GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Green Cove Springs City Council once again talked about bidding for the Augusta Savage Arts and Community Center Library building during its Tuesday night meeting.

The plan to build the ASACC building has been in the works since 2015. In 2018 the original building was torn down with the intent to build the new one on the same spot. It had been deemed underfunded until early 2020 when there was an inter-agency agreement with Clay County which approved $300,000 toward the project. The city has already allocated $645,000 for the construction. The total of nearly $1 million was deemed sufficient. However, new issues arose.

In August 2017, the design for the construction was completed and bidding was opened. With the lack of funding at the time, the project was placed on hold. The biggest issue was that the 2017 building plan was based on the 2014 building code. The code was updated on Dec. 31, 2017. The project plans now will have to be reevaluated for compliance with the updated building code.

The options available are:

l To have the original plans reevaluated by an architect firm Bhide & Hall at an approximate expense of $13,600.

l To have new architects start a brand-new project (likely would cost more than the original $24,340 fee and take more than 45 days to complete).

l To have the project completed as is and hold the contractor responsible for making any adjustments necessitated by the code changes.

l To have city building official Bill Golberg evaluate the original plan and notify city administration as to updates needed to bring it into compliance with the 2017 code.

There has not yet been a resolution.

In other business, Ed Weston of the Green Cove Springs Elks lodge was recognized for its organization of Santa’s Workshop.

Also, there were changes to four City Council meeting dates throughout 2020. The new dates are March 24th, August 25th, November 10th and Dec 8th (the only meeting in December).

There were proposed changes in the language of legislation forbidding the sale of alcohol within a certain distance of churches, government buildings and schools which would allow for companies within the business district to be exempted.

And there was a request for a proposal for funding of approximately $120,000 for items of interest to the pool in the Green Cove Springs park to include lifeguards.