Pinellas County Seeks Public Input On Grant Application For Three Disaster Mitigation Projects

From the Pinellas County Government:

August 26, 2020

Pinellas County will offer a required 14-day public comment period beginning Thursday, Aug. 27, pertaining to a proposed application for $58.65 million in grant funding for three disaster mitigation projects to enhance hurricane readiness and improve Joe’s Creek Greenway. The application will come before the Board of County Commissioners for consideration on Sept. 10.

If approved, the application would be submitted to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for federal funding through the Rebuild Florida Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation General Infrastructure Program. The proposed projects are summarized below. Details can be found, and comments submitted, through https://www.opentownhall.com/9587.

Resilient Pinellas Utilities Program (estimated cost: $18.65 million)
Several key elements of Pinellas County Utilities’ infrastructure are rated up to or below Category 2 hurricane, or about 110 mph winds. The proposed project would increase the structural integrity and wind resistance capacity of five Utilities operations facilities that are used for water and sewer emergency services.

Community Center Sheltering Hardening (estimated cost: $7 million)
This proposed project would address the countywide need for additional hurricane sheltering space by providing energy and space improvements, exterior mitigation and roof and building hardening at the Lealman Exchange Gym and Palm Harbor Community Center. The improvements would provide an additional 800 spaces for the general population or 400 for special needs residents.

Joe’s Creek Greenway Restoration and Mitigation (estimated cost: $33 million)
This project would bes for the preliminary engineering, design and construction of the Joe’s Creek Greenway Trail; adjacent main channel improvements; regional stormwater facility improvements; and projects identified by the Watershed Management Plan for flood protection, erosion control, and water quality improvements to minimize risk, improve resiliency and catalyze redevelopment in the Lealman Community Redevelopment Area.

Residents who would prefer not to submit their comments through https://www.opentownhall.com/9587 may provide input directly to Hank Hodde, Pinellas County Sustainability & Resiliency Coordinator, at hhodde@pinellascounty.org

This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.