BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— A representative of the North Florida Transportation Organization briefed the Keystone Heights City Council on upcoming road and airport improvements the TPO is likely to approve later this year.
Milton Locklear told council members that the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization approves federal funding for transportation projects in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.
Locklear added that the local projects the agency is considering will be reviewed during a virtual public meeting on May 24 and the TPO board will vote on the project list on June 9.
Tentative transportation projects for the Lake Region and surrounding areas are:
—Drainage improvements for State Road 21 from Brooklyn Bay Road to Cargo Way, $270,650 scheduled for 2022-2023;
—Resurfacing of County Road 215 from County Road 218 in Middleburg to State Road 16 at Camp Blanding, $4.2 million scheduled for 2022-2023;
—Construction of 11.1 miles of State Road 23 (First Coast Expressway) from State Road 21 (Blanding Boulevard) to State Road 16 between Penny Farms and the Clay County Fairgrounds $5.8 million scheduled for 2022-2023. ($264 million has been previously spent on this section of the road);
— Construction of 9.7 miles of State Road 23 (First Coast Expressway) from State Road 16 between Penny Farms and the Clay County Fairgrounds to the St. Johns River, $2.8 million scheduled for 2022-2023. ($211 million has been previously spent on this section of the road);
—Construction of 6.5 miles of State Road 23 (First Coast Expressway) from Clay County to St. Johns County over the St. Johns River. $472.6 million scheduled for 2022-2023, $6.6 million scheduled for 2023-2024, $1.5 million scheduled for 2025-2026. ($3.7 million has been previously spent on this section of the road);
—Design and construction of hangars at the Keystone Heights Airport, $150,000 scheduled for 2024-2025.
—Master plan update for the Keystone Heights Airport, $650,000 scheduled for 2024-2025;
—Installation of a weather system at the Keystone Heights Airport, $300,000 scheduled for 2025-2026;
—Design and construction of a 10-unit T-hangar at the Keystone Heights Airport, $350,000 scheduled for 2022-2023 and $350,000 scheduled for 2023-2024;
—Design and rehabilitation of Runway 11-29 at the Keystone Heights Airport, $450,000 scheduled for 2024-2025, $2.1 million scheduled for 2025-2026, $1.7 million scheduled for 2026-2027;
—Expansion of the fuel farm at the Keystone Heights Airport, $450,000 scheduled for 2024-2025;
—Purchase of a Jet A fuel truck at the Keystone Heights Airport, $300,000 scheduled for 2024-2025.
In other news from the May 2 meeting of the Keystone Heights City Council:
Vice mayor reappointed
The council unanimously reappointed Steve Hart as the city’s vice mayor. The office’s primary role is to chair council meetings in the absence of Mayor Karen Lake.
Historic preservation proclamation
The council proclaimed May as Historic Preservation Month in the city.
Lake, reading the proclamation, said historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth and sustainable development, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride, maintaining community character and enhancing livability.
She added that the local theme for this year’s Historic Preservation Month is: “We’re all in this together.”
Events approved
The council approved Worship Nights to take place at Keystone Beach from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the first Friday of the month. The events, sponsored by Answers Resource Facility will be open to the public and will feature a small acoustic set with no speaker or band.
The council also approved monthly meetings for the Clay County Chamber of Commerce’s Lake Region Prosperity Partners. Those gatherings, to be held at the Keystone Beach Pavilion, are scheduled for the fourth Thursday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m.
Trailhead dedication
The council reached consensus on dedicating the Keystone Heights portion of the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail to a group of individuals instead of to one person.
Hart suggested working with the county to get a state historical marker for the trail section, in the same way the city’s Heritage Commission secured a state historical marker for the Keystone Inn, across South Lawrence Boulevard from City Hall. Hart also recommended adding the history of the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad line to the marker. The trail was built on the railroad’s former right of way.
Country Meadows
Hart, chair of the city’s Growth Management Committee, gave the council a report of the committee’s April 25 meeting which mostly consisted of a presentation from the developer of Country Meadows.
Hart said his committee closely scrutinized the proposed 55-lot neighborhood with site-built, wood frame homes, to be located near the intersection of Paradise Point Drive and Sunrise Boulevard.
The next stop for the development will be a May 19 city planning and zoning meeting.
Airport
Airport Board Chair David Kirkland said the facility hosted the Air-Ops spring hunt for veterans in March. Four veterans participated in this year’s hunt with three participants from prior hunts returning to volunteer.
Kirkland added that the airport’s Natural Resource chair, Chad Rischar is organizing a 110-acre tree harvesting.
“This tree thinning project actually will assist in us staying compliant with FDOT as it relates to airfield safety, and bids are due by May 19,” he said.
Kirkland also said Airport Manager Maria Searcy conducted six separate airport familiarization and emergency response training classes with both Clay and Bradford County first responders and law enforcement.
“This training is focused on familiarization of the airfield activity, access to the airfield, airport tenants and our levels of risks,” Kirkland said. “This will be an annual training for both counties. Ms. Searcy is also working with both Bradford and Clay to conduct an aircraft crash and rescue training day later this year.”
