Driving home is unnerving for John Banks. County Road 231 is in such disrepair, he said, that he sometimes has to drive in the oncoming traffic lane to avoid the potholes.
“There are potholes after potholes,” he said. “When you drive it, you’re going bouncing and bumping all over the place.”
The Alachua County Commission voted Tuesday to repair that road and other roads that need fixing. Construction should begin in about six months, said Dave Cerlanek, county engineer.
The commission voted to take out an $11 million loan, which will be borrowed in the form of bonds instead of a commercial loan, said Mark Sexton, the county communications director. The county will pay back the loan with money raised from county gas taxes.
The money will be used to fix County Road 231, Northwest 16th Avenue, Southwest 63rd Boulevard, Southwest 62nd Avenue and the Gainesville Golf and Country Club.
Commissioner Rodney Long said it is “ridiculous” that the county let County Road 231 get into such bad shape. His comments were followed by applause from citizens.
“There’s no way we can go another four years with that road as bad as it is,” he said.
Commissioners also voted to allow Gatorball Baseball Academy Inc., a private baseball-training organization, to manage activities at Jonesville Park’s two baseball fields for three years. In exchange, the organization will be able to charge teams for playing time and will collect money from sales at the concession stand.
Stephen Barton, owner of Gatorball Baseball Academy, said his organization will make sure the field is used.
He said his organization will take care of scheduling times for teams to practice and play and will keep the infield clay tidy. The county will tend to the grass in the outfield and clean the restrooms once a day.
The commission said the public will still have access to the fields. Barton agreed.
“We’re taking kids that have the dream of playing college baseball,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to give back to the game.”
