Published by the Department of Public Affairs, City of St. Augustine. Florida September 6 2011 |
Lean budget goes to public hearing
Spanish Quarter's fate in the balance
A lean 2011-12 city budget goes to the first of two public hearings Thursday, with the deficit-plagued Colonial Spanish Quarter on the chopping block.
The hearing is at the legally set time of 5:05 p.m. in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.  The second hearing will be September 22 at the same time.
Facing a revenue loss of $982,000 ($720,000 in property taxes due to declining property values), the City Commission agreed that the expense of supporting the living history museum is too much to carry.
In the budget to be presented Thursday, the Spanish Quarter will have enough funding for part-time interpreters to handle school groups. The 450th Commemoration budget will be $478,234, with $150,234 from the failed First America Foundation and $328,000 in new revenue through an increase in all-day parking fees at the Visitor Center parking facility from $7.50 to $10.
Eliminated in the 2011-12 budget is funding for this St. Augustine Report.
City Manager John Regan told commissioners the budget was designed for no increase in the millage rate, minimized use of reserves for recurring operational costs, and minimized increase in user fees. | |
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Passing of
the apron
Marge Adelsperger hung up her apron last year after three decades as the smiling face of the Spanish Bakery on St. George Street.
Saturday she said goodbye to a cadre of friends as she prepared to move to her daughter's home in Georgia.
Choked with emotion, she summed it up with a doll singing the Louis Armstrong classic, What a Wonderful World.
Son Gene (above with Marge) and Julie will be keeping the fires burning for empanadas, picadillo, and fresh baked rolls - and expecting mom to visit often. |
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Public hearing agenda | |
There are three public hearings and one new ordinance on Thursday's city budget agenda:
- A resolution establishing the tentative millage rate at 7.5, the same as this year.
- First reading of the 2011-12 city budget ordinance, with second reading September 22.
- A resolution certifying the property assessment roll for the 6-cent per square foot fire assessment fee.
- First reading of a new ordinance increasing water and sewer rates.
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| Water, sewer rate increases | | Increases in water and sewer rates are proposed in an ordinance to be introduced at Thursday's budget public hearings.
Second reading and public hearing would be September 22.
Inside city limits
Water only: Up to 3,000 gallons, from $16.19 to $16.46, then from $4.47 to $4.56 per 1,000 gallons. Availability of water for private fire hydrants $6.73 per hydrant.
Sewer only: to 3,000 gallons, from $22.35 to $22.69, then from $5.66 to $5.77 per 1,000 gallons.
Water and sewer: Up to 3,000 gallons, from $38.54 to $39.15, then from $10.13 to $10.33 per 1,000 gallons.
Outside city limits
Water only: Up to 3,000 gallons, from $20.20 to $20.54, then from $5.59 to $5.70 per 1,000 gallons. Availability of water for private fire hydrants $8.40 per hydrant. For public hydrants $4.48.
Sewer only: to 3,000 gallons, from $27.92 to $28.34, then from $7.07 to $7.21 per 1,000 gallons.
Water and sewer: Up to 3,000 gallons, from $48.12 to $48.88, then from $12.66 to $12.91 per 1,000 gallons.
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Special bell for 911 ceremonies | |
St. Augustine's Fire Department is making special preparations for next Sunday's services remembering 9/11, the 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks on the East Coast.
In place is site work for the city's restored 1902 fire bell.
The bell was cast in 1900 and put in use in 1902, when the city installed a full time fire department at its Hypolita Street location. The bell was donated to the St. Augustine Historical Society in 1986, and will now be on loan to the department.
Fire Chief Mike Arnold notes the coquina concrete base copies the shape of the adjacent Flagler fountain site at the department's Malaga Street location.
The refurbished bell, framework, and landscaping will be set in place this week for Sunday's ceremonies, the bell to lead the ringing of the city's bells at 8:45 a.m., the time the first terrorist plane hit New York's twin towers.
