The city’s bond projects are expected to be fully completed this month.  

The fire department should be installed in the new fire station and emergency operations center on Sample Road by Oct. 1, said Lighthouse Point Mayor Kyle Van Buskirk.

The new community center at Dan Witt Park received a temporary certificate of occupancy this summer, which allowed the parks and recreation department to move into its new offices and hold summer camp there. Now that the summer programs are over, Kaufmann Lynn Construction — the construction manager of the bond projects — can address the final items that need to be completed before project closeout. Following that, the community center can proceed to get a full certificate of occupancy.

The community center hasn’t fully opened to the public yet because new pickleball and basketball courts are being installed just north of the building. Additionally, a portion of the park is being used to store construction materials for the new public works administration building, one of the city’s other bond projects. The pickleball and basketball courts are expected to be completed by the end of September.  

The existing public works administration building is being renovated to be used for fleet maintenance; the new public works administration building is replacing the fleet maintenance building that was directly across the street.

The public works department should be installed in its new buildings by Oct. 1, said Van Buskirk.

Per the city’s contract with Kaufman Lynn Construction, the bond projects were expected to be completed at the beginning of this year. However, due to a series of supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the projects were slowed down.

The new fire station in Lighthouse Point

Dedication ceremonies for the fire station and community center were held in February, presided over by former Lighthouse Point Mayor Glenn Troast, several weeks before his passing. Troast played an instrumental role in helping to get the city’s $16.5 million bond issue approved by voters in 2018, which provided the funding for the bond projects.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies are being planned for the fire department, the parks and recreation department and the public works department, each to be held on a different day, likely at the end of September or the beginning of October.

Residents are invited to attend the ribbon-cuttings. The city will be putting up signs with the dates and times, and will also post the information on line.

“I would love for our entire city to attend,” said Van Buskirk, “because it’s the residents who approved this through a voter bond referendum, and it’s the residents who paid for these buildings.”

Van Buskirk said that holding the ceremonies on different days will give residents an opportunity to tour the buildings.

“With the completion of these improvements that will serve the city for the next 50 years, it’s important to note that they were built during unprecedented times of COVID, massive price increases and supply chain issues, and still stayed within budget,” said Van Buskirk. “It speaks volumes for our city’s administration and staff.”

The last of the city’s five bond projects is a proposed first-floor expansion of the library. The project was put out to bid on Aug. 14, with proposals due by Sept. 14. A discussion of the bid results is expected to take place at the first city commission meeting in October.

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