Commission recognizes 2 departing officials

PANAMA CITY — Two retiring city employees went to their final commission meeting Tuesday.

City Clerk and Treasurer Terri Lillard is retiring after five years in the position and 17 years working in the finance department with the city. Lillard and her husband are retiring at the same time and have a few trips planned.

“I’ll miss the people and the action,” Lillard said. “I had never worked in government before and I had this impression that it was boring. I was wrong there’s never a dull moment.”

Darlene Hachmeister was appointed by the commission to be the new city clerk and treasurer. Hachmeister has been the city auditor for 30 years with the firm Tipton, Marler, Garner and Chastain.

“I’m very familiar with the city’s finances,” she said.

Hachmeister is a certified public accountant and fraud examiner. She will make an hourly rate of $60.48 with an annual salary of $105,000.

Also leaving is Mike Kazunas, who worked eight years as the city engineer. “I’m undecided, which means I have no plans,” he said.

His replacement, Bob English, attended the meeting on his first day on the job. English was the former city engineer in Norton Shores, Michigan. Locally, he worked on a sanitary sewer restoration project on Tyndall Air Force Base. He is licensed to work in Florida, Mississippi and Georgia. English will receive an hourly rate of $35.96 for an annual salary of $73,000.

“His experience is very similar to mine,” Kazunas said.

In other action Tuesday, the commission:

- Approved a bid of $850,820 from L&R Contracting for the Lisenby Regional Stormwater Facility. The facility will be behind the K-Mart off Lisenby Avenue. Interim City Manager Jeff Brown said one of the main purposes of the facility will be to remove sediment flowing into Lake Caroline. The contract amount is $795,160, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection provided a grant for $785,000.

- Discussed an outdoor burning ordinance that would prohibit fires in trash barrels, but allow the use of commercially manufactured units, mainly fire pits. On second reading of the ordinance, Commissioner Kenneth Brown requested more specific language prohibiting fires in trash barrels.

- Discussed a conditional use permit to allow recreational vehicles to park on Shriner property along 19th Street. The property is zoned light industrial. City Attorney Nevin Zimmerman clarified the commission does not want to have commercial RV parking. Shriner representative Frank Brown said RV parking would be for members only and there would be no permanent parking.

- Approved board appointments. Ray Dubuque and Robert Hughes will remain on the planning board. John Pilcher will remain on the Panama City Bay County Airport Authority Board. Don Crisp will remain on the Panama City Port Authority Board and Harvey Hollingsworth will replace Tom Neubauer.

- Stood by a decision to not grant Eddie and Mattie Taylor a permit for a Millville Community Block Party for July 5. Mayor Greg Brudnicki said the block party could be held at a later date, but the Taylors did not file the permit request soon enough to have the party July 5. This would be the third year for the block park in the 700 block of Satsuma Avenue. The commission expressed concerns about the number of people in attendance, when the event will end and potential noise complaints. The party includes a performance by DJ Step and people are encouraged to bring coolers, although alcoholic beverages would be prohibited. According to fliers the Taylors already prepared, the event is scheduled between 3 and 10 p.m. Brudnicki suggested moving the party to a city park.