The brief ceremonies will begin at 8:30.
The bell's restoration is a cooperative effort of the city, Flagler College, the University of Florida, and the St. Augustine Historical Society. |
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Piloting community spirit for 75 years | Organizations like the Pilot Club of St. Augustine don't make a lot of headlines, but they make a lot of community, as the Pilot Club here has for 75 years.
They'll celebrate with an invitation gathering Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at St. Johns River State College.
Among visible evidence of their work: the World War Two Monument in northeast corner of the Plaza de la Constitución, helping found the St. Johns County Blood Bank (today's Blood Alliance), and Lifeline Response System for seniors.
Their mission: "To be of service to our community, state, and country, to work together to improve the quality of life for all people." Fundraisers include Luminarias in the Park at the Lightner in December and caladium sales in the spring. |
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Flagler College opens forums | A benefit of a college town is presentation of forums, and two hosted by Flagler College include the Forum on Government and Public Policy and Community Lecture Series.
Unfolding for 2011-2012, the Community Lecture Series opens with Flagler's Tracy Upchurch discussing Unionists in Civil War Florida today at 10 a.m. in the Flagler Room at Flagler College.
Fee is $5 per person. The series, presenting unique perspectives on different aspects of war, extends through May 2012. Details here.
The Forum on Government and Public Policy opens at 7 p.m. September 15 withCarol Stevens, Managing Editor/News, USA Today. The monthly forums are free, at 7 p.m. at Flagler College Auditorium. National journalists will analyze the news in this forum, extending through March 2012. Details here. |
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History's highlight
A lawyer visits Castillo dungeons | |
4 years, 3 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
A visit to Fort Marion - the renamed Castillo in St. Augustine's territorial years - by Henry Summer, a young South Carolina lawyer, is drawn from his "Journal &c. for 1837," by South Carolina author and historian John Hammond Moore.
"Have been at the Fort (Marion it is now called). It is a strong fortress. Mr. Davis, the Keeper of the Prisons, showed me the principal dungeons - the one in which McGirth was confined for several years was dark, with the exception of a little light that could penetrate it through a door which led from another dungeon in which last light was received through a window from the inside of the fortress. 
(McGirth was Daniel McGirt, colorful outlaw and leader of a gang of bandits, imprisoned at the fort three times between 1784 and 1786.)
"This is in the South East corner of the fort. The dungeons of the South west contain the Magazine of the U. S. In the North West there is a dungeon the light of which is from the door, and perhaps a little from the outer wall.
"From this there is a dark dungeon, the door to which was closed up until within a few years since - It is said in there human bones - or stones resembling those of a man were found.
"Between this and the North East corner the Catholic chapel is - or rather it was used for that purpose when the Spanish had possession - I do not say that such was the use during the whole time. In the North East corner, there was a dungeon in which the prisoners were formerly kept, which had light only from a door leading from another dungeon.
"A fellow confined in it found his way out by digging thro' a wall where there formerly had been a door, and then between two walls by scaling the dirt back, he made his way to the top, which he broke through, and escaped.
"Then further in a door which had been walled up was discovered which led into another dungeon, in which I suppose no ray of light had pierced after it was built, until two years since when it was opened. It is a handsome place, were not such horrors associated with it.
"Along between the N. E. & S. E. Corners is the place which was designated for baking and cooking, for food, &c. How many sighs have been sobbed in, how many, many groans have been heard by these walls, how many tears have flowed unseen by man, or if seen, unpitied they fell.
"Enough said."
(The only recorded escape from the Castillo was by the Seminole leader Coacoochee and 18 followers, November 29, 1837. The escape was not as described here, and could have been conjecture by the lawyer or possibly an unrecorded escape.) |
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The St. Augustine Report is published by the Department of Public Affairs of the City of St. Augustine each Tuesday and on Fridays previewing City Commission meetings. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, former St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a longtime newspaper reporter and editor. Contact The Report at gardner@aug.com |
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