Wildwood commissioners Monday night approved the $625,000 purchase of a seven-acre site on the northwest corner of U.S. 301 and County Road 462 for a new police station.
City Manager Bill Ed Cannon said the city must pay $50,000 within 90 days and the balance at the closing, scheduled for Dec. 22. Sellers are A. Clare Silva, Jr., of Oxford and Down to Earth Lawn Care of Mount Dora.
The sales agreement requires the city to maintain the vacant property’s commercial zoning if the deal falls through.
Cannon said the city hopes to get a loan or grant from USDA Rural America for the station.
Buying the site culminates a long search for a police station location. Two commissioners favored putting the station at Martin Luther King Jr. Park near County Road 44A. That site was set aside for a station several years ago.
But Mayor Ed Wolf and Police Chief Eddie Reeser said they supported the U.S. 301 location because of its visibility and ease of access.
Commissioner Julian Green noted that the purchase price is higher than an earlier $500,000 estimate.
The commission also earmarked $80,000 to demolish apartments and improve King Park as part of a mid-year budget amendment. The money will come from $200,000 set aside in this year’s budget for the police station, which won’t be built this year.
The budget amendment, approved on a 3-2 vote, also includes several new positions including two police officers, a planner in the Development Services department and a mower in the Public Works department. It also pays for a police administration vehicle, speed humps on Jackson Street, a street sweeper and water treatment plant repairs.
City Clerk Cassandra Lippincott said most of the money to finance those additional expenses will come from budget transfers instead of reserves.
In other business, commissioners:
• Heard that County Road 462 between the railroad tracks and U.S. 301 will be closed for about three weeks during the road construction process.
• Voted to allow camping this weekend at the grand opening of Wildwood Off Road Park along U.S. 301, which features trails, mud pits and a race track for off-road vehicles.
• Approved the House of Hope 5K Run on Sept. 10. Last year’s fund-raising run for the faith-based non-profit organization raised $6,700 and drew 233 participants.
• Approved the site plan for a recreation and postal center at The Enclave addition to Lakeside Landings along County Road 472 in Oxford.
