City moving forward with Jenkins fixes

The Palatka City Commission approved a construction contract to conduct more than $700,000 worth of repairs for a potential community hub.

During their meeting Thursday, commissioners approved the Jenkins Community Center fixes in a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Tammie McCaskill voted against the decision because she wanted more time to review the cost with the city’s Finance Department.

The city will spend $763,089 to repair the center, 100 N. 19th St. Although the commission approved the funds, the repairs are contingent upon the Florida Department of State’s review and approval, Assistant City Manager Jonathan Griffith said.

Additional funding is coming from a state grant, he said, and the city’s reserve money will finance the rest of the project.

The repairs include reroofing the building, installing new parts of the ceiling or replacing damaged tiles, installing a new sprinkler system, and installing new lights in one corridor, according to a project scope from the city’s Public Works Department.

Not included is repairing the building’s gymnasium bleachers, converting locker rooms into a fitness center or converting shower rooms into changing rooms, Griffith said while presenting the project budget. These are projects the city originally wanted to be included in the fixes – and still hope to see occur – but were eliminated because of cost.

“These are items that, with (Community Affairs Director Eddie Cutwright’s) assistance and input, we have determined that they can be reduced in scope or deferred to an outer year,” Griffith said. “Or we could potentially get creative in how we accomplish these things.”

Cutwright and a team of employees currently work in the building, and he has walked the halls to determine its full potential.

The center used to be Jenkins Middle School until it was closed in 2021 as part of the Putnam County School District’s revitalization plan. Later that year, the city acquired a portion of the school building, including the gymnasium.

“Me, personally, I really want this to move forward as soon as possible, but I do understand the business side of the house,” Cutwright told commissioners Thursday after McCaskill suggested they not vote on the subject until the commission’s next meeting.

He said he wanted to begin hosting programs for the community in May. Cutwright would have to push back the projected opening date to August if commissioners waited until they meet in March to vote whether to approve the contract.

If there are temporary fixes instead of those repairs, Cutwright said, only 150 kids could participate in activities at Jenkins, and the gym couldn’t be opened for full use.

Jenkins could host meetings or small group gatherings but no larger functions, he added.

“Just to give you a little sidebar, I had five little kids come to the center today, come to the building today, ready and eager to kind of start doing some things,” Cutwright said Thursday. “So, my energy, (Palatka Recreation Coordinator Reno Fells Sr.’s) energy and my staff’s energy is wanting to get this building open.”