Vernon offers support for bridge celebration

VERNON - Vernon City Council approved waiving all fees for use of the Community Center in support of a celebration of the 70^th anniversary of the Archie G. McQuagge Bridge and historic downtown Vernon. The decision was made at Council's regular meeting Monday night at City Hall.

President Angia Morris of the Vernon Historical Society requested that Council waive any fees for a festival on May 30 beginning at 10 a.m. that would honor the bridge on State 79 over Holmes Creek that was dedicated on May 26, 1939. The bridge cost about $100,000 to build and will be replaced with a new bridge to support widening of State 79 from Bay County to Interstate 10.

Areas of old downtown Vernon that have been cleared by the Florida Department of Transportation will be used for vendors, food and entertainment. There would also be entertainment in the Community Center. Council also approved blocking off Jackson and Court streets for the festival.

"This is selling Vernon," said Council Member John Hawkins.

 Council earlier tabled further discussion of a new fee structure for the Community Center, including a proposed $100 an hour fee for the gym and $50 an hour for the former cafetorium. A $100 cleaning deposit was also discussed.

In other business, Council:

*Approved as part of the consent agenda an animal control contract with Animal Control of West Florida that includes a $41.67 fee to pick up strays in Vernon

*Approved moving Nicholas Veloquio from temporary city employment to full time at $8.50 an hour

*Set commercial rental fee for City Hall at $1.50 a square foot and sales tax in resp;onse to a request from Greenhorne O'Mera to rent space for its office in Vernon while work is being done on State 79; the firm has not signed a contract yet

*Approved having Washington County Scholarship Trust and Vernon Merchants Association do the annual Fourth of July celebration, including the parade, pageant, Fun Day at the Sportsplex and the fireworks, with proceeds going to WCST

*Heard David Solger of Take Stock in Children ask for volunteer mentors to support Vernon students that have scholarships through TSIC, or will be awarded a scholarship this year. About 20 Vernon students are eligible for scholarships and six will graduate this year. Solger noted that 96 percent of TSIC students graduate from high school and 81 percent from tech school or college. Each TSIC must have a mentor, and anyone interested in helping can contact Vernon High School.