District donates cars, computers to partners in Putnam and Flagler counties

District staff loaded surplus items last Friday for donation to the town of Pomona Park.

PALATKA, Fla., March 30, 2017 — Putnam County schools, the city of Bunnell and the town of Pomona Park are benefitting from thousands of dollars of surplus items from the St. Johns River Water Management District. These Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) community partners were notified last week that they will receive a variety of computer monitors, PCs and vehicles from the district’s program to donate surplus equipment to economically disadvantaged communities.

“We are grateful to be able to share with our REDI community partners by providing our surplus items to help them improve services to their constituents,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “Rural communities are important to our state, and we are delighted to be able to help them meet their needs.”

The Putnam County School District is receiving two 30-inch computer monitors, 10 minitower PCs and lift jacks. Bunnell is receiving two 30-inch computer monitors, and Pomona Park is receiving a 2008 all-terrain vehicle, a 2004 GMC 2500 truck and a parts cleaner.

“The city of Bunnell has a pretty tight budget; we have to get more mileage out of vehicles and computers than we would like, so when the SJRWMD has gently used equipment available, we jump all over it,” said City Manager Dan Davis. “We get a few more years out of the equipment, which allows us to utilize the limited funds we have to serve the citizens of Bunnell in a more direct manner visible to them, such as pot-hole repair and more street lights.”

“We have needed a second vehicle for a long time and look forward to getting the GMC 2500 truck, wherein we will repair/replace the transmission,” said Mayor John C. Bergquist Jr. “Additionally, when we received the ‘congratulations’ email, we were overwhelmed, to say the least! Truly, the Yamaha Grizzly and the parts cleaner were a bonus. Our maintenance team is thrilled. To be part of REDI is beneficial to all our small communities and if you have not signed up, I highly recommend you do.”

This round of REDI surplus marks the first time the town of Pomona Park has participated in the district’s program.

The district routinely disposes of items that are obsolete, serve no useful function, are uneconomical or inefficient for continued use, or have exceeded their useful service life.

A REDI community is economically disadvantaged and may also be unincorporated federal enterprise communities, or an incorporated rural city that is not located in a designated rural county. Funding for REDI communities may be used to sustain and enhance safe drinking water supplies as well as maintain and enhance wastewater systems. For more information about REDI funding opportunities, visit the district’s website at www.sjrwmd.com/funding/FY2015-2016/REDI.html.