Residents press city on waterfront insect infestation; council presents county appreciation coin and recognizes finance award

At the council's "audience to be heard" period, Ashley Ramey, general manager of Jones Brothers Seaplanes, told the council the waterfront has been affected by an ongoing aquatic midge infestation that is impairing recreational use and downtown businesses. "Residents and visitors alike are struggling to enjoy the waterfront spaces," Ramey told the council, and she asked the city to prioritize both short‑term mitigation and long‑term, nature‑based strategies such as native shoreline plantings, bat houses and adjustments to lighting and waterfalls.

Dee Gretzler, a volunteer with Habitat, invited the council and residents to a women‑build kickoff event and described Habitat's work building and repairing homes for households at or below 80% of median income. Debbie Weinert gave an enrollment update on the Imagination Library, reporting 3,691 books mailed in a recent 90‑day period and noting the program serves children from birth through age 5 in funded municipalities.

Earlier in the meeting, Commissioner Kirby Smith of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners read a letter thanking the city for its partnership on "America 250" downtown decorations and presented coins of appreciation to council and staff. The council also recognized the finance department after receiving the Government Finance Officers Association certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024; finance representative Miss Houghton thanked staff for their work.

The meeting closed after routine reports and council updates.