The city's one-time working sponge boat, that has provided a photo opportunity for thousands of visitors over the years, needs an infusion of capital to keep it afloat. ...more

July 19, 2008

Members of the Sponge Docks Merchants Association told city officials the municipality needs to focus on its main tourist area that has started to look sad and shabby. ...more

July 19, 2008

Tuesday night, interim City Manager Mark LeCouris showed the City Commission a slide show focusing on the city's "challenges of the future." ...more

July 5, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS -- City Commissioners all agree that Police Chief Mark LeCouris, the interim city manager, has done a great job addressing concerns and reviving morale. Some commissioners, however, are questioning whether LeCouris would prove up to the job in the long run, given the state of local government finances here and much of the rest of the state. ...more

June 27, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - Everybody likes the Tarpon Trolley, but no one can decide on its mission or how the city will pay for it. At Tuesday's City Commission meeting officials agreed the city should contract with a vendor to operate the trolley, at least until officials can decide its future. ...more

June 21, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS – Police Chief Mark LeCouris, the interim city manager, wants a chance to prove he can do the job on a permanent basis. ...more

June 18, 2008

The city has hired a new legal watchdog. City council members Wednesday night voted to enter into a contract with Michael J. Brannigan of The Hogan Law Firm to serve as the city's part-time attorney. ...more

June 6, 2008

PORT RICHEY The city has hired a new legal watchdog. City council members Wednesday night voted to enter into a contract with Michael J. Brannigan, of The Hogan Law Firm, to serve as the city's part-time attorney. Brannigan, whose firm also represents the city of Brooksville in Hernando County, has asked for a retainer of $2,500 a month and $225 an hour for litigation, for his services. The council has not yet determined how much he will be compensated. A native Floridian, Brannigan graduated from the University of South Florida in 1992 and received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston in 1995. ...more

June 5, 2008

The city council plans to interview three candidates for city attorney. ...more

May 31, 2008

AVON PARK — The Avon Park Community Center cost the city and its taxpayers an average of well over $10,000 every year since it opened at its current location, city records indicate. For all but one year since record-keeping began on the community center, expenses were considerably higher than revenues. This is without considering the damages the building received during the 2004 hurricane season. Last week, the community center's losses led at least one councilman to compare it to the city's airport, accusing both of losing money each year. "We need to either get rid of it or do it right," Councilman George Hall said Monday. Hall blamed the center's losses partially on the lack of advertising for it. He added that there was not even an information box placed there. ...more

February 19, 2008