Sun 'n Lake balance of power is a lot better today

The best news to come out of Sun 'n Lake of Sebring in a long time was Dick Miller being named as a supervisor on the special improvement district's board. We hope this change will quiet the bickering that has plagued the district for years.

Miller was appointed to fill the open position that was held by George "Bud" Puffenberger. This addition changes the balance of power toward residents in Sun 'n Lake and not large land owners, as has been the case.

As most folks know, from the beginning of the district, large landowners have always had the majority of seats on the board. It made sense, with much of the district undeveloped. Over the years, though, as thousands of people have moved into the district, better representation of residents was needed. The county forced the board's hand and now we have a board made up of three popularly elected members and two that large landholders can hold.

We still want to see a popularly elected board without large landowners holding specific seats. But it's also true that a lot of Sun 'n Lake isn't developed still so this compromise is acceptable for now.

A lot of credit needs to go to the Sun 'n Lake residents who have fought for years for this change. We haven't always agreed with the way some of them did things, but their cause was always correct.

Miller is a quality guy. He's intelligent, knows what he's talking about and will be a good representative for homeowners in Sun 'n Lake. He's also a realist who understands how to balance wants and needs. The main thing is that he brings his homeowner's perspective to a nice place.

Sun 'n Lake has a lot going for it, but there are improvements that need to be made. If nothing else, getting rid of the stigma that the place is run by developers will give homeowners and potential homeowners more comfort.