Fire Department Main Topic At July City Commission Meeting

The City of Graceville had its July City Commission meeting on Tuesday, July 9. The meeting included a briefing on grant activity as well as county work.

The City Manager Michelle Watkins started informing the commission that the 2023-2024 audit had been completed. She noted that it was a very good audit and the only issues found was the segregation of duties and size of staff. She added that those two findings had been on the audit since around 2005 to 2006 and the only solution would be to hire a larger staff.

The next item on the agenda was changing the August commission meeting. Watkins noted that Early Voting for the Primary election would be taking place during the dates of the regular commission meeting.

She also mentioned the Legislative Appropriation given by Governor Ron DeSantis for a new Fire truck totaling $880,000. The Graceville News reported this exciting news several weeks ago when Governor DeSantis’ announced the decision and signing of the budget.

The next item spoke about was the Fire Department Construction. Watkins noted that they had downsized the fire department plans to fit the budget at a previous meeting. At the August meeting she noted that the fire department was ready to be re-bid however they would like to add a regulation to those bidding. She read the new requirement which states that contractors could not have been in litigation in the past five years or be in current litigation related to previous constructed projects. When asked by Commissioner Marshall how many bids would be knocked out from this change, Watkins noted she only knew of one.

Melvin Engineering representative Rod Adams spoke about the fire department as well. He noted that going over the budget by $1 million meant some big changes to the original plans and was also the reason for the length of time it has taken to get the project off the ground. He noted a few changes made to cut the cost included only putting concrete at the front of the building and using gravel on the backside. He also showed the revised floor plan noting the original design was approximately 7,200 square feet and with the redesign they were able to make the facility only 5,000 square feet. Things that were taken away from the department to fit the new square footage included getting rid of sleep quarters, the cascade room, one of the building’s bathrooms and eliminating one of the four fire truck bases. He noted that the design did leave two offices, kitchen, laundry room, common room, and a bumper gear room. He finished that they did also have to delete the entire second story, therefore the new fire department will now only be one story. Both items were approved as presented.

Watkins finished the grant updates noting design will move forward on the Cliff Street project. She also added that it was time for Ethics training, and it was scheduled for August 22. She finished adding the City would be hosting a Back-To-School Supply Drive after asking for donations from local churches and businesses to fund the project. The date is planned on July 20 at the Civic Center with the time being from 10 AM to 1 PM. She also added that they would be hosting a Movie Night on August 3 at the Civic Center.

Judy Austin spoke briefly about current county activity. She started that they were currently working to clean up Spring Creek and that the Jackson County Tourist Development had been working on new tourism information for the county noting many people are coming for the Springs.

The meeting ended with the commissioners final comments for the night. To view the meeting in its entirety visit The Graceville News Facebook page.

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