Orange Park residents could see a nearly $14 million stormwater loan finalized when the Town Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Town Hall.

The meeting agenda includes two Johnson Slough items among its new business. Design-Build Contract Amendment No. 3 with Superior Construction and Resolution No. 24-26 would advance financing for the Johnson Slough Culvert and Roadway Improvements Project through Webster Public Finance Corporation.

The project had a preliminary price of $13,961,298 as of a Sept. 8 special meeting, when officials were still working toward a final guaranteed maximum price.

The work targets long-standing drainage and flooding problems in town. The project has a $7 million state cost-reimbursement grant that officials said can be applied directly to the loan principal without a prepayment penalty.

According to minutes from the Sept. 8 special meeting, annual debt service would start at roughly $1.1 million in fiscal year 2028-29. That figure would drop to about $563,000 after the state grant is applied to the principal and the remaining debt is re-amortized.

The council voted 5-0 at the Sept. 8 meeting to lock in the loan's interest rate through Oct. 31 without committing the town to final execution of the financing.

The project has drawn public scrutiny. Resident George Bush told the council at the Sept. 8 meeting he was concerned about total interest costs over the 20-year loan term and urged the town to consider scaling back the scope to concentrate on high-priority sections along Plainfield and Holly Point.

Public Works Director Kyle Croce is scheduled to present the contract amendment, while Finance Director John Villanueva is scheduled to present the financing resolution.

Federal grant requalification

Town Clerk Courtney Russo is scheduled to present an agreement related to Clay County's Community Development Block Grant program.

The action concerns the county's Urban County requalification for fiscal years 2027 through 2029. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development periodically requires qualifying urban counties to renew their participation agreements with municipalities.

Orange Park participates in Clay County's CDBG program, which uses federal funding for eligible community-development projects, including infrastructure, housing and public-service initiatives.

Clay County has operated its current CDBG program since at least 2021 and administers funding through a five-year consolidated planning process.

Holiday event partnership

Town Manager Gary Goble is scheduled to present a memorandum of understanding with Concert on the Green related to Cocoa & Carols, the nonprofit's annual holiday event featuring Clay County student musicians.

The 2024 Cocoa & Carols featured performers from 14 Clay County schools along River Road behind Moosehaven. Concert on the Green says it has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships and grants to Clay County arts students during its 36-year history.

The organization's website indicates Cocoa & Carols is expected to return in 2026, but no event date was listed as of Oct. 2.

Other business

The agenda also includes a contract for sewage dewatering services, engineering services for hurricane-resilience upgrades to the collection system, a milling and resurfacing agreement for Hurley Street, and proclamations recognizing Fire Prevention Week and the 44th Annual Orange Park Fall Festival.

Councilman Glenn Taylor has placed the Nov. 4 council meeting date on the agenda under old business. The meeting was moved from Nov. 3 because Town Hall serves as a polling location on Election Day.

The Oct. 6 meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 2042 Park Ave. The next regular Town Council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 20.