SUMMER’S END September 18, 2020

In this issue:

• New Council Members

• Alligator Signs

• Town Hall Renovation

•Town Hall Reports

• Police Safety Message

• Dog Park @ Ernst

• Covid-19 Information

Town of Kenneth City Newsletter

As Fall approaches, Kenneth City residents are ready to embrace the arrival of cool-

er temperatures a well needed holiday season. While things have been changing

dramatically this year, Kenneth City Staff has remained committed to our goal of

excellent service to our residents.

A Safe, Friendly, Small Town

6000 54th Avenue North, Kenneth City, FL 33709 | (727) 498-8948 | www.kennethcityfl.org | www.facebook.com/townofkennethcity

Welcome Councilmember Noble and

Councilmember Zemaitis

Welcome to the Council Bonnie Noble and Megan

Zemaitis. They were elected during the March Election

earlier this year. Councilmember Noble has been a Ken-

neth City Resident for 28 years, and enjoys outdoor

activities. Councilmember Zemaitis is a resident of 25

years. She enjoys spending time with her dogs and wife,

either by the pool or at the beach. Our new Coun-

cilmembers are excited to serve the community during

their first term.

New Alligator Signs

New signs are being installed around the lakes in

the town, warning residents about the presence of

alligators in the lake. Alligators enter the lakes

through access pipes connected to Joe’s Creek.

The lakes are part of their territorial migration.

Residents are advised to not feed or interact with

the gators, as this promotes them to display ag-

gressive or nuisance behavior.

Baby alligators are about seven inches in length

when born, and have stripes down their bodies

that serve as camouflage. They will grow approxi-

mately one foot a year for five years, at which

point they will lose their stripes, as the alligator no longer needs the camouflage.

Town Staff are aware of the presence of these alligators, and monitors the lakes, the size,

and the presence of alligators throughout the year. Alligators are natural to Florida water-

ways and protected by state law. Therefore, residents should stay away from alligators

they see. On occasion, the Town works with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC)

on the removal of gators displaying aggressive or

nuisance behavior. If you see a gator, or if as gator is

acting aggressively towards you, please call Town Hall

with the date, time, and approximate length of the

animal.

Town Hall Renovations and Opening—

Town hall has been getting a face lift. The main lobby

has been renovated to improve security and aesthetics.

A notable feature is the wheelchair accessible counter.

Town Hall will open again for business October 1st.

Please come by and see the improvements.

At the August Kenneth City Town Council meeting, Councilmembers voted to approve a Joint

Project Agreement (JPA) between Pinellas County and the Town. This JPA will result in major

improvements to the 46th Avenue corridor, and is the catalyst for other related projects.

Below, readers will find each project outlined.

Town Manager Matthew Campbell started petitioning Pinellas County to improve the deteri-

orating 46th Avenue roadway over five years ago. Met with staunch resistance, Campbell

continued advocating for the residents of Kenneth City on the completion of this project.

Campbell applied for, and received, a Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LCWF)

grant towards the project, while continuing to petition the County. By the beginning of the

year, the County had agreed to move forward with the project , and in August, the JPA was

signed.

1) 46th Avenue Roadway - As part of the JPA, 46th Avenue will be completely milled and

resurfaced. The dangerous intersection of the access road and 46th Avenue, east of

61st Street, will be realigned. Curbs and gutters along 46th Avenue will be replaced or

improved. The County has committed to funding this portion of the project. It will be

completed by mid 2021.

2) 46th Avenue Trail - The sidewalk in the medians of 46th Avenue will be widened to 10

feet. Benches, picnic tables, and trash containers will be installed. Intersections with

streets will have ADA sidewalk ramps. Improvements will include a trail spur and cross-

walk, linking 46th Avenue and Lake Lori along the 60th Street ditch. This project is fully

funded by the LCWF grant, and will be completed in conjunction with the 46th Avenue

roadway.

