BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Wishlist time comes after Christmas and before the start of the next legislative session for local governments and agencies seeking state funds to supplement their budgets and fund special projects.
It was no different this year, with Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Rep. Chuck Brannan open to presentations, but obviously making no promises but their personal support.
Bradley said leadership in the House and Senate is changing, with Sen. Ben Albritton from Wauchula in Hardee County promising strong support for rural counties. Bradley said he pledged a “Rural Renaissance” that will provide fiscally constrained communities support for economic development, but development that also preserves their way of life.
Bradford County was the last stop on a partial district tour that began that morning in Columbia County, followed by Union County. Bradford’s Clerk of Court and County Judge were first to the podium, seeking funding to modernize and help secure the courthouse. Clerk Denny Thompson discussed his concern with the openness of his office and the security needed to protect public information, funds and county employees. The courthouse also needs funding to improve accessibility for all members of the public to be ADA compliant.
Judge Tatum Davis requested funds to modernize the courtrooms upstairs, which he said are largely unchanged since the building opened in 1968. ADA issues spill over here as well, as does the security of deputies, court staff and jurors.
“We’re not trying to also build a Taj Mahal. We’re a small county. We understand that, but we stay busy. For a small county, there’s always things going on,” Davis said.
The price tag for these improvements was $2.7 million, an amount impossible for the county to fund on its own, Thompson said.
Last year the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office requested $2.5 million to acquire communications equipment compatible with the state platform for deputies and fire rescue personnel. The county received $1.125 million, so Sheriff Gordon Smith thanked the legislators, requesting support for another $1.5 million to complete that upgrade.
Other than the request for the courthouse, County Chairman Danny Riddick said the county’s focus this year is on finishing projects. With that, he announced the county’s support for several local requests, including Brooker’s request for a fire station. Last year the town received $500,000 of the $1 million estimate to build the station. In addition to construction funds, the town is also asking for $1.325 million for necessary equipment and vehicles to support operations.
Brooker Mayor Gene Melvin and County Commissioner Diane Andrews also appeared to champion the town’s request. Melvin said he’s seen a lot in his 45 years on the council, including many houses burn to the ground.
“It’s not Bradford County’s fault. It’s just the fact that we’re 20-something miles away from getting a fire engine out there to put something out,” he said, thanking Bradley and Brannan for the support they’ve already shown the town.
The county’s support also went to Starke’s infrastructure funding request, as well as asks from the Keystone Heights Airport and Concerned Citizens of Bradford County.
The extension of water and sewer lines to a future mixed-use development on S.R. 16 and the bypass is still a work in progress. Starke annexed the land and is working with its engineer on the project design with support from the Florida Department of Transportation. Seeing the economic benefit, Bradford County commissioners committed $4 million in federal pandemic relief dollars to the project. Because it was such a costly undertaking, Starke Chief Administrative Officer Jimmy Crosby said they have been requesting funds piece by piece. The city is requesting another $2 million appropriation this year. Starke expects to be ready for construction this summer.
The Keystone Airport has constructed an access road with a $2.3 million grant and the help of the Bradford County Road Department. The road is meant to open landlocked property for commercial and industrial development. What’s left to construct is the road connecting the original and new access roads. Paralleling S.R. 100, the connector road would provide highway frontage for commercial development. The request also included funding for deceleration and turn lanes on the highway for traffic safety.
The third phase of the Concerned Citizens RJE renovation project includes renovating the classroom wings and recreation building. The request was $500,000. Commissioner Carolyn Spooner and Alica McMillian and Glenda Ruise from Concerned Citizens spoke in support of the request, as did the city of Starke. RJE supports both youth and senior services, including Head Start and summer programs, and is also the site of a Community Health and Wellness Resource Hub serving the entire community.
Another speaker was School Superintendent Will Hartley, who announced the school district had no special requests this year. They are saving that for next year. The district is preparing to get in line for new school funding. (See related story.)
Sen. Bradley said Florida is no longer flush with federal dollars from the COVID response, and so both legislative chambers and the governor’s office will be looking closely at spending, considering the amount of available funding to support such requests is expected to drop in the coming years. Requests to finish projects may be better received by leadership, she said, especially projects that also involve local investment. She said they will fight for these projects but also tried to manage expectations.
Lawtey citizen Vyunda Strong also spoke, asking Bradley and Brannon help get Florida Department of Transportation to return a caution light at the intersection of C.R. 200B and Lake Street.
“For some reason that caution light was removed, and the citizens would like for that caution light to go back. DOT doesn’t know why it was removed. The city of Lawtey doesn’t know why it was removed. The county doesn’t know why it was removed. Nobody seems to know why,” she said.
Bradley said they would find out why and try to get it restored.
Strong also added requests for a highway speed study and road repairs on C.R. 225 to the list as well as sidewalk repairs in the city.
The legislative session starts May 4 and runs 60 days, ending with approval of next year’s state budget, which could include some if not all local requests — any of which could be vetoed by the governor before he signs off on that budget.
