NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. New Smyrna Beach City Commissioner vowed to get to the bottom of why no federal stimulus money is coming for the propsed $10 million NSB Marine Scinces Center at the former high school off the North Causeway.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- There is no stimulus funding coming from Washington or the county for the proposed $10 million Marine Sciences Center at the former New Smyrna Beach High School off the North Causeway and that had city officials fuming Monday night.
The City Commission learned of the development when informed that City Manager Pam Brangaccio and former Interim City Manager Khalid Reshediat informed the commissioners that they were recommending the line item of $150,000 for restoration of the old high school be eliminated from the propsed budget because outside funding has not materialized.
Mayor Sally Mackay said she was disaapointed by the lack of support, but City Commisioner Jim Hathaway said he's not surprised since the project is considered an "earmark," something that the Obama administration has frowned on, explaing this is probably why it didn't win support from Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, the first-term Democrat from New Smyrna Beach.
Commissioner Randy Richenberg, who had taken the lead as the point person for the commission on the project was surprised as well, vowing to get to the bottom of the funding situation.
"I'm even more disappointed we don't have support from our federal representative and our county representative," Richnberg said, referring to Kosmas and County Councilman Jack Hayman, also from New Smyrna Beach.
The City Commission in December started the process of changing the city's comprehensive land-use plan to change the 22-acre property from a school to a marine sciences center, including a hatchery.
The project was expected to infuse $10 million, including the spearheading of new jobs and to serve as an environmentally-friendly enclave.
City commissioners are now concerned about the site languisjhing since it is owned by the state, which has shown no willingness to do anything with the site. Mayor Mackay described the former high school site as "worse than an eyesore."