By The New Pelican Newspaper | on January 11, 2023

By Diane Emeott-Korzen | New Pelican Writer

Pompano Beach – Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher and State Representative Chip LaMarca were among a handful of speakers who attended the Pompano Beach Commission’s first meeting of the new year to propose changing the name of Hillsboro Inlet Park to Roy L. Rogers Family Park.

“Rogers has served humbly for many years, without asking for anything. He gives and gives and gives,” said Fisher.

LaMarca said he wouldn’t normally support a renaming. But while he was on the Lighthouse Point Commission, he had the opportunity to rename the library for its longtime librarian Doreen Gauthier.

Mayor Rex Hardin said Rogers has been a role model for so many in the community. “He built Weston [and Coconut Creek]. But he is a naturalist at heart . . . A true giant.” The commission unanimously approved the renaming.

Pompano Beach Elementary School teacher Philip Shulte recalled how Rogers “has donated his time and money to our school and other schools,” adding that he wholeheartedly recommends the renaming.

Resident Chris Brown said he has known Rogers for 40 years and called him a “naturalist.”

Commissioner Barry Moss asked Tom Jordan of the Pompano Beach Economic Development Council how Rogers is doing. Jordan said the former developer is mentally 100 percent, but physically not so much.

“I’m glad we are doing the renaming. He doesn’t know about this. I will tell him at lunch tomorrow,” Jordan said.

Garage elevators will be repaired

Work repairing the city’s pier garage elevators is set to begin next week.

The north elevator is inoperable and the south elevator needs upgrades. Contractor Tim Mowrey said correcting the cylinder issue is a major part of the project. Salt air has corroded the top of the elevator cars which will be sanded and repainted. The elevator doors will also be replaced as will the elevator fans.

The goal is to first work on Elevator A which is not running, then do Elevator B, so there will always be one elevator functioning.

CIP Manager Tammy Good estimates the work will take four to seven months. The garage opened in June of 2016.

Commissioner Alison Fournier, who pulled the item for discussion at the Jan. 10 meeting, called the current repairs overdue. “This is a lot of money,” she said of the emergency request for commission ratification of $388,875 to Mowrey Elevator Co, Inc. for the repairs.

Fournier wanted to know if this would be a permanent solution.

Commissioner Barry Moss said he expects the same problem in 10 years, because “this elevator is exposed to salt air and used so frequently.”

Resident Mike Skversky asked whether the city is going after the original contractor to help with costs. City attorney Mark Berman said he is pursuing some type of settlement.

“This is a top-of-the-line garage. Not that old. For it to fail that quickly, doesn’t make any sense,” Skversky said. The city funded the $24 million garage by issuing a Certificates of Participation bond through the parking enterprise fund.

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