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Highlands Today

Avon Park City Council briefs

Aiyana Baida, Highlands Today

During a Nov. 23 city council meeting Avon Park City Manager Sarah Adelt says goodbye after working with the city for 11 years. She begins her new position as Frostproof's city clerk on Dec. 2.

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By AIYANA BAIDA

Highlands Today

Published: November 26, 2009

City Manager Sarah Adelt says goodbye

Avon Park City Manager Sarah Adelt choked up as she said goodbye to her colleagues during Monday's city council meeting.

"I would like to thank the city for giving me two years to service the people. I would like to thank C.B. Shirey for giving me a chance 11 years ago," Adelt said.

Adelt's farewell to Cheryl Tietjen, city clerk, was heartfelt.

"It's real hard to leave Cheryl, we've been together to nine years," Adelt said.

She starts her new job as Frostproof's city clerk on Dec. 2.

Before the meeting ended, Councilman Al Joe Hinson expressed his feelings on Adelt's resignation.

"I was shocked ... and stunned," Hinson said.

Two-weeks is not enough time for this big of a position, he said.

Adelt did not have a contract like previous city manager C.B. Shirey. Mayor Sharon Schuler suggested that the next city manager be under contract. Hinson added he wants 30-days notice.

Main Street CRA meeting

A month has passed since wiener dogs raced each other during the city's Oktoberfest and city council is still waiting for a report from Main Street Community Redevelopment Agency Director Wes Hoaglund on how much they spent on the event.

"I think you've had more than enough time to report to the council," Mayor Sharon Schuler said.

The CRA hasn't given the council a breakdown of how much the event cost them. According to a CRA report, they do know they made $2,430 in total. From the 27 vendors and car show participants, they made $1,320 and off drinks $1,110, plus a minimal amount in tip money was made.

Hoaglund said that the separate accounts used to pay for the event caused the delay.

"It doesn't matter what information is used to report it. It's a month after the fact," Councilman Joe Wright said.

Hoaglund said the council should have the report in a week.

Tuition free art program

A proposed tuition-free arts program for children is seeking assistance for the costs of leasing the Avon Park Community Center for classes.

Krista Flores, Children Services Foundation of Highlands County, informed city council of an art program initiative for kids. The program would offer free art classes for kids who apply and receive good teacher recommendations.

Classes in visual arts, dramatic arts and instrumental and vocal music will be offered to accepted students.

Flores is seeking to partner with the Community Redevelopment Agency to offset some of the costs of the community center lease.

Flores said the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) have endorsed the program.

"We want to make sure that these opportunities are provided to every child," Flores said.

Mayor Sharon Shuler suggested that Flores look into partnering with school buses to bring students to the center for classes.

The program is in the development stage but is estimated to start in January.

"I think it's an interesting concept I would like to see it developed more," Councilman Joe Wright said.

Motion on Lake Isis right of way closure

Council approved 2 to 1, on first reading, the closure to Lake Isis for the building of a lakeside home. Councilman-elect Terry Heston's representative, C. Parke Sutherland, requested council's approval to vacate and close a portion of Woodmere Street right of way to build a home on 1030 Woodmere St. in Avon Park.

"I don't think any lake should be privatized," Councilman Al Joe Hinson said.

"They residents ask that we do the right thing and I don't think we're doing that by closing the lake," Hinson said.

Mayor Sharon Schuler and Councilman Joe Wright agreed to the closure because the lot is not big enough to build a parking lot and the home would be adding to the city's tax dollars.

Wright said if the right of way was turned into a public access area it would be creating a Lake Denton situation.

"This is not the last city right of way on that lake," Wright said.

Highlands Today reporter Aiyana Baida can be reached at 863-386-5855 or nbaida@highlandstoday.com

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