The JPA construction has spurred the visioning and implementation of additional infrastruc-

ture improvements outside the town. For the benefit of Kenneth City residents, Campbell

continued advocating for safe sidewalk installation outside the town and a trail along Joe’s

Creek. The following projects are slated to occur shortly following the previously stated im-

provements to 46th Avenue.

1) 46th Avenue Sidewalks - Campbell observed students at Dixie Hollins High, who live

east of the 55th Street ditch, forced to walk in the road along 46th Avenue between

49th Street and Kenneth City’s safe median walkways. What started as a quick call to

the County has now resulted in a feasibility study, funding allocation, and construction

by late 2021. New sidewalks will extend eastward from the Kenneth City trail project to

49th Street.

2) Joe’s Creek Trail - This trail will connect the Lealman community with the Pinellas trail

near Tyrone Mall, with a portion passing through Kenneth City. Construction will be

entirely funded by the County, and will happen between 2023 and 2025.

The Town’s contribution to the future Joe’s Creek trail is a “flyover”, or connecting

bridge from the Lake Lori neighborhood to the Joe’s Creek Trail. The Town has tenta-

tively earmarked funding in its Capital Improvement Plan for this project.

The completion of the Town’s JPA, coupled with the County sidewalk improvements east of

Town-limits, and a future connection to the Joe’s Creek Trail to the south, will result in corri-

dor-wide improvements, in relative short succession. These improvements will significantly

raise the quality of life for Town residents now, and in the near future.

September 18, 2020

Town of Kenneth City Newsletter

SUMMER’S END

Town Hall Reports

Kenneth City/Pinellas Agree to Major Infrastructure Projects on 46th Ave

After five years of negotiating with Pinellas County, Town Manager Campbell has

taken an audacious plan from “no” to “go”.

September 18, 2020

SUMMER’S END Town of Kenneth City Newsletter

As the Covid-19 situation has unfolded, Town Staff has been participating in County Wide

municipal network calls with the county to stay updated with the latest information. Town

Staff has been keeping the Town Facebook page updated with the latest information and

resources available to residents. Town Hall will remain accessible remotely via phone and

email until it reopens fully October 1st.

Covid-19

A Safety Message From Your Police Department

An important goal of the Kenneth City Police Department is to keep our motoring public safe

whether in Town or travelling abroad. Please remember to always wear your seatbelt and

make sure that the other occupants in your vehicle are wearing seat belts, too!

Florida law requires the use of seat belts or child restraint devices by drivers of motor vehi-

cles, all front seat passengers and all children riding in a vehicle under the age of 18.

Florida’s safety belt law is a primary enforcement law, meaning that an officer can stop a

vehicle and issue a citation simply for observing a safety belt or restraint violation.

Children should be in the rear seats until at least age 12, since deployed front seat air bags

can be dangerous to children.

Florida law requires children age 5 and under to be secured properly in a crash-tested, feder-

ally approved child restraint device.

Children ages 0 to 3 must be in child restraint devices of a separate carrier or a vehicle man-

ufacturer’s integrated child seat.

Children age 4 and 5 must be in a separate carrier, integrated child seat or booster seat.

In Florida, on average, 41% of vehicle fatalities were composed of people who were not

wearing a seat belt. That means hundreds of people who died on Florida roads had the op-

tion to wear a seat belt but didn’t. Wear your seatbelt, Kenneth City! Safety starts with you.

Kenneth City Police Department | Admin: (727) 498-8942 | 4800 58th St. N., Kenneth City FL 33709 | www.facebook.com/KennethCityPolice

Bark Park at Ernst Park

The bark park at Ernst Park has been fitted with a

doggie water fountain! While not installed origi-

nally, Town Staff listen to the residents’ and

Town Council suggestion and made it happen.

Please have your dog enjoy this water fountain,

and tag the town Facebook page with pictures of

your dog at the park!

Left: Mayla laps up a refreshing lick of water.

Below: Kaya (tan) and Kali (black) race across

the field. Dogs courtesy of Councilmember

Zemaitis