INDIAN SHORES – Mayor Jim Lawrence left the meeting with a rare smile on his face. He, along with Indian Rocks Beach Mayor Bill Ockunzzi and Indian Shores consultant Robert Brotherton, had just met with Interim Pinellas County Administrator Fred E. Marquis about Gulf Boulevard.
According to Lawrence, Marquis said that Ronnie Duncan, chairman of the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners, had given him the go ahead to tentatively offer Lawrence and Ockunzzi about $4 million to help beautify their town’s stretch of Gulf Boulevard.
“This is the first meeting that I had concerning the Gulf Boulevard project where I came away with a smile on my face,” Lawrence said. “It’s the first rosy thing that’s happened in the project.”
Acknowledging the money was not yet in the town’s coffers, he said, “I hate to be too optimistic about this because every time I do I end up getting punched in the belly.”
According to Lawrence, Marquis told the group that Progress Energy could never justify the rates needed for burying utilities underground in other beach communities and the county does not have enough in its pocketbook to do the job.
Consequently, the $35 million dedicated for that project could be released to the towns on a per millage basis with the requirement it must be used for roadway beautification. Lawrence said the $4 million of Pennies for Pinellas dollars Indian Shores will receive is in addition to the Pennies for Pinellas funds normally allocated to the town.
The Florida Department of Transportation said it doesn’t have the funds to pay for the originally designed plan and opted for a bargain basement substitute. The agency’s substitute plan does not incorporate road design components such as sidewalks, street lighting, banners on light posts and other features that would give a common theme, a long sought objective of the towns.
Lawrence said that Sen. Dennis L. Jones, R-Treasure Island, is busy working in Tallahassee to try to get the difference needed to complete the originally designed project.
“I really feel good about Dennis getting involved again,” he said.
Lawrence said that Rep. Jim Frishe, R-Pinellas Park, also is a strong supporter of the town’s efforts. Lawrence said about $11 million more is needed to carry out the full project as planned.
Formal consideration of the alternative plan – a county agreement with FDOT for improving Gulf Boulevard from Park Boulevard to Walsingham Road – will go before the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 16. If approved, contracts will be initiated and construction expected to start in November.
“We know that Chairman Duncan supports the plan but we do not know how the other commissioners may react, but Duncan has agreed to talk individually with them,” Lawrence said
Three years ago the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the entity that prioritizes expenditures that FDOT parcels out, previously recommended that the Indian Shores project should receive full funding for the project.
The southern portion of Indian Shores, clear of utility poles, stands in attractive contrast to the remainder of the boulevard.
Lawrence summed up his feelings on the issue.
“My enthusiasm has been renewed,” he said. “Perhaps there is a solution to this after all.”
