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(Photo by Rod Gibson)
Mayor Tim Meerbott welcomed U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar to Cutler Bay on Jan. 3 to discuss town priorities and ongoing projects. The meeting took place at a locally owned small business, Party Cake Bakery, and centered around crucial infrastructure and community development projects in which federal funding can assist the town.
Mayor Meerbott thanked Rep. Salazar for securing $4 million toward the construction of the Marlin Road “Complete Streets” project spanning from S. Dixie Highway to Old Cutler Road, and also for her fight to secure a $1 million appropriation for the Saga Bay neighborhood to assist with essential drainage improvements and wetland rehydration projects.
“We are grateful for Congresswoman Salazar’s unwavering support in securing critical federal funding for our infrastructure projects,” Mayor Meerbott said. “Her dedication to addressing flooding issues in the Saga Bay community and her advocacy for federal support in initiatives such as the Marlin Road ‘Complete Streets’ project, truly exemplify the congresswoman’s commitment to our community’s well-being.
“Today’s conversation reflected a shared vision to further protect our environment [Saga Bay] while addressing traffic needs [Marlin Road] and dealing with the increased cost of homeowner insurance rates, which will enhance the quality of life for our residents,” the mayor added.
Rep. Salazar expressed her overall concerns with the Cutler Bay community regarding Citizen’s Insurance and the continual increase in windstorm rates affecting every homeowner. Mayor Meerbott offered insight from his professional experience working in the insurance industry as a senior division manager for Allstate Corporation where he has worked for the past 35 years.
Rep. Salazar congratulated the mayor and town staff for their success with FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) which resulted in Cutler Bay being named as one of four communities in Florida, and only one of 11 communities out of 1,754 nationwide, to reach the classification of CRS 3. This classification saves residents 35 percent on flood insurance.
Also touched on during the meeting was the town’s 16-acre Legacy Park and Municipal Complex project. Designated a brownfield, the project is open to the possibility of federally funded grants through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The regional economic impact of the Southland Mall redevelopment also was discussed, as was the possibility of seeking federal funding for a pedestrian bridge over US1 to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station located on SW 112th Avenue.
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