The Ponte Vedra Municipal Service District continues to tweak things in next year’s budget during its meetings.
The latest approved changes include approving a 0.27 millage rate, as well as, $34,000 for speed limit signs and $10,000 set aside for street light maintenance in the coming fiscal year.
Although the adjustments to the proposed budget were approved, trustee Gary Jurenovich was the lone opposition on the board for all three.
The adjusted contingency is now $189,175. However, everything in the proposed budget remains tentative prior to the final budget hearing scheduled for Sept. 20 in the small conference room at the Ponte Vedra Beach Public Library beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Drainage issues after rainstorms was an issue raised to the board by a couple of different residents during the public comments section of the meeting, as well as the parking of construction trucks during the day, especially along San Juan Drive.
According to Chairman Al Hollon, he had received the initial complaint and on the day he went out to check the situation there were 12 cars and trucks lined up along the road in one part.
Residents raised concerns that the parked vehicles presented a safety issue, especially on curves in the road, where sight lines of oncoming drivers could be blocked and raise the potential for accidents.
Hollon said he spoke with Sheriff’s Office patrol in the area, and they have reported it to their supervisors and are monitoring it to make sure the vehicles do not obstruct the roadway.
“The county has been notified,” Hollon said.
Another concern of residents is the increased amount of flooding and drainage issues that seems to be happening after rainstorms.
The board agreed that it is becoming more of an issue.
“Every time it rains, you can barely see the yellow lines when driving down the boulevard,” Hollon said.
He assured them that the MSD will look into it and work with the county to see what has to be done to improve the draining situation.
Sidewalks were another talking point, as trustee Brad Wester, who was tasked with bringing back a bid for a sidewalk cost to the board, estimated that it would cost $31,790 to put a five-foot wide sidewalk from the Jacksonville Beach line down Ponte Vedra Boulevard that meets with the new beach access point and curves around to Ponte Vedra Circle.
However, Wester made it clear that the estimate was one that he gathered based off a previous study they had done, but that the estimate still must be validated by a proper source.
“I’d prefer it be six feet (wide), but the standard is five feet,” Wester said.
Wester hopes that Jacksonville Beach will want to connect their sidewalk to the new sidewalk project to make it a proper transition for pedestrians.
“So many people are using the new beach access point, and I think everyone should have a safe way to get there,” Wester said.
