Galimore Center resolution may come Monday

Historic City News expects that plans for the future of Lincolnville’s Willie Galimore Center in St Augustine will have to be presented for consideration to the City Commission not later than June 11, 2012, if commissioners give the nod to a proposed resolution during Monday night’s meeting.

Lincolnville remains a vibrant, active neighborhood within the City of St. Augustine and the Willie Galimore Center, for many years, served, and continues to serve, as a community center — providing social, recreational and educational activities to the Lincolnville neighborhood.

Under management by the St. Johns County Department of Parks and Recreation, the center lapsed into a state of disrepair — culminating in the Health Department closing of the Olympic size community swimming pool.

On October 1, 2011, the County discontinued its management of the Galimore Center and disbursed $400,000.00 to the City — representing severance costs for the County’s discontinuance of their responsibilities.

Last month, at the suggestion of Jim Piggott, Director of General Services, the City Commission authorized the designation and expenditure of $40,000.00, of the $400,000.00 received, to operate the Galimore Center for the 2011-2012 Fiscal Year.

Lincolnville community groups, including Lift up Lincolnville, continue to discuss ideas and concepts for effective development of the Willie Galimore Center. The neighborhood and the city each say that they desire to continue to improve the social, recreational and educational activities offered at the Center.

If the Commission approves Resolution 2011-30, the City of St. Augustine will designate the remaining $360,000.00, now held in the City’s General Reserve Fund, exclusively for the development of programs at and for the management of the Willie Galimore Center.

If you are planning to attend — the regular St. Augustine City Commission meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. Monday and will be held in the Alcazar Room; on the first floor of City Hall, located at 75 King Street in St. Augustine. It will be broadcast live on Comcast Government TV (Cable Channel 3) and is streamed over the Internet.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer