Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Although the process has been less organized than in previous years, the three local governing bodies have now set their priorities for the coming session of the Florida Legislature, which is set to begin on Jan. 11.
Monticello city officials have set as their priority to seek additional state funding for the continuation of the water main replacement project. On the advice of Steve Wingate, formerly the interim city manager, the council voted last month to raise the amount of its requestto $250,000. The reasoning for the increase was that, if the last session of the legislature was any indication, the city is likely to get only a portion of what it is requesting, if it receives anything. City officials last year requested $150,000 and were awarded $75,000.
The requested funding is intended to continue repairing and replacing the miles of compromised pipes in the city’s aging water system, a project that has been ongoing for years.
The project aims at water conservation, as the city is monthly losing about 200,000 gallons of water due to leaks and seepage caused by cracked and deteriorating water pipes.
County officials, meanwhile, more recently identified the purchase of additional acreage for establishment of a second industrial park as their top priority, followed by a request for funding for construction of an agriculture center, if at all possible.
Commissioner Chris Tuten, who heads the Economic Development Committee (EDC), told the board that the existing industrial park is nearly filled to capacity, with the exception of the lot opposite the Alpha Foundation property just off U.S. 19. And already, he said, the lot was spoken for.
Establishment of a second park, Tuten said, would help in the EDC’s efforts to attract more jobs-creating and tax-paying businesses and industries into the county.
As for the agriculture center, it has long been a goal of county officials to gather in one location all the local agencies that deal with agriculture matters. The grouping would include the Jefferson County Extension Office, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) and other such offices.
All past efforts to secure funding for an ag center, however, have failed. The one exception was a few years back, when the legislature appropriated the funding. But then the governor vetoed the budget line item at the last minute.
Gaining access to the gulf is another possible project, at least one championed by Commissioner Steven Walker, as well as a proposal to get funding to put a roof over the horse arena. The latter two asks, however, are not likely to stand a chance in the session, as fierce as the competition for legislative dollars is statewide.
As far as the Jefferson County School Board goes, it hasn’t specifically identified any priority project, as its focus presently is to regain control of the schools. At a recent meeting, however, members of the EDC spoke of seeking funding on behalf of the school district for the creation of additional career technical education (CTE) courses at the high school, especially in the areas of aquaculture, hydroponics and related subjects.
In the past, the Jefferson Legislative Committee has been more active in helping set the priorities and has also annually published a booklet that listed the goals of the different governing boards as well as provided general information about the community. In recent years, however, the committee has been increasingly less active.