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Highlands Today

Lake Placid Briefs/COMPILED BY BILL RETTEW JR.

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

Property Tax Rate Gets Preliminary Approval
LAKE PLACID - The Lake Placid Town Council voted unanimously at Monday's meeting to charge a maximum ad valorem millage rate of 4.1166 mils for $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

The council will vote on a final millage rate at a later meeting.

It's likely the council will vote for a lower tax rate. According to Arleen Tuck, town clerk, the budget, as it now stands, is structured to keep the tax levy at the current rate of 3.9500 mils.

Council could still decide whether to add expenditures.

"The staff has worked very hard on keeping spending down," wrote Tuck in a memo to Mayor Tom Katsanis and the town council.

The yet-to-be-approved budget calls for a 2.5 percent increase for department heads, and a 3 percent increase for all other town employees.

A 3.9500 millage rate would generate $845,949, an increase over $33,157 from last year. Revenues will decrease by $76,000.

Red Light Violators To Pay The Green
LAKE PLACID - Motorists caught on camera for running a red light will pay $100 per violation.

Police Chief Phil Williams received the nod from the council to set the fine. Those who don't pay within 30 days will be charged another $30 per violation.

Plans call for installing a camera at the Interlake Boulevard and U.S. 27 intersection, although no date ahs been set. Initial plans call for cameras at only one of the town's three traffic signals.

Alleys To Remain Unnamed
LAKE PLACID - Residential alleys are getting a sprucing-up thanks to a campaign led by resident Lynn Connolly, but her plans to name the alleys and construct street signs was thwarted by town council.

Council voted unanimously at its June meeting to allow private individuals to enter and clean up alleys, but at July's meeting discussed keeping the backyard and publicly owned grass lanes clear of most vehicular traffic.

Councilman Steve Bastardi led the discussion. He said that the use of each alley should be determined on a case-by-case basis.

"We encourage cleanup of the alleys, but have no intention of naming them or putting signs on them," said Bastardi. "if the homeowners want to clean up, it's fine with council."

No decision was made after discussion centered on giving the now-public greenways to adjacent property owners at no charge.

Gas Station, Convenience Store Coming
LAKE PLACID - Plans to build a 24-pump Race Trac gas station and a 4,997 square-foot convenience store cleared an early hurdle on the way to approval when council viewed site plans.

Company officials hope to complete the permit approval process and break ground during the first quarter of 2009. The 1.7-acre site is located in front of the Holiday Inn Express.

Bill Rettew Jr. may be reached at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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