Washington Heights progress

More of the groundwork was laid Monday night for the implementation of the Washington Heights Neighborhood Plan when the Community Redevelopment Agency selected Keith and Schnars, P.A., to prepare a master drainage plan for the neighborhood.

Before any substantial improvement projects can be done in Washington Heights the master drainage plan must be completed, said Pete Pollard, the CRA executive director.

"We have to have a master drainage plan, which has never been done for that neighborhood," said Pollard. "You have to determine what the issues are and how to address them."

As directed by the board the CRA staff put out a request for qualifications and Keith and Schnars was the only company that responded, Pollard told the CRA board of commissioners Monday.

"It surprised us," said Pollard. "We only got one response to this RFQ."

Commissioner Kelly Griffin said she thought it was a positive thing because Keith and Schnars are well qualified.

"They've had their hands in it from the start," she said.

The board was left with three options; accept Keith and Schnars fee of $63,000 for its proposal and scope of services, which Pollard had negotiated down from $69,000, try to negotiate it down some more, or reject it and put out a new request for qualifications.

Pollard told the board that Keith and Schnars indicated to him that this was the lowest it would go, charging for its survey and mapping services for the evaluation of flooding conditions; project research; field investigations; cost analysis, as well as hydrologic and hydraulic studies and preparation of a drainage master plan report.

A draft report should be completed in 90 days and a final report would be submitted within 120 days after receipt of draft final comments.

The board voted unanimously 5-0 to accept Keith and Schnars proposed fee and ordered staff to prepare a contract. Commissioners Kathy Malie and Jim McCollum were absent from the meeting.

Once this phase is completed, the next step is to prepare the plans and specifications needed to actually construct what is needed.

Once that step is finished the CRA will apply for a Community Development Block Grant to pay for the work.

"These are the same grant funds we've used for our streetscaping projects," Pollard said.

Façade grant

In other CRA action, the board voted unanimously 5-0 to award a $1,231.50 façade grant to Elizabeth Walker for her home at 402 Oak Ave., in Sebring.

The grant is for the replacement of a window damaged by settling of her foundation as well as to replace a driveway and expand it.

The total cost of the project was estimated at $4,105 of which she will receive 30 percent.

The board has rarely approved the replacement of a driveway. However, Walker pointed out that the driveway as it exists posed a hazard to herself and her visitors.

Board members agreed that the repair and doubling of driveway space would enhance the property's value.

The CRA began its fiscal year with a $60,000 façade grant balance and the remaining façade grant balance is $51,418.50 until the next grant is approved, and eventually is all used up, rolled over to the next fiscal year or renewed on Oct. 1, 2010.

These funds are for use by owners or tenants of properties located within the Sebring CRA district. They are made available on a first-come first-served basis until all the funds are spent.

For more information on façade grants, call the CRA at (863) 471-5104.

The board voted 5-0 to cancel the CRA meeting scheduled for Dec. 28. Its next meeting will be held on Jan. 11.