State Funding To Pay For National Guard Entrance, Airport Upgrades

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL — With Gov. Ron DeSantis signing the 2022-23 state budget, Zephyrhills officials are looking forward to receiving $12.04 million in funding for airport, sewer and water main improvements and an extension of the National Guard entrance road for construction of a new National Guard armory.

While $12 million may seem like a drop in the bucket in the state's $92.2 billion budget, Zephyrhills leaders say it will go a long way to getting some long-awaited projects underway.

“Receiving these appropriations helps to improve the infrastructure throughout the city of Zephyrhills in a multi-faceted approach,” said Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe.“Thank you to Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, Sen. Danny Burgess and Rep. Randy Maggard (all Pasco County legislators) for their continued support of the Zephyrhills community. Also, thank you to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his support and seeing the value in these infrastructural improvements in the city of Zephyrhills."

The city plans to use $1.94 million to extend South Avenue to entrance road to the new National Guard Armory.

The 2020-21 state budget included $50 million to build a new National Guard armory in Zephyrhills and restore an aging armory in Immokalee to allow the state to recruit 450 additional guard members.

DeSantis said the need became especially apparent during the pandemic when the state enlisted National Guard members to carry out statewide coronavirus testing and vaccinations.

With 12,000 soldiers and airmen in its ranks, the Florida National Guard ranks next to last in the country for providing troops on a per capita basis, according to National Guard Adjutant Gen. James Eifert.

He said a state the size of Florida should have more than 20,000 guard members.

“In relation to other states, we pale in comparison to our sister states who have nowhere near the level of population and the emergencies we have,” said Burgess, a U.S. Army Reservist. “Florida’s National Guard is in desperate need of growing. Our guard has been mobilized since last year in COVID relief from testing to vaccinations. Factor in hurricanes, mobilizations across the country and overseas deployment, our guard is all hands on deck.”

The Florida National Guard was awarded a $25 million in 2020-21 to construct the new barracks in Zephyrhills, selecting a site just north of 6th Avenue, South Avenue and the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.

This site does not have an improved access from 6th Avenue, so the extension project will allow the city to purchase right of way for a quarter-mile road to the National Guard site with stormwater retention, and 1,300 feet of water and sewer main to the 6th Avenue/South Avenue intersection.

In addition to serving the National Guard facility, the road will provide access to future industrial development.

The Zephyhills Municipal Airport improvements received $6.6 million to design and construct a new Fixed-Base Operator terminal building, taxiway and two new box hangars.

Future development of the airport and the adjacent industrial park is anticipated to attract new corporate and recreational aircraft operations, including increased jet traffic, Poe said.

Moreover, immediate job opportunities will be created due to increased capacity for aviation businesses, including pilot lessons, new hangar construction, mechanical businesses, corporate relocations and maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses.

Another $3.5 million will go to the extension of the Kossik Road and Fort King Road sewer and water main.

This is Phase II of a three-phase project to improve utility access in the north end of the city of Zephyrhills.

The water portion of the project will create a looped system, allowing for redundancy and improving fire flow and water quality.

The sewer portion also will allow the city to take up to 400 septic systems offline and provide
reclaimed water to the city to recharge the Hillsborough River basin.