Lake City Report -
March 4, 2011
Hospital access and the
museum on tap
Columbia
County, FL (Posted Mar 05, 2011 05:10 am )
by City Manager Wendell Johnson and
staff
From City Manager Wendell Johnson
Lake Shore Hospital Access Improvements
Staff met this week with the Hospital
Authority Manager Berry to move forward with the
preliminary design process for a Franklin Street
improvement giving access from U.S. Highway 41
to the Lake Shore Hospital entrance.
Varied issues essential to the project were
discussed including acquisition of
rights-of-way, street design options, storm
water distribution and collection, the means of
completing the preliminary design, and most
importantly, the capital funding process.
Plans are to have a preliminary design
concept within approximately 30 to 40 days. A
new access road to the hospital from the east
side connecting Highway 90 was discussed.
City Engineers will be requested to assess
and provide the best road path based on existing
dedicated rights-of-way and streets within the
area. The Engineers will also assess
environmental issues that may impact a proposed
roadway within the identified area.
There will be additional information on this
project within the next several weeks.
Columbia County Museum
Discussion between the City Staff and
representatives of the Columbia County
Historical Society has been ongoing since last
November concerning relocation of the Museum
within the Downtown Community Redevelopment
Area.
There is high interest in the possibility.
Costs estimates and other operational issues
associated with relocation have been considered.
The Community Redevelopment Agency will be
requested to partner with the Historical Society
on the relocation appropriately.
A follow-up meeting was held on March 2,
2011, at the Museum. The Museum staff will be
contacting other key agencies to partner with
this project and a follow up meeting will be
scheduled in the near future. The Museum will
create a Business Plan as well as a Development
Plan and submit a formal request to the City
concerning their interest in obtaining the
property and requesting assistance in this
endeavor.
The City Staff Report is available in pdf format
here.
