- April 19, 2024
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Library improvements were included in a list of more than 50 capital projects, ranging from $5,000 to $2 million. Commissioner Alan Peterson opposed the café proposal.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners approved by consensus a list of 56 capital projects proposed by staff, at a July 11 budget session, with price tags ranging from $5,000 to more than $2 million.
The most expensive project on the list was a $2,230,513 bridge on County Road 305, which will be paid for mostly through grants. Other big-ticket items include road resurfacing on John Anderson Highway, sidewalk installation on State Road 100 and Malacompra Oceanfront Park improvements.
The smaller projects, however, were debated more vociferously by the board.
Improvements were proposed to the Flagler County Public Library, including gazebo replacement, walkway/path lighting replacement and the addition of a meeting room, teen room and café.
In total, all library proposals would cost the county approximately $131,200.
Commission Chairman Alan Peterson opposed the construction of a new gazebo. According to staff, the current gazebo was donated privately, has been badly vandalized and is currently not “structurally sound.” New lighting and surveillance cameras have been added outside to combat future crime.
“It needs to be demolished,” County Administrator Craig Coffey told the board, proposing a sturdier structure more fit for outdoor, public use.
“(But) it’s $20,000,” Peterson said. “This falls under ‘nice to have.’”
Peterson also adamantly opposed the inclusion of a café in the library.
“This is a library,” he said, “not a Starbucks,” saying the addition would be a waste of facility space.
Staff said that the shop would be run by a private lessee, and the space it would inhabit, because of location, would never be used for shelving.
Commissioner Milissa Holland saw the café as a possible revenue source for the library.
“We have to restructure and reevaluate how we do business looking forward,” she said.
Commissioner George Hanns was in full support, as well.
“I’ve been an advocate for this here coffee shop for many, many years,” he said.
Onstage: Washington Oaks
County staff proposed $10,000 of capital project funds, along with labor, to go toward a partnership project with the Friends of Washington Oaks State Park, to construct a stage at the park, as an additional tourism venue. Coffey said Friends of Washington Oaks also will be applying for a grant from the Tourist Development Council in the amount of $5,000, TDC’s grant cap for nonprofits.
But some board members believed that now is the wrong time to fund projects that are not must-haves.
“I’m not going to vote for any capital projects that fall under ‘nice to have,’ not ‘need to have,’” Peterson said.
Coffey supported the proposal.
“We’ve been cutting our capital projects each year,” he said. “We already have cut (several) capital projects, so I encourage you to keep as many as you can.”
“(Washington Oaks) is one of our greatest assets,” said Milissa Holland, county commissioner. “(This) is really not a heck of a lot of money … and I want to ensure that this park (endures).”
Peterson suggested that the TDC change its funding policy, in order to cover all project costs. Holland, who is also the TDC chair, disagreed.
“The policy is working,” she said.
“Even though times are bad, these are tourism investments in nature,” Coffey said, “and that’s kind of how we’re looking at this.”
OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDE ...
All of staff’s proposed “minor” projects, less than $50,000 each, total $389,450 from general, rollover and other funds. “Major” projects, more than $50,000 each, total $1,760,683 of general and other revenue funds, with $939,060 coming from grant money.
Notable minor projects
Espanola Community Center pavilion—$5,000
Hammock Community Center court resurfacing—$7,000
Espanola Community Center flooring—$10,000
Princess Place bridge replacement—$10,000
Princess Place bathhouse repair—$15,000
Old Dixie Park horseshoe courts/pavilion—$20,000
Bings Landing playground equipment—$25,000
Legacy House repairs—$25,000
Princess Place pavilion—$25,000
Signage at Flagler County parks (seven-year project)—$30,000
Notable major projects
Betty Steflik Preserve boardwalk replacement—$50,000
Bings Landing restroom replacement—$59,000
Wadsworth Park restroom replacement—$68,000
Bings Landing seawall repair—$87,000
Roberts Road bike path—$90,000
Princess Place barn replacement—$204,000
Bings Landing North addition—$285,310
Old Kings turn lanes—$427,500
Varn Park added parking—$450,000
U.S. 1 sidewalk improvement—$510,000
Colbert Lane Trail improvements—$530,000
Matanzas, Old Kings sidewalks—$768,700
County Road 305 widening, etc.—$1.1 million
State Road 100 sidewalks, landscaping approx—$3 million
Contact Mike Caveliere at [email protected].
