BY CAROL MOSLEY
Special to the Telegraph
The Hampton City Council has addressed the proposed fire assessment that the county is seeking to implement, agreeing to allow collection within the city limits.
Agreement from the municipalities is required for the county to implement the assessment in those locales. City Clerk Mary Lou Hildreth advised that it was going to happen with the county in some form, so they might as well agree.
Hampton does not have a fire station of its own, but is situated where services can come from Starke, Sampson City and Theressa.
The proposed ordinance requires a second reading, which will take place at a future meeting.
Arc news
The ARC of Bradford’s Hampton campus will host the Health Resource Center on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month. The Arc has been hosting drive through food donations on a regular basis, and there will be a Blessings Box installed for people to drop off or take food if needed.
The Arc received bad news when Gov. Ron DeSantis cut their funding request which had been approved in the legislature’s 2025 budget. The Arc requested $500,000 to increase its workforce and purchase equipment and transportation.
Hampton funding
Hampton got good news, more or less, about their own funding requests. The appropriations request of $1.1 million for upgrades to the water system was reduced to $550,00 but was not cut by the governor.
Other grant proposals in the works include a grant for improvements to the town hall. There is an appeal for a new HVAC system and new roof. Meanwhile, the council approved new paving of the parking lot at a cost of about $14,000.
The council agreed to celebrations of the city’s 100th year since incorporation in 2025. Early ideas include announcement banners or flags down Navarre Street. Other ideas will be considered over time, but all agreed there should be a celebration.
