Published by former Mayor George Gardner December 14 2011
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
Last Hurrah
Proctor fashions FSDB legislation
Would provide eminent domain, discontinue state review
State Rep. Bill Proctor (R-St. Augustine) term-limited after the 2012 state legislative session, will attempt one last power play for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB ) he's championed for years.
"The legislation includes three points of concern for us," City Attorney Ron Brown told city commissioners Monday.
- It would give the school, a state agency, power of eminent domain
- It would remove the currently mandated state approval process on interagency agreements on the Genoply properties which are subject to the future facilities siting provisions of the statute.
- As of July 1, 2012, the Collins and President's properties would be vested; in other words, we could not take any action on these.
Vice Mayor Leanna Freeman Tuesday called for a special commission meeting to pass a resolution opposing the legislation, but she's been told a necessary three-commissioner quorum is not available before Christmas.
"Dr. Proctor's last hurrah is this legislation, because he doesn't want the school to have to comply with our codes," she charged Monday. Today she added, "It's important that we get the word out on our opposition, because he's busy lining up support."
Commissioner Bill Leary, whose legal career included writing legislation in Tallahassee, said
Monday, "(Eminent domain) authority is rarely if ever given to an appointed body, (but) if it were, there's not a property in the city that wouldn't be subject to taking."
Brown's review of the legislation was included in an update on continuing mediation with FSDB over proposed interlocal agreements seeking the school's recognition of city codes. | |
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Tax formula gasses cities
St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach will each lose some $41,000 annually in a formula reconfiguration of gas tax revenue sharing that provides $21,000 to the Town of Hastings.
"It's a money grab on the county's part, but it's the best scenario we can get," Assist-ant City Manager Tim Burch-field told city commissioners Monday.
The formulation is based on population. On the positive side, Burchfield noted, this formula will hold for five years before reassessment with likely increased county population.
The reformulation came about as Hastings called for fractional percentages. The whole number percentage has left Hastings with no gas tax revenue for several years. |
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450 planning
in lean times | |
Modification of the St. Augustine 400th anniversary postage stamp and an interim director on loan from the National Park Service are among ideas in the federal commission folder for commemorating St. Augustine's 450th anniversary in lean times.
The interim director is Lindsey Phillips from the Castillo de San Marcos.
Mayor Joe Boles told city commissioners Monday Phillips will serve until at least September, 2012, when hoped-for congressional funding will be appropriated for the federal St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission. The authorizing legislation called for $500,000 a year from 2009 through 2015, but has yet to be appropriated.
Commissioners agreed to discontinue 450 workshops before regular meetings, wrapping future 450 reports and discussions into their regular meetings.
About the 400 stamp
The 400th anniversary stamp, called the Settlement of Florida stamp, was issued from St. Augustine August 28, 1965, which a postal publication calls "... the day the settlement was established."
Actually August 28 was the day founder Pedro Menendez first sighted land. The founding was September 8.
The stamp is part of a series, Hispanic People and Events on U.S. Postage Stamps, described in USPS Publication 295.
"Florida was the first continuous Spanish settlement in the New World," according to the publication. "Spanish admiral Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded St. Augustine in 1565, naming the location in honor of the saint whose feast was on the day the settlement was established.
"A 5-cent stamp was issued to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine. At the same time, Spain also released an almost identical stamp, except for the necessary differences in language and denomination." |
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Sewer project depends on hookups |
Design of a sewer system for West Augustine begins with assurance that properties will hook up to the system, and St. Augustine's City Commission insists that's the responsibility of the county, where most of the properties are located.
The issue came by surprise Monday as city officials presented a proposed loan agreement for $1.8 million from the State Revolving Fund for a feasibility study and design work that could lead to a $20 million sewer line project.
Public Works Director Martha Graham said the city had just received the loan agreement, along with word that, if it's not executed before January 1, the interest rate on the loan can rise significantly.
The cost of sewer hookups as well as monthly utility fees has been a 500-pound gorilla sitting quietly in the back row in 14 years of study and debate on the project. Many residents in the service area are expected to resist the new costs.
Commissioners authorized City Manager John Regan to review the agreement and forward it to the county commission with the insistence that the county be responsible for enforcing the key element of feasibility, mandatory hookups.
The city and county have an interlocal agreement in which the $377,000 feasibility phase will be committed by the city and later reimbursed. If the project is deemed unfeasible, the county has committed to reimbursing the city half that cost. The balance of the $1.8 million would be for design. |
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Mooring fields ordinance approved |
City commissioners approved Monday a test ordinance, amending from 30 to 45 days a requirement that boaters moored outside authorized mooring fields must relocate to a mooring field.
