News Update for 4/23/24

After a brief discussion, Avon Park city council members last night decided to fund their own assistance if they need help filling out the newly-mandated Form 6. Research by Mayor Garrett Anderson has found that the help may not be as expensive as once thought.
The new form is much more intrusive on the possessions and holdings of elected officials than the Form One they have been using.
In other action, the council learned it may be a lot longer before they can turn over their airport facility to Florida Airport Management.
In a meeting with the Florida Department of Transportation, state officials told city representatives that – as written – the agreement would be tantamount to the privitazation of the airport. That means they no longer would be eligible for grants.
City Manager Mark Schrader says their next step is to try to amend state law, to allow for the agreement to move foreward.

Sebring police are trying to unravel the circumstances surrounding a shooting that claimed the life of a local teen. The incident happed outside the bountiful Blessings Church on Martin Luther King jr Blvd.
Apparently, a 15-year-old youth had been involved in a physical altercation with a 17-year old and was shot and killed. The suspect has been arrested and charged with homicide and weapons counts.
At this time, authorities say the incident may have been drug related. Anyone with information is asked to call Sebring police.

Frostproof city council had a re-organizational session last night. They swore in council members Tashana True and Leslie Brewer. Mayor John Albert and Vice Mayor Austin Gravely were re-elected to their seats on the council.
In other action, developers of a 2-acre plot off 9th street, were asked to bring back another plan – one with either a planned unit development or a low-density project.