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Highlands Today

Public Comment Set For Highlands Utilities Purchase

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: October 21, 2008

SEBRING - To buy or not to buy, that is the question?

The purchase of the Highlands Utilities Corp. sewer system will be the subject of a public hearing at the Sebring City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. today at 368 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring.

The public is invited to give comments on the city's plan to buy the Highlands Utilities sewer system from Dixon Pugh for $1.55 million.

The city is also considering the purchase of a smaller sewer system owned by Landmark, but it will not be on the Oct. 21 agenda, said City Clerk Kathy Haley.

"Landmark is still moving forward, but it wasn't ready for this meeting," she said. "Highlands Utilities was just a little ahead."

The city wants to buy the Landmark system for $100,000, and connect it to the nearby Highlands Utilities system. The Landmark system has been operationing without a permit for about six years.

There were still issues to be worked out between the Department of Environmental Protection, which issues permits for sewer systems, Highlands County and the courts, according to City Administrator Scott Noethlich.
Sebring will go ahead with the Landmark purchase only if it is free of liens and pending litigation. The county had filed a lawsuit against DEP accusing the agency of neglecting its duty in regulating Landmark. A judge ruled in favor of the county, stating that the sewer system was the responsibility of the DEP. The DEP filed an appeal.

Noethlich said the county would be willing to drop its lawsuit.

"I just don't know if they can," he said, referring to DEP's appeal.

"The DEP doesn't want to be saddled with that judgment because it could set a precedent throughout the state."

In other council actions, the board will consider a resolution to adopt parade safety standards for all parades held inside the city limits.

The move is in response to the Dec. 7, 2007 death of 9-year-old Jordan Hays, who was run over by a Christmas parade float in Plant City, while reportedly throwing candy to the crowd, Noethlich said.

If approved, all tossing or passing of candy, beads and other items during a parade will be banned. Parade marshals will be used to ensure that the safety requirements for floats and parade management will be met.

No unsafe or reckless behavior will be allowed by parade participants. Parade organizers will develop and enforce float safety standards and will institute a system of safety inspections and briefings for all parades.

All vendors along the parade route will be regulated.

All individuals will stand clear of or behind all floats, vehicles, trailers or other motorized entries or large animals.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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