WINTER HAVEN — The City Commission could take a significant step toward renaming one street on Monday night.
Anthony Lawrence led a grassroots effort last year to rename Avenue T in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although there is a park named in his honor in Winter Haven, Assistant City Manager, T. Michael Stavres, noted that there were eight other Polk municipalities that had a street named after King.
Part of the roadway is a state road, so Starves said after talking with Lawrence, there was a mutual agreement to pursue renaming the street from 11th Street to 17th Street, which is all within the city’s boundaries. That area encompasses 98 parcels, according to Stavres, and of the 42 parcels where owners have responded, 31 were in favor of the renaming.
“I’m all for it,” Commissioner William Twyford said during Wednesday night’s workshop. “I think it’s a name we should have in our city. I think that’s a good place for it.”
If the commission were to formally approve the changes, Stavres said it would cost the city about $6,000 for signage. It would also take about six to nine months to coordinate with emergency services and the United States Postal Services to make the changes.
SUBDIVISION ANNEXATION
The City Commission is also scheduled to vote on whether or not to annex the Valhalla subdivision, located at 130 Woden Way. The annexation would also be contingent on homeowners who were registered voters in the subdivision showing up to support being annexed.
Merle Bishop, the city’s growth management director, said there was one resident who expressed dissent, which caused the vote. The subdivision contains 53 parcels.
“The mood has been positive,” Bishop said. “We had a community meeting with about 50 in attendance. Right now, I think they’re on a well. There’s a need to upgrade their system. There is a cost having to put meters in.”
AIRPORT INTERIM
On the consent agenda Monday night will be approving a task order with the firm AVCON for oversight at the Winter Haven Municipal Airport. The firm has been providing support, but the man doing so, Michael Handrahan, recently became ill. He would be replaced by Tim Shea.
As for a permanent replacement for former director Leo Treggi, who left to take a job in Fort Lauderdale, City Manager Mike Herr said the city received 58 applications to fill the vacancy, It was then narrowed down to seven semifinalists and now two finalists.
“We have a couple interviews with very qualified applicants,” Herr said. “We’re close to being able to hire someone. In the meantime, we need someone to fill in. It’s a nominal amount (of money) for a qualified person for a brief period of time.”
COMMISION RECONFIGURATION
Newly elected Commissioners J.P. Powell and Brad Dantzler will be sworn in on Monday. Powell defeated Mayor Steven Hunnicutt in a runoff election last month for Seat 5. Dantzler ran unopposed to retain Seat 4.
The commission will also select a mayor and a mayor pro tem. Hunnicutt and Commissioner Nat Birdsong had been serving in those roles, respectively.
Monday’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Fuller Auditorium, 451 Third St., NW.
Mike Ferguson can be reached at Mike.Ferguson@theledger.com or 863-4016981. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.