SEBRING — A DeSoto County administrator has been hired to head Highlands County's housing department. Mandy Hines, one of 12 applicants to replace Penny Phillippi, who left for a job in Collier County, will take over as director of county housing. ...more

January 23, 2008

The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road near the Suncoast Parkway. ...more

January 23, 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

The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road near the Suncoast Parkway. ...more

January 21, 2008

Night-owl drivers will have to find a way around parts of Boyette Road, starting Monday night. ...more

January 19, 2008

The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road , one-fourth mile west of the Suncoast Parkway. Stephen J. Dibbs wants to remove 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt from about 50 acres within a tract of more than 300 acres. The pit would operate for 10 years and would be reclaimed with a manmade lake, either within a residential development or a passive use. Testimony for and against the proposal was presented during a four-hour public hearing Nov. 16. Attorney Vin Marchetti and a team of experts explained the merits of the request; opponents raised assorted objections. After the meeting, some opponents e-mailed county officials complaining about the conduct of Land Use Hearing Officer Harold Youmans and Senior Assistant County Attorney Louis Whitehead III and questioning the fairness of the hearing. Instead of ruling on the request on Dec. 11, Youmans remanded it to county staff, requesting another hearing. He said participants did not have an adequate opportunity to respond to last-minute changes to conditions made by county staff. A hearing on the request before Youmans has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 25 on the second floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. ...more

January 17, 2008

The controversy continues regarding procedures used to consider a request for a borrow pit on the north side of Lutz-Lake Fern Road , one-fourth mile west of the Suncoast Parkway. Stephen J. Dibbs wants to remove 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt from about 50 acres within a tract of more than 300 acres. The pit would operate for 10 years and would be reclaimed with a manmade lake, either within a residential development or a passive use. Testimony for and against the proposal was presented during a four-hour public hearing Nov. 16. Attorney Vin Marchetti and a team of experts explained the merits of the request; opponents raised assorted objections. After the meeting, some opponents e-mailed county officials complaining about the conduct of Land Use Hearing Officer Harold Youmans and Senior Assistant County Attorney Louis Whitehead III and questioning the fairness of the hearing. Instead of ruling on the request on Dec. 11, Youmans remanded it to county staff, requesting another hearing. He said participants did not have an adequate opportunity to respond to last-minute changes to conditions made by county staff. A hearing on the request before Youmans has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 25 on the second floor of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd. ...more

January 17, 2008

On paper, it looks like Hillsborough County is willing to pay nearly 20 times the official value of about 7 acres of swamp to add it to a 2,000-acre preservation parcel known as the Alafia South Prong. ...more

January 16, 2008

More water will be conserved and natural vegetation preserved under a stricter county landscaping ordinance approved Tuesday. ...more

January 16, 2008

The long-running debate about what to do with private dirt roads in need of repair or maintenance in unincorporated Pasco County, which county commissioners plan to tackle once again, needs a jolt of common sense. ...more

January 13, 2008