Big Votes Decided at Tonight's Commission Meeting

by Mark Schantz

Funding for a major roadway connection north of the city, rejection of bids for a decorative downtown railroad mast arm, establishing a whistle blower's policy, approving the fifth phase in the ever-ongoing Craig Park seawall improvement project and a proposal to redevelop the city's long-vacant former nursing home into a facility for Alzheimer's patients, will all be discussed and voted on at the Tuesday, Oct. 16 Tarpon City Commission meeting.

City economic development will discuss a plan transform Tarpon's former nursing home property at 501 Walton Avenue, which has been vacant for more than 8 years, into an assisted living facility for Alzheimer patients.

 “Over time, the property has deteriorated and become blighted,” Karen Lemmons, city economic development manager, told city commissioners in a report. “No plans currently exist for the site.” Based on the property’s previous use as a nursing home, it would generate approximately $50,000 yearly in property taxes.

 “A new or renovated facility will enhance the surrounding neighborhood, help increase property values, generate long-term property tax revenue for the City, and generate immediate term revenues through a potential sale of the property,” she said.

Tuesday night, Representative from Qualified Property Management will tell city commissioners about their proposal to redevelopment the property into a for-profit, assisted living facility with an Alzheimer’s component that would generate a minimum 60 employees. Qualified Property Management owns several assisted living facilities, including Sunset Harbor in Tarpon Springs, she said.

 If commissioners approve of the plan, the sale still has to be passed by voters in a referendum that would likely appear on the March 12  general election ballot.

 In another action, commissioners will decide whether to allocate $247,320 to begin the first phase of extending L&R Industrial Boulevard from Anclote Road to Wesley Avenue, north of the city. Commissioners will decide whether to award the design, permitting, surveying and engineering to Clearwater-based Cardno TBE.

The connection will provide access to the city’s proposed reverse osmosis water treatment plant and a future fire station north of the Anclote River. The fire station is needed to improve response time north of the river. The route could also someday serve to connect the Pinellas trail with a similar bicycle path in Pasco County.

 City commissioners will also hear about a fifth phase in the ongoing Craig Park Seawall Rehabilitation Project. This phase encompasses improvements to the platform area, which will include the seawall, deck, planters and the stairwell leading from Tarpon Ave, with an estimated price tag of $143,000. In this phase staff will ask for commission comments on a proposed pedestrian lighting plan along Spring Bayou, proposed last year by Commissioner Townsend Tarapani. Staff estimates the cost at $90,000. They will also raise the idea of placing a $30,000 floating dock at the Craig Park boat ramp.

 Not all projects brought to the City Commission will have city staff’s seal of approval. City commissioners will be asked to reject all bids for a decorative railroad mast arm, which was supposed to be placed downtown. Bids came in several thousand dollars above the $60.000 budgeted amount, with design specifications that would not fit into the area.

City commissioners will also be asked to vote on a resolution covering a "fraud and whistleblowers policy," and establising a fraud hotline, which was a recommendation by the city's external audit firm to help "avoid unfavorable consequences," the resolution states.