Beaches notebook

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 4, 2002

Treasure Island water, sewer rates increase

TREASURE ISLAND -- The final increase in a three-year adjustment of city sewer rates takes effect this month. Residents should notice the increase in the bills mailed at the end of August.

City commissioners on Tuesday approved a 10 percent rate increase to help cover higher treatment fees and replace the aging 40-year-old sewer system. During the next five to 10 years, the city needs to spend several million dollars to replace its manholes and much of the 50 miles of underground sewer pipe in the city.

Commissioners agreed in 2000 to raise the sewer rates by 50 percent over three consecutive years.

The original rates, which had not increased in 20 years, were not meeting the costs to maintain the sewer system or treat the waste at the city of St. Petersburg's Northwest Plant. Under the current billing system, all residents pay a base fee of $11.70 to connect to the city's sewer system.

That bimonthly fee will increase to $12.90 for a single-family residence. In addition, households are charged a bimonthly fee for the amount of water used each month. That will increase from $3 to $3.30 per every thousand gallons used.

Indian Rocks Beach

Plans to move the Indian Rocks Beach Historical Museum to Chief Chic-A-Si Park in the Narrows took a jump forward Tuesday. The City Commission authorized architectural and design services and received a state grant that will finance part of the relocation costs.

City officials hope the new location will bring in more visitors during special events held at the park and tourists staying in nearby hotels.

The museum currently is at 304 15th Ave. N. Moving the 1935-era wood frame building will cost about $85,000. The state grant will cover about $40,000 of that.

Applications are available for artists and crafters who would like to participate in the Beach Art Center's 24th annual Fall Festival. The deadline is Nov. 1.

The festival combines visual arts with holiday crafts, a pancake breakfast, bake sale, children's activities, live music, food and drink, a classic car show and Chalk Walk 2002.

The festival will be held Nov. 18 in Kolb Park in Indian Rocks Beach. The Beach Art Center is next to Indian Rocks Beach City Hall.

To receive an application, call 596-4331.

Gulfport

The Gulfport Public Library will close Aug. 6-20 while new floor tile is installed, library administrator Kitty Smith said.

Patrons can deposit books at the drop box outside the library or at any other library in the Pinellas Cooperative. Library users can check out books from other cooperative libraries while Gulfport is closed.

Anyone who requested a book can pick it up at the Gulfport Senior Center.

The Gulfport Waterfront District offers live music and refreshments on the first Friday and third Saturday of each month at the Gulfport Artwalk.

The next walk will take place 6-10 p.m. Aug. 17.

Free parking is available, as well as a free trolley service that takes visitors on a tour of historic Gulfport. For information, contact Tracey Jackson at 328-9790 or bcbacytrader@aol.com. The Gulfport Waterfront District is on Beach Boulevard.

St. Pete Beach

The St. Pete Beach Library has a new selection of audiobooks just in time for summer road trips. A rotating collection of 250 to 300 new audiobook titles are available each quarter with an emphasis on fiction, with almost all now or previously on the bestseller list.

Books on compact disk are included with the cassettes.

The library is at 365 73rd Ave. For information about its collections and programs, call 363-9238 or visit its Web site at www.tblc.org/spb.

-- To submit items for the beaches notebook, e-mail wimmer@sptimes.com.

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