Glen St. Mary will reapply for CDBG grants

By LYNSIE BREAUX

GLEN ST MARY, FL - The Glen St. Mary Town Council wants money and lots of it. But they aren't going to raise taxes, increase fees or do anything to increase regular town revenue. Best of all, should they be successful in their endeavor, the citizens of Glen will reap the benefits without having to repay the funds.

Glen St. Mary is once again seeking a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant for up to $600,000.

According to Kathy Baker, a project manager for Jordan and Associates, this is essentially the same application the town submitted last year. However, this year the town is actually ready to proceed which will result in the town being awarded an additional 100 points on their application.

The grant will be under the neighborhood revitalization program used to benefit low- to moderate-income individuals.

Mayor Juanice Padgett said that should the town get the grant it will be used to upgrade the town's water supply specifically to dig a second well for the town's water supply.

The town council took the first of two required votes Monday approving the town's application. According to Baker the town will also have to hold a community workshop before the grant application is approved.

The grant deadline is late September so even if the town's application is approved it won't be until the end of the year before the town receives the grant and construction of the new well won't start until April of next year according to Padgett.

In other business, town attorney Joel Foreman gave an update on the town's proposed ordinance restricting large and commercial vehicles parked within town limits.

Foreman suggested the council hold a workshop prior to next month's regular town council meeting so that council members can hammer out their intentions with the new ordinance.

According to the attorney, during the previous month's meeting the council was split as to how to proceed with the new ordinance with some wanting the new law to be very restrictive and others wanting it not so much.

The workshop will be held one hour before the June council meeting.

Foreman also gave an update on the town seeking an interlocal agreement with the Baker County Code Enforcement Board. The lawyer said he would finalize plans for the agreement.

Mayor Padgett gave an update on the town's efforts to improve code compliance.

She stated that many of the properties listed as needing improvement are in the process of being cleaned up.

"One person came in this week to let me know that he was working on cleaning up his land," Padgett said.

Of the properties listed as non-compliant, two are currently scheduled to be sent to the county board once the interlocal agreement has been finalized.