SEBRING — A Sebring contractor has filed a construction claim of lien against the city of Sebring for its building in the Sebring Circle, currently occupied by the Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce. Mark Stewart, owner and president of MCS Contracting, doing business as Stewart Construction, located at 2714 Kenilworth Blvd., swore out the claim of lien on May 15, stating that his firm provided labor, services and materials to remodel the old chamber building. According to the document filed with Highlands County Clerk of Courts L.E. "Luke" Brooker, Stewart claims his business did the remodeling for $43,429.46, starting on Nov. 29 and completing the job on March 13. ...more

May 19, 2008

SEBRING — Sebring's planning and zoning commission is no longer limited to city residents. Two commissioners may now be property or business owners in the city that do not reside within the city limits. Gary Lower, zoning supervisor, said he has difficulty finding city residents to fill vacancies on the commission, which has seven members and two alternates. ...more

May 11, 2008

AVON PARK — Groundbreaking for Avon Park Executive Airport's new terminal building should begin within 30 days. Airport Manager C.B. Shirey said that he was hoping it would be completed by Sept. 30, the end of the city's fiscal year. The building will be the ...more

May 8, 2008

Starbucks will not brew coffee in downtown Dunedin next year after all. This week the upscale coffee giant notified developer Joseph Kokolakis, who is refurbishing a row of shops at the western entrance to Main Street, it could not sign a lease at this time, Economic Development Director Bob Ironsmith said Thursday night. ...more

February 22, 2008

Developers of the stalled Main Street Landing project have been discussing with city officials plans to resume construction, possibly by late summer. ...more

February 1, 2008

Developers of the stalled Main Street Landing project have been discussing with city officials plans to resume construction, possibly by late summer. ...more

January 30, 2008

SEBRING — Although funding will not be available for expansion of the Highlands County Jail in the next 10 years, a block of downtown Sebring could eventually by usurped by a detention facility. City Council members had their first look at the jail's plans for expansion at the Jan. 15 meeting during a discussion about the Sebring Parkway, but they had a hard time focusing on that topic and instead discussed the jail. The Board of County Commissioners has been handling the jail expansion process because administration of the sheriff's office is part of the county's responsibilities. City Council members said because the jail is in the heart of the downtown, they want to be involved in the process as well. "I think the city needs to be part of these discussions about the location and the expansion of the jail," said City Council member Jeff Carlson, who added that the jail is in the middle of the community redevelopment zone. ...more

January 22, 2008

SEBRING — Downtown businesses continue to try to lure people to the City on the Circle, and now the Community Redevelopment Agency is considering hiring a marketing coordinator to help with these efforts. Linda Kegley, owner of LK Artworks Gallery and Graphics, submitted a proposal to CRA members to create the position of a marketing coordinator to advertise downtown as a destination and coordinate events to generate traffic downtown. Kegley, who has more than 25 years of advertising and marketing experience, said she would like to be considered for this position, at a rate of $24 per hour or about $24,000 per year for 20 hours of work per week. ...more

January 16, 2008

The city's redevelopment board went on the road this week and heard from residents about what they want to improve neighborhoods. ...more

January 12, 2008

AVON PARK — C.B. Shirey stepped down as Avon Park's city manager to become the Avon Park Executive Airport's first dedicated airport manager. According to the text of a resolution unanimously passed by the city council on Wednesday, Shirey will continue to "provide his service and expertise and allow a smooth transition to (the interim) city manager" for the next 60 days. City Clerk Sarah Adelt will assume Shirey's old duties until the city hires his replacement. Even though three of the five council members criticized Shirey's performance as a city manager in his evaluation last month, the council agreed that Shirey should take on the smaller role. Council members were a bit concerned at first about whether Adelt could run the city in the meantime. ...more

January 3, 2008