News Update for 5/11/23

It appears that the scrambling for a president for South Florida State College is over. Officials at the SFSC Board of Trustees yesterday announced Osceola County state lawmaker Fred Hawkins as the only finalist to be their president.
The 55-year-old Hawkins represents the 42nd District in St. Cloud in the Florida House.
He first was elected to the state legislature in 2020 after 12 years on the Osceola County Commission.
Current SFSC President Thomas Leitzel will step down the first of June.

Avon Park city officials are getting ready for a new fire assessment for homes and businesses in the City of Charm. By law, a study must be done every five years, to make certain that numbers are current to determine charges.
Without comment, council members have approved Stantec to do the work. The firm has done a similar study for the city in the past. Their $42,000 bid came in over budget, but city staff assured council members they could make up the shortfall.

Hardee County commissioners will gather this morning for a visioning session. The board will look at a 2012 Visioning report, and hear from County Manager Terry Atchley, Central Florida Regional Planning Council Representative Jeneffer Codo-Salsbury and others about how Hardee might develop in the future.
Citizens also will be given an opportunity to weigh-in on their ideas. That session will commence this morning at 8:30 in the Hardee County commission chamber in Wauchula.

Lake Wales City Commissioner Kristen Tieshia Fitzgerald has been restored to her seat. According to reports, Florida Governor DeSantis has revoked a July 2021 an Executive Order – suspending Fitzgerald from her position.
The action comes in the wake of Fitzgerald’s acquittal on charges of interference with the custody of a child.
Fitzgerald will receive full back pay and other allowances as part of the action. She replaces Daniel Krueger, who was elected to the Commission Seat 4 last May.