Work to repair approach to causeway nearly done

Treasure Island is strengthening the approach after state inspectors found corrosion. Work should be done Monday.

By KATHY SAUNDERS

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 15, 2001

TREASURE ISLAND -- A sagging area in the eastern approach bridge to the Treasure Island Causeway had to be repaired last week. Since July 9, traffic along Central Avenue just west of Park Street has been reduced from four to two lanes while workers replace the steel under the bridge.

The approach bridge is part of the Treasure Island drawbridge system and is on a right of way within the city of St. Petersburg.

Hal Bruce, Treasure Island's transportation director, said the state inspectors found corrosion in a 3-foot by 3-foot area "that was causing weakness in the bridge."

The city immediately cut an 8-foot by 16-foot area in the bridge to repair the steel and concrete. Most of the work is expected to be completed by Monday.

Bruce said the repairs will cost about $18,000, which the city has in its Causeway Bridge fund that is supported by tolls.

"The state does an inspection underneath the spans every year, and every two years they do an underwater inspection of the piers," Bruce said. "The stuff underwater is in great shape."

The city is in the middle of a two-year study to consider replacing the entire causeway bridge system. Treasure Island officials hope to replace the 64-year-old structure by 2005 at an estimated cost of $40-million to $50-million.

City sets new property tax rate at $2.6272 or less

July 10, Treasure Island commissioners approved a tentative millage rate that is higher than the city manager recommended.

Each July, Commissioners are required by law to submit the highest possible property tax rate increase, although the budget process continues through September.

The city's millage rate could increase from 2.2272 to 2.6272. A mill is equivalent to $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property. The owner of a $225,000 home, minus the homestead exemption, would pay about $525 in property taxes.

City Manager Chuck Coward recommended the millage rate be raised to 2.5272 to improve what he described as "very inadequate" employee benefits and pensions plans.

But commissioners wanted to allow for the possibility of hiring a full-time employee to oversee the television productions of their meetings and the city's web site.

A budget workshop with commissioners is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 120 108th Ave. The city is required to hold several public hearings before the final budget is approved. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Legal force likely needed to gain final plot for park

Since the owner won't sell the land, the Treasure Island City Commission will likely use legal force to take the last parcel needed to develop the Sunset Vista Trailhead Park. July 10, the commission directed its attorney to begin the paperwork for eminent domain proceedings on the property owned by Harold Noordhoek of Miami.

The site where a vacant convenience store sits was owned by Noordhoek's son, Gary, who was killed in 1996. His father has refused to return phone calls from the city. Family attorneys contacted by Treasure Island's attorney, Jim Denhardt, also have not responded.

Denhardt gave the city two options for taking the land. The first process could be done quickly -- the city takes the land and agrees to pay whatever cost the courts impose. The second option is to go through the litigation process and decide whether to buy the land after a jury sets a price.

Taking City Manager Chuck Coward's advice, commissioners said they would rather wait to see what the court says the land is worth before they agree to buy it.

"This should not be a complicated appraisal because it's basically vacant property which might be difficult for a developer to develop," Denhardt said.

Sunset Beach Commissioner Barbara Blush said residents in her district want the city to get started on the condemnation.

"It's just such a derelict property and I think we've been more than patient," Commissioner Mary Maloof said.

The city has purchased several other parcels at the entrance to Sunset Beach to develop a 2-acre passive park with a sunset viewing platform and natural vegetation.

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