Town to seek 304,000 dollar grant to help finance Floors park
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on January 7, 2005 2:00 PM
PRINCETON -- The Princeton town board will apply for a federal grant to pay for part of the $304,650 cost to complete the Ray M. Floors Memorial Park.
The board agreed to the application Monday after a presentation on the park project by Town Clerk Marla Ashworth.
The proposed Land Water Conservation Fund grant would pay $64,912.
If Princeton gets the grant, then the town would pay $73,655 for its share. The state already has given the town a grant for $152,235.
Some site improvements are under way. Mayor Don Rains said the town "needs to complete what we've started."
Chief's report
Police Chief Eddie Lewis said that only two property owners have taken action on their condemned properties. A North Pine Street landowner will donate his home to the Fire Department for training. Another landowner has torn down an old garage.
Lewis said three of the other five properties have been condemned more than once. Commissioner Larry Withrow's motion to take legal action against the property owners passed unanimously.
The police chief also said he was notified that the department will get a $6,986 grant, with a 10 percent town match, for bulletproof vests and other equipment. The board approved the match.
Princeton police will accept computer equipment from the federal Homeland Security Department, Lewis said, so that they can check registration and driver's license information from their patrol cars.
The town's newest officer, Tyrone Sutton, was introduced by the chief. Sutton started work Dec. 20.
In other business, the town board:
*Agreed to pay a $416 fine for a violation in March at the sewer plant after the state reduced the fine from $791.
*Approved the voluntary annexation of a proposed 41-lot subdivision, Cloverdale Farms, across from the town park off Holt's Pond Road.
*Scheduled a planning retreat Feb. 4-5 at Atlantic Beach.
*Agreed to study a voluntary annexation petition for homes on West First Street.