Tarpon loosens its belt around funds

Budgeted items ''of somewhat immediate concern,'' such as police cars, are approved.

By KATHERINE GAZELLA, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 7, 2002

TARPON SPRINGS -- After freezing the funds for most projects for several months, the city will release money for police cars, fire department equipment, a new dog park and other endeavors.

City administrators had been nervous about the deteriorating economy earlier in the fiscal year. While they still have some concerns, they decided to release the funds for several budgeted projects that were "of somewhat immediate concern or public interest," City Manager Ellen Posivach said.

The police department will receive a detective car and three patrol cars. The fire department will get nozzles and a system that allows its personnel to pre-empt traffic signals during emergencies.

Other funds will pay for resurfacing of tennis courts at Dorsett Park, a heavy-duty pickup truck for the parks department and new books and other materials for the library.

The fence for a dog park will cost $12,000. Activist Nancy Dively has been pushing the city to build a dog park for about a year and a half and has performed much of the research about dog parks on her own.

"I'm excited. I think it will be very successful," she said. "The (dog park) at Anderson Park is very busy. . . . You'll have people that will utilize both parks."

The dog park at A.L. Anderson Park on U.S. 19 is about 11/2 acres. It officially opened in January. The city dog park will be slightly smaller.

The city park will go next to a little-used parking lot on Live Oak Street, near the Pinellas Trail. Dively has raised about $2,000 for equipment at the park.

She said she expects the dog park to open in a few weeks.

The city decided not to release funds immediately for some budgeted items, including new personal computers in Posivach's office and other offices in City Hall.

"What we have can carry us on for a few more months," Posivach said. "If ultimately we do need to cut some funds, we have some things we can look to that are not absolutely crucial."

-- Staff writer Katherine Gazella can be reached at (727) 445-4182 or gazella@sptimes.com.

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