[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5983000,"mediaKeyId","5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5","parentId",5766373,"title","Consultant warns Lake Placid—s water/wastewater rates insufficient; council directs staff to draft rate ordinance","audioSeconds",1309,"startMs",9211000,"endMs",10520000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5&start=9211&end=10520","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5/thumbnail_9211000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5983000/Lake-Placid/Highlands-County/Florida/Consultant-warns-Lake-Placids-waterwastewater-rates-insufficient-council-directs-staff-to-draft-rate-ordinance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983000-4f9d3320086ac7dc62d699dc0f84c9bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998776&Signature=in1SZIPWWTFv8RmTWqHTCqSbgE6JpXsqMrssdVQr1shtnoymPrAqyFNn1dtF3JacvQGK8iZ2DlSFdp9dnIviHh8wWgzelt96LkkyENjuvT20yUCRHJUNYD6RkGWtOJZKNlaSJkSJun4gK8JzgYusNo4jOSX0JtHbgtACMAYbhWFHu7v6dlfz6a0ZqWhb4BzS6ivA0Wgmq~mm2uNb6-GzIYrzzOz7A364bocSiiPxobRSZNwcddSJMBSJlzdmEmPIkGKS-gsHS5ULfCfDnvDCvOsrMCya9ERgf5sR9dHUf6qFmM8E4JoS5QHGp17FDNLV8rAdT07oT7mvtNN~ruX5Iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Lake Placid, FL","date","2025-09-16T12:56:01Z","article","A rate study presented Sept. 15 by the Florida Rural Water Association found that Lake Placid\u0000s current water and wastewater rates do not fully cover capital needs and that reserves will be exhausted without rate increases.

Diana Jo Stewart of Florida Rural Water briefed the council on the analysis. She said the town\u0000s existing billed rates were lower than the ordinance text adopted in late 2023 and that current revenues will not meet planned capital expenditures and debt-service requirements. The study identified a projected need to draw on reserves in the current fiscal year (a figure discussed in the packet of roughly $346,000), and concluded that without rate increases the town could exhaust reserves by the end of fiscal year 2027. Stewart recommended a staged approach: implement the suggested increases promptly (staff aimed for an Oct. 1 effective date in the study) and follow with additional adjustments in subsequent years to restore reserves to a recommended minimum of approximately 90 days of operation and maintenance expenses.

Stewart and staff explained the methodology: actual expenditures, the current budget, the town\u0000s capital improvement plan, a conservative 5% escalation for future operating costs and the town\u0000s existing customer consumption profiles were used to model revenues and reserve trajectories. The study also carried forward asset-management recommendations from prior work and noted additional assets (meters, buildings, vehicles) that were not fully inventoried and would increase planned lifecycle funding.

Council members and several members of the public urged clear communications to residents about why rates must rise and recommended public-relations work to explain that increases address legacy shortfalls and capital needs rather than new development. Pam Petrus and others urged the town to prepare an outreach plan. Council agreed by consensus to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that would incorporate the recommended adjustments and a mechanism to tie future adjustments to a CPI-based trigger; staff and counsel will draft the ordinance for council consideration at an upcoming meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Lake Placid Regular Meeting -9/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Florida Rural Water Association rate analysis showed the town\u0000s current water and wastewater revenues won\u0000t cover capital needs and projected operations without rate increases; staff presented recommended multi-year increases and council gave consensus to draft an ordinance.","taxTitle","Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida","taxId",54067,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5983005,"Council reviews draft food-truck ordinance; staff to refine details and return",547,6933000,7480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5&start=6933&end=7480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5/thumbnail_6933000.jpg","/articles/5983005/Lake-Placid/Highlands-County/Florida/Council-reviews-draft-food-truck-ordinance-staff-to-refine-details-and-return","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983005-7ee2457f29372b6fdb0cf1504bec7ca8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998776&Signature=DqmhD9sZvNqTWrfU7jVwKJr3TRG4BqGcMHvMyzZz4FwTQDXmCyQcqPWZUjv~CBfYpIrAuFaVe3MPQJbUDKlNSm2GjvG1HF4PBn9ahGSfiHkr607MP7mC9Y8rvhHuf8aiSvXuyGiA75-gMOd8aSMLzIadFCTvae0OekG4xtEzoDt0Z0bCCKAYWqLLiV7k~bSjaS~OB712~mtvZ8bmJKao9VojafRITGyCCJEPcqVpnnjCTFuENoRt5XwUBfOyiLD2Wn0tZFIe6FeP6soCYFw440LKFh0DjVXbreQi1i9Wn5L8e4KP4xHZxPQ2vlS4Xkj1hh~3sMMzziK9ntVzu5BfyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lake Placid councilors reviewed a proposed food-truck ordinance (ordinance 2025-12) Sept. 15 and asked staff and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council representative to refine several operational details before advancing the measure.

