Contractor wins bid for park

The Village Council selected the winning bidder who will make improvements at Flagler Grove Park and approved a cut in local taxes for most homeowners.

By Kyle Bailey | [email protected]

Improvements to Flagler Grove Park are a step closer to starting after the Village Council chose a contractor at its meeting Tuesday.

JRT Construction submitted the winning bid for the upgrade at the park, 7551 SW 104th St.

Plans call for two lighted soccer fields, a tot lot, bathrooms and 50 parking spaces.

The controversial project was narrowly approved 3-2 by the council in February.

It was the subject of much debate after residents who live nearby argued that the improvements would bring too much traffic and noise.

But proponents said they welcomed the upgrades because they would no longer have to drive long distances to take their children to games.

JRT Construction’s $1.1 million bid was significantly less than the average of $1.9 million, Village Manager Peter Lombardi said.

He said the savings will leave a surplus for other building projects.

“The bid will actually save us money,” he said.

Also at the meeting, Mayor Gary C. Matzner said he has talked to Florida Power & Light about a possible conversion from overhead to underground power lines. Matzner gave no specifics, but said the topic will be addressed at the next Council meeting, on Sept. 11.

Matzner also commented on the what the village plans to do in reaction to Miami-Dade County’s recent decision to block municipalities from opting out of the county’s fire district.

Pinecrest has had preliminary conversations with Coral Gables about switching to that city’s fire services.

“Right now we’re in legal limbo in regards to this issue,” said Matzner, who also said the county’s move is part of a larger attack against cities’ right to self-determination.

Matzner has said the village might consider filing a lawsuit or challenging the county in Tallahassee.

No decisions will be made until the costs and benefits of switching to Coral Gables are studied.

“It’s our move next in this chess game,” he said.

In other business, the Council adopted its 2007-08 tax rate.

The village’s $31.4 million budget cuts the rate, bringing it to $1.95 per $1,000 of taxable value.

That trim was mandated by tax reform laws recently passed by the state legislature, and more revenue cuts could come if voters approve super-sized homestead exemptions in January.

Residents with homestead protection would pay $1,034 in taxes - a cut in city taxes of about $100 from last year’s bill, for a home assessed at $555,000 this year.

That does not include state or school district taxes, among other items that also appear on a homeowner’s tax bill.

Public hearings on the budget are scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 11 and Sept. 18 at the Pinecrest Municipal Center, 12645 Pinecrest Pkwy.

Pull Quote

JRT Construction submitted the winning bid for the upgrade at the park, 7551 SW 104th St. Plans call for two lighted soccer fields, a tot lot, bathrooms and 50 parking spaces.