Century has OK for engineering, design
Addressing rumors that the town of Century lost its funding to renovation the 70-year-old Carver Community Center, Century Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. said Tuesday the town hasn’t lost its grant and explained that the state has only approved a portion of the funding.
In 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis granted Century $3.255 million to renovate two community centers, with almost $2 million set to rebuilding the Carver Community Center. The building has to be demolished and rebuilt due to hazardous materials present in the building.
“We are not able to speculate on that because it is not definite that we’ve lost it, therefore I can’t give you an answer because we haven’t lost it, yet,” was how Century Mayor Gomez answered a citizen who asked how the town lost its grant for the renovation of the Carver Community Center.
The mayor said the town is currently in negotiations to see if the town can keep the grant.
Interim Town Manager Howard Brown said the Florida Department of Commerce has funded the project but it has only provided funding for the engineering and design phase for the Carver Community Center renovation. Brown said he and the mayor and Dale Long and Robin Phillips have been negotiating with the department to keep the funding. Gomez said he will keep residents informed.
Update on grants
Mayor Gomez said the town’s grant writer has begun working on grants for the town. He said he and the department heads have met and are working on determining the needs for the town and which grants they think the town will qualify for and be able to obtain.
In other business, the council:
-Approved renewal of its contract with Emerald Coast Regional Council for its zoning and planning services.
-Approved Council Member Shelisa McCall Abraham to travel to Hollywood, Fla., August 15-16 for the Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials not to exceed $1,200.
-Approved Mayor Gomez to travel to Hollywood, Fla., for Florida League of Mayor's conference August 14-15 not to exceed $1,400.
There will be a second budget workshop at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20, prior to the next council meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, August 20 at Century Town Hall. The public is invited.
