Clearwater digest

Compiled by CHRISTINA HEADRICK

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 10, 2000

Causeway bridge funding in flux

When Bill Horne learned last week that the city was getting $10-million in federal funds for the new $51-million Clearwater Memorial Causeway bridge, he was disappointed.

It seemed the city had come up $2-million short in efforts to get $12-million for the bridge and would have to scale back other city projects to make up the difference.

But this week, Horne said the city might receive even more federal money than it expected: up to $22-million for the new bridge to Clearwater Beach.

First, city officials may have been under the mistaken impression for seven months that they were not able to receive $12-million in federal funding for the bridge appropriated last year -- because they couldn't meet deadlines to use the funds.

Now it turns out the city will likely be allowed to use that $12-million, plus another $10-million earmarked for the bridge last week in a new spending bill in Congress. But officials are reluctant to talk about it.

"If we get too specific about it, it could call undue attention to it," said City Clerk Cyndie Goudeau, the city's legislative liaison.

The federal funds could help the city offset escalating costs to build the bridge and lower the city's minimum $16-million contribution to the state project. But if the money doesn't come through, the city may have to go back to its budget, looking for more bridge funds.

Judge rules in beach condo dispute

Earlier this year, the owners of a Clearwater Beach pizzeria sued the city and a local developer, alleging that Clearwater allowed JMC Communities to break state and local development rules to build the 157-unit Mandalay Beach Club condominium beside their business.

Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court Judge Charles Cope threw out the lawsuit on a technicality last week, ruling that the pizzeria owners had to file a "verified complaint" with the city before proceeding with their lawsuit under state law.

Patrick Maguire, attorney for the pizzeria owners, could not be reached for comment.

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