Concerned Citizens and other groups eligible for funding
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE— A funding request from the Concerned Citizens of Bradford County is on hold pending the Starke City Commission’s consideration of other potential requests for support.
Concerned Citizens President Alica McMillian approached the board Sept. 6 requesting $200,000 in remaining ARPA funds to help renovate the RJE gymnasium.
The group previously received a promise of $500,000 from Bradford County commissioners, a portion of the millions of dollars the county received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Starke received around $2.7 million over two years and has more than $817,000 remaining uncommitted in next year’s budget, according to City Clerk Jimmy Crosby.
As she explained to the county commission, McMillian told city commissioners that the 61-year old gymnasium — part of the historic RJE school campus — has only been renovated once since it was constructed. A center for youth recreation and community gatherings, the roof has failed and water infiltration has damaged the floors.
“You all know what the rain situation has been in the last two or three weeks. Well, you could put your boat in there if you wanted to. It was just that bad,” McMillian said.
In addition, the building has never had air conditioning and the facility needs to be updated for disability access per the ADA. They also intend to “harden” the building so it can once again serve as a hurricane/disaster shelter for the community.
While generous, the county’s contribution combined with the Concerned Citizens’ fundraising will not be enough to accomplish the project given the increased cost of materials and labor, McMillian said.
“With that $200,000 given to us out of your funds, it will put us where we can completely finish and harden that building so it can be a beacon of light in Bradford County once again,” she said.
Acknowledging RJE’s “rich history” in Bradford County, Mayor Janice Mortimer said he approved of the request. She said Concerned Citizens picked up the ball when the city gave up funding recreational programs years ago. That included the basketball, afterschool, summer and senior citizens programs.
“Had you not done that, those youth would not have had those recreational services,” she said, praising the afterschool and youth programs as second to none. “It provides a service that is immeasurable, and you guys should be commended because you work on a shoestring budget as it is, and you work with volunteers.”
Commissioner Scott Roberts said setting aside 10% of the city’s ARPA funding was not very much to ask in order to help out the Concerned Citizens.
Commissioner Danny Nugent supported the request but also wanted to see money contributed to the Boy Scouts for their clubhouse and perhaps other organizations. Mortimer said the door was open for requests from others as we;;.
Rather than move to award the Concerned Citizens’ request, the city attorney recommended the commission wait since the first hearing on next year’s budget had taken place and the budget can no longer be amended until after it is finalized.
Approval of the budget and the funding request is anticipated at the commission’s next meeting on Sept. 20. At Commissioner Shannon Smith’s request, the commission will also hold a workshop on how all of the remaining ARPA funds could be spent. Instead of singling out a single group, he said the city needs a game plan that includes input about the city’s needs and other groups.
The workshop and meeting will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Sept. 20 following the 5:30 p.m. budget hearing.
