By ELIZABETH SINCLAIR
DeFuniak Springs, Fla.— Flags were flying at half-staff Monday, June 13 at the DeFuniak Springs City Hall as the City Council began its regular meeting.
Sara Comander, representing the DeFuniak Springs Business and Professional Association, notified the council of changes that had to be made in the Fourth of July festivities due to the high level of water in the Lakeyard. The parade will still go around Circle Drive, but at 3:30 pm. The opening ceremonies and fireworks display have been moved to Wee Care Park located on Walton Road across from Walton High School. Ceremonies start at 6 p.m. with fireworks at dark. Additional parking will be available at the high school.
Lowe’s Hero’s Project will refurbish the little white building on Harbeson Field, in front of the civic center. Plans are to use the building for after school tutoring with the help of high school seniors. Lowe’s employees have previously refurbished the Opinion Place and flower planters on Baldwin Ave. These projects are of no cost to the city.
City Attorney Clay Adkinson presented the council with a non-binding letter of intent with Airtrain Aviation LLC. With the letter from the city, Airtrain can move forward with its proposal to bring an Air Force pilot training program to the municipal airport. The flight training facility would dominate the Municipal Airport and surrounding industrial park area, bring in 1,500 to 1,800 trainees using DA20 and DA40 small aircraft. One hundred aviation jobs would be needed. Airtrain would partner with other contractors to create a campus of residential dorms and food facilities at the site, bringing in more employment opportunities. The city would be obligated to $5 million toward the project; the majority of which may be available through grants. The letter received unanimous approval.
Since City Manager Sara Bowers’ resignation on March 28, Public Works Director, Tilman Mears has acted as interim manager. Wording in advertising a job description for a new permanent manager has been an ongoing issue for the council ever since. Mears told the council,”We can’t hire if we don’t advertise.” The council then decided to advertise in-house. Council member Janie Griffith reminded the council that they shared fault in the resignation by not turning in their six-month review of Bowers.
The DeFuniak Springs office of the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce will have to be relocated when construction begins on the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood. Mears suggested that the office be moved to the baggage room located in the railroad depot housing the Heritage Museum. Sharon Grenet and Marie Hinson, members of the museum board, explained to the council that the baggage room has no air conditioning or restrooms and suggested the visitors center, the little brick building next to the depot would be a better location, as it is only being used four hours on Saturday. Mears stated that he would check into it.
Mears asked the Council for direction in going forward in the city’s Florida Department of Economic Development “Competitive Florida Grant,” as to its second year requirements. The city received $80,000 under the grant to examine where the city wants to go to improve its economy and community needs. Of the $40,000 available for the second year, Robert McKnight, who helped the city get the grant, is asking $24,000 of the second year’s $40,000 to act as consultant. The Council advised Mears to formalize a Request for Proposal, open to the public for bid.
McKnight was also the only bidder on project manager for the Florida State Historical Resources Historical properties grant to refurbish the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood. His request was for $28,800, The Council turned it down; two aye, three nay.