published: Friday, March 15, 2013

Council takes on full agenda Tuesday

By SAMANTHA GHOLAR

sgholar@newssun.com

SEBRING - Council members will tackle a full agenda Tuesday evening during the second monthly meeting at city hall.

Several items placed on the upcoming agenda are revisits from previously tabled items, including an update on last meeting's proposal to create a boat channel at Veteran's Beach.

Council members tabled the item due to lack of specifics regarding cost and permitting procedures. The proposed project would be known as "maintenance dredging" and would re-establish an already created channel. (The channel was permited and constructed in 1982.)

The channel would benefit boaters and beach goers greatly due to the considerably low levels of Lake Jackson.

"In periods of low water, such as the one we are in now, there is an issue getting boats into the water," City Administrator Scott Noethlich stated at the March 5 meeting.

Though no action was taken, council members had plenty of opinion about how the project could be done if it is voted into play.

Other agenda items include a new restaurant proposal for the city of Sebring, property re-zoning and annexations and three public hearings for land use/zoning.

Representatives from the Golden Corral franchise have been in contact with city staff to discuss a potential property purchase of city-owned land along U.S. 27. A site plan has been drawn up and given to city officials for consideration which reveal a possible lay out of the restaurant.

Following the discussion of the potential sale of the property, council members will consider furthering the project by discussing adjustments to the water system outlay, engineering specifics and other details.

Noethlich also has recommended an appraiser to a look at the property to find the actual property value before a sale is completed.

Sebring City Council members will meet Tuesday at city hall beginning at 6 p.m.