Mayor Lithgow delivers 2025 State of the Town; highlights infrastructure, budget strength

Mayor Karen Lithgow opened the Feb. 10 council meeting with a State of the Town report summarizing 2024 accomplishments and the town's priorities for 2025. She cited completed projects including road resurfacing, bus-shelter replacements, a water-main replacement under the Florida East Coast railroad at Pine Street and ongoing design work for beach and drainage projects. "It's a year filled with hope and good health and prosperity," Lithgow said, framing the report around quality-of-life investments and fiscal stability.

Lithgow told residents the town's unassigned fund balance is nearly $15,900,000 and said the council will continue to invest in flood resilience and infrastructure upgrades, including seawall recoating and ADA improvements. She also reviewed the master plan process and recent approvals related to redevelopment of the former Kmart site (Integra Investments), stressing phased, mixed-use development and environmental design elements. The mayor referenced a $200,000 budget allocation for beach-related projects and called for continued partnership with county and regional agencies as design work proceeds.