Town of North Redington Beach
News
July 4 Celebration Moves Ahead With Less Bang
The traditional July 4 celebration will be in place again this year despite budget cutbacks. There just won’t be any town fireworks. Cost was part of the reason to eliminate the fireworks, but not the only one. They were traditionally a shared activity with other communities, and that just wasn’t in the cards this year.
Everything else associated with the town’s annual gala will be the same, maybe better. There will be the parade, the hot dogs and drinks at Harold Radcliffe Park, a sno cone machine to cool the palate, and, if things work out, maybe misters in the pavilion to cool the body.
Park Improvements Coming
With help from the girls who asked for more varied playground equipment at Radcliffe Park, the town commission agreed to include several new climbing items and swings in next year’s capital improvements plan. The plan also contemplates the resurfacing of the tennis courts, which have been getting a lot more use lately, and are showing the wear.
Be A Good Neighbor Campaign
The mayor’s next newsletter, due in June, will include a one-page listing of town rules and recommended actions that can assure town residents the community will retain its reputation as one of the best places to live, not only on the beaches, but also in the county.
Under the heading “Be a good neighbor” the enclosure summarizes the ordinances that have been enacted over the years to make the town a comfortable place to live and a fun place to visit. Readers of this site can get an advanced look via the link that appears on the homepage of this site.
There are also suggestions for how we all contribute, like keeping noise levels down, maintaining trees and shrubs along property lines, controlling our pets, and picking up after them, etc.
Gulf Boulevard Beautification
The additions to the park, noted above, represent only the beginning of projects to be considered when the town commission updates the capital improvements plan as part of its annual budget process.
Certain to be discussed at length is the long standing commitment to beautify Gulf Boulevard, primarily by placing utility lines underground and installing modern lighting fixtures like those recently placed in Indian Shores. Mayor Bill Queen and colleagues on the Barrier Islands Governmental Council (Big C) have been meeting with county officials on this project for months.
The mayor reported recently that an agreement may be close on the distribution of funds, some $35 million in all, that were included for Gulf Boulevard in the Penny for Pinellas extension that passed last year. Each town’s share will not be enough to do the whole job, and how to augment those funds will be a critical part of the commission’s deliberations.
Red Tide Alert
Red tide are two words that are almost as upsetting as hurricane season. Both are natural phenomenon that are hard to control, even though research into stemming the red tide problem may show a little more promise than that trying to curb hurricanes.
In the meantime, the best communities can do is warn the public when precautions should be taken.
The state has had an elaborate warning system for hurricanes for years.
Now, scientists at the MOTE Marine Laboratory in Sarasota are putting together a warning system for red tide. Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick gave the Big C details. She said there are currently 23 beach locations on the Gulf side of the state where lifeguards can report the first signs of red tide infestation. Respiratory irritation, the all familiar cough, is one of the best indicators. These reports are tallied on a computer site, where residents and visitors can check on conditions before heading to the beach.
These can be found on the web site, www.mote.org/beaches. Once on the site, select Pinellas County from a side bar or outline of the county on a map; then select the beach you’re interested in and click the green pushpin. A beach conditions report comes up with date and time stamp.
Right now, the only county reporting stations are at Caladesi Island and Fort DeSoto. Dr. Kirkpatrick is hoping to arrange for more.
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This website is intended to benefit our citizens by providing timely communications of news and city business; additionally, it is a resource for all visitors. Please contact any North Redington Beach city official or Town Hall should you have any input or suggestions for the site. Bill Queen, Mayor **Florida has a very broad public records laws. Most written communications to or from local officials regarding city business are public records and are available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail communications may, therefore, be subject to public disclosure. ** Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Florida Statute 668.606 |
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