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By TONY BRITT on Wednesday, February 21, 2024Image
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WHITE SPRINGS — A White Springs man’s distaste for town and county officials is clear for all to see.
Joe Griffin has erected two mini-billboards in his yard, one labeling Town Manager Vanessa George, Mayor Anita Rivers and Town Clerk Audre’ Ruise as “White Springs’ 3 biggest crooks,” while the other sign lists Hamilton County Judge Jamie Tyndal as a “Bad Guy” and judge candidate Tisheena “Sheena” Rickerson as a “Good Guy.”
“I am very upset and disappointed at the political structure of White Springs and Hamilton County, so therefore I decided to redress my government for grievances and you cannot get a fair trial on citizen grievances in Hamilton County,” Griffin said Tuesday afternoon.
Griffin said the signs were erected Tuesday and, as far as he knows, the reaction that he’s gotten from other residents has been positive.
“Nobody has threatened to burn my house down yet,” he said, noting he plans to keep the signs posted up forever. “I may change the signs, but the structures will be up forever.”
While Griffin may have been satisfied by venting his frustrations against city and county government officials, the White Springs Town Council building and personnel there were uneasy with the signs.
At 3:50 p.m. Tuesday, Ruise answered the door at Town Hall and said town officials were holding a safety/security meeting in the building regarding Griffin and the signs. She noted that documents about the incident would be available on Wednesday around 1:30 p.m.
There was a sign posted on the door instructing visitors to ring the door bell because “For security reasons Town Hall is not open to the public. Please place your bill and payment into the slot.”
No information was given detailing how long the sign has been posted at the door.
During a call to George later Tuesday afternoon, she confirmed that documents would be available on Wednesday afternoon. She said she didn’t have any information at that time that she could provide verbally regarding the signs.
Griffin said he has never spoken to the county judge or her opponent and he didn’t consider the signs, either of them, as slander or libel.
“What slander is there? Have I called them any name,” he asked rhetorically. “They are crooks and I’m currently in a court case that is going to prove that they are.”
Griffin said the case has been on going for about four months because the judge — Chief Circuit Judge Melissa Olin — was nowhere to be found and did not reply to any motion by either party for over four months. He said he has also filed a case against her with the state’s Judicial Qualifications Committee.
The suit against town officials is nothing new for Griffin. Since moving to White Springs in 1999, he has filed more than 20 lawsuits against the town.
He said the resolution he’s seeking with the signs and judge’s actions would be for officials to honor his requests.
“On the signs, I would like the town to obey fully, completely and without any reservations to the public records law as it is stated in Florida,” he said. “As for Tyndal, I don’t want anything out of her except being defeated.
“State policy is that all records of the state, county and municipal governments are open for inspection and copying by any person and the town now has over 200 119 (public records requests) from me that have not been answered,” he continued, noting he has been attempting to get the information for 24 years.
By NEWS STAFF on Wednesday, February 21, 2024Subhead
White Springs officials claimed response to sign were coming.
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WHITE SPRINGS — White Springs town officials didn’t provide documentation in regards to a residents’ complaints with them after all.
White Springs Town Manager Vanessa George and Town Clerk Audre’ Ruise both said Tuesday that documents in regards to signs constructed by resident Joe Griffin would be available Wednesday afternoon.
All a reporter from the Lake City Reporter received instead was a no comment from George at Town Hall on Wednesday.
The Reporter filed a public records request for the documents Wednesday evening.
Griffin, who has filed more than 20 lawsuits against the town and town officials since moving to the Hamilton County town in 1999, constructed a pair of signs on his property on Mill Street — one street over from Spring Street (U.S. Highway 41) — in town taking shots at White Springs elected officials and staff as well as Hamilton County officials.
One of the two prominent mini-billboards labels George, Ruise and White Springs Mayor Anita Rivers as “White Spring’s 3 biggest crooks.” The other lists Hamilton County Judge Jamie Tyndal as a “Bad Guy” and challenger Tisheena “Sheena” Rickerson as a “Good Guy.”
On Tuesday, a sign was posted on the door at Town Hall instructing visitors that the government office was closed for unspecified security reasons. Ruise, who answered when the door bell was rang Tuesday, said town officials were holding a safety/security meeting in the building regarding Griffin and his signs.
Town Hall remained closed to the public Wednesday as well with the sign still posted on the door.
On June 21, 2022 the Town of White Springs City Council proposed and passed the first reading of an ordinance to allow internet Cafe's within the City. There was an existing ordinance banning them that the new would reversed . On June 28th the final reading took place with many citizens speaking their disagreement along with State's Attorney John Durrett and Hamilton County Sheriff having strong words against the new ordinance. The ordinance passed 5-0 as the cafe attorney John Koberlin spoke in favor . Needless to say the citizens were outraged by the outcome.
There appear to be many issues within the city council, city manager and the citizens, they continue.
THE LATEST:
It’s been a long hot summer. We hope that you and your family and friends have fared well especially with Hurricane Ian. White Springs was very lucky that it skipped us and now we can enjoy an early fall.
We are still in tumultuous times with the new internet gambling café open in the old Stormants’ grocery store location. They also added additional gambling machines in the Munchies convenience store. They are working on renovating the old hardware store for their next location.
As a result of the town council passing the internet gambling café and subsequent findings afterward, a lawsuit against the Town of White Springs and the town council and manager has been filed in the Hamilton County Circuit Court. Another lawsuit is pending. Additionally there has been at least two Ethics complaints filed against the town with the State of Florida. As communicated in my last email, July 20, the money raised to fight the gambling was transferred to the attorney, Taren Lane DeLisle, who is handling the lawsuits.
The town councils’ behavior towards the citizens of White Springs is still deplorable. Mick Shea has been recording town hall meetings, as well as the final budget meeting, Oct. 4. It was very contentious. Here is a link to the budget meeting video/audio recording. I am sure if you listen to it you will agree that this town deserves better leadership.
Link to final budget PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17_tV1KlhRVEwOTi6zr8uXRTlmxXuPXk_/view?usp=sharing
Please feel free to respond if you have any other comments or questions.
You can follow the lawsuit on this link : https://www.civitekflorida.com/ocrs/app/partyCaseSummary.xhtml
Hamilton County and then Greene Roger
December 13th, 2022 Meeting
January 10th, 2022 Meeting
February 14, 2023 Meeting
March 14, 2023 Meeting
April 11, 2023 Meeting
May 9, 2023 Meeting
June 13, 2023 Meeting
July 11, 2023 Meeting
August 8, 2023
August 15, 2023 Meeting
September, 2023 Meeting
October, 2023 Meeting
November, 2023 Meeting
December, 2023 Meeting
January 2024 Meeting
February 2024 Meeting
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