THE CITY OF BROOKSVILLE RECOGNIZES OUTGONG BROOKSVILE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR SERVICE
Brooksville, Florida (December 3, 2024) – At a regular City Council meeting on November 18, 2024, the City of Brooksville recognized Mayor Blake Bell, Councilman David Bailey, and Councilwoman Jody Young, for their hard work and dedication to bettering the City of Brooksville over the time they have served.
Mayor Blake Bell:
Mayor Blake Bell served on the City of Brooksville City Council from December 2020 through December 2024, contributing four years of time and effort to better the Brooksville community. Mayor Blake Bell was named Vice Mayor in 2021, was selected Mayor in 2022 and was reelected to the position in 2023. He served as Mayor again from 2023 to December of 2024. Over the past four years, Mayor Bell has shown citizens of the City of Brooksville, his fellow Council Members, and City employees that he truly cares about the city where he was raised. He is devoted to making policies and decisions for a better community, deeming no matter too great or too small for his attention. Bell ran as Mayor because he believed that Brooksville would benefit from having a new, young leader rise to the challenge. He will pass the Gavel onto the new Mayor at the next City Council meeting on Monday, December 9, 2024, at 7:00 PM.
Councilman David W Bailey:
Councilman David Bailey served on the City of Brooksville City Council from December 2020 through the beginning of December 2024, where he worked to improve the City of Brooksville. He served as the Vice Mayor of Brooksville in 2023 and rejoined the City Council from 2023 to 2024. At the board meeting on November 18, 2024, Councilman Bailey spoke about how he always made decisions for the betterment of Brooksville and how he was honored to be elected to his position.
Councilwoman Jody Young
Councilwoman Jody Young served on the Brooksville City Council from August 19, 2024, through the beginning of December 2024. Councilwoman Young served in the interim period between the resignation of Council member Casey Thieryung and the beginning of the newly elected Council Member’s term. The new Council Member will be sworn in at the City Council meeting on December 9, 2024. The City of Brooksville appreciates Mrs. Young’s willingness to fill the position and work to the best of her ability to improve Brooksville during the short time that she could serve.
Many positive, important, and productive decisions were made during the four-year term of Blake Bell and David Bailey and the four-month term of Jody Young. Some significant accomplishments established for the City of Brooksville include the completion of the Coast-to- Coast Good Neighbor Trail through Brooksville, the construction and planned opening of a new Department of Public Works Facility that will replace the previous 80-year-old building, and the construction and ribbon-cutting of a splash pad in Tom Varn Park, made possible through a partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville. In 2023, with the support of then Mayor Bell and Vice Mayor Bailey, the City Council approved a groundbreaking policy and adopted design standards relating to new development within the City. Under their support as members of the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), the City of Brooksville also expanded the boundaries of the existing downtown CRA footprint.
With the creation of a Grants and Procurement Office, a record number of grants and state and federal monies were applied for and received during Mayor Bell’s and Councilman Bailey’s time in office. Approval of the purchase and implementation of new software in most City departments have led to greater efficiency to serve the residents of Brooksville and visitors to the City. A comprehensive street paving program has seen the repaving or replacement of dozens of streets over the past four years. After a financial struggle was realized due to the Coronavirus, the City received Federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act, which helped many capital improvement projects to be completed or put in final stages of completion.
During the past four years, with the consensus of Mr. Bell and Mr. Bailey, it has been important for the City of Brooksville City Council to recognize community residents, businesses and City employees. The 50th anniversary of Luigis Pizza, the 100th anniversary of Gulf Coast Title, the 50th anniversary of Methodist School Center, and the life of Tommy Bronson were among many recognized. The City Council recognized Main Street Eatery for their 35th anniversary, family members of Mayor Bell, Bill and Peggie Bell, own the restaurant. The achievements of the youth of the City of Brooksville and Hernando County were also an important focus during the last four years. Mayor Bell, Councilman Bailey, Councilwoman Young, and the rest of the City Council, proclaimed November of 2024 as “Florida Family Engagement in Education Month,” which recognized the impact that families and teachers have on a child’s educational experience. The most joyful action taken was on March 6, 2023, when Mayor Bell, Vice Mayor Bailey, and the City Council recognized local resident, Roy Link, who was responsible for finding two-year-old Joshua “JJ” Rowland, who had wondered off and was missing in the Brooksville area.
As a former municipal finance director, Councilwoman Jody Young was vital in reviewing the City’s annual budget during her first few meetings. During Councilwoman Young’s tenure, the City endured two major Hurricanes and declared two separate State of Emergency Proclamations, passed the Fiscal Year 2025 budget., recognized national Women’s Small Business Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, White Cane Awareness Month, Veterans Day, and a host of other nationally recognized celebrations. Mrs. Young also supported the request to bring Hernando Park on Fort Dade Avenue into the City of Brooksville’s Park system, providing another outdoor recreational opportunity for residents and visitors to the city.
Three new Council Members will take their places at the December 9, 2024, Brooksville City Council Meeting with the swearing-in of Louis Hallal, J.W. McKethan and Betty Erhard.
