Taylor County commissioners opened public hearings and received public input Tuesday on two sidewalk projects that county staff plan to submit for Florida Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives grants in the 2031 funding cycle.

Melanie Cox, identified in the agenda materials as the grant rider, described the first proposed project in Perry as a 1.76-mile sidewalk that would run from U.S. 19 along Industrial Park Drive to Puckett Road and connect to an existing sidewalk ending at LaCoure Lane. Cox said the county intends to request 100% funding; county staff said the final total cost estimate will come from the engineer.

Members of the public and commissioners asked why Industrial Drive was selected, noting that the corridor is predominately commercial and industrial and questioned anticipated pedestrian users. Cox and other staff said the locations were chosen to tie into existing sidewalks, serve events at Forest Capital Hall, connect Midland Technical students and employees, provide safer bicycle and pedestrian access to employers along the route, and offer a potential future connection to the Florida SunTrail.

The board also held a public hearing on a separate sidewalk project in Steinhatchee. That project would construct a sidewalk from the Steinhatchee River Bridge to First Avenue Northeast and would provide a loop around a local school by filling sidewalk gaps between Tenth Street, Central, 12th Street and First Avenue, county staff said. Staff again said the county will request 100% funding on the application.

For both hearings staff noted the county can submit two TA applications and must designate a primary application; staff said they believe the Perry project would be the primary application but will clarify before formal submission. Commissioners asked staff for precise mapping and lineal feet so the county can include correct quantities in the application; staff agreed to provide maps and to re-examine sections that might be environmentally sensitive.

No final action to submit the applications occurred at the hearings. County staff said the grant application(s) and any required grant agreements would be placed on a future agenda for board approval prior to submission.