County receives state funding for courthouse, recreation projects

Bradford County Telegraph - September 18, 2001
BY MARCIA MILLER
Telegraph Staff Writer

Bradford County recently received a state grant for $150,000 - which will be added to the $1.1 million ($1,082,732) already received in special state funding - for the expansion project at the Bradford County Courthouse.

The project involves building two one-story additions on either side of the front of the courthouse. Each addition will be 62 feet wide and 84 feet long, providing 5,400 square feet of space each.

This total of 10,800 square feet should serve the space needs of the courthouse offices. The county's constitutional officers - county clerk, property appraiser, supervisor of elections and tax collector - would be moved into the new additions. The space currently being occupied by those offices on the first floor of the existing courthouse would then be renovated for use by the court system. The offices of state attorney and public defender will likely be moved downstairs with the second floor reserved for courtrooms, hearing rooms and judge's chambers.

After the two wings are completed, the top floor will be renovated to better serve the needs of the courts.

A check for $150,000 was presented to members of the county commission Sept. 5 when the three legislators who represent Bradford County visited Starke. Clerk of Courts Ray Norman told the legislators that the county could use $650,000 to $700,000 more in state funds in order to complete the project since the actual cost is going to be more than initial estimates of $1.4 million.

Bids in the neighborhood of $2 million were received in the first round of bidding, but due to difficulties in the way the bids were submitted, the project is to be rebid. Some of the preliminary site work has already taken place.

Representative Aaron Bean and Senators Richard Mitchell and Rod Smith said they would see if more state funding could be secured, but all three noted this will be a tight budget year.

$100,000 in recreation grants awarded to Lawtey, Hampton

Both the city of Lawtey and the town of Hampton were awarded recreation grants for park projects this year. Each city was presented with $50,000, for a total of $100,000.

In Lawtey, the $50,000 will build a pavilion at the city park behind the community center. A bike trail is also part of that project.

Hampton's new grant will light the Bobbie Sheppard Memorial Ball Park in Hampton and will provide bleachers at the field. Hampton had already received another $50,000 recreation grant which will refurbish the town park and buy new playground equipment. A basketball court will also be added.

See September 18, 2001 issue of Bradford County Telegraph for original article.