Wakulla County Administrator David Edwards says he believes the county fared pretty well in the recently signed budget signed into law by Governor Rick Scott.
He adds officials are thankful to the Governor and the Legislature for awarding them money for two projects. One is $735,000 for Shell Point public access boat facility.
“A boat ramp and launch facility, which will give the public direct boat access, launch access to the Gulf of Mexico, and a safe Harbor area,” said Edwards.
And, their biggest project was about $1 million for St. Marks Municipal Dock. Edwards says it’s an added component of a redevelopment effort to help Wakulla County and the city’s economy, after many families left when the Seminole Asphalt Refinery closed.
“St. Marks Municipal Dock will have a place a for larger boats moor and help the economy of St. Marks, and both projects should help the economy in Wakulla County as tourism is one of our biggest industries,” continued Edwards.
But, it wasn’t all good news. A couple of the county’s priorities got vetoed including a $525,000 project to add paddling trails for canoeing and kayaking. And, Edwards says he hopes to get those issues back in the budget next year.
“That is very important to our economy here in the county. That’s part of our Green Tourism, and yes, it will be in the budget next year as well as the veto pen was used to veto a dredging project,” he added.
That dredging project for the canals and channels of Shell Point, Spring Creek and Mashes Sands totaled $1.5 million.
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