News
Town of Dundee Partners with City of Auburndale
Published: Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Dundee Touts Upgrades to City Parks
Paul Crate / News Chief Officials from the Town of Dundee and the city of Auburndale look over the new restroom facilities at Lake Menzies Park in Dundee after a casual dedication ceremony on Monday. Pictured from left, Randy Dowd, Dundee town council member, Andy Stewart, Dundee town manager, Linda Riner-Mizell, Dundee mayor, Richard Hamann, Auburndale mayor and Bobby Green, Auburndale city manager. Monday, February 08, 2010.
WINTER HAVEN - Representatives from three government entities gathered Monday at Lake Menzies Park to celebrate a partnership resulting in park improvements for Dundee residents and future projects for the City of Auburndale.
Because each municipality received smaller Community Development Block Grants last year, officials in Dundee and Auburndale agreed in April to an arrangement allowing these funds to stretch a bit further.
"We appreciate (Auburndale officials') commitment to surrounding communities," Dundee Town Manager Andy Stewart said. "I think this will set the standard for other cities to do this in the future."
This year, Dundee reaped the benefits of the arrangement with new restrooms at Lake Menzies Park and Henderson Park and renovated facilities for Lake Marie Park. The arrangement plus the donation of approximately $24,000 worth of labor by Councilman Randy Dowd, who is a plumber by trade, allowed the town to upgrade all three parks. The combined funds will also pay for decorative lighting around Lake Marie.
While enjoying grilled hotdogs and hamburgers provided by Dundee, representatives from Auburndale, the county and the town discussed the successful partnership.
Stewart thanked Dowd, adding that the councilman's donation of time and labor enabled the town to better use the grant funds.
"Without his contribution, we wouldn't be able to complete all three restrooms," Stewart said.
Dundee Mayor Linda Riner-Mizell said she's already received numerous compliments from residents about the park improvements.
"We've been able to have not only a partnership (with Auburndale) but a relationship," Riner-Mizell said. "It's a whole hearted generosity that goes out to Auburndale."
Riner-Mizell acknowledged major contributors to the effort by presenting plaques to Mayor Richard Hamann, Dowd, and Bill Watts of Watts Construction.
"It's been an honor to work with the Town of Dundee," Hamann said. "It shows that we are looking at the way we do business a little differently - we work together."
Dowd said he offered to donate his time and labor when cost estimates to complete the three sets of restrooms exceeded the amount of the combined grants.
"It's a worthwhile project. The people who use the parks need these facilities," he said. "I always feel you need to give back to the community for what it gives to you. If we could all get involved in our community and put a little effort into what goes on, just thing how much better it would be."
Through the agreement, which first required the blessing of the Community Development Block Grant Program, Auburndale allocated its $67,126 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for fiscal year 2009-2010 to Dundee. In return, Dundee will assign to Auburndale the funds it receives in each subsequent year until the entire amount is reimbursed.
Dundee received approximately $17,000 in CDBG funds for fiscal year 2009-2010. Combining the allocations for the two cities provided the Dundee nearly $85,000 to use for projects in low income areas.
CDBG grants are federal funds that are distributed through the county.
Charles Dismuke, CDBG Program supervisor, said arrangements like these are becoming more common as the economy continues to flounder and available grant funds decrease. According to Dismuke, CDBG grant funds have decreased from $5 million to $2.9 million over the last few years.
"They (grant fund partnerships) are becoming a little more common because of the economy," he said. "Some of the cities get a lesser entitlement."
Tagged: Dundee