Officials say town stands out
Redington Shores leaders point to stormwater, undergrounding projects
By WAYNE AYERS
| Article published on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 |
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REDINGTON SHORES – Completion of the Redingon Shore’s stormwater drainage/clean water project combined with the undergrounding of all utilities two years ago makes Redington Shores a model community for the United States, town officials say.
Not many places in the country have the beautification and quality of life amenities the town’s residents enjoy, said Vice Mayor John Branch in comments made following the Board of Commissioners March 10 meeting.
At the meeting, Branch informed commissioners the five-year stormwater control and clean water project, at a cost of $3.5 million, is “nearly done.” In addition to upgrading the town’s appearance with new curbing and repaving of streets, the cleaning system dramatically improves the quality of runoff water entering the Intracoastal.
“What an improvement this is for our town,” Branch told the commission.
Commissioner Tom Kapper said he had driven through the recently completed areas and termed the result “an unbelievable improvement.”
The biggest change, Branch said following the meeting, will be in the water entering the Intracoastal Waterway.
The system works, he said, by channeling runoff water via the new curbs into a series of catch basins where it is filtered. Before entering the Intracoastal, the water is purified in a “defender” through a swirling process that casts off impurities.
The water cleaning system is among the most advanced anywhere, Branch said.
Channeling of runoff water during storms also will greatly reduce flooding. Half of the project’s cost is being paid for through grant funds, Branch said.
Redington Shores has invested nearly $10 million in improvement projects, including the undergrounding of utilities, over the past several years.
“Very few towns in the U.S. can claim what we have here today,” Branch said.
Beautification plans
Though the town’s residential areas have undergone dramatic improvements, the upgrading of Gulf Boulevard depends on the county’s actions, Mayor Bert Adams said at the meeting.
Adams said he and other beach community officials will be busy lobbying county commissioners to keep $35 million in Penny for Pinellas funds set aside for the beautification project, which is scheduled to begin in 2011. The county faces a deficit of up to $65 million this year and is planning deep cuts.
Adams said county officials are in the process of allocating revenue to various jobs.
“It doesn’t matter to me where they get (the money), as long as they give it to us (for Gulf Boulevard),” he said.
Under the current plan, Redington Shores is slated to get $344,530 a year in beautification money, allocated over a five-year period, Adams said. The town’s plan for the boulevard includes removing utility poles and overhead lines and putting in decorative lighting. That would cost around $400,000, Adams said.
Pavers would be installed between the curbs and sidewalks and in the median, along with landscaping. Also planned are crosswalk pavers similar to those in Indian Rocks Beach, Adams said.
Adams stressed the town’s plans to beautify its portion of Gulf Boulevard will happen only if the county funding comes through.
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Article published on Tuesday, March 16, 2010
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