Jay Mayor Kurvin Qualls recently took the opportunity to give an update on several projects in works, including upgrading the town's water system, renovating Commerce Street and the town's livestock center to the residents of Jay.
Qualls said the town council will soon be accepting contract bids for renovating Commerce Street. In addition to having new street lighting, the street will also be repaved with concrete, asphalt and drainage work. Qualls said funding for the roadwork will come from the town's savings account.
“We have probably been working on this for about three or four years now,” Qualls said.
Following the bidding process, Qualls anticipates having the construction work begin by October. He also anticipates the project should also take around 90 days.
“It is going to look good when we are going to get through with it,” he said. “I hope by doing this, it encourages more businesses to come up town.”
Commerce Street currently serves as the town's location for a couple community events, like Trick or Treat event on Halloween. Qualls said the renovations will also help businesses on the street.
Another main focus is replacing outdated water lines within the city limits, Qualls said.
Qualls said the Town's staff is in the process of applying for a Community Development Block Grant which would further the town's progress in replacing waterlines. In addition to recently receiving a $600,000 grant from the Northwest Florida Water Management District, the town received $200,000 in legislative funding for the water lines project.
“We are in the first stages of getting started with this,” Qualls said.
The town's council has recently started taking bids on the work. In addition to the replacing the town's waterlines, which according to Qualls are as old as 50 or 60 years, the project will also require adding new valves and reading meters.
“Our water system has not been upgraded as far as new pipes downtown, since it has been built,” Qualls said.
Qualls said the town will begin replacing the water system in downtown and replacing water lines outward.
The Town of Jay will seek funding for adding a new water well in the near future, Qualls said.
Jay officials are also wanting to remodel a livestock center, which was acquired by the town a few years back. Qualls said the town is seeking additional grant funding in order to make the facility available for public use. Once it's open, Qualls also wants the Jay High School FFA program to benefit from using it as well.
After hearing from several of the residents of Jay, Qualls said the facility could also serve as a focal point for the rural community in adding a farmer's market where local farmers can sell their produce or products. Qualls said the Jay does not currently have such an area.
“We have some ideas of what we would like to have down there, like maybe in the summer months, maybe we could have some singing over there,” he said. “We want to find another way to bring the community together.”
Qualls said the projects will not only better serve residents, it will also continue to show progress.
“We only got about 530 citizens within city limits,” Qualls said. “For us to be so small, we do have a lot going on.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Mayor speaks on revamping Commerce Street, improving water lines and utilizing live stock facility