|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Belleair Shore says ‘no thanks’ to beautification funds
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 |
BELLEAIR SHORE – Seeing no need for beautification along its 1-mile stretch of Gulf Boulevard, this town would turn its $700,000 earmarked for beautification over to Belleair Beach.
Mayor John A. Robertson explained during the town’s Feb. 20 meeting that the Barrier Island Government Coalition has proposed that Pinellas County give each municipality along Gulf Boulevard a share of $35 million to do their own beautification project. The county has offered to pay 50 percent of the proposed project.
Belleair Shore has opposed most proposals for a county-planned beautification, noting its 50 percent share of the project for its stretch of the road was out of the question.
Robertson noted that, technically, none of Gulf Boulevard is in Belleair Shore as the town’s border ends at the western edge of the right-of-way. That’s why he proposed giving the county money to Belleair Beach, in which the road lies.
The town has balked in the past at what the county had proposed for beautification in Belleair Shore. Robertson told the county his town needs no street lights, those in the town now are on private property. The mayor said the town needs no sidewalks, repaving, curbs, landscaped medians or bus stops.
Other municipalities have told the county that they can’t even afford the rising cost estimates for burying utility wires. In some cities, this has already been accomplished, however.
Robertson’s proposal to give the county money to Belleair Beach was unanimously approved by the Town Commission. This is part of the proposal sent to the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners by the BIG-C.
Belleair Beach’s share of the county money is listed at $2.1 million.
Money for the project was raised through the county’s Penny for Pinellas sales tax and the project was promised by the county if county residents approved renewal of that tax. The BIG-C representatives from each of the barrier island municipalities have noted that the beautification would benefit all residents of the county in helping to draw tourists to the beaches.
|
Article published on Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
|
