TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Commission Pares City Manager Search To 5

ADVERTISEMENT

By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

DADE CITY - Mayor Hutch Brock started the discussion about the city manager search with a familiar refrain.

"Here we are again," he said at Tuesday night's city commission meeting.

For the fourth time, Dade City is in the midst of a search for someone to run the Pasco County seat. The city of 7,200 residents has come close twice to finding someone but has lost applicants because of the salary or contract terms.

Sixteen people from all over the country have applied. Tuesday, the commission narrowed the field to five:

•Lyndon Bonner, interim assistant county administrator in Sumter County.

•William Poe, assistant city planner of Zephyrhills.

•James Vardalis, part-time city manager of Seawall's Point in Martin County.

•Gregg Williams, a Dade City resident who has experience in real estate and as a private investigator.

•Gary Word, manager of the Village of Islamorada Islands.

Interviews will be conducted Feb. 27 and 28.

In other news, city water customers will see higher bills this year.

To pay for new and improved meters, the commission approved an ordinance that calls for a $1.26-a-month fee that most residential customers will pay every year for 10 years. The fee equates to about $15 a year. Customers who use larger meters pay more per month.

Customers may experience slightly higher water bills because the new meters are more sensitive than the old ones.

Two residents got up to speak about the proposal Tuesday night, saying the city should pick up the tab for the new meters.

Ultimately, the commission passed the ordinance with a unanimous vote.

"I am not belittling anyone that is struggling to pay $15, but I think we gave quite a bit of thought to minimize the financial impact of this," Brock said. "I think we're making the right decision in implementing this."

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or nwhite1@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT