Published by former Mayor George Gardner January 4 2011
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
$28.2 million in New Year projects
Five major projects totaling $28.2 million are beginning or continuing as 2012 dawns.
Included: Riberia Street Phase Two ($3.9 million), the seawall south of the Bridge of Lions ($6.7 million), Marina breakwater ($2.5 million), San Sebastian Bridge on US 1 ($13.5 million), and King Street drainage from Malaga to Seville Street ($1.6 million). | |
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Christmas for St. Augustine Fire Chief Mike Arnold was not one but two shiny new fire engines.
A new pumper replaces a 1989 unit, and has an increased 1,500 gallon-per-minute pump and electronic monitors and gauges for precise use of water.
The "quint" has five service elements: a pump, water tank, fire hose, ground ladders, and a 77-foot aerial ladder. It takes over for the city's 30-year old aerial truck.
The retired units were traded in as part of the purchase, $300,000 for the pumper and $490,000 for the quint.
City of St. Augustine photo: Chief Arnold with City Commissioner Leanna Freeman. |
| Buy the Inch sale | | Stack 'em up and take 'em home at $1 an inch stacked at the Friends of the Library "Buy the Inch" book sale, 10 am to 5 pm Friday and Saturday in the Main Library on Ponce de Leon Blvd. (US 1). |
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Riberia Street
Low bidder Masci Contracting, at $3.9 million, was $900,000 below the estimated $4.8 million project to complete improvements along the street from Bridge to Cerro at the Galimore Center. The first phase, from King to Bridge Street, was completed in December by Masci.
The final leg is expected to take 450 days, with completion in mid 2013, Public Works Director Martha Graham says. Start date has not been set. Funding is through the city's $15 million capital improvement bond issue.
Seawall
Bids will be opened January 23 for the estimated $6.7 million project to extend the seawall 12 feet into the bay,  preserving the original historic seawall with a promenade between it and the extended wall.
No start date has been set for the year-long project.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will finance 75 percent of the project, the city carrying the $2 million matching balance through an adjustment in Visitor Center parking facility fees.
Breakwater
Dredging will begin this month, with construction scheduled to begin in July on the $2.5 million project which will both protect the existing and add more Municipal Marina slips.
"Both (phases) are scheduled during our slow periods," General Services Director Jim Piggott says. The project is funded through the city's $15 million capital improvement bond issue.
San Sebastian Bridge
The $13.5 million replacement bridge, moving slightly west, "at its highest point ... will be approximately six feet higher than the existing bridge," says Laurie Sanderson, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) project.
The bridge is expected to be completed in April 2013.
King Street drainage
FDOT is expected to begin work in spring or early summer. This $1.6 million project is the second phase of the drainage project which began with work from the San Sebastian River to Malaga Street.
"The actual contract time is 240 days, plus 60 days acquisition time for specific materials," Sanderson says. "This does not include days which may be granted for potential weather-related delays or other unforeseen conditions." |
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Holiday giving StARs | |
'Twas two days before Christmas, and saws were buzzing and hammers ringing as the St. Augustine Regional (StAR) Council joined the St. Johns Housing Partnership "Build a Ramp" effort, completing a ramp for a disabled person unable to afford one.
The Housing Partnership is committed to promoting safe, decent and affordable housing in St. Johns County through links between the public and private sectors.
The St. Augustine Regional Council is dedicated to "promoting our community to individuals outside the region." Find them at http://MovetoFlorida.org |
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Piercing the Darkness |
After 34 years of dramatic religious monologs, recreating biblical figures, retired minister and St. Augustine resident Lee Weaver takes on St. Augustine lighthouse history in "Piercing the Darkness," appearing as three characters in three time periods.
St. Augustine historian/author Karen Harvey says, "Although Weaver strives to be historically accurate, his ability to improvise the character roles entices the audience to expect the unexpected."
Performances at the Limelight Theater are January 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30 pm and Jan 8 at 2 pm. Admission $20. Call 825-1164. |
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History's highlight
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3 years, 8 months, 5 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
January 31, 1838, sensing the inevitable, Osceola directed his followers to dress him in his best finery, and he laid back and quietly expired. His remains are buried at the military cemetery at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.
Many Floridians to this day believe he should be reinterred in this state where, as a patriot warrior defending his homeland, he joined the legendary ranks of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Geronimo.
 Osceola first appeared in 1832, sitting at Chief Micanopy's side at Payne's Landing as the United States continued negotiations, trying to move Florida's Indians west of the Mississippi. Osceola was about 35 years old, and was immediately recognized by U.S. officers as a force to reckon with. The Indian agent, Wiley Thompson, called him "bold and dashing."
Negotiations, skirmishes and frustration would continue on both sides, breaking into all-out war in 1835 - the Seminole Indian War, which would stretch to 1842 and become the most costly Indian conflict in United States history.
Osceola's mind was clear. He would not be moved from his homeland. He made his point December 28, 1835, in a well planned and spectacular pair of incidents which formally started the war. At nearly the same hour of late afternoon and at points 40 miles apart, his forces mowed down the Indian Agent Thompson outside Fort King at Ocala and massacred a relief force of 105 under U.S. Major Francis L. Dade, on its way to Fort King.
He continued skirmishes on a frustrated U.S. military, fighting its first guerrilla-style war in the dense subtropics.
October 21, 1837, a weary Osceola and Coa Hadjo, another principal leader of the Seminoles, camped at Fort Peyton southwest of St. Augustine under a flag of truce to meet with the U.S. commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas S. Jesup.
They were unaware that General Jesup was no longer recognizing flags of truce.
He was imprisoned in the St. Augustine's Castillo (then called Fort Marion) until late November, then transfered to Fort Moultrie, away from potential influencing of his Seminole followers. There he was buried with full military honors in a grave outside the military base.
On his marker, military authorities inscribed, "OCEOLA Patriot and Warrior."
Image: Portrait of Osceola, painted by American Artist George Catlin at Fort Moultrie, January 1838.
Excerpt from Osceola, in St. Augustine Bedtime Stories. 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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