Historic City News sat in with City and County officials this afternoon, as both sides of a sometimes contentious contract over the management of the Willie Galimore Center came to the table at City Hall.
Vice-Mayor Leanna Freeman and top level staff including City Manager John Regan, Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield, City Attorney Ron Brown and Director of General Services Jim Piggott, continue to press County staff for action to put Galimore back in service
Assistant County Administrator Jerry Cameron and Troy Blevins, St. Johns County Recreation and Parks Director, represented the County at today’s meeting — District 5 County Commissioner Joseph “Ken” Bryan, whose district includes the City of St. Augustine, did not attend.
Bryan addressed city commissioners during an October meeting; and, when confronted with City Commissioner Errol Jones’ demand that the county honor its Interlocal agreement with the city that’s been in place since 1987, Bryan responded by saying, “Contracts have escape clauses.”
Freeman is concerned that, while nothing seems to be getting done at Galimore, her understanding of the County’s intention to fulfill their agreement with the City has changed since their last meeting in December — including what she thought was an agreement for future management of the facility.
Regan, who led the meeting, says that there are two main concerns for the City. First, the repairs and restoration of the public swimming pool and facilities that have been closed since the Health Department pulled the operating permit. Second, that the process for a new Interlocal agreement that addresses the future services to be provided by the County at City facilities like Pomar Park, Galimore Center and others, keeps moving forward.
St. Johns County officials are saying that when the current Interlocal agreement expires, they may be out of the whole deal. Cameron said that the future of recreational programs in the county may hinge on a willingness of residents to pay additional taxes in the form of ad-valorem assessments, usage fees, and even the implementation of a one-cent sales tax.
The good news is that there seems to be agreement that the County will pay the cost of making the pool and building serviceable — whether they bail on future maintenance and operation or not. A request for proposals has been issued by the county for a contractor to make the required repairs.
There also seems to be agreement that Galimore Center will be back in service by Memorial Day and that the County will provide support of the facilities, on a temporary basis, through the end of September 2010. This coincides with summer swimming activities and the date when the term of the current agreement would expire.
Freeman is looking for economies of scale. She believes, as does Jim Piggott, that in negotiating with potential management companies, the best price will come if the City and County bid together.
Cameron instructed Blevins to be sure that when a request for proposal is prepared for management services for the 24,000 square foot Solomon Calhoun Community Center and swimming pool on Duval Street in West Augustine, commencing October 1st, that there be an option for contractors to bid for just Solomon Calhoun, just Willie Galimore, and for a combination of both Solomon Calhoun and Willie Galimore.
Burchfield clarified his understanding that if, hypothetically, the cost of operating the County facility is $200,000 and the cost for Solomon Calhoun and Willie Galimore is $250,000, the City could have the option to pick up the $50,000 to join in the contract.
Cameron responded by saying that although that sounds good — it would be subject to approval by the purchasing manager, administrator and the Board of County Commissioners. Blevins clarified that management fees and operating contracts don’t include other hard costs like equipment repairs.
Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer
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