CRA Commissioner Jim Rimer Resigns

Community Redevelopment Agency Chairman Gene Brenner announced the receipt of a resignation letter from Commissioner Jim Rimer at Monday's CRA board meeting.

Rimer, who is 78, submitted his letter on Dec. 8, but did not attend the meeting. He served on the CRA board since 1999.

"As I have recently closed all my business interests and sold all interests in my downtown Sebring properties, I am no longer eligible to serve on the CRA Board of Directors and therefore resign my seat," wrote Rimer in a letter to Pete Pollard, CRA executive director.

"I hated to because I enjoyed it," said Rimer on Tuesday. "But I had to."

Rimer and his wife Kathy closed down their Iris and Butterflies home decor business at 207 Circle Park Drive, in May, and last month closed a gymnastics business called Get A Grip Gymnastics Center, located at 518 Maple Ave.

"We enjoyed it and the kids enjoyed it," said Rimer. "But the economy is hurting. We had to close our gymnastics business because the parents were cutting the students. We lost 23 students in October because they couldn't afford it."

They got into it because the closest business of its kind was is in Winter Haven. Their daughter Bobbi is a level-6 gymnast and was one of 13 part-time coaches they had available at the center, said Rimer.

He is also "in the process of selling" his downtown properties to Brenner, including his interests in the Buckeye Building, the Brown Building and the Roanoke Building, according to Brenner, who has been partners with Rimer in those properties.

"We feel we've done a good job of enhancing the beauty of the downtown and refurbishing those buildings," Brenner said Tuesday.

Brenner suggested Monday night that the board should seek out people interested in serving and who were willing to apply for the position.

Assuming more than one person applies for the post, a list of applicants would then be submitted by the CRA staff to the Sebring City Council.

By a city council majority vote the applicant selected from the list would serve out the remainder of Rimer's term until Oct. 1, 2011, according to CRA staff.

"Jim has been a good commissioner," said Pollard. "He is conscientious and has been known to ask some good questions."

Rimer said he still owns a rental unit located in Highlands County, but basically, he decided it's time to retire. The Rimers plan to remain in Highlands County.