The approval came after hearing from Port Authority Chair Jerry Dixon, who endorsed the ordinance, and Member Jay Bliss, who argued a state pilot program the city's part of "is drawing considerable ire in the boating community."
M&M property listed at $345,000
Commissioners Monday approved an exclusive listing agreement with Realtor Irene Arriola of Saltwater Property Group to market the former M&M Market property at Bridge Street and ML King Avenue for $345,000. The Realtor will forgo a 3.5 percent selling commission. The city paid $305,000 for the property one year ago when it was closed and its former owners arrested on a variety of charges. |
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Holidays - continued |
Homeless Memorial Services
The Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County, Inc. and St. Francis House observe the 11th annual National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Thursday beginning at 5:30 pm with a Candlelight Vigil, Memorial Service and covered-dish dinner at First United Methodist Church.
The free event is open to the public, with homeless persons as special guests.
Community Nutcracker
A cast of more than 80, including more than 60 local dance students and celebrities, present the holiday favorite Nutcracker ballet at 7 pm Friday and Saturday, and 2 pm Sunday in Flagler College Auditorium. Details www.saintaugustineballet.com or 810-5670.
Colonial holiday shopping
Colonial is a natural for gift-giving in the nation's oldest city, and A Day in the Colonial Market Saturday 10 am to 4 pm in the Colonial Spanish Quarter is the place to be. Browse the wares of artisans demonstrating and selling colonial crafts. Also food, music, and theatre troupes recreate a colonial market. 
St. Augustine Bedtime Stories are another choice - individual booklets for quick reads at bedtime - highlighting famous people and events in St. Augustine history from its founding in 1565 through Henry Flagler's Victorian era.
Changing of the Guard
The St. Augustine Garrison presents the Changing of the Guard at 5:30 Saturday at the Governor's Palace (Government House), with Changing of the Guard ceremony and salutary musket volley.
Wet Christmas 1498
Six years after Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, the Old World suffered the rainiest winter on record.
Navidad en El Viejo San Agustin - Christmas in Old St. Augustine - will be celebrated Saturday 7 to 9 pm at Mission Nombre de Dios, featuring the one-act 16th century Christmas play, Wet Christmas.
Author Juan del Encina, the father of Spanish drama, introduces four shepherds, an angel, and supporting cast welcoming Christmas to colonial La Florida.
The free heritage event is presented by Florida Living History and the Mission Nombre de Dios. |
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History's highlight
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3 years, 8 months, 26 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Three coquina pyramids in the National Cemetery on Marine Street memorialize American forces that fell during the Second Seminole War, including U.S. Major Francis L. Dade and 105 men in his command on the fateful day of December 28, 1835.
Army Major Dade was a last minute replacement for another who was to lead reinforcements from Fort Brooke, near Tampa, to Fort King at Ocala 100 miles distant. It was December 28,1835.
For half a year Osceola had planned his revenge on the Indian Agent Thompson. Through his spies he knew that Thompson was at the Indian Agency at Fort King. He was likely informed, as well, by a slave, Louis Pacheco, who served as guide for Dade's column, that these reinforcements were on the way.
Osceola wanted to be at each site to lead attacks on the Indian Agent and on the relief column some 40 miles distant.
Thompson had finished dinner the afternoon of December 28, 1835, and decided on a stroll outside Fort King with one of its officers. It was between three and four p.m. As the two walked from the fort, they were hit with a hail of rifle balls from waiting Indians. By one count, Thompson fell with 14 balls in him.
Earlier in the day, Major Dade's column had been making its way north from Fort Brooke along the slit of a trail in the dense wilderness . There were several opportunities for the Indians to ambush the troops, but they continued stalking, awaiting Osceola.
The trail broke into a clearing near an area called Wahoo Swamp. The Indians, a force of 180 in command of Micanopy, planned their attack as they had at several earlier points: They would position themselves to retreat into the swamp if necessary. Lined along the west edge of the trail, hidden in heavy foliage, they readied their weapons, mostly Spanish rifles gained from trading with Cuban merchant ships.
This time, Micanopy decided the time was right, and ordered the attack.
Half the column was dropped with the first deadly spray of shot, with them Major Dade. The remainder, their sky blue uniforms making easy targets, dove for the cover of trees. The six-pounder was quickly readied, and its roar so shocked the Indians that they retreated for the better part of an hour. In this time, the surviving troops hurriedly put together a triangular defensework of logs.
The Indians soon reorganized and continued the attack, shredding men and logs in deadly gunfire. When the cannon fell silent for lack of ammunition, the Indians closed in with tomahawks and knives.
Excerpt from The Dade Massacre, St. Augustine Bedtime Stories.
For holiday gift-giving, Click for further information on this fascinating historic series. |
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The St. Augustine Report is published weekly, with additional Reports previewing City Commission meetings as well as Special Reports. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com |
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