March 10, 2023

Hi Everyone,

The turnout and participation at the last commissioner’s meeting was amazing. Citizens challenged the commission with thoughtful ideas and meaningful debate. Thank you all…

At the last city commission meeting, the agenda included a proposal that would increase the city administrator’s spending limit by amending Oak Hill City ordinances. There are upsides and downsides to this; the proposal is to raise the city administrator’s discretionary spending from $500.00 to $5000.00.

By doing that you take power away from the commission and give power to the city administrator.

The increase will certainly allow the administrator to be more nimble when responding to the day to day needs of our city. But the other side of the coin would remove the commission from the decision-making process for purchases less than $5001.00. The proposal would require that the purchase be reported at the next scheduled commission meeting. To view a more in-depth discussion between ex-Mayor Darry Evans and our city administrator, about our city’s trend toward it’s commission surrendering more of its authority to the administrator, click here.

The proposal would require that the money to be spent be provided for in the city’s budget and that the quotes required by our city ordinances be satisfied. Failure to meet these guidelines would require a vote by the commission to approve the expenditure. When a transaction meets all the requirements in the proposed ordinance, the commission and the public will be informed after the fact and do not participate in the decision-making process.

Last fall when I was a candidate for the city commission, a family living on Nancy Street, told me about a metal shed that was in the drainage ditch that serviced their community. They said it was near North Putnam Grove Road. Just two days before hurricane Ian struck in September, Oak Hill held a special meeting to set priorities and discuss preparations. Our city’s flood control ditches were a large part of that discussion.

During that meeting I showed the commission photographs of the metal shed obstructing the drainage ditch. The city pledged to those in attendance that every effort would be made to clear the ditches ahead of the storm. Unfortunately, at the last commission meeting, I had to inform the commission that the shed still threatens the security of our community. Again, city staff pledged to take care of it, here’s a photo of the ditch I took on February 27, 2023.

As a follow-up I sent a photo to the city and was informed that the city had no obligation to remove the metal structure because the ditch was the responsibility of Volusia County Mosquito Control. City staff went on to inform me that the structure has been in the ditch since 2004 and that the county is aware of the obstruction but currently has no way of accessing it. There are no right-of-way or easements that would provide access to the ditch.

On Friday March 3, 2023 several members of our community had a meeting with a representative from Volusia County public works to discuss another ditch that runs from behind Anchor Hardware, under US1 and on east down Indian Creek Road. They asked the representative about the metal shed. He informed them that the county was indeed aware of the obstruction and had made a couple of attempts at retrieving the shed but failed and asked if the city could secure waiver of liability from property owners adjacent to the ditch near the shed.

It’s difficult to believe that after the hardship and damage the hurricane last fall inflicted on the community that lives near, and depends on, a functional drainage canal, that no governmental agency or private interest would take responsibility for clearing and maintaining our ditches. It seems like a basic function of government to protect the lives and property of its citizens. I would welcome any input you may have as I continue to explore ways to pinpoint exactly who’s responsible for what ditches and how we go about clearing them.

The next Oak Hill City Commissioner’s meeting is March 13, 2023 at city hall. The time is 6:00 PM. Please come and let your voice be heard. Your presence, attention, and participation is how we hold our commission to account. It’s good for the city.

It’s my pleasure to serve you, I appreciate your support.

Thank you

Joe Catigano
Oak Hill City Commissioner
Seat 3