Mary Esther City Review

City Manager
The Five Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was discussed at the April and May workshops. The plan will be presented for approval at the June 7th Legislative meeting. Projects from the CIP will be incorporated into the FY 2004 budget, which we are now beginning to assemble. The budget workshops are usually held each Tuesday and Thursday during the month of July. Please check the information sign at the Northeast corner of the Library or call the City Clerk at 243-3566 ext. 11 for the exact dates and times.

A new CDBG grant project has been submitted to upgrade the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will replace an aging portion of the Plant with a new 300 million gallons per day Oxidation Ditch. The Grant request was for $650,000. The City has also applied for and received tentative approval for a grant to expand the Mary Esther Library. We are all looking forward to better serving our Library patrons.

LIBRARY
The children's Summer Library Program begins Wednesday, June 9th. Anna Moo, award winning songwriter and musician, will be entertaining the kids on the last day of the summer program. Story time for youngsters age 3-6 will be one Saturday per month throughout the summer. Space will be limited, so please call Ms. Marlene at 243-5731 for details or to sign up for these fun-packed programs.

The adult daytime Book Discussion Group meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10:00 A.M. Among the selections this summer will be "The Red Hat Club" and "3rd Degree". The Mystery Book Club meets the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM The next two selections for this group are "Retribution" and "Murder With Peacocks". Join the friendly folks for lively discussions and tasty refreshments!

With many thanks to Mr. Bob Gorin and the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative, the Library is excited to introduce our new computer time management system, PC Reservation. It cost almost $20,000 to implement this program for the 6-member Co-Op, who covered the costs completely. You should see this new program in action!

In April, we were proud to honor our Library Volunteer, Arthur Thornburg. Art has been volunteering at the Mary Esther Library for 10 years and works hard to keep our newspapers, magazines and tax forms organized. We all look forward to seeing Art's smiling face on Wednesday mornings! Hats off to Art with gratitude for all his hard work.

The Library stats for the first half of this fiscal year: 14,824 books and materials have been checked out, and 6,787 people have access to the internet. Memberships have exceeded 13,500 with more than 11,000 of those being County residents.

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body". Visit the Mary Esther Library this summer and exercise your mind.

CODE COMPLIANCE
Sidewalks and Gutters

When driving around town, it's hard not to notice that sidewalks and gutters are in need of attention. The grass, sand, and other materials are collecting on and in the sidewalks and gutters. You are responsible for the sidewalk and gutter areas in the front and/or side of your homes. During your normal lawn maintenance program, include sidewalk and gutter cleaning. Sometimes a flat shovel is required to remove the clumps of grass and/or weeds that have taken root. After the initial clumps have been removed, it's only a routine task to keep the joints clear. A good home remedy for keeping the joints free of grass and weeds is a salt, vinegar, and water mixture. Please be considerate of your neighbors by not blowing grass clippings and other yard debris into the streets, gutters, or even your neighbor's yard! The clippings collect in the gutters or washes into the storm drains. There is a code prohibiting this practice, and it detracts from the beauty of the neighborhoods and the City.

Continuing with the cleaning up topic, large piles of brush and limbs that are placed next to the curb will usually not be removed until they are 4-foot lengths and bundled. Bag your leaves and grass clippings, or have them in a container with a closed lid.

Let's all work together to keep Mary Esther clean.

WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT
Summer has arrived and the unusually dry weather this spring has given OMI associates the opportunity to get an early start on several large painting and coating projects. General maintenance and larger scale preventative maintenance projects on plant equipment are proceeding as planned, using a computerized database to track start and completion dates, labor hours and parts and labor cost.

The wastewater plant process is operating well and continues to meet State and Federal Regulations. All OMI associates take great pride in the appearance and operation of the facility. Landscaping plants with water conservation in mind are being purchased to beautify several areas around the facility.

OMI associates continue to volunteer time with the Oak Tree Nature Park Committee in cleaning trails and planning for new signs and bridges. If you haven't visited the park yet, it is worthwhile to walk the trails, relax and enjoy nature.

MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
Spring has come and gone and summer is here, which means mow, mow, mow the grass! We are preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.

A security fence was installed at the Shrewsbury storm water ditch, and many asphalt patches were placed throughout the City in support of Water Collection's projects. Maintenance also replaced 65' of curb and gutter and 25' of sidewalk on Marcia Dr., and 20' of sidewalk of Lee Dr.

New picnic facilities including a BBQ grill, a bike rack and signs are at Oak Tree Nature Park.

