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Residents press council on pickleball permitting and employee pay during Avon Park meeting
Summary
Public commenters urged the council to move the pickleball project forward and asked for timely permitting; an AFSCME representative asked the council to consider wage and merit increases during budget review.
Several members of the public used the July 13 meeting to press the council on two recurring community issues: the pickleball-court project and municipal employee compensation.
Pickleball project: Dana Adams said a civic group offered a $10,000—15,000 donation and urged the council to keep the project moving. City staff reported the contractor (Nitty Construction, per the packet) had submitted permit registration to the county eTracker system but had not uploaded required liability and workers' compensation certificates, which has delayed formal permit acceptance. Staff said Swiftmud (regional water-management review) materials had been submitted and that once the contractor uploads the certificates staff will proceed with plan review and permitting. Adams asked the council to consider using RPAC funds for project lighting if permitting delays persist.
Employee wages: Lisa Burke, speaking as an AFSCME representative, provided a five-year breakdown of raises and noted health-insurance cost pressures and market-study findings that Avon Park wages lag some neighboring areas. She urged council consideration of merit raises and COLA adjustments as the budget is finalized.
Council response and next steps: City staff said they are following up directly with the contractor to get missing insurance documents into the eTracker system, and staff will share the latest project drawings with interested community members. The council acknowledged the wage and budget concerns and will consider those comments as it finalizes its budget.
