- April 18, 2024
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The Ormond Beach City Commission on Tuesday, March 21, unanimously approved a $1.7-million work authorization to a local company for construction management services for the Ormond Beach Performing Arts renovation project.
The contract, approved in the meeting’s consent agenda, was awarded to Bomar Construction, Inc., of Ormond Beach. The project is funded in part by Volusia County ECHO funds and includes the renovation of the PAC’s lobby, the creation of a donor wall, improvements to the building’s exterior façade and the addition of an art installation.
Commissioners praised the progress on the renovation project, which has been in the works since 2019.
“I’m very excited about the Performing Arts Center renovation project,” City Commissioner Susan Persis said. “That’s going to be wonderful when that is all finished.”
The cost of the renovations has risen due to inflation, according to the city. Initially, the city estimated the project to cost about $1.3 million.
The $600,000 ECHO grant requires an equal match, and the Friends of the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center raised $191,500 toward the match. The city had originally budgeted $520,000 to contribute to the match.
While the Friends of the PAC planned to fund any additional rise in cost from the initial estimate, they didn’t anticipate the project cost increasing so much, and stated in a letter to the city that they would not be able to cover the deficit. The city agreed to fund the $406,865 needed using general fund reserves.
“It’s never easy to spend money when everything is inflated right now,” City Commissioner Lori Tolland said. “And I know that might be a little bit of a burden, but I do think that the momentum of the project needs to continue and it will definitely be an asset to the community.”
Mayor Partington praised the dedication of the Friends of the PAC.
“There are so many caring, dedicated people involved with that committee,” Partington said.
The City Commission at its meeting on Tuesday also unanimously approved a special exception to allow the conversion of two parking spaces at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum to house a new garden shed.
The garden shed will be “cottage style” to match the nearby Emmons Cottage. The museum stated in a letter to the city that the shed was necessary to store equipment needed to care for the gardens, as the previous storage space was demolished when the museum was renovated.
An ordinance that would reduce the membership of the Leisure Services Advisory Board was tabled on Tuesday to allow the board to discuss the issue.
The ordinance, proposed to help the board be able to reach a quorum, would reduce its 13 members to 7 with three alternates.
“Having served with Leisure Services for over 24 years, they definitely know what they need and they have not been able to reach that quorum, and they need to make decisions, so I think it’s very good that the city will allow the board to work these issues out and then come back to us with staff’s help with a good solution,” Commissioner Lori Tolland said.
Mayor Bill Partington agreed.
“I’m grateful that they’re willing to continue to work on finding the appropriate solution, and I’m confident [that] working with them we can get there.”
Volusia County announced Tuesday that the Disaster Recovery Center at the Florida Department of Health-Volusia, at 1845 Holsonback Drive, will permanently close at 6 p.m. Friday, March 31.
The closure is due to a decreasing number of visitors, according to a news release.
“The recovery center opened in October and has been a vital asset for people to apply for assistance and speak to representatives from multiple agencies,” Emergency Services Director Jim Judge said. “I also want to express my sincerest gratitude to FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration as they have been so helpful in getting our residents and businesses the assistance they need, as well as the Florida Department of Health for providing the venue.”
People and businesses with an open case or those who would like to appeal a denial decision may visit disasterassistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call 800-621-3362. Businesses and most private nonprofits can still apply for an economic injury loan through the SBA for both storms.
