Cold weather shelter proposal
The City of Milton will look to approve an interlocal agreement with Opening Doors Northwest Florida, the Waterfront Rescue Mission and Santa Rosa County to provide cold-weather shelter services this winter.
Introduced by Councilwoman Ashley Fretwell, the proposed cost is $29,375. According to the agenda packet, County Administrator Brad Baker and Milton City Manager Ed Spears have agreed to a 75%-25% funding split, if approved by both boards, with Milton having the final say.
If approved, the proposal calls for up to 25 emergency shelter beds to be made available at Waterfront Rescue in Pensacola. Opening Doors would provide transportation and notification about the shelter opening.
The city’s funding is $7,434. The proposal came up because Ferris Hill Baptist Church, which has historically been the cold-weather shelter, was forced to cease operations earlier this year.
Hurricane Isaias update
To help facilitate recovery efforts following Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall Oct. 9, the City of Milton has received numerous questions about permitting.
The council looks to pass an ordinance that will allow review and fee waivers to be waived until the declaration of emergency ends.
According to meeting documents, waivers will be given out as long as the individual pursuing the waiver is building the asset back “one-for-one” in the same footprint as it existed before the hurricane.
Blackwater Riverwalk extension project
Milton council members will look to approve an $898,830 bid package with Loftis Marine LLC from Pensacola for the purchase, construction and installation of 340 feet of boardwalk extension at the Riverwalk in downtown Milton.
The city recommended Loftis Marine as the most responsible and lowest bidder on the project.
According to city documents, the bid package is $101,170 lower than the $1 million allocated in the budget for the project, which is funded through capital outlay dollars.
The other contractor, Sessions Contractors Group, came in with bid packages each over $1 million.
