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Construction to close Belleair Boat Ramp Park
By WAYNE AYERS
| Article published on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/021507_bee-01.jpg) |
| Photo by NANCY AYERS |
| Boaters, anglers and others enjoying recreational activities have just a few more days to enjoy the Belleair Boat Ramp Park. |
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BELLEAIR BLUFFS – Construction work on the new Belleair Beach Causeway Bridge is scheduled to begin by the end of March.
The announcement came at Monday evening’s City Commission workshop. The Belleair Boat Ramp Park and dog beach will close Monday, Feb. 19, to prepare for the bridge work.
“March 30 is D-day for construction,” said Robert David, city public works director.
David said soil sampling at the site would be conducted beginning Feb. 19. On March 30, construction activity and infrastructure work will start, he said. The project is expected to take 2-3 years to complete.
No lane closures or warnings of traffic delays have been announced. David said two weeks notice must be given for any closures.
The commission agreed to continue the city’s lease of areas bordering the bridge after the project is completed. The lease fee is $1 a year for 20 years. Belleair Bluffs Memorial Park is the official title of the area comprised of the boat ramp, beach and flagpole display, Mayor Chris Arbutine noted.
Special election date set
A special election to fill the unexpired term of former Commissioner Brett Nelson will be held April 24. In announcing the election date, Arbutine also said the city code is unclear on the exact procedure to be followed when a commissioner resigns.
Former Commissioners John Tabor and Wallace Witham recalled instances in the past where an appointed commissioner served the remainder of an unexpired term. Last month, the commission appointed Hunt Brand to fill Nelson’s seat until a special election is held.
Arbutine said he would like to see the code changed to allow an appointed commissioner to serve the entire unexpired term of a departed member, eliminating the need to hold a special election. City Attorney Thomas Trask disagreed with Arbutine’s view. He said the reasoning behind holding a special election is to let the voters decide, rather than the commissioners.
Witham disagreed with a provision in the code which prohibits losing candidates in the March regular elections from running in the special election. Witham called that requirement “a terrible thing to set up as a precedent.”
Witham is one of three candidates running for two commission seats this March. He said the loser of that race would be the only person not allowed to run in the later special election.
City’s tax structure questioned
A proposal to have Belleair Bluffs join other county municipalities in offering an additional homestead exemption to needy senior citizens turned into a discussion of the city’s overall tax strategy.
The senior citizens tax exemption proposal allows cities to give residents 65 and older who earn an income of $23,500 or less an additional homestead exemption of up to $25,000. City Clerk Debra Sullivan estimated about 20 city residents would be eligible for the benefit, which would save the taxpayer about $100 a year. The exemption would be raised each year in line with cost of living increases.
Commission members appeared favorable toward the idea. Arbutine recommended giving the entire $25,000, while Commissioner David Shimkus suggested $15,000.
Shimkus said the city needed to do more research on the issue and should also look at the entire tax structure, including lowering the millage rate.
“We should look at the millage rate and taxes as a whole to benefit all citizens,” he said.
Sullivan said that other cities with low millage rates also impose user taxes on services, which Belleair Bluffs does not.
Arbutine suggested spreading the tax burden, balancing a lower millage rate with more taxes based on usage.
Commissioner Hunt Brand commented that Largo, “has so many utility taxes, but talks a low millage rate.”
Brand agreed the city’s tax structure needs a review.
“We need to really get into this,” he said.
YMCA request denied
A request by the YMCA to use City Hall free of charge for jazzercise and ballroom dancing was turned down by the commission. Sullivan said the YMCA is charging people for the activities yet doesn’t want to pay rent for the facilities.
While turning down the YMCA, the commission decided to relook a possible agreement with Belleair to allow Bluffs residents to use the new Dimmitt Community Center in Belleair and associated activities. An arrangement with Belleair had been discussed in 2005 but fell apart over financial terms and the length of an agreement.
Shimkus said that Belleair mayor-to-be, Gary Katica, had recently brought the issue back up.
“Katica was open to looking at a new agreement,” Shimkus said.
Birth announcement
Commissioner Shimkus announced the birth of a daughter on Jan. 24. Madelyn Shae is the first child of Dave and Taylour Shimkus.
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Article published on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007
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