- April 24, 2024
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Mayor Donald O. Burnette
The newly renovated Dorothy L. Hukill City Center Annex
First responders and city employees
Councilman Scott Stiltner
Cindy Wright, Florida State Senator Tom Wright, Debbie Connors, John Connors
Ribbon Cutting
City employees that made the annex possible
Jonathan Hukill, son of Senator Dorothy L. Hukill
Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette officially christened the former police station at the corner of Dunlawton Avenue and City Center Parkway as the Dorothy L. Hukill Annex on Friday, Feb. 22.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by a plethora of community members and elected officials from Volusia County. The 17,000 square-foot annex was repurposed for $2 million. The building used to be the Port Orange Police Station from 1985-2010. Burnette said it was important to the council that the building be renovated in order to be more accessible to the people.
The annex sits at the front of city center complex and houses the following departments: public works and utilities, records, and parks and recreation.
Burnette paid tribute to the late councilman and former police chief, Bob Ford. Burnette said they would have enjoyed reminiscing about the old building and Ford would have loved seeing how his former office had changed.
“When the council decided to name this building for Dorothy Hukill, she was supposed to be here with us,” Burnette said. “It was a shock to have lost her last October to cancer, but somehow, Dorothy, I know you’re with us right now, and I know you’re with us a whole lot more than just your name being on this building.”
Hukill’s son, Jonathan, paid tribute to his mother and talked about how much she loved making life better for others.
“She believed in public service with all of her heart,” Jonathan Hukill said. “More than any issue, she cared about public service and helping other people.”
Senator Dorothy L. Hukill will become the 19th person to be honored on the Wall of Fame at City Hall.
Dorothy Hukill was a woman of service. She served as councilwoman of Ponce Inlet from 1992-1994, vice mayor of Port Orange from 1998-2000, mayor of Port Orange from 2000-2004, in the Florida House of Representatives from 2004-2012 and in the state senate from 2012-2018.
“Dorothy Hukill was a teacher, an attorney, a mother, a friend, and so much more,” Burnette said. “She was a true public servant.”
