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News-Sun photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Terry Heston is running for re-electioni to the AP city council.

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published: Sunday, October 28, 2012

Heston proud of Avon Park's recent progress

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- Terry Heston is running for re-election to the city council. He has served one three-year term.

Born and raised in Highlands County, Heston has lived in Avon Park for 28 years. He and his wife Michele raised three children here. They have two grandchildren and another two on the way.

A businessman, Heston owned Benny's Menswear in Lake Placid for six years. Since 1984, he and John Sedlock have been co-owners and partners in Sedlock and Heston Construction Company.

Avon Park, Heston said, has faced major challenges in the last three years, including several ongoing lawsuits against the city.

"We have made some tough calls that have led to increased litigation," he said, "however, organizationally we are stronger, more efficient and on track."

Heston added, that despite the problems, more progress has been made in the last three years than had been accomplished in the three decades before.

He credits City Manager Julian Deleon for making it all happen. "He's done a good job," Heston said. "The city is stronger for it."

The biggest success, he said, is the annexation of South Florida State College. "This means," Heston said, "that one of only 12 performing arts theaters in the state is now in Avon Park."

He added that he expected growth to the south over the next 30 years. Annexing SFSC puts the city in the perfect place to move ahead with those plans, he said.

While gaining the college is huge, Heston said there was much other progress.

"We reduced our debt by 43 percent, and the 39 percent tax reduction on our business and residents speaks volumes," he said.

"We have developed business-friendly policies, reduced the cost of utilities and garbage collection and started a new recycling system, the first in the county.

Using in-house resources, Heston said, the city brought water to 700 new customers and facilitated their connections with low-cost financing.

"We've also paved more than 20 miles of streets, rebuilt failed sidewalks and put in decorative streetlights."

Heston added that the city "applied and received a grant for $750,000 to implement a housing program for the most needy in the community."

Regarding the current controversy of how to house the migrant farm workers who come to work every season, Heston said, "I believe in equal treatment, but the city has a responsibility to regulate zoning. I strongly disagree with unregulated and excessive crowding with some of the housing around Avon Park. Most of us, if not all of us, are well aware of the difficult living conditions for some city residents. I think the city and the landlords have a responsibility to correct this."

Finally, Heston said he believed in small government. "You've got a wheel too big on the government side. You want people to be able to go into business for themselves."