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Avon Park Council Briefs

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2008

Updated:

CRAs, Donors Keep Christmas Parade Afloat

AVON PARK - The chamber of commerce will continue to run the annual Christmas parade.

As part of recent budget cost cutting measures, the City of Charm cut financial sponsorship for several non-city sponsored activities.

One affected event was the annual Christmas parade, regularly sponsored by the chamber of commerce. The city traditionally paid overtime pay for police and other city workers for the parade.

The Main Street CRA pitched in $2,500 to finance and sponsor the event, along with several other chamber activities, for a year. The South Side CRA will also sponsor the county's Christmas Parade on Dec. 1, to the tune of $500.

Roland Dilley and an anonymous donor also will help shoulder the expense to hire town police and other staffers.

David Greenslade, Avon Park chamber of commerce executive director, estimated the cost of this year's parade at $4,000 to $5,000.

"The chamber has been the sponsor since the 1970s," said Greenslade. "It's something we always look forward to. It's an opportunity to bring the community together at this festive time of the year, and we're happy to continue the tradition."

This year's parade theme will be, "Toys in Toyland." Greenslade said every year about 100 entries march and ride, while more than 8,000 parade-goers typically line Main Street.

Greenslade has asked people to bring a chair to the parade that starts at 7 p.m. No bleachers will be available.

Club Gets 18 Months To Pay Off Debt

AVON PARK - Wally Randall, of the Highland County Boys and Girls Club, presented the first of 18 monthly checks for $438 to the city for an already installed lift station, at Monday's town council meeting.

The club owes the city $7,885 and will pay the debt off in for 18 months. The board unanimously voted to allow Randal to sign a promissory note to guarantee the debt.

Countywide Joint Airport Commission Examined

AVON PARK - C.B. Shirey, Avon Park Executive Airport manager, recommended to the council that both city airports and the county work together to establish a joint airport zoning commission.

Council agreed to have Shirey draft a letter to Michael Wright, county administrator, to suggest establishment of county-wide standards and rules for properties near airports.

Under the plan pitched by Shirey - and agreed to by council - three members on the nine member board would come from each of the two public airports (Sebring and Avon Park) along with three county representatives.

"We're looking for a document that everybody can agree on," said Shirey.

New Wal-Mart Offsets Taxes

AVON PARK - The city dropped its overall property tax rate by 7 percent since Wal-Mart set up shop within town borders.

Projected tax payments by the world's largest business to city coffers will cut the property tax rate from 6.3017 mils to 5.8745. Each mil is a tax of one tenth of one percent of assessed property value.

City staff responded to an Oct. 1 certification of taxable income value - Form DR-422 - from the property appraiser after Wal-Mart was added to the tax roles.

Avon Park property owners will save 44 cents on each $1,000 of assessed property value.

First Reading Set For Proposed Renter's Ordinance

AVON PARK - Council inched closer to drafting a residential rental agreement.

The city has scheduled a first reading for a proposed rental ordinance, Oct. 27.

Discussion at Monday's meeting centered on charging landlords $37.50 for inspections and requiring 60-day compliance from when an application was filed or the process will start again.

Mayor Sharon Schuler led a charge to put "some teeth" into the final renter's ordinance.

Several fellow council members echoed similar sentiments.

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

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