Belleair Beach Cuts Projects For Bridge Repair

The City Council voted to cut road paving and other routine projects during 2009 to pay for plans to rebuild the Harrison Street bridge. City Manager Nancy McCollum listed what items would be cut from the city’s 2009 operating budget to make up for the over-budget cost:- eliminate $113k from street re-paving;- eliminate Bayside Park landscaping, general plant replacement, building repairs - eliminate contract grass cutting in parks, $5k originally budgeted for Parks Board landscaping projects. Also, they passed an ordinance banning residential lights that shine on the beach during the sea turtle mating season that takes effect Oct. 1. The council also put off a vote on offshore drilling.