MOORE HAVEN, FL. (Sept. 13, 2005) -- The Glades County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously today to approve construction of Phase I of the Ortona Cemetery Pavilion with funding from the County's 1% discretionary surtax revenue, as presented by the Project Committee.
The Board also authorized a resolution designating the area of Ortona Cemetery north of Central Avenue between 1st Street West and 1st Street East as "Ortona Cemetery Pavilion Park" with such restrictions to limit uses of this area to only those in accord with the purpose of providing an oasis of serenity with functional service to Glades County citizens attending cemetery related activities and activities authorized by Glades County Board of Commissioners.
The construction contract, prepared by County Manager Wendell Taylor with permitting fees waived, will be awarded to Albert Irvan Luckey in acceptance of his bid of $49,340.
Phase I will include the 24ft x 48ft pavilion and ADA handicap accessible concrete sidewalks. The structure will replicate the pavilion at Larry Luckey Ortona Indian Mound Park and will feature the vented cupola with lattice ceiling for natural updraft ventilation, with a galvalume hip roof. A podium, lectern, and table will be permanently placed, and ceiling fans will be installed. Franklin Luckey, who built the pavilion at Indian Mound Park, will be the project foreman.
The project idea, first presented to the Board in 2003, was to provide sheltered bench seating for the comfort and convenience of bereaved citizens attending funeral services and patriotic citizens attending Memorial Day and Veterans' Day observances or other Commission authorized activities at Ortona Cemetery. The Project Committee is composed of Alvin Ward, Chairman, and members Glades County Property Appraiser Larry Luckey, Glades County Clerk of Courts Joe Flint, and Donna Storter, who with her husband J. C. Long, contributed $15,000 in 2003 for the project that will be in tribute to her father Vance Storter 1917-2000, Glades County Commissioner 1978-1982, who originated the pavilion plan.
Recognition is due to generous community donors including Johnson Engineering, Inc. of LaBelle for providing the subdivision plot plan overlays onto aerial maps, and preparing initial conceptual plans for the building, and transmitting them to Fawley Bryant Architects, Inc. of Bradenton, Fl who prepared the final construction plans, also gratis. The Surveying Department of Johnson Engineering, Inc. headed by Matt Howard is providing the construction lot surveying, staking and site plans. Jack Queen Construction, Inc. J. C. Long Vice President, has pledged the building site work, with fill dirt being provided by Florida Rock Industries Weatherspoon Sand Plant in Ortona, courtesy of Carl Manning. Florida Rock also pledged support for in-kind contributions of concrete blocks and ready-mixed concrete. Glades County Solid Waste Director David Whidden pledged financial support from Solid Waste Recycling Grant funds for benches made of recycled materials. Daniel Akin, of Akin-Davis Funeral Home participated in the planning process.
At a later date, Phase II will include installation of permanent bench seating, xeriscape landscaping with sod and sprinkler system, designated delineated parking areas to include eight handicap spaces connected to the pavilion by ADA sidewalks and ramps built in Phase I, portable public address system, lighted flagpole, a scenic mural, cemetery burial directory kiosk, and underground utility service. Other in-kind pledges include Sabal palm trees from Donnie Peeples, sod from Lykes Bros., landscaping assistance from Glades County Garden Club, and artisans for the mural from Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Pledges for funding of Phase II are solicited and contributions can be made payable to Glades County Cemetery Pavilion and mailed to Glades County Clerk, P. O. Box 10, Moore Haven, FL 33471. Contributions made as memorial or honorariums will be acknowledged to the honoree or family. Any individual, family, group, club, church or organization, wishing to fund a bench, ceiling fan or other amenity or to provide materials or services for landscaping or other in-kind contributions are invited to contact Alvin Ward (863.946.0213), Larry Luckey (863.946.6025), Joe Flint (863.946.6010) or Donna Storter (863.675.8850). A sponsor is also sought for the cemetery burial directory and map which is to feature a touch-screen kiosk that will be cross-referenced with lot/block burial sites and names of those interred.
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