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Stew Lilker’s

Columbia County Observer

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Lake City News

Lake City Report - June 18, 2010
Blanche - Airport - Old City Hall - Budget

From City Manager Wendell Johnson

Blanche Hotel Redevelopment Initiative

At the request of the City, Jones Edmunds Engineers, Inc. has completed a Structural Engineering Assessment and issued the final written report on June 15, 2010.

The assessment reveals that the Hotel Blanche is basically sound and capable of being renovated for most conventional commercial and/or other mixed uses.

The brick masonry is solid with only a few cracks from either settlement or thermal expansion.  The roof is in fair condition.

No public safety issues were identified in the report.

Following a meeting this week with Blanche representatives, a property appraisal appears as the next order of business.

Further discussions will be scheduled.

Airport Terminal Project

The City was notified by the FDOT that additional funds of $800,000 have been approved for the project bringing the total to DOT funding to $1,675,000.

The project is presently on hold pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of an additional $600,000 to $800,000 in construction funding.

Staff continues to coordinate with the FAA and the City’s contractor (Mandese/White Construction, Inc.) and expects to be in a position to issues a notice to proceed during July 2010.

Old City Hall

The Staff’s final construction inspection of the site was completed this week and the contractor has complied with all requirements.

To fully stabilize the vacant lot and provide interim use, the Staff has proposed Council approval to install a two inch (2”) layer of milled asphalt to the 50,000 sq. ft. site. This will allow for liberal public parking and other limited uses.

Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Budget

The “call for estimates” has been distributed to the Staff and departmental reviews will commence beginning next week.

No later than July 19, 2010, the Staff will distribute the draft budget and request Council to approve a proposed millage rate for TRIM Notice purposes.

The Staff will also request Council to approve an August 2010 workshop schedule for the FY10/11 Budget.

The City Staff Report is available in pdf format here.

 
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Read the City Manager's 2010 Budget and Administrative Report • here.

 

City Staff Report
 • Week ending June 18, 2010