In a 3-2 split vote last night, with freshman commissioner Bill Leary and Vice Mayor Leanna Freeman objecting, Historic City News watched as Mayor Joe Boles and Commissioners Nancy Sikes-Kline and Errol Jones decided it was best for the City to purchase the property at the corner of Bridge Street and Martin Luther King Avenue.

Historic City News readers with an interest in economic development are encouraged to attend a special economic development workshop of the St. Johns County Commission being held Tuesday, December 14th, at 9:00 a.m. in the County Auditorium.

Historic City News previously reported that tomorrow night during the last regular commission meeting of 2010, St. Augustine City Commissioners would take up final approval of a proposed $22.5 million bond issue to finance long-delayed city projects.

Historic City News reporters will be following several property issues involving the City of St. Augustine and comments by City Attorney Ron Brown when the City Commission convenes their regularly scheduled meeting Monday, December 13, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.

Among the nine items included in the consent agenda for the regular meeting of the St. Augustine City Commission Monday night, will be consideration and authorization of funding to return the lion statues to their proper home.

At the close of Monday night’s city commission meeting, during the time allocated to items by Mayor and Commissioners, St. Augustine City Commissioner Leanna Freeman will lead a discussion regarding the meeting that was held between City and County representatives relevant to the operation of the Willie Galimore Center.

Legislative aide Justin Harclerode reported to Historic City News from Washington, D.C., that Congressman John L. Mica believes that additional federal funding for the new Orlando-to-Tampa passenger rail link should ensure the project’s chance for successful completion.