The paving project for the Rosewood area, Ruby Cir., Christobal Rd., Lane Dr., Marcia Dr., and Circle Dr., part of Crestwood Dr. and Caswell Cir. will start shortly. APAC of Florida was selected to do the work. They will also replace the curb and gutter in front of Azalea Park and upgrade the drainage on Oleander Parkway before paving it. Please be patient and helpful if asked to turn off your sprinkler system so the contractor can place the asphalt.

ENVIRONMENTAL TIPS (NPDES)
To help preserve water resources and minimize personal impact on water quality, follow these tips;

Use on-shore garbage and sewage facilities as much as possible.
Always use pump-out facilities to empty on-board sewage holding tanks.
Minimize the use of plastic disposable objects. If used, be sure to dispose of them properly on land.
Keep a sealable container for garbage on your boat. Make sure everyone uses it. When disposing of your garbage at a marina, follow their recycling rules.
Never litter. Retrieve all items dropped into water, especially old fishing line. Retrieve any litter found in water.
Place a bilge pillow - an oil absorbing sponge available in marina stores - in your bilge to remove oil from your bilge water.
Do not fill bottles or cans with water and try to sink them. Dispose of them properly on shore.
Check your engine regularly to see if it is leaking oil or gas.
When cleaning your boat, avoid toxic polishes or stain removers near the water line.

SHIRTS WITH CITY LOGO ARE AVAILABLE!

Go to Stitch FX at 176-B Eglin Pkwy. Embroidery is $6 plus tax. You can also bring your own shirt!!!

BICYCLE SAFETY
Be very careful when riding your bike at night! A light and reflectors on your bicycle help motorists to see you.

FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Preparations for the 5-year capital improvement program and upcoming budget reviews have been of primary focus, with selection of an auditor for the next 3-year period also coming up in the next month.

Sometimes customers tell us that they have not yet received their water bill, and mistakenly assume that the City is letting them use the water, sewer and garbage for FREE. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

The bills are printed on the 1st of every month, and are due on the 15th. On the 16th, a late fee of 10 % is incurred, and if the bill is not paid by noon on the 26th, the water is scheduled to be cut-off and the user is subjected to a $30 fee. Please call the 24 hour account information line at 244-0152 for any billing information!

If you have an emergency water problem after hours that is not related to the plumbing in your home or the line from your water meter in the ground to the street, call 243-5632 and they will contact the Water Department staff for assistance.

A special farewell to Peggy Jimenez for 7 years of service in accounting and as webmaster, twice selected as Employee of the Quarter for the City. We wish her well.

EMPLOYEE AWARDS
City supervisors select two employees who exhibit exemplary performance for Employee of the Quarter awards, and both employees are given a monetary award and framed certificate. April awards went to Phyllis Amason in the Library and Brian McMahan in the Maintenance Department. Congratulations and many thanks for a job well done.

SCHEDULED MEETINGS & HAPPENINGS
JUNE
1 Parks & Rec. Board 6:00pm
7 City Auditor Presentations 6:30pm
7 Legislative Meeting 7:00pm
14 Council Public Hrg. - Rezoning for Car Wash 5:30pm
14 Council Public Hearing - Maj. Dev. Plantation Oaks 6:00pm
21 Code Enforcement Board 5:30pm
28 Workshop Meeting 7:00pm
30 Oak Tree Nature Park 5:30pm

JULY
5 City Hall CLOSED - Independence Day
6 Legislative Meeting 6:30pm
6 Budget Workshop (tentative) 7:00pm
8 Budget Workshop (tentative) 7:00pm
13 Transportation Committee 6:30pm
13-15-20-22-27-29 Budget Workshops (tentative) 7:00pm
26 Workshop Meeting 7:00pm
28 Oak Tree Nature Park MAC 5:30pm

AUGUST
14 COuncil Public Hearing - Maj. Dev. Plantation Oaks 6:00pm
2 Legislative Meeting 7:00pm
3 Parks. & Rec. Committee 6:00pm
16 Code Enforcement Board 5:30pm
25 Oak Tree Nature Park MAC 5:30pm
30 Workshop Meeting 7:00pm

Check for updates to our calendar on the web: http://calendar.yahoo.com/cityofmaryesther

WATER DEPARTMENT
There's never a day with no work to be done by the Water Department staff. About 436' of new water lines were installed at Point Comfort Road, and two manholes on South Lorraine were repaired with new rings. Aerator # 1 was returned to service after being coated and having a new cage and screen installed on the blower unit. Service to two homes on Annabelle was improved with the installation of a new sewer tap, a pump at lift station # 9 was repaired, and the 14 year-old dewatering pump had a new shift installed. A bypass was installed at the Regency Park Drive lift station to maintain service as we await installatin of a new manhole.

