AP gets a break from DOT for U.S. 27 widening

The city of Avon Park got a $49,000 break on a Department of Transportation road widening project.

In October, state stimulus money to fund the widening of U.S. 27 from Lake Isis Avenue to the county line became available to the DOT.

Since the city's utility lines run along the right of way of DOT's project, the city is responsible for relocating the lines.

Initially, they were being hit with a $190,000 tab for the relocation.

But budget constraints led the city council to vote no on the project in an October meeting.

The project originally started several years ago but lack of state funding shelved it. According to city records, between 2003 and 2006, the city paid Chastain and Skillman, an engineering firm, $23,151.14 for engineering fees for the project.

In late January, the DOT accepted those payments and any additional engineering costs for the project.

That brought the city's portion down to $150,000.

"We did our own homework and double checked everything. It's nice to know that we saved $49,000," said Maria Sutherland, interim city manager.

During the Feb. 9 city council workshop, a DOT representative said that since the city was eligible for financial hardship the DOT would set up an annual repayment schedule.

The city would start paying the DOT when the construction of the project is complete, which should be between three to five years.

Once the DOT receives the stimulus money, construction work can begin as soon as May, said Jerrold Whitt, DOT representative, at the workshop.

The city would pay the money in annual payments at 2.5 percent interest over several years.

"I appreciate it because we sure don't have $150,000 to remove the lines at this time. We're looking at laying off people and closing departments," said Mayor Sharon Schuler at the meeting.