By Stephen Kindland

Staff writer

ORANGE PARK – Town council members have voted to raise water, sewer and garbage collection rates, but the council still will have to figure out ways to make up for an expected revenue shortfall before the next fiscal year.

Council members voted 4-1 to raise utility rates by 3.5 percent during a town council meeting on Tuesday, March 9. Councilman Steve Howard cast the dissenting vote, the same as he and Councilman Pete Morgan did after a first reading on Feb. 16, when the council deadlocked 2-2 in the absence of Bob Standifer, who was unable to attend after undergoing back surgery.

Tuesday’s vote also came over the objections of a smattering of residents who stuck around on election night after the polls closed at Town Hall. In the only contested race, Gary Meeks won by a 28-vote margin over Eugene Nix for Seat 4 on the council.

Meeks, who will be sworn in on April 6, replaces three-term Councilman Steve Jones, who is stepping down due to term limits. Mayor Jim "J.B" Renninger ran unopposed for a second term and will retain Seat 5.

Town Manager John Bowles has supported the utility rate hike – the first since November of 2008 -- because of increased operating costs and more stringent wastewater treatment requirements he expects from state and federal environmental agencies.

But, since the new rates were anticipated to take affect shortly after the start of the current fiscal year, the town will collect only about half of the $160,000 town officials had anticipated.

Bowles said the town likely will have to make up for that shortfall by tapping deeper into its reserve fund.

"This is not a cheap business to be in," he said. "I wish I could paint you a pretty picture, but I can’t."

The rate increases will take effect during the first billing cycle in April, halfway into the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

Also on Tuesday, the council approved two contracts to continue construction at the town’s skateboard park adjacent to the Orange Park Athletic Association complex on Gano Avenue. The contracts are part of a $400,000 project that must be "substantially completed" by April 30 in order for the state Department of Environmental Protection to reimburse the town $200,000 of the total amount.

Council members expressed concern whether the deadline can be met for the project, which includes a picnic pavilion, a covered spectator shelter, a playground, new skateboard obstacles, including a concrete bowl; lighting, a restroom and concession stand and an exercise trail through a wetlands area.

Bowles said he believes the deadline can be met.