yet – if the City Council decides to take on the burden of enforcing state statutes and inspecting homes annually for things like fire extinguishers, potable water, and smoke detectors, the costs would be outlandish for our small budget. How will we pay for the program and the ongoing enforcement? For a city still paying off $175,000 a year in debt payments for bad decisions made by the City Council 10 years ago, we should expect our Council members to scrutinize every dollar before they commit to new spending.

Dunnellon relies on ecotourism, supported by the comfortable and homey accommodations of vacation rentals. Vacation rental owners want to be good neighbors. We’re supportive of reasonable standards that are aimed to curb bad guest behavior. We are opposed to extraneous, burdensome regulation that duplicates State statutes and will be such a hassle, many vacation rentals will close. After all, bad guest behavior is at the core of the concerned residents who proposed the ordinance, not pool and fire safety.

Is there a middle ground of regulation that reduces the negative impact of rentals, encouraging tourism, and is cost-neutral to taxpayers? Yes, we think so. With simple registration, reasonable limits on headcount, and better communication on quiet hours, garbage, pets, and who to call when neighbors are concerned – we can reduce the negative effects of rentals and improve our community in meaningful ways.

This can be done simply, without misusing our taxpayer dollars by annual inspections enforcing regulations the State of Florida already has covered for vacation rentals.

The STR ordinance is now in the hands of the City Council, which will review and study it carefully before making decisions. Let’s hope they live by their mission “to assure the efficient management of all resources and delivery of quality municipal services.” Let’s hope they proceed with caution, focus on ways to make rentals better neighbors, and are thoughtful about the long-term impacts to tourism and our city’s financial health.

Let the City Council know what is important to you. Come to the workshops and regular city council meetings. Listen in, speak up, and be heard. This is an issue that affects us all.

-Katie Guice

DUNNELLON — Since 1996, Owens Produce has been a Dunnellon staple for fruits and vegetables, and shoppers will find plenty of jams, salsas, pickled items, cheeses, meats and other goods too.

Owners Linda and Clayton Owens had operated the produce stand at U.S. 41/North Williams Street and Southwest 111th Place for the past nine years until they were told in June that the property had been sold and they needed to vacate immediately.

After more than a month-long hiatus and multiple plans changed, Linda Owens has good news.

“WE ARE GOING HOME,” she recently wrote on Owens Produce’s Facebook page.

A $100,000 surprise:Dunnellon woman gets visit, and really big check, from Publishers Clearing House

In an increasingly rare showing of corporate and local collaboration, HCA Healthcare, which purchased the land, welcomed the produce stand back on site while it is in the early stages of developing the property.

“They had no idea that we had been on the property as a tenant and wanted to make it right,” Owens told the Star-Banner.

HCA bought 6.64 acres for $3.8 million

The Nashville-based health care company, which has more than 450 care sites throughout Florida – including HCA Florida West Marion Hospital and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital – bought the land for $3.8 million from Hernando-based SREE NSNK HOLDINGS LLC on June 17.

The 6.64-acre property is across the street from the Walmart Supercenter and just north of the Aldi plaza in Dunnellon.

“The purchase is for future development based on community needs,” HCA Florida Ocala Hospital Director of Communications and Community Engagement Kaitlyn Butler had written in an email.

Owens Produce had not been told who purchased the property, and the community rallied around the local business to offer support and suggestions of new locations.

They planned to move onto the site of American Legion Post 58 on Aug. 4 but ran into a few problems, and Owens reached out to Butler at HCA after learning who the buyer was. She quickly got in touch with HCA’s corporate real estate official and praised how responsive, kind and helpful they were.

“I just wanted some kind of closure,” Owens said. “I didn't want to always wonder: ‘Well, could we have gone back if we had just reached out to them?’ "

HCA offered the spot back, and Owens Produce accepted.

“When we heard about Owens Produce and their needs, we wanted to do the right thing and work with them to stay in their location knowing we wouldn't be in development for some time,” HCA Florida Ocala CEO Chad Christianson said in a statement to the Star-Banner. “We are looking forward to bringing additional, vital healthcare services to Marion County in the near future. In the meantime, we are glad to partner with a local business and a family that has made a positive impact on this community.”

Loyal produce stand customers elated at news

While some produce stand customers initially planned to oppose whatever entity purchased the property, Owens has encouraged positivity, and there was a change of heart for many when they learned that HCA had not known about Owens Produce and that it offered the location back.

“God Bless HCA for understanding small towns they are moving into!!” one Facebook commenter wrote. “Welcome back home to our dear friends at Owens Produce, and our new friends at HCA Healthcare!”

“That’s wonderful news!” another said. “High praise to HCA for making things right once they understood the situation.”

Owens herself said she was somewhat relieved to find out the new owner would likely bring a medical facility to the Dunnellon area.

Some followers also suggested HCA let the produce stand stay permanently as a counterpart to their health-focused business, but Owens said they have not discussed that possibility.

“We don't know how long term it's going to be, but it's just the best thing right now for us,” Owens said, adding that HCA agreed to give them 90 days notice to vacate when the time comes.

The produce stand will open back up at full capacity at 20145 SW 111th Place on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. They will be open 9 a.m. to 5:30 pm. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

While Dunnellon has a population of around 2,000, according to 2020 Census data, Owens Produce has garnered support from a wider range.

The produce stand has over 3,000 Facebook followers and has accumulated hundreds of likes and comments on some of its posts updating the community about the journey, as well as plenty of phone calls.

“Everybody's been real supportive, and they're just happy that we're going to be back where we were,” Owens said. “We just love our customers. We just have the best customers, and we just appreciate everybody so much and their patience too.”

Please summarize your education and career(s), past and present. And how long have you lived in Dunnellon.

· Associate of Science Degree – Central Florida Community College

· Dunnellon High School 1973 graduate

· Retired State employee after 37.5 years of service in Unemployment Compensation and Employment services

· A 67-year native of Dunnellon, married to Curley L Williams Jr. I have one step son and two step grandchildren, and they're all natives of Dunnellon.

If you served in office before, please summarize your political experience.

I served on the Dunnellon City Council since November 2018 and learned a lot about city operations and Florida statutes that govern municipalities. I also learned a lot from others who have served our town previously.

Please summarize your past and present community involvement.

· Active member of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church of Dunnellon; served as Church Clerk for over 10 years; currently serve as Financial Secretary and member of Church Choir

· Secretary for Concerned Citizens of Chatmire Inc. providing services within the community

· Assisted with Food for Kids program

· Member of 360 Walking Club for recreation, participate in community service, visit nursing and rehab facilities, and participate in various programs to celebrate Black History

· Participation in Marion County Library African American Read-In

What experience and skills make you a good fit for the Dunnellon City Council?

· Four years’ experience serving on council

· Exemplary people skills

· Extensive background in providing governmental services to applicants and local employers as a state employee

What are three of your priorities for serving Dunnellon?

· To be involved in change for the betterment of the community

· A safe and professional work environment for our law enforcements officers

· A community center for use by residents

What motivated you to run for Council?

· Representation within the community

· To gain experience in operations of city municipalities

What differentiates you from your opponent?

· Being a native of Dunnellon and very well known

· Ethnicity and career background

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Dunnellon?

· Overcrowding, traffic and speeding on our streets

· Paving of streets and roads, instead of constantly patching

What would you most like voters to know about yourself and your campaign?

· I'm a reliable, honest, sincere, and energetic individual with a desire to do what’s right and needed for the citizens and make a difference within our town. No to toll roads!