Wildwood commissioners approved annexation of two parcels in Oxford Monday night, despite outstanding code violations from Sumter County.
The 15-acre site west of the Village of Buttonwood neighborhood along County Road 121 is the location of Nature Calls Portable Toilets, operated by Jessica and Michael Demers.
Commissioners were hesitant to approve the annexation, but decided to address the code violations when rezoning is considered.
City development director Melanie Peavy said her staff has discussed the situation with the applicants. She said the parcels meet annexation requirements because they are contiguous to the city.
Mayor Ed Wolf said he didn’t want to give an impression to the neighbors that the annexation is a solution to the code violations. He said they might be concerned about seeing the company’s equipment from the road.
Commissioner Joe Elliott agreed.
“I would not like the applicant to get the idea that the annexation solves all of their problems,” he said.
Rodney Rogers, an Ocala engineer representing the applicants, said the code violations are not the major factor in the annexation.
“At the end of the day, we still want to be in Wildwood,” he said.
The Demers were arrested last month at their home after a domestic dispute over GPS equipment.
Before the meeting, a group of Wildwood residents met with Peavy in an effort to reform the City Advisory Council, which will work on issues ranging from crime to economic development. She said the group will set goals and work with city officials on solutions such as more sidewalks and speed controls.
Peavy said she was pleased with the participation at the meeting and the number of people who volunteered to serve on the council.
For City Manager Bill Ed Cannon, the session probably was his last commission meeting. Cannon, who served five years, has reached agreement with the city to resign July 3, but will continue to serve as a consultant through the end of the year. Jason McHugh, assistant city manager, was appointed acting city manager.
“I want to thank you for a very productive five years,” Wolf told Cannon. “You have become a good friend to all of us and we wish you nothing but the best.”
