City Hall.

The Live Oak City Council had their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 9, at Live Oak City Hall. Several items were on the agenda for the evening meeting. Here is a brief rundown from the meeting.

Adam Prins remains president of city council

Live Oak Mayor Sonny Nobles presided over a board election to nominate and vote on the position of city council president. Councilor John Yulee nominated Councilor Adam Prins to remain as the president.

The motion passed 5-0.

Free burial lots in city cemetery … for city veterans only

City Clerk John Gill proposed Ordinance No. 1339 amending section 22-7 of the Code of Ordinance, limiting free burial lots in the city cemetery to only those veterans who are Live Oak residents. Prior to this ordinance passing, any veteran living within Suwannee County was allowed a free or reduced rate burial lot.

“I have a major problem with that,” said Councilor Bennie Thomas. “I don’t care where you live, in the city or in the county, a veteran is a veteran and they should have the right to be buried in the veteran section.”

President Adam Prins stated although the ordinance would offer free or reduced rates to Live Oak residents only, citizens of Suwannee County would still be able to purchase a lot at the standard rate.

The ordinance passed the final reading with a 4-1 vote, Thomas voting against.

Jennifer Seaman to serve on CRA board

The council voted unanimously Tuesday night to welcome Jennifer Seaman to the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency board. Seaman, who recently served on the redistricting committee, will replace Barney Everett. Everett resigned last month, stating a lack of time as his reason.

The decision, however, didn’t come easily.

Prins recommended Len Stapleton; Councilor Keith Mixon recommended Barbie Scott; and Councilor Jacob Grantham recommended Seaman.

It was determined that Stapleton was not qualified to serve on the board because he did not own, practice his profession or live within the CRA district.

There was confusion determining if Scott and Seaman were qualified to serve because they were co-owners of a business in the CRA district with their spouses. However, after reading the ordinance, the councilors learned anyone who practices their profession or owns a business in the CRA can qualify.

The councilors voted for Scott but it failed.

In the next vote, the councilors voted 5-0 for Seaman to fill the seat.

Council to form charter review committee

At the regular monthly meeting in June, Mixon made a motion to change the current charter in the form of an ordinance, but it failed. At the meeting Tuesday night, Mixon once again brought the subject up for discussion, and recommended the board form a charter review committee, and they voted 5-0 to do so.

The councilors will appoint someone from their respective districts to serve on the committee who is a owner/operator of a business or is a resident.

The councilors will present the names of the individuals selected at the next monthly meeting.