Callaway to beautify Tyndall Parkway

April 25-- Apr. 25--CALLAWAY -- Before Hurricane Michael, Callaway officials already had a project in mind to beautify the Tyndall Parkway median.

After the October storm wrecked the popular business roadway, those plans still are a go and are expected to help the area look better -- which has taken on added significance after the town got hit hard by the Category 5 hurricane. During a Tuesday meeting, city commissioners approved a bid from local company Lawnscapes Inc. for the project.

"It will start at the Callaway city limits on the Springfield side and go through to Cherry Street. It will be the median in that area," Mayor Pamn Henderson said. "It will be some kind of native-type plants, things that do well in Florida, things that are relatively low-maintenance, some native grasses."

The work will be funded through a $500,000 grant, with the state putting in $400,000. The city will put in the other $100,000. A start date is not set, though the project is expected to continue moving forward.

"With Tyndall (Air Force Base), people that are passing through, headed to Tyndall, it will look much nicer," Henderson said. "It will make Callaway more attractive for people that may be looking for some place to live."

As a tie-in to the beautification, the city also wants to put up "nice" Welcome to Callaway signs, Henderson said. The signs won't be funded through the grant.

Private and commercial debris removal program

As well as planning to beautify the Tyndall Parkway median, Callaway has established a private property debris removal program and commercial debris removal program.

"Whether it's a business or an individual, they have to apply. They can do that at the (Callaway) Conference Center. They have to bring things like their insurance policy, deed to show they own the property and driver license," Henderson said. "The way both programs work -- if a resident or business, say they had no insurance or their insurance was really deficient in demolition and cleanup of a property, this program will help them out if they are approved. First they have to be approved by our consultant and then FEMA actually comes in and approves because it is a FEMA-reimbursable project. The debris haulers we have been using would actually go in, clear the property, haul off the debris so that it will clean up the location."

There is no cost to residents for private property cleanup unless their insurance reimburses them some amount, which they would have to turn over to the city. As for commercial property, a business would have to pay a matching portion to the city.

The city contacted 90% of the businesses on Tyndall Parkway to let them know about the program so they can apply if they need it, Henderson said. The Conference Center is at 500 Callaway Park Way, off State 22.

Other Callaway news:

--The St. Joe Company has plans to build homes in Callaway on 165 acres of land located about 1,500 feet east of Betty Louise Drive, according to Henderson.

--Callaway "is in no danger of going bankrupt," Henderson said. The city has had to borrow only about $5 million of its $15 million line of credit.

"We've been able to pay the rest out of reserves and I think we're about $13 million in on debris hauling," Henderson said. "Hopefully some FEMA reimbursement will come through soon for not only Callaway, for all of us because I know we're all in the same boat. Everybody needs reimbursement to keep from having to borrow additional funds."

--The last debris pass in Callaway will start May 1. Residents are encouraged to have debris out for pickup by then.

___

(c)2019 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.)

Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.