Bonifay City Council held regular meeting on July 15

On July 15 the Bonifay City Council held their regular meeting at 6 pm. Items on the agenda included a public hearing of the Comprehensive Plan, 2024-25 Budget Discussions, and grants awarded to the city. 

The first public hearing of Ordinance 439, the City Comprehensive Plan was held at the meeting. The plan was approved unanimously by council and will be transmitted to the state for further approval. A second reading for the plan will be announced for a later date.  

Council also heard from Catrina Carroll on the Bonifay Kiwanis Club rodeo parade. The club gained the council’s approval to apply at the state level for closure of Highway 79 for the parade route. 

Council assignments were given during the meeting as well. The purpose of these assignments is to give the public a council member to go to as a liaison to the department that they are given. Vice-Mayor James Sellers will be Head of Administration, Councilman Rick Crews will handle fire department matters, Councilwoman Shelly Carrol will have water department, Councilman Eddy Dixon will have public works, and Mayor Larry Cook having the police and any other business to do with the city.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) awarded a grant to the City of Bonifay to update and replace the lighting at Veterans Memorial Park earlier this year. The project bid was awarded to Bill Smith Electric Company, on recommendation from FDACS. Work on the project will begin soon, with the fixtures that are being replaced hopefully being repurposed at another project in the city. 

The city has also been chosen as a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant recipient. This grant will be for more improvements to Veterans Memorial Park, such as rest areas, picnic areas, basketball courts, or parking. The city was selected, along with five other projects, out of 68 applicants to FRDAP.  

Lastly, the council viewed and discussed the draft budget for 2024-25. The council also confirmed that they are on budget for the current year. The next Bonifay City Council meeting will be held on August 5 at 9 am.