Town also eyes other key projects in town
Mayor Owens, left, with Dudley
The Jay Town Council received a $1,500 grant from the Florida League of Mayors Monday night for renovations on the Marketplace and heard an update of its on-going projects.
The town applied for the annual Florida League of Mayors grant this past summer. The grant promotes projects to help build the community.
Florida League of Mayors Executive Director Scott Dudley, who presented the check, spoke to the council about the importance of their jobs and thanked them.
"Thank you for what you do," said Dudley. "This is my favorite part of my job. I get to travel and meet city council members from big cities and small cities. It's a small town and ya'll are doing the business of the town. You are true public servants. Cities can't go on without you doing what you do."
Dudley pointed out that the town's membership fee in the league has gotten a good return on it's investment with this grant.
The money will be used in doing some more renovation work to make the Marketplace more marketable for outside and inside events. The town is hosting its first event inside the auction barn with a Christmas movie at 6:30 p.m., this Friday, Dec. 10, at the facility.
Waterline replacement
Jay Project Manager Eric Seib said the waterline replacement crew will finish up Darney Road this week and begin on Highway 4 next. He said there are bores under Williams Street and Highway 89 also and the project has been extended for 60 days, to Jan. 15. The project may extend another 30 days and another crew may be utilized to expedite the process. Seib said the process has been slowed because the crew digging runs into things that were in the wrong spot or were not accounted for according to maps or schematics. He said the crew is trying to go slow and careful to lessen the chance of hitting things underground.
Gas line extension
The engineering plan for a natural gas line extension that was requested by a farmer on Pine Level Church Road that will bring the town revenue came back at $200,000 for just the engineering part, with a total estimate of $300,000.
"I'm trying to do some research to compare propane versus natural gas to help understand what portion of this project is a savings for the customer so we can see if we can get some input from that customer to help pay for it," said Seib.
He said it's a six or seven-month project and they are at seven months. Seib said he will get some figures for the next meeting so the council can make some decisions.
Park Playground
The concrete slab is poured at Bray-Hendricks Park for the fitness center to be installed but Seib said it has to cure for 28 days to insert the bolts and then components. He said they will start installing the equipment the middle of December following a phone call with the company on the best practices about installation.
The council discussed the Master Park Donation Recognition Program which offers the chance to donate to help with funding the $3 million renovation to the park. Discussion led to suggestions by council members as to the donation amounts to name a portion or all of the park after the donator. The town is working on sending out letters before the first of the year. Councilwoman Nina Hendricks suggested giving potential donors the chance to commit over time so companies know how much they can or will give yearly for numerous years.
"I think we could entertain anything," said Councilwoman Hendricks.
Seib handed out a tentative list of amounts and park items that could be named, but there was some disagreement among council members, especially an amount that could get the entire park named.
Mayor Shon Owens suggested a wall of donors there forever instead of renaming the park.
Nothing was approved or decided on and the donation list was tabled for future reworking.
