High Springs Officials Discuss Hiring New Public Works and Finance Directors Amid Vacancies
Near the end of the High Springs City Commission meeting on Thursday, officials discussed filling new-found vacancies.
A few weeks ago, City Manager Jeremy Marshall fired Finance Director Diane Wilson. When asked why he fired Wilson, Marshall told GnvInfo he couldn’t comment because the matter was an “outgoing personnel issue.” The move received strong pushback from Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth, who indicated Marshall made the decision unexpectedly.
Regarding the public works director, Jason Kytle submitted his resignation on January 7, and his last day was on February 5, High Springs Public Info Officer Kevin Mangan told GnvInfo.
Kytle replaced Thomas Henry, who was the public works director for roughly two years until he was fired by a recently-hired Marshall in April 2024. A few months after his firing, Henry filed a lawsuit against High Springs, with the core allegations being violation of Sunshine law, destruction of evidence, and violations of Florida’s Public Whistleblowers Act. Based on court records, Henry voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit in January 2025.
Marshall said they have a couple of applicants to be the public works director and plan to do interviews next week.
Marshall said they have a few applicants for finance director. He indicated the application deadline closes next week but said they’ll probably reopen it. “Not knocking any applicants if they’re watching, it’s just I think we need a better candidate pool,” he said.
Marshall said they’ve given a consultant access to Springbrook, their financial system, so they don’t fall as far behind on audits.
Marshall said he was recommended an Alachua woman to serve the role of finance director for 90 days. He said she has experience working as a finance director and he believes city manager as well.
“Over the coming meetings you’re gonna hear more about the financial situation of the city,” Marshall said. “We’ve gotta make some changes.”
Marshall said last week he called the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee (JLAC) and they agreed to give them an extra 30 days before taking action. “We’re not gonna get it done but they gave us an additional 30 days,” he said, stating JLAC knows the city lacks a finance director. “They’re willing work up with us as long as they see motion,” Marshall added.
In between topics, Commissioner Katherine Weitz talked about a sermon she heard from a pastor online about having a “servant heart” and said it “spoke to” her. She described hearing the pastor say, “God is not looking for perfection in performance but rather for our presence to do the work.” She said she believes the High Springs commission can accomplish that.
Bloodsworth asked for more information on the hiring search, and Marshall said that on paper he’s confident about candidates for public works director but less so for finance director, saying none of the applicants are accountants. Marshall said their auditor has “stressed” that they “need someone who is good with technical [accounting] skills.”
Marshall said they “need” a certified public accountant (CPA) but that the city cannot afford to hire one.
Bloodsworth told Marshall he “requested some numbers” and asked Marshall if he’d still be able to get them to share with the commission.
“I can try, I’m learning Springbrook,” replied Marshall, saying he can “figure it out.”
Bloodsworth said they have some “serious budgeting issues” they’re going to be dealing with and that numbers need to be shared.
Bloodsworth acknowledged the resigned public works director, apologizing to Kytle for needing to “put a band-aid on everything here.”
Bloodsworth told the rest of the commission, “I don’t think any of us wanna be in a hole waste deep full of sewer. They’re the lowest paid people we got here. When we do get somebody moved up, we get them trained… licensed, and where do they go? They don’t stay here. They move on down the road. We gotta do something about that.”
Bloodsworth continued, “I don’t think anybody’s gonna say anything right now but if sewer is backing up in their house we’re gonna get some serious issues going on… If we don’t have sewer and water, we are not a city… If we don’t fix this problem, we ain’t gonna have a city.”
Bloodsworth encouraged Marshall to “stand firm and stand strong.” Just a day prior, Marshall was in Auburndale to interview for a city manager position there.
Bloodsworth told Marshall, “We need you here. I don’t care if some people are gonna dislike what decision you make but it needs to be the right decision… Appreciate your job, let’s get with it and get ‘er done.”
Commissioner Tristan Grunder asked Marshall about the wastewater project, which according to Marshall’s job application to Auburndale cost about $12 million total.
Marshall said the project is “held up” because construction of the lift station could impede access to someone’s private property. Legal discussions on how to move forward are ongoing between the attorneys for the city and the property owner.
Regarding the sewer project, Marshall said, “We are really behind and really delayed, and I’m to the point where I’m nervous about the funding.”
Shortly before adjourning the meeting, Weitz asked Mayor Andrew Miller if they could ask Kytle to stay as their public works director, saying, “I don’t want to put you on the spot.”
Kytle politely declined.
Tomorrow, the City of Auburndale will have the opportunity to choose Marshall as their new city manager. However, this would be an unexpected outcome. A reporter from the Lakeland Ledger, who was present for the candidates' interviews with the commission on Wednesday, told GnvInfo that commissioner comments indicated they leaned towards the other two finalists.