Jennifer Cote of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council summarized the ordinance\u0000s key points: it would exempt food-dispensing vehicles from the town\u0000s solicitors-and-peddlers chapter, create a new chapter 75 specific to mobile food vending, require permits for special events and site drawings, limit operations in required yards and required setbacks, set operating hours, and prohibit use of required off-street parking. Cote said the ordinance mirrors state statute language for \u0000food dispensing vehicles\u0000 and included draft standards for special events and food-truck rallies.

Council and staff raised technical and policy items Cote agreed to address in a revised draft: add a requirement for a driveway apron or transition where trucks pull from pavement into unimproved lots (to protect pavement edges); revisit any rigid truck-size limits (drafts previously had 10-foot width/20-foot length restrictions); clarify that \u0000pods\u0000 or multiple trucks should be allowed in designated overlay districts or during special events (the current draft read as \"one truck per property except for special events\"); include enforcement/penalty language and a staged violation process; and explicitly restrict amplified sound (the county noise ordinance and enforcement limitations were discussed).

Council members also asked for clarity around proximity to brick-and-mortar restaurants, garbage and grease handling, generator noise (the draft referenced a 150-foot separation for generators from residential), and whether the town will treat designated town-owned lots or blocks as overlay areas for multi-truck use. Cote and staff recommended adding an overlay-map resolution identifying town properties where multiple trucks could be allowed.

Cote said she would return with refined wording; the council did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting.

Council directed staff to refine the draft to address apron protection, overlay/pod language, penalties and enforcement, sound limits and generator separation, and to return with a finalized ordinance for consideration.","The council reviewed a draft ordinance to regulate food trucks, discussing site aprons, truck size limits, pods/overlay districts, separation from brick-and-mortar establishments, penalties, and amplified sound. Staff and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council agreed to revise and return with edits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5983010,"Council approves first reading to rezone former South Florida State College site for Grace Bible Church; parking concerns raised",1482,504000,1986000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5&start=504&end=1986","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5/thumbnail_504000.jpg","/articles/5983010/Lake-Placid/Highlands-County/Florida/Council-approves-first-reading-to-rezone-former-South-Florida-State-College-site-for-Grace-Bible-Church-parking-concerns-raised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983010-7103ebe5b1396281a36bf8510cb47dbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998776&Signature=D~Kns3vM0fOFOqgQb57fyzGghxFxANSzgsn8KsDtyqrfLVLDeygrJx5mkyPGd7lI8WypZ6yTp5rTl3vTt0pP01ktWkot2-noTE80l9uguaWsRK8s1bvegdmWmkqw5NzNbeOIn3jXdVwP8SaxF3z1EThLq8-jj2PRZX9mUs3~lN5nKoXtJgryGzrOVWEB2f1ZGvx4nTCjbMQnjAAE3quAZsKcckn8YMZ3D6wS-VVfJNMWkizpa-a8dZK6o5X4rKZuyCgaDe4LX8-6EczczjDuNipwJGPrQ31iKXyaieL8ijU4Ev8y9CwnZDctCtm-UV1oahS1N99lD55DbSJ2T9w92g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake Placid Town Council on Sept. 15 approved on first reading an ordinance to rezone 580 East Inner Lake (Interlake) Boulevard to allow Grace Bible Church of Highlands County to use the former South Florida State College buildings.

Dana Riddell, town planner, presented the request (hearing LPTC.25.005; ordinance 2025-09). The applicant seeks a C-2 planned development (PD) zoning designation to provide for church uses and to bundle related approvals (dual-use parking with the adjacent college, site plan commitments). Riddell said the property\u0000s future land use is Commercial General while the current zoning remained R-1A; the rezoning would reconcile that inconsistency. The PD lists uses for the three buildings (children\u0000s facilities, youth facility, auditorium with a maximum of 300 seats, classrooms) and commits to using two buildings for church meeting space.

