St. Augustine Record editorial re: getting sewers for West Augustine, remedying historic discrimination

Our view: West Augustine's success depends on city and county cooperation
Created 05/26/2011 - 12:01am
Summary:

Although St. Augustine and St. Johns County officials may disagree from time to time on some joint-use projects, the two governments are united in their goal to build up West Augustine's residential and business viability.

Although St. Augustine and St. Johns County officials may disagree from time to time on some joint-use projects, the two governments are united in their goal to build up West Augustine's residential and business viability.

The St. Augustine City Commission and the St. Johns County Commission moved forward Tuesday toward the goal of hooking up residents to city water and sewer, the root of a better quality of life and new business growth. At a joint workshop, each commission expressed their desire to revitalize West Augustine.

Bringing a utility trunk line along West King Street, from Masters Drive via Palmer Street to Holmes Boulevard, has been the longtime goal. In 2010, city and county officials worked together on a master plan for a $23.5 million expansion project. There was an effort to get the county to buy out the city's utility service area for $6 million but the county could not afford it. Another effort to swap service areas did not work out either. But the cooperative spirit has continued.

It's hard in this economy for some West Augustine residents to afford the hookups, but the city has set up a plan whereby the residents can pay for their hookups with nothing down and as a low as $25 a month for 10 years. For potable water, the city hookup fee is $3,694.97 and for sewer, $3,824.29. So if a resident could only afford the $25 a month cost, they might have to do one and then the other. To do both at the same time, according to City Manager John Regan, would be about $75 a month because there is a small interest fee charged. For some families, $75 a month is a lot.

But there is a way to help those residents indirectly; grants. The more the city and county can get grants to pay part of the expanded services, the less residents will pay for hookups. That prospect was encouraging as commissioners listened to a presentation by consultants Black and Veath, a Jacksonville engineering firm that specializes in finding federal and state grants and private funding for infrastructure.

With that kind of help, West Augustine's redevelopment goal is attainable. St. Augustine and St. Johns County have shown in this initiative that teamwork is the key. That cooperation, we are certain, will not be lost on prospective businesses either.

The project's estimated time is approximately three to five years. That's not bad considering there was no goal at all for a long, long time; just talk.

Regan said it starts with "one building, one block, one project." County Administrator Michael Wanchick said, "It's taken longer than we wanted ... nobody's given up on the goal."

The ultimate goal is a healthy residential community and new businesses that will help our tax base grow. The end is in sight.