Firefighters were busy across Highlands county yesterday with brush fires. All north Highlands County stations were called out to put down the flames in a field in Avon Park Estates yesterday evening.
Hardee and Polk stations came in to assist as well. They stopped the fire just short of a couple houses and outbuildings. Apparently it started from an unauthorized pile burn that got away.
Earlier yesterday, multiple crews were dispatched to a pair of brush fires off Arbuckle Creek Road. Those chewed up better than a dozen acres and closed Arbuckle Creek Road for a time. No injuries were reported in either incident.
Selling off the Brickell Building will be the focus of the Avon Park city council when they get together this evening. The 2-story Main Street structure is zoned for residential upstairs with retail space downstairs. Some council members say there’s already interest in buying it.
In other action, the council will hear about a proposed rezoning request, a planned street paving project and an agreement to fix up Donaldson Park.
Today is Flag Day and the beginning of Flag week across the nation. Today in Highlands County, there will be a flag wave at the intersection of Highway 27 and Bayview Drive.
Organizers say it is to honor the American Flag, and the birthday of America’s 45th President, Donald Trump. That event will commence at 4:30 this afternoon.
Highlands County commissioners will look at assessments for residents at their meeting tomorrow. The first will be the re-imposition of an assessment for the collection of solid waste from homes and businesses. The county and its designated waste hauler reportedly still are at loggerheads over the levels of service.
Next, commissioner will discuss the fire assessment. They hope to raise nearly a half million more dollars by dropping a cap that put a lid on what the county can charge owners of larger homes.
In other action, Highlands County commissioners will look at a re-zoning issue. Representatives of the Mary Lou Levingson Estate want to change 9.5 acres of property in Highlands Avenue off the Sebring Parkway from Commercial to High Density Residential.