Library advisory committee seeks more land

[Dan Hildebran]

Bradford County's library advisory committee has a
plan to acquire $220,000 worth of additional real
estate for the county's proposed Pratt Street
library-- for free, or almost free.

County Commissioner John Cooper told his colleges
Monday, that two state agencies may be willing to foot
the bill for the additional property.

" The Suwannee River Water Management District has
been working with Florida D.O.T. to try to resolve the
flooding on 301 when we have a quick rain," Mr. Cooper
explained.

Over the past three years, U.S Highway 301 around its
intersection with Pratt Street has been susceptible to
knee-deep flooding, at times reducing traffic flow on
the road to one lane. Mr. Cooper said the problem
has drawn the attention of state officials, and the
water management district, along with Florida's
transportation department, have been awarded around
$1.1 million to relieve the flooding.

"What they anticipate doing," said Mr. Cooper, "is
buying properties in and around this area, probably
demolishing a couple of houses, and making that area
where water can go rapidly and then they'll pipe it on
down to Alligator Creek."

The commissioner added that if county officials will
work with the agencies to relieve the flooding, the
water district and transportation department may be
willing to purchase the land for, and construct the
library's retention ponds.

"I don’t know that their plans are final," Mr. Cooper
warned, "but I know they have a good idea of what
they want to do."

Armed with Mr. Cooper's information, the county
commission authorized its attorney to draft purchase
and sales agreements for two parcels of land adjacent
to property already earmarked for library use.
Commissioners also authorized Chairman Doyle Thomas to
close the purchases once the water management district
and D.O.T. provided funding.


Deh