Security lighting at water plants was installed, and the sprayfield received repairs to the sprayheads and seasonal mowing.

The Rosewood Homes area has received much attention in finding a solution to the rusty water issue. Red-B-Gone is available free of charge for residents who experience rust stains from the water on laundry, toilets or other surfaces. The City appreciates and thanks you for your patience as we work towards the most effecient and cost effective solution.

CITY CLERK
Grants Update. The Oak Tree Nature Park committee continues work on the trails, and the covered pavilion has been receiving use already from several groups. The first official meeting was held in the pavilion by the Emerald Coast Archaeological Society after touring the park in March, and picknickers have also enjoyed the site. The annual stewardship report that was submitted to the State's Department of Community Affairs was approved in May.

Please use extreme care if you cross the temporary foot-bridge over the creek. A permanent one is in the works, as is more signage, benches and an educational display.

On June 29th Nonie's Ark will lead a free nocturnal tour in the park especially for 5-8 year olds, but anyone is welcome to attend. Call 862-9588 for time or details.

The Committee and City staff teamed up to make two beautiful display boards of the City - past and present history, which have been used at two separate functions already: the Archaeology Days at the Indian Temple Mound in April and the AFSOC Family picnic at Hurlburt in May. Both events had large numbers of attendees who are interested with our park.

A self-guiding trail brochure is available at City Hall or the Library free of charge to enlighten you and enhance your enjoyment of this beautiful park.

FRDAP - Azalea Park is on the edge of closing out, with only the parking improvements remaining to be done in conjunction with a street paving project this next quarter. The City is also looking for a volunteer to help with signs to be used along the exercise course in Azalea Park. Please call the City Clerk if you have an interest or just a little bit of free time.

We received notification that the FRDAP grant for South Bryn Mawr Park and the triangular median on Highway 98 and Bryn Mawr Boulevard was funded, and are excited about the transformation you are about to see to enhance this area!

Florida Forever

Amidst the preparations to resubmit the grant for a parcel of land on the West end of Mary Esther, called Mary Esther Narrows Waterfront Park, we received word that the property was sold. If you know of any feasible waterfront property for next year's efforts, please contact the City Clerk.

CDBG

The City is teetering on the edge of those grants that will be funded this year, and had a site visit from DCA for the grant that was submitted in March. We will know by the end of June if we have been included in the funded group.

Parks and Recreation Board

Yard of the Month awards were presented in March to Sandra Hawley, 729 Crestwood Street, in April to Glenn & Mathana Gaudet at 350 Dawn Lane and in May to Darryl Chauvin at 271 S. Lorraine Dr. We congratulate and thank each of you. It looks like about 200 yards deserve the June award, keep up the beautiful work! The "Business Appearance of the Quarter" award was presented to Sonic Drive-In , which is based in Oklahoma City and landscaped by Dogwood Services, Inc.

Mary Esther Little League (MELL)

Information is available on their message line, 243-0977 or visit the web site at http://www.eteams.com/maryestherll.

Fire Department
FIRE LINE

During the calendar quarter "April 2004 thru June, 2004" the fire department responded to a total of 114 emergency calls as follows:

5 Other Fires
8 False Alarms
11 Structure Fires
4 Vehicle Fires
49 Emergency Medical Calls
23 Vehicle Accidents
4 Vehicle Accidents with Extrication
10 Hazardous Materials Incidents

To learn more about your Fire Department, current events, and other safety issues, you may visit our Web Site by clicking here.

Legal News - Ordinance 2004-1, revising Article 7 of the Land Development Code; was passed into law after the second reading in April. Others that are in process include 2004-02, Breeding & Farm Animals; 2204-05, Door-to-Door Solicitation; 2004-06, Rezoning on Andalusia Road; and 2004-07, Rezoning for Car Wash on Mary Esther Drive. Resolution 2004-02 regarding Library internet filtering and 2004-03 endorsing sidewalk projects were passed; 2004-05 eliminating exceptions to exemptions for release of social security numbers is in process; Four Proclamations were passed: Municipal Clerk's Week April 27-May 3: National Public Works Week May 3 through 7; Civility Month in May; and National Small Cities & Towns Day June 11.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
The City of Mary Esther is celebrating its 20th birthday! It was incorporated on June 5, 1984 after finally receiving a successful vote on the third try with a referendum! Established in 1946, the City has since had 9 mayors, 57 council members, 2 city managers and 10 city clerks.