The Fate of Rick Fernandez: Reinstated, Status Quo, or Terminated?

The Fate of Rick Fernandez: Reinstated, Status Quo, or Terminated?

The agenda for the next city commission meeting on December 6th contains Item 11.01 which is  titled “City Manager Administrative Leave.” The agenda item states: On November 8, the City Commission voted to approve paid administrative leave for the City Manager until such time as the Florida Commission on Ethics resolves the matter of a […]

Dr. Erwin Jackson, Rep. Ausley’s Husband, Among Those Seeking Ethics Board Appointment

Dr. Erwin Jackson, Rep. Ausley’s Husband, Among Those Seeking Ethics Board Appointment

On Wednesday the City Commission will vote to fill a vacancy on the City Independent Ethics Board. Notable applicants include Dr. Erwin Jackson, former City Commission candidate Luther Lee and Bill Hollimon -the husband of Florida State Representative Lorrane Ausley. Dr Erwin Jackson, who calls himself the “Tallahassee Truth Teller”, filled out an application and […]

County Commissioner Dozier Sells Home $110,000 Over 2015 Purchase Price

County Commissioner Dozier Sells Home $110,000 Over 2015 Purchase Price

Public records confirm that Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier sold the home she bought from local developer J.T. Burnette. Dozier purchased the home from Burnette on February 18th, 2015 for $188,600. Dozier sold the home on November 16th, 2017 for $298,000. The recent sales price is $109,400 or 58% above Dozier’s original purchase price, which […]

Experts Say Mobility Fee Will Increase Transparency, Raise More Money, Could Hurt Small Businesses

Experts Say Mobility Fee Will Increase Transparency, Raise More Money, Could Hurt Small Businesses

The monthly Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates held their monthly luncheon meeting Tuesday and heard two experts discuss the pros and cons of a move towards a mobility fee. A mobility fee, which is under consideration in Leon County, replaces impact and concurrency fees as a source for funding transportation projects. The fee would […]

Payments from City’s Solar Customers Headed to Foreign Company

Payments from City’s Solar Customers Headed to Foreign Company

Tallahassee Reports has learned that the City of Tallahassee’s solar project is being financed and constructed by a private Belgium company that is registered in Cyprus, an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean. This means that payments made by city residents, who have chosen to buy electricity from the solar project, will be leaving Tallahassee to […]

Mayor Gillum Proposes Strong Ethics Rules

Mayor Gillum Proposes Strong Ethics Rules

Lost in the media’s coverage of the letter of admonishment by Tallahassee’s Independent Ethics Board to City Manager Rick Fernandez were the ethics recommendations proposed by Mayor Andrew Gillum. The breadth and content of Gillum’s recommendations, which were discussed by the Ethics Board last week, was surprising given his previous position on various ethics initiatives. […]

Mid-Year Data Shows a Crime Decrease in Leon County with Property Crime Down, Violent Crime Up

Mid-Year Data Shows a Crime Decrease in Leon County with Property Crime Down, Violent Crime Up

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, mid-year data for 2017 shows that crime decreased by 9.4% in Leon County when compared to the same time period during 2016. The overall decrease was driven by a 11.9% decrease in property crimes like burglary and larceny. The number of motor vehicle thefts fell from 598 […]

Leon County Citizen Charter Review Committee Addresses CRA’s & Ethics

Leon County Citizen Charter Review Committee Addresses CRA’s & Ethics

The Leon County Citizen Charter Review Committee (CCRC) met on Thursday, November 16th, for the second time and began advancing ideas about possible amendments to the county charter. Under the CCRC process, ideas proposed by any of the 14 committee members that receive four votes of support are submitted to county staff for more analysis […]

Family Members of High Level City Officials Land City Jobs

Family Members of High Level City Officials Land City Jobs

Tallahassee Reports has learned that the City of Tallahassee’s Technology and Innovation Department, headed by Jonathan Kilpatrick, employs the step-son of City Commissioner Nancy Miller and the daughter of City Manager Rick Fernandez. In addition, TR has verified that Kilpatrick’s wife works with the City of Tallahassee and his daughter, Cowan Kilpatrick Duggar, was recently hired […]