Musical Chairs in High Springs?
It seems like a game of musical chairs in High Springs. Just weeks after two new commissioners were elected, there's another change to the city's leadership, leaving some residents with a faltering faith in their government.
"What makes me angry is the simple fact that High Springs isn't trying to do nothing for the people, they're more worried about who they're paying and who's out and who's in instead of worrying about the neighborhood," said Margaret Williams, who has lived in High Springs for more than a decade. She and several other tax payers feel city leaders are not working to fix their problems.
"There's no money, no funding, and there's nobody trying to move anything to get any funding," she said.
After 16 months on the job, interim City Manager, Jenny Parham, has been replaced; a controversial move among commissioners.
"On the surface, it looks like cronyism," said commissioner Eric May.
"You're appointing somebody with no government management skills, at all, to a position where they're overseeing police, fire, all those critical day to day functions," he said of Jeri Langman being voted in as the city's new interim manager Tuesday night.
Langman, a city resident, was first recommended by newly elected Vice Mayor Bob Barnas.
"She's willing to give her expertise in business, to get the grant writers, to get the money going, and to get meetings done that need to be done, now," said Barnas.
Barnas feels Parham has been doing a poor job communicating information, and staying organized.
"She's doing a job of a city clerk, and a city manager; fighting law suits, fighting grants getting failed...she just can't keep up," he said.
Though some are skeptical of the motive behind replacing Parham, others hope change will soon reach their neighborhood.
"Get this place in gear, and what not, up to par, we might not keep up with Alachua but we can do something for our youth to make our youth feel that we are thinking about them," said Williams.
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