High Springs City Commission approves Memorial Day flag display, moves City newspaper notices to County website
BY DAVID LIGHTMAN
HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – At a May 8 combined CRA and Regular Meeting, the High Springs City Commission approved a grant for a local business, gave permission for a flag display over Memorial Day weekend, and authorized the publication of City notices on a County website instead of paying to publish notices in a newspaper.
Commercial façade grant
The only item of business for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Association) portion of the meeting was considering a Commercial Façade Grant for Decades on Main Street, located at 18559 North High Springs Main Street. A staff member said the business is requesting money to purchase a new sign; the total cost of the sign is $3,524, and they are requesting a $1,762 grant.
CRA Chair Andrew Miller said, “I passed this [business] yesterday, and I will say that it definitely needs it. Downtown is starting to look really good, and I feel like this would just increase the value downtown.”
Mayor Tristan Grunder said, “That’s a cool store, too. I’m glad we can help them out.”
Commissioner Katherine Weitz said, “I’m not a shopper, but my kids are, and my youngest can go in there and find at least two or three books every time. They’ve got the coolest stuff, and it goes on forever. It’s like the biggest store, and they’re so nice. This is wonderful.”
Grunder made a motion to accept the façade grant. Weitz seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Proclamations
The first items of business during the Regular Meeting were proclamations declaring Public Works Week and Emergency Medical Services Week (both May 18-24). Grunder thanked all of the staff members in both departments and noted how important they are to residents, including saving lives.
Memorial Day flag display
During the general public comment period, Barbara Campbell listed many of her family members who have been veterans, past and present. She said she has seen hundreds of flags displayed by the side of the road on Memorial Day weekend in places like Lake Butler and Fort White, and she would like to do something similar in High Springs. Campbell asked for permission to place flags alongside 441, in the area near Bev’s Burgers and Winn-Dixie.
City Attorney Danielle Adams said FDOT controls 441, but the City has an easement, and the flags can probably be placed in the easement area. Grunder said, “We will find you something [if there is a problem with placing the flags alongside 441].”
Commissioner Chad Howell made a motion to grant permission to Campbell to place the flags. Weitz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Wayne Bloodsworth said, “You’re welcome to contact us. Boy Scouts will be glad to help put them out.”
Grunder added, “Please let us be involved in this as much as possible.” Campbell said, “I would love for all of you to be involved.”
Following a suggestion from Adams, Weitz made a motion to allow the City’s social media accounts to be used to promote the Memorial Day flag display. Howell seconded the motion. It passed unanimously. Weitz commented, “That’s beautiful.”
Amendment to FDOT agreement for maintenance of traffic signals
The next item was a resolution to amend the agreement between High Springs and FDOT for the maintenance of traffic signals. City Manager Jeremy Marshall said the amendment “updates the payment process. It really doesn’t change much.”
Adams clarified, “These are traffic lights that you all maintain for FDOT, and they pay you to maintain them. So this isn’t you all paying $11,784, okay? This is the reimbursement amount that FDOT pays you for maintaining those intersections.”
Weitz made a motion to approve the resolution, and Miller seconded it. It passed unanimously during a roll call vote.
Declaring hydraulic equipment as surplus
The next item was declaring 8 to 10 pieces of older hydraulic equipment as surplus. Fire Chief Joseph Peters said, “We’re asking to surplus them. We’ll probably put them on GovDeals or a site to see if we can maybe recoup some revenue from them, and that’s about it. They’re just taking up a lot of space over in the waterworks building.”
Miller made a motion to surplus the hydraulic equipment. Howell seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Publishing City notices on a County website instead of a newspaper
The last item of business was authorizing the publication of City notices on a publicly-accessible County website instead of a newspaper; the resolution also provides accommodations for those wishing to receive notices via email or direct mail. Adams said it is primarily a cost-saving measure, although certain notices still require newspaper publication.
Weitz made a motion to approve the resolution. Bloodsworth seconded the motion. It passed unanimously during a roll call vote.
City Manager and Commissioner comments
During final comments, Adams said, “Great news. On your next meeting agenda, you will have the special magistrate contract in front of you. They approved it today.”
City Manager Jeremy Marshall said, “The Priest [Theatre] update. We’re still waiting for the State. We have been knocking on their door to approve the drawings. But a big thanks to the Public Works and the Parks Departments. They took time out of their day, and they went and removed all the seats out of the theater. So when those drawings come back, they can get right to work or put out for bid and get right to work.”
Howell said, “Pioneer Days is this weekend. Everybody needs to show up.”
Bloodsworth asked about the Canoe Outpost. Marshall said he should be able to handle it with County staff without needing to involve the County Commission. Adams added, “I think that the cost impact here is going to be much lower than what was anticipated, because the County is working so hard to work with us to find a solution to our problems.”