BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — Concerned Citizens of Bradford County will receive $500,000 in federal relief funding from the county to reroof and renovate the RJE gymnasium.
The group has had no luck seeking state grants and appropriations and has had to watch the gym continue to deteriorate. The most recent basketball season was hosted by Bradford Middle School because they are now afraid to be in the building, Concerned Citizens President Alica McMillian told the board May 19.
The county commission has more than $5.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding but had not committed to spending any of those funds until Concerned Citizens supporters filled the boardroom and McMillian stood before the board on a broken leg to make their case.
The organization was formed 45 years ago, and McMillian said their 61-year-old gym is more than just a gymnasium — it is a community center. It is part of the former RJE high school, important both culturally and historically to the citizens of Starke’s northeast district. In addition to recreation for their afterschool and summer camp programs and sports leagues, the gym houses everything from bimonthly food distributions to town halls and other community gatherings.
The last major renovation was in the early 1980s thanks to a CDBG grant which repaired the roof and flooring. Today, despite attempts to patch it, the roof is failing, the ceiling is falling, and the floor has been damaged by water infiltration.
Time and again they have been disappointed by low scoring grant applications that were not funded and a complicated process for a USDA grant/loan that three years later is not complete and now offers an even lower grant amount than expected. Recently, a $350,000 appropriation in state funding was also pulled from consideration.
While they have done their own fundraising, the failure to receive any of these awards has left them unable to repair the gym, and now the group fears losing its insurance because of the external and internal building damage.
McMillian asked the commission to consider giving $500,000 — less than 10% of its ARPA money — to save the RJE gym. It was a larger amount than they have ever requested, but prices have gone up, and in addition to the repairs, she said they must make the building ADA compliant. They are not convinced that even half a million dollars will do the job.
Commissioner Kenny Thompson was the first to speak in support of the request.
“This has been kicked around, and all of us sitting up here knows it has needed work for years and years and years. If we don’t do something with that building, it’s going to deteriorate,” he said.
Commissioner Carolyn Spooner reminded everyone that it also serves as part of an educational institution established by Concerned Citizens to tutor students who need additional help.
“Many of the kids were struggling, but this program has helped those children to exceed and excel and to be able to pass their schooling,” she said, adding that the facility also generates revenue for the community when Concerned Citizens hosts tournaments and families travel to Starke. There are also plans for a community garden that would offset food insecurity.
“You can’t find a harder working group of people than the people who work with this group,” she said.
Chairman Chris Dougherty asked Spooner to hold her motion to move forward for additional discussion. Past pandemic relief funding was used in part to help the community, he said. With the ARPA funds he saw an opportunity to expand utility infrastructure, encourage development and generate new revenue for the county while lowering the tax rate overall. Right now, he said, the tax rate is as high as it can go, and the board is still trying to figure out how to fund public safety.
Dougherty agreed with Commissioner Danny Riddick that Tourist Development Council funding might be able to offset some of what was being asked of the county. He also expressed worry that awarding funding to the Concerned Citizens would lead to other groups rushing in for a share of the funding.
“Do we say we’re going to give X amount of dollars here, X amount of dollars here, X amount of dollars here, and in the end, everybody feels good, but what have we done to try to generate any more revenue to keep your taxes down?” he asked
“Whatever we’ve got to do, we’ve got to help them,” Thompson said.
Concerned Citizens has been serving the community for years, Spooner said, and this is the perfect program and facility for the county to allocate ARPA funds.
There was further talk of delaying a decision, but McMillian urged the board to decide that night, whatever the decision.
“We keep getting put off — wait until this time, wait until this time — and nothing gets done. We need you all to please tell us tonight what you’re going to do, and we’re just going to have to eat whatever you say and try something else. We need somebody to tell us something tonight, because I believe in my heart that the services that Concerned Citizens offer through that facility not only helps us; it helps you all and it helps everybody in Bradford County — everybody. And we’re so proud to say the Bradford High basketball team went to state this year and won, and five of those players played in our program. So, with that we know we’re doing something right.”
Dougherty make his support clear for the program and what it has accomplished, adding what he said needed to be said and the board needs to be prepared to field other requests.
Spooner moved to grant the organization’s request, and each of the commissioners in turn voted in favor. The decision was unanimous.
In other business:
—Sitting as the Board of Adjustment, commissioners granted special exceptions for Timbuktu to continue alcohol sales and a concrete batch plant operated by Taylors Concrete Construction on Southeast 144th Street across from the new school.
—A parcel south of Lawtey on U.S. 301 was rezoned for commercial use. According to the Facebook site, Bradford Bamboo, owned by Paul and Robin Smith of Lawtey, will offer mining for gems, fossils and stones for parties and events and sell handmade arts, crafts and woodwork.
