Dock Grant on Governor`s Desk

Funds for reconstruction of Cedar Key's "Big Dock" and the fishing pier at the Number Four Bridge have been approved by both the Florida House and Senate. Final approval depends on signatures by Governor Jeb Bush.

Matt Weldon, of the Levy County Parks Department, said that the Florida legislature has approved a grant of $200,000 for partial reconstruction of the County Dock which was damaged during the 2004 hurricanes. The reconstruction will be in phases, the first of which will include two finger piers and public restrooms. An additional grant may be possible from FEMA, pending re-evaluation by Mills Engineering of Bronson. Within two weeks contractors will be asked for estimates of the costs, and the re-evaluation process may be done in thirty days.

A grant of $200,000 for reconstruction of the fishing pier also awaits approval by Governor Bush. Making both the County Dock and the fishing pier safe and functional is important to the Cedar Key business community. Cedar Key Commissioner Vanessa Edmunds, who was recently appointed to deal with projects involving Levy County, said that anyone that can contact the Governor's Office in support of the dock reconstruction grants would be helpful.