Avon Park city council members spent more than half of their four hour meeting last night struggling with minutiae in their proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Following the two and a half hours of wrangling, they voted to have a special meeting on Thursday evening to go at it again.
Council members hammered City Manager David Flowers for a staffing chart, job descriptions and salary information for city employees.
The council finally voted to ratify the tentative budget and the millage. The millage will remain at 30-cents for each $1,000 of taxable value. But due to rising property values, it represents a one-one hundredth of a mil increase in taxes.
Property taxes represent less than one percent of the budget. Most of the money comes from charges for services, grants and other sources.
Highlands County commissioner Don Elwell yesterday took the next step in his quest for the Highlands County Clerk of Courts seat. Although the election is not for another 14 months, he has filed an irrevocable letter or resignation from his current county commission seat to make the run.
A number of candidates already have announced their intention to seek Elwell’s district two seat.
A car crash overnight has resulted in injury for at least one person. According to reports, the incident occurred about 11:00 last night at County Road 29 near Old Parker Island Road – near Lake Placid.
The driver apparently lost control of vehicle. It overturned, sending at least one person to the hospital. No names or other details have yet been released.
Firefighters from Desoto City and West Sebring were called out yesterday to help Florida Forest Service crews in containing a brush fire. That one broke out off Pine Needle Drive in Orange Blossom Estates – south of Sebring.
Authorities say there was a line down – but it appeared to be cable service and not involved in the blaze. Firefighters were hampered when the flames burned through some of their hose.
No injuries were reported – cause of the fire is under investigation.
Highlands County sheriff’s officials say a missing 32-year-old Sebring woman is missing no longer. Angela Christine Robinson apparently returned home yesterday without incident.
No explanation as to her whereabouts has been given. Sheriff’s officials say only now that she is “fine.”
She had last been seen Sunday walking along Twitty Road carrying her Bible – then had disappeared.