CALLAWAY — Callaway mayoral candidates plan to deal with the city’s rocky relationship with Bay County.
Callaway has agreements with the county on several services including water, Animal Control, fire and law enforcement and wastewater treatment.
In the past year, the cost of those services have skyrocketed, namely the $25,000 increase for animal control despite the limited amount of oversight the city’s been given. And the $300,000 in repairs on the lift station at Veterans Park has further increased tension between the two governments.
Incumbent Thomas Abbott and challenger Janene Melvin agree that more communication and a stronger leadership bond are key.
Generally, the city is satisfied with the relationship it has with county, according to Abbott.
“We have very high regard and healthy relationships being established in a variety of areas,” he said. “There have just been some areas where, although there have been differences of opinion, the leadership has gotten together.”
Melvin has a much different view.
“There hasn’t seemed to be the communication among everybody as it should have been,” Melvin said. “I think there’s a lack of communication on all of it.”
Callaway and Bay County commissioners should be able to sit down and “hash out all of their concerns and be honest.”
Melvin believes the city government lacks “average citizens with common sense.”
If she were elected mayor, she said, she’d “help the people that have complaints.”
“I will do my very best and give my whole heart to it,” Melvin said.
Abbott has occupied the mayor seat for the past two years, replacing the previous mayor who died within 30 days after winning an election in 2012. He has been a commissioner for six years total.
Melvin is a Callaway resident of 46 years and has never served as an elected official.