By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Bronson Middle High School has never had a track of its own, and that fact hasn’t changed, but the school may soon have the use of the town’s park for home track meets this spring.

            Town council members voted unanimously at their most recent meeting to transfer $7,000 from executive salaries to the parks and recreation budget to use for restriping the track at James H. Cobb Park.

            Town Manager Susan Beaudet found the money in the budget. The leftover money from executive salaries was available for the project. Council members transferred $7,000 of the unused executive salary funds to parks and recreation for the track restriping project.

            Beaudet wasn’t hired until February. The town didn’t have a manager for the five months preceding her hiring. The unused money in the executive salary portion of the budget was transferred to parks and recreation for restriping the track.

            Councilman Jason Hunt asked if Bronson Middle High School was indeed going to use the restriped track for home track meets. He said he would be upset if that wasn’t the case.

            BMHS Track Coach Rod Thomas had made an appearance at a previous council meeting to ask for town assistance in restriping the track for home track meets. His request is the reason Beaudet searched the town budget for the money to honor Thomas’ request.

            Beaudet added that it was her understanding that Thomas would apply for a Wal-Mart grant to get extra money for the track. Thomas hasn’t explained how he would use the Wal-Mart money, but the long jump and triple jump sand pit needs to be reworked and the school needs a pole vault bar and cushion, and high jump bar and cushion for home track meets.

            The school is currently in the cross-country phase of its track program. Cross-country running doesn’t require the use of an asphalt track. Practices for the winter and spring track program are set to begin in the third week of January. That’s when the asphalt track will be needed.

            Hunt said he would be satisfied if the school stages all its home track meets at the park and the money doesn’t go to waste.

            The town hasn’t hired anyone to restripe the track. Thomas will have to approach the council about bidding or inform the council that he has contacted a company or an individual that can do the work in accordance with Florida High School Athletic Association track standards.

            The Levy County School Board has never set aside money to build a track at BMHS. Currently, all the school board construction dollars are committed to building a new Chiefland Middle High School.

Town of Bronson Meeting September 13, 2021; Posted September 19, 2021

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