The site plan included 48 paved parking spaces on site; Riddell noted the code requires about 58 spaces for the proposed use and that the applicant requests dual-use parking agreements with the college and limited use of town or county right-of-way parking to meet demand. The county has been notified about overflow parking in the county-maintained right of way and requested a condition limiting traffic stacking on Inner Lake Boulevard.

Several neighbors and property owners spoke in favor and in concern. Wanda Hall and Ken LeBlanc (residents and adjacent property owners) thanked the council; LeBlanc praised the planned building renovations and said he expected a positive community outcome. Council members pressed staff and the applicant on parking: Council members noted material in the packet that projected 200'250 people on Sunday services and observed that the town code requires one parking space per five seats; at that ratio a 250-person assembly would require roughly 50 spaces. Council and staff discussed mitigation options including using paved parking on both sides of the street, existing rear parking, and dual-use agreements with the college.

Council Member [motioner not specified] moved to approve hearing LPTC.25.005 (ordinance 2025-09) on first reading; the motion received a second and a roll call in favor (Council Member Worley yes; Council Member Everhart yes; Council Member Hayes yes). Staff said the item will go to the local planning agency in October and return to council for second reading later in October.","On first reading the Lake Placid Town Council approved an ordinance to rezone 580 E. Interlake Blvd. from R-1A to C-2 PD for Grace Bible Church. Staff and residents debated parking adequacy; the ordinance advances to the local planning agency and later second reading.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5983014,"Lake Placid council debates policy, process for vacating rights of way; Clark item tabled",2744,2096000,4840000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5&start=2096&end=4840","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5/thumbnail_2096000.jpg","/articles/5983014/Lake-Placid/Highlands-County/Florida/Lake-Placid-council-debates-policy-process-for-vacating-rights-of-way-Clark-item-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983014-b082c823d1e815dc70ba5b51e54a59cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998776&Signature=Tp9GNyq8QAr7N07RpaSFJwv2pazoDcwoGArsdsZ4mRY1oaOLCMWUxjG8JnzHSvHsD7ITrHa1wXV~9TAx~wt~nphqb0eezCodqn2kMcVuOghH2Rj0ULpNwZaMxu9fEP8Bjr~GnOboxt-qHRCsSefoTp4nl516Wsnn3eP9Zl4meGroFbB21p8-rAr5dxRisvkWEmga2GMd2Smv4LfNp23xAaBvkCWNmYsj7eHocQ-wJC1KlimSsbMmvXeQonhK~CdKJjlxIplwE0e4WEM28qpI7CdV-GalqcmjqDBgRXBYy4sM40gzE43WnaZDg7aw5mxBc3jmzfpKNfEqW7vunuv5Fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lake Placid Town Council devoted substantial discussion Sept. 15 to the town\u0000s policies and procedures for vacating rights of way, including who should process petitions, what documentation should be required, and whether the council may condition closures on property maintenance, stormwater or other off-site mitigation.

Staff said the issue has grown in recent years. Dana Riddell, town planner, told the council the town had received multiple right-of-way vacation requests in the last two years after a long period with few petitions. Riddell outlined differences in practice she\u0000s observed across jurisdictions: in some places attorneys handle vacations, in others engineering does, while the planner has been the intake in Lake Placid. She said her office currently checks for utility easements and potential nonconforming uses, and that her practice has been not to use broader property enforcement (such as open code cases) as a basis to deny a vacation unless there are specific, related public impacts.

Council members and other speakers pressed a range of points. Some members urged a case-by-case approach and preserved council discretion to require remediation or conditions (for example, addressing stormwater or code violations) before conveying land. Others said the process should be primarily procedural and administrative: applicants must submit title work, utility easement requests and a 30-year title search, staff circulates the package to departments, and the town attorney reviews legal issues. The town administrator said the intake function should be routed through the administrator\u0000s office and distributed to departments for comment; finance and legal would then be part of the staff recommendation.

