The City of Zephyrhills is involved in numerous initiatives, and City Manager Billy Poe recently updated the city’s elected leaders on what’s happening on numerous fronts.
For one thing, a staff-level meeting has been scheduled with state Sen. Danny Burgess, state Rep. Randy Maggard and the Pasco Economic Development Council regarding “future opportunities” at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Poe told members of the Zephyrhills City Council, at its Aug. 9 meeting.
He also informed them that the Florida Army National Guard is still evaluating parcels in the area of the municipal airport to build an armory — a project that’s received $25 million in state funding.
Poe told council members that the National Guard plans to purchase a property, instead of lease property from the city, as originally anticipated.
Funding for the armory project must be encumbered by 2024 and completely spent by 2026, Poe said.
The city manager also said that staff is hammering out a new lease agreement for the Zephyrhills Municipal Golf Course, an 18-hole, par 68 course, at 39248 B Ave., in Zephyrhills. It’s expected to be presented during an Aug. 23 council meeting.
At one point the golf course was being considered as a possible location for the armory building.
Poe also told council members that appropriation funding requests to present to the 2022 state legislative session will be evaluated and finalized during the council’s Aug. 23 meeting.
Staff and council members have been tasked to prepare ideas and input on necessary projects within the city limits, to present to state legislators.
Poe noted: “You know, the things that they (legislators) look at the most are projects that are economic drivers, so that’s what we need to be thinking about.”
The annual Pasco County Legislative Delegation public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, on 5335 Eighth St. Legislators to be present include Senators Wilton Simpson, Ed Hooper and Danny Burgess, and Representatives Amber Mariano, Ardian Zika and Randy Maggard.
Poe also told council members that progress is being made on the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget, which is undergoing “a few changes or some additions.”
In another update, Poe noted the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center is set to host the SVB Padel Open, from Aug. 27 through Aug. 29.
The tournament initially was promoted as an international padel tournament — featuring a team from Spain — but has been scaled back to feature just local competition, amid coronavirus-related travel restrictions, Poe said.
Another padel tournament incorporating international competition is expected to be scheduled at a later date, he said.
Finally, the city manager said that city staff is working on making applications for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for these projects:
- Transforming Seventh Street into a complete street
- Purchasing and installing generators for the city’s utilities department
- Construction of a city maintenance yard.
Published August 18, 2021
