FELLSMERE — Two Fellsmere City Council incumbents and their challenger in the November municipal election agree on at least one issue – more public participation is needed in Fellsmere’s city government. Beyond that, there appeared to be little common ground between them.
Those running for two seats on the Fellsmere Council dais are Mayor Susan Adams, Councilwoman Sara Savage, and challenger Johnny Luke. Savage is seeking a fifth term on the Fellsmere City Council, while Adams is seeking a third term. Luke is seeking a first term.
The Old Fellsmere School’s auditorium served as the place for the Fellsmere City Council Candidate Forum – a first for the auditorium – Thursday evening.
“It’s a marvelous facility,” said County Commissioner and the forum’s moderator Wesley Davis. “You’ve got to love it.”
Candidates addressed an audience of a little more than a dozen residents, including Council members Fernando Herrera and Joel Tyson and City Attorney Warren Dill.
Candidates fielded five different questions each, ranging from their knowledge of how city government runs and is funded to their priorities for projects and the economic realities the city and businesses face.
Among the five questions posed, Adams was asked what her ideas are on how to increase revenue to the city without increasing taxes.
Adams responded that the best thing the city can do and has been doing is pursue various grants to help fund different projects around the city.
That is “money off the taxpayers’ backs,” she said.
Adams added that city has also been working to negotiate franchise agreements with such businesses as Waste Management, which could lead to more money coming back to the city.
Adams was also asked what she thinks is the most significant challenge to the business community and how the city could help.
She said the fees businesses have to pay and the permitting process, which the city does not control, are the biggest challenges.
Adams said the city has been actively working with businesses and the county to make the process better.
“That is a big obstacle they have to overcome,” Adams said of getting the necessary permits.
Savage was asked, among other questions, how she would control employee benefit costs, such as pensions and healthcare.
“That’s a little out of my purview,” Savage said, adding she didn’t know the answer.
Savage said she knows it is an issue that the City Council would have to work on.
The councilwoman was also asked what she thinks her biggest contribution would be to the community if elected.
“I listen to the people,” Savage said,” and try to find a way to work with them.”
She added that doing so usually means educating them on how government works.
Of the questions posed to Luke, one asked what he believes is the biggest weakness of the current council.
“There’s never a nay,” he said of the votes the Council takes on matters. “It’s always a yes.”
Luke added that he believes the City Council allows the city manager to do as he pleases.
“Whatever he wants, he gets,” Luke said of City Manager Jason Nunemaker.
Luke was also asked what motivated him to run for Fellsmere City Council.
“People of Fellsmere are dissatisfied,” Luke said, pointing to the lack of public turnout at council meetings. “We’ve got to get them involved.”
Adams agreed with Luke that she would like to see more people attend the council meetings.
Savage disagreed with Luke’s assessment of the public’s approval of Council, saying that she believes people don’t show up because they are happy with the work the Council is doing.
“When we’re not doing something right, they let us know,” Savage said.
Early voting for the Fellsmere municipal election begins Oct. 29 and run through Nov. 5. It is being held only at the Supervisor of Elections Office, 4375 43rd Ave., Vero Beach, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The municipal election will be held Nov. 8.