Members also discussed the form of action (county practice uses resolution; municipalities may use resolution or ordinance). Council guidance included a request that staff return with a clarified policy and a proposed administrative workflow. Council voted to table the specific Clark petition (ordinance 2025-06, vacation of alleyway requested by Donald and Tina Clark and Clark Self Storage LLC) to the council meeting of Oct. 20, per the applicants\u0000 request because the parties were not present.

Speakers raised recurring concerns: the town should not give land away that it may later need for stormwater, easements requested by utilities must be preserved, title searches are necessary, and council must avoid informal bargaining where applicants are pressured to provide landscaping or other off-site improvements in exchange for approval. Several participants urged clearer, consistent written procedures so applicants are treated equitably; a town attorney present noted that council has discretion and that vacations should be evaluated case by case.

Council directed staff to draft a clearer procedure for intake, departmental review, and staff recommendation and to return with a proposal (including whether to use a resolution instead of an ordinance) for future council consideration.","Councilors and staff spent an extended session on how the town should handle requests to vacate rights of way, including who should process applications, what criteria to require, and whether council can condition approvals. A specific petition by Donald and Tina Clark was tabled to Oct. 20 at the applicants' request.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5983019,"Lake Placid council adopts 3.65 mill operating millage and approves 2025-26 budget",169,147000,316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5&start=147&end=316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5766373-52b4972a1ed5bcc67c7c8bccb237f5d5/thumbnail_147000.jpg","/articles/5983019/Lake-Placid/Highlands-County/Florida/Lake-Placid-council-adopts-365-mill-operating-millage-and-approves-2025-26-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5983019-eb02b580653a20c6b665d264b24a5857/orig.mp4?Expires=1775998776&Signature=S~GXJrUfbTI9xnGKVuzr6yDKLhshaNXqVfd9b03DmysWrz1iz7ms5AOLOzpJybZIXgvfT7xcuTtLsNmzSzJ8XMpkNEkqio3ZITw9~lmNbkbTQvVoCri7qzCb76yNJb7Ohy4bd6CXmU-9wRCTT-QOjGrIuaUlRVpQeGTwWbUfEmGJuFiJ--pj4547ZCEyu6i1NlIKigN0HdfV7CypnvpFyb1RU5Dyud7E30BrWxaaADI3du8R9s~M4~BelBh3I7SMm3ijdC5EC5E~ZF8LKBwEMJpuxFZBp~qrRUqjzmisgdUNS~m8w0-IxxwY0MCEl6bN0S2DnSAFJRaenKABX5it6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lake Placid Town Council members voted Sept. 15 to adopt the town\u0000s final operating millage rate of 3.65 mills and to approve the fiscal year 2025-26 budget on second reading. The meeting took place at the Lake Placid Government Center.

The council approved ordinance 2025-10 adopting the final ad valorem tax levy for fiscal year 2025-26; the adopted operating rate of 3.65 mills exceeds the calculated rollback rate of 2.5035 mills, a difference the town recorded as 45.8%. The council then approved ordinance 2025-11 adopting the final budget for the same fiscal year and allowing line-item adjustments during the year as needed.

Council members voted by roll call on each ordinance. For both measures the roll call recorded Council Member Worley voting yes, Council Member Hayes voting yes and Council Member Everhart voting yes; the motions and seconds were made from the dais and the ordinances were adopted on second reading. No public speakers objected during the public hearings for these two items.

Both ordinances include standard provisions: the millage ordinance establishes the town\u0000s operating levy for 2025-26; the budget ordinance adopts the town\u0000s final operating budget and permits staff to make line-item adjustments during the fiscal year. The ordinances are effective as provided in their texts.

Council members and staff did not raise additional amendments during the second-reading votes. The council took the votes after opening the public hearing portions and, with no members of the audience requesting to speak on these items, returned the items to the council for final action.","The Lake Placid Town Council on Sept. 15 adopted an operating millage of 3.65 and passed the town\u0000s final budget for fiscal year 2025-26 on second readings, after motions and roll-call votes at the government center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Consultant warns Lake Placid—s water/wastewater rates insufficient; council directs staff to draft rate ordinance

Council reviews draft food-truck ordinance; staff to refine details and return

Council approves first reading to rezone former South Florida State College site for Grace Bible Church; parking concerns raised

Lake Placid council debates policy, process for vacating rights of way; Clark item tabled

Lake Placid council adopts 3.65 mill operating millage and approves 2025-26 budget