OCT’s 2022-23 opener Page B3
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 35
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SEPTEMBER 2 - SEPTEMBER 8, 2022
City council will revisit city manager appointment Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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t the end of the Aug. 16 Ocala City Council meeting, Council Member Barry Mansfield asked the rest of the council to consider removing the “interim” tag from Peter Lee’s title and making him Ocala’s new city manager. Council Member Jay Musleh supported the idea, as did Mayor Kent Guinn, even though he has no vote the matter. Council agreed to add
the proposal to the council’s Sept. 6 meeting agenda. This was the first public conversation by the council about Lee’s status since its April 19 meeting, when the board abruptly fired City Manager Sandra Wilson and installed Lee in a surprise move at the end of the meeting after a short discussion that did not include any other candidates. The April management shuffle raised questions regarding the role of the Ocala/Marion Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) in decisions related to
the hiring of Ocala’s next city manager. At the meeting when Wilson was dismissed, two members of the CEP board, Doug Cone and Rich Bianculli, walked into council chambers and positioned themselves up front just as Mansfield began his motion to fire Wilson. During the discussion on Wilson’s fate, Council Member Ire Bethea said “outside forces” were motivating the attacks on Wilson. Ken Ausley, on behalf of the CEP, See New, page A2
The court will consider MCBOCC’s decision on WEC Jockey Club “The Comprehensive Plan amendments were not supported by data or analysis.” Attorney Ralf Brookes File photo: Marion County Commission on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
By Rosemarie Dowell rosemarie@ocalagazette.com
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he plaintiffs who filed a request for a formal administrative hearing challenging Marion County’s June adoption of amendments to its Comprehensive Plan which subsequently allowed the approval of the WEC Jockey Club Planned Unit Development will have their day in court early next month. The formal hearing will take place at 9 a.m. Oct. 5-6 at the McPherson Governmental Campus auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, with Administrative Law Judge Suzanne Van Wyk presiding over the case. Cape Coral-based Land Use Attorney Ralf Brookes filed the request July 20 in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court in Marion County on behalf of Damian and Rebecca Guthrie and Don Love, who own property adjacent to or near the 1,029-acre property along rural county roads 318 and 225 in Reddick, along with Save our Rural Areas (SORA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the county’s rural lands and character. The plaintiffs allege the Future Land Use Map amendment and associated text amendment to the County’s Comprehensive Plan are “not in compliance” because it is internally inconsistent and
does not address the potential impacts on the Rainbow Springs Group Basin watershed, among other claims. “The Comprehensive Plan amendments were not supported by data or analysis,” said Brookes shortly after the filing in July. Formal administrative hearings are held to resolve contested issues between private citizens and public organizations and agencies of the state. Jerome Feaster, who founded SORA in 2005 said: “We think we’ve got a good shot at the hearing; hopefully it (WEC Jockey Club PUD) will go back to the county and be revised. It won’t stop what’s going on but we’re hoping for a better outcome.” Meanwhile, a court date for another legal challenge to the PUD’s approval, an appeal contesting Marion County Commissioner’s approval of the property’s rezoning from mostly agricultural to PUD, also filed by Brookes July 20, has not been scheduled as of press time. In that case, the Guthries, Love and SORA, along with Michael and Jacki Robinson, Jennifer Hale and Karen Courchaine allege the approval of the rezoning application by the Board, “violates the essential requirements of law,” due to double and triple dipping of development density and intensity. Both legal filings followed a June 21 3-to-2 vote by
Marion County Commissioners approving Golden Ocala Equestrian Land LLC.’s PUD application for the massive project, despite the recommendation of denial by County Growth Services staff for the amendments and the rezoning, and over fervent objections from droves of area residents and SORA. Prior to the PUD’s approval, Commissioners adopted the Comprehensive Plan changes, which then allowed them to vote on Golden Ocala’s application. During the June meeting, representatives for Golden Ocala and WEC Ocala, including attorney James, “Jimmy,” Gooding said the project should be approved because several other nearby developments had industrial or commercial uses, including an RV park, employment center and a mine. Commissioners Michelle Stone, Jeff Gold and Chairman Carl Zalak voted for the comprehensive plan amendments and the rezoning request, with Commissioners Craig Curry and Kathy Bryant casting the dissenting votes. The land’s rezoning from mostly agricultural to WEC PUD will allow Golden Ocala, owned by long-distance trucking industry billionaires Larry and Mary Roberts, developers of the World Equestrian Center (WEC) Ocala, to build another similar multi-use venue of 94 single family homes, a 100-site RV See Jockey, page A2
File photo: Interim City Manager Peter Lee on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
First Parent Partnership Event of the year encourages family involvement By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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tudents, parents and families reviewed this year’s Code of Student Conduct and learned skills to take home at the first “Parent Partnership” session of the 2022-23 school year at Lake Weir High School on Saturday. The recurring event offers students help with math, science and reading and shows parents how they can offer hands-on help at home. The instruction and presentations given at the events are provided by district staff, community organizations and members depending on the subject matter, said district spokesperson Kevin Christian. “The Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) Parent Partnership is a collaboration of district schools, departments and community organizations to provide families opportunities to assist their children with strategies to be used at home and link families with community resources,” according to MCPS. The events align with the Goal 5 of the district’s strategic plan, which encourages communication and involvement between families and schools, as well as strengthened community involvement from local organizations. “This session will also share resources for social skills development and how community organizations can help students at home,” said Christian. Attendees also had the opportunity for educators to sit down with them to review the 2022-2023 Student Code of Conduct, which was approved on August 9, just one day before the first day of school. The School Board of Marion County extensively reviewed many items in the code of conduct that needed updating from the previous year. One of the most significant changes included changing the classification disciplinary action for possession or influence of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in
cannabis. “The disciplinary consequence for THC possession or [being] under the influence will require alternative placement and the additional diversion requirement,” according to MCPS. The school district will additionally now be partnering with the Marion County Hospital District to offer intervention services for students who face infractions related to THC vaping and marijuana use, according to MCPS. Parents, students and families in attendance of the Parent Partnership event could review this and all other changes to the Student Code of Conduct with district staff in an effort to provide clarity to student offenses and common disciplinary actions for the coming year. Attendees of the event also had access to complimentary food and transportation was provided for guests over the age of 5, Christian said. “Information about future Parent Partnership events, topics and related details are shared with attendees to encourage them to continue attending and inviting others to do the same,” he said. The remaining Parent Partnership events for the 20222023 school year will take place at West Port High School on Nov. 12, Belleview High School on Jan. 21 and at North Marion High School on March 25.
File photo: Kevin Christian on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
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