Although no action was taken, the Jay Town Council heard an update from Operations Manager Eric Seib and discussed the status of current and future projects and funding possibilities for them in the town Monday night.
Livestock Market
Seib said the town is waiting for the spring and for more participation in the Jay Marketplace of food truck vendors and others to plan a grand opening. A seafood vendor recently had a medical episode, the third recently, and had to be Lifeflighted to the hospital and it is unknown whether he will be able to return. The taco truck is still there and Seib said this is the first month the town is collecting money for use of the water.
CDBG Grant
Seib said the town can qualify to apply this year for a $600,000 CDBG that can be used for repaving, if they can close out this year's grant by mid-April.
“What we thought would be next year's cycle, we can now get into this year's cycle,” said Seib.
Dewberry Engineering's Crystal Weatherington said that she thinks they should be able to get it closed out by then.
“We have an opportunity to use it for repaving, since all the waterlines will be done,” said Weatherington. “It will be based off your low-income housing.”
Mayor Shon owens asked if all of the town's roads would qualify for repaving.
“It should be safe to say all of our roads need repaving,” said Owens. The council agreed that $600,000 would go a long way.
Highway 4 project
A meeting was held Tuesday to figure out how to close out the old water lines so all the customers are on PVC. The customers are tied in and new fire hydrants are active, according to the project tracker report.
Park Master Plan
The town of Jay is 89 of 92 on the $50,000 grant list, according to Seib.
“The good news is I think there is $4.7 million requested from the governor so hopefully we can get that Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant,” said Seib. He said it is now a matter of waiting to see how it goes through the budget planning. He said he is waiting to hear back from the playground equipment company about first quarter sales.
Weatherington said she has all of the project elements included in the park plan, but that she wants to phase it out and then wait for internal feedback from her company before she presents the plan to the council.
Owens asked about the number of tennis courts, and if there was a minimum number they had to have, suggesting it could save them money.
“If you can eliminate a court or two, would that save us some money?” said Owens.
Weatherington said that a recent quote tennis courts at about $400,000 for an asphalt court. She said on the plan, she moved the current tennis courts to where the pavilion is now and where they are now would be soccer fields, due to the roots that are under the current tennis courts.
They talked about clay courts, which require more maintenance, affecting the cost.
Owens suggested that the tennis court may be further down the line than basketball court, or softball or baseball fields.
“I think the basketball court in reference is very minimal in cost compared to a tennis court,” said Owens. “I don't know that we would be saving a lot. I can't see $400,000, but we'll see.”
Owens emphasized that from a phasing standpoint, tennis may have to wait and Weatherington said it may have to be a phase by itself, in the planning process, due to cost.
Owens said he didn't know if the tennis courts will be safe much longer to play on because of the possible liability of roots growing through the asphalt and creating a hazard. He asked town attorney Steve Cozart if he thought the town should have a release or something in place to protect the town. Cozart said it is a good idea with the courts in the shape they are in now.
Weatherington said she would check with several contractors to see if they have a different price. Owens reminded the council that the courts were resurfaced several years ago at a cost of $40,000.
A Santa Rosa County citizen feedback workshop is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tues., Feb. 18, at Jay Community Center located at 5259 Booker Ln. in Jay to give the public an opportunity to learn how the county's annual budget is funded and allocated. Visit http://www.santarosa.fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View for a quick overview. The public is invited.
The next town council meeting will be at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17, at town hall.
