Council Member Frankie Burnett proposed the renaming of Union Street to Muhammad Ali Boulevard at the 06/07/16 council meeting. Community Development Director Bill Geiger discussed the costs and tasks that would be involved in the name change.
Union Street is bracketed by Dr. M. L. King Jr. Blvd. and Liberty Street. Along Union Street are single family homes and an apartment complex. The Brooksville Housing Authority also has property there, but those homes are vacant.
Geiger noted that eight street signs would need to be changed, for a total of $1,200 plus the labor involved. Additionally, letters would need to be sent to residents advising them of the change. A notice of ten days would be given, which some council members did not feel was sufficient time due to the summer season and vacation time. However, the notice could be sent as far as 30 days in advance.
There would be costs to residents as well. The Property Appraiser’s Addressing Division would assist property owners by advising of the kinds of documents that will need to be updated, banking information and update their driver’s licenses or identification cards, for example. Mortgage companies would need to be made aware as well, so that if/when a property is sold, the deed could also be changed, Geiger stated.
Mayor Natalie Kahler asked whether it would be prudent to have residents sign a statement that they were made aware of the name change, due to the additional expenses each would incur. Burnett opposed this, stating when Dr. M. L. King Jr. Blvd. was changed after a 12-year long fight, by his recollection, there was no concern about the additional expenses.
The Council voted 3-2 to begin the process to the name change of the street. Notices and a draft of the resolution will be sent within the next ten days to both property owners and residents so that they may attend the 08/15/16 council meeting. Citizen input will be important at this meeting as the council will vote on the resolution on that date.