High Springs Gives Thumbs Up to Murals, Long-Term Maintenance Concerns Remain

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Following nearly a year of workshops, meetings, drafts of ordinances and discussions, the High Springs City Commission on Dec. 8 approved a final ordinance regulating murals in the city. One substantial change from the previous draft was the removal of the prohibition that murals could not be placed on any building façade within 50 feet of a residential structure.

Although the City’s Planning and Zoning Board had referred the proposed ordinance to the Commission with several suggested conditions, none of those made it into the final ordinance. Criticism of the ordinance by some citizens listed “ambiguous language” as a reason for denial, but that criticism did little to impact the final 4 – 1 vote with Commissioner Katherine Weitz casting the dissenting “nay.”

Non-profit Heart of High Springs President Nancy Lavin questioned the Commission if the City of High Springs would partner with the organization by allowing historic murals to be placed on two City-owned buildings. According to Lavin, the buildings under consideration are the Historic High Springs Elementary School and Community Center, located at 23760 N.W. 187^th Avenue and the High Springs Fire Department, located at 18586 N.W. 238^th Street.

The suggested murals would honor Tom “Pop” Diedeman and Essie Mae Williams Gassett, said Lavin. Both were educators and community leaders, having served as commissioners and one as mayor. Lavin suggested that one or both could be memorialized on the Community Center.

Weitz countered by suggesting that instead, a wall that is particularly unattractive at the Community School might be a better location if the School Board would agree. Lavin said she would contact the School Board and seek their approval.

The Heart of High Springs would also like to showcase the Santa Fe River at the fire station and display the river’s role in shaping the history of the community. Lavin suggested that three panels could be produced for the side of the fire department building that would be eight feet by four feet in size depicting the Santa Fe River.

Although Lavin said that the Heart of High Springs would be financially responsible for maintenance of murals on City buildings, concern about the long-term ability of the organization to do so if the organization was disbanded was called into question.

Commissioner Byran Williams asked Lavin to see if other locations could be found in place of the fire station and suggested that Lilly Springs be added to the list of springs in the area. Lavin agreed to take these suggestions back to her board.

The request to partner with the City on public building murals was voted down 2-3 with Williams, Weitz and Commissioner Tristan Grunder casting the dissenting votes. The matter may be revisited at the Dec. 12 meeting, if Lavin provides the Commission with answers prior to the meeting.

In other City business, Public Works Director Henry Thomas requested and received approval to hire Florida Fill & Grading, the low bidder, to repair and replace several roads within the city. Three bids were received ranging from approximately $200,000 - $425,000. Florida Fill & Grading’s low bid was $195,882.

Roads listed for repair are all in the northwest area of the city and identified as 237^th Street, 240^th Street, 233^rd Street, 222^nd Street, 244^th Street, 210^th Lane and Railroad Avenue.

City Manager Ashley Stathatos requested and received approval to add Saltus Engineering LLC to the City’s list of engineers in order to be able to utilize their services in the future. Originally, Saltus worked on the City’s Asset Management Plan, Water/Wastewater Facility Plan and Water/Wastewater Impact Fee Study through the City’s contract with Florida Rural Water. This agreement would allow the City to contract directly with Saltus for future projects.

The agreement calls for a three-year term with the option to extend the agreement for an additional three years. The fee for engineers ranges from $100 an hour for a project engineer to $150 per hour for a principal engineer. Scope of work estimates will be received prior to any notice to proceed are given on future projects. “Costly projects will require a separate task assignment that will be brought to the Commission for approval,” said Stathatos.

Referring to Saltus Engineering LLC, Stathatos said, “Through their planning efforts, they have provided information long needed by the City. They went above their scope of work and performed additional services at no additional cost.”

Former High Springs City Commissioner and current Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe member Sue Weller presented the George F. Hixson Fellowship Award to the City. “This award is given by a $1,000 donation to Kiwanis Club International Children’s Foundation by our club in recognition of the support the City, Commission and [City] employees have provided to our organization,” she said as she presented the plaque to Mayor Gloria James.

In other business, Shawn Cowles of the Heart of High Springs spoke about the organization and said there are eight private firms expressing interest in having murals placed on their buildings. Cowles also referenced a four-day festival and how that is likely to bring people into the city during the event.

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