50 CENTS 112TH YEAR • SATURDAY EDITION OCTOBER 22, 2011 For the October Journal of Osceola County Business, see section B. OOSCEOLASCEOLA NNEWSEWS-G-GAZETTEAZETTE www.aroundosceola.com • www.holaosceola.com Wheeler asks district for complaint costs By Marvin G. Cortner February 2010 when Wheeler ethics cases are an “intermedi- students during a teach-in that School Board was seeking re-election to the ate area.” Wheeler participated in. Editor Osceola County School School Board in district 1. Long Brown added that the Flori- The School Board would Board Member Jay Wheeler summer dismissed the ethics then – in June 2010 – filed to da attorney general in two have to consider Wheeler’s Tuesday requested the School complaint against Wheeler for run for School Board in district opinions – one involving the request, take testimony on the District pay the $15,000 in lack of probable cause and 5, and both candidates won city of St. Cloud and the other issue and then decide whether legal fees and costs he incurred then in September ruled that their respective seats. the city of Kissimmee – has said the case arose out of perform- ance of an official’s public duty while fighting an ethics com- Wheeler was not entitled to While Wheeler claimed he that reimbursement is allowed Wheeler Long and whether it would be in the plaint filed by fellow Board recover legal costs from Long. was entitled to the repayment, when a case arises out of public interest to pay the fees. Member Tom Long. Wheeler dez, sitting in for absent Chair- In his request to the Ethics board attorney Larry Brown actions related to the perform- Long said that Wheeler ask- said he would sue, if need be, to man Cindy Hartig, told Wheel- Commission to recover the said the law isn’t so clear. ance of official duties or is in the ing taxpayers for reimburse- recover the money. er to quit interrupting Long or $15,000, Wheeler had Brown said a public official is public interest to do so. Long ment of his legal costs and fees The board, after a heated face removal from the meeting claimed that Long’s complaint entitled to compensation if the had accused Wheeler of violat- is “wrong” when he violated a by an Osceola County Sheriff’s was frivolous, malicious and case involved criminal charges ing both board and ethics rules exchange between Wheeler number of school board rules. Office deputy. politically-motivated; the com- or a civil lawsuit from which the by hanging a political banner and Long, took no action on “If he decides to sue, so be the request. At one point, The Florida Commission mission, however, disagreed. official was exonerated or on school grounds and by dis- board Vice Chair Julius Melen- on Ethics in a ruling in the Long filed his complaint in acquitted. However, he said tributing campaign literature to See School Board, page A-3 Kissimmee On parade Vision for SCPD is Van Meter on coming to fruition KUA board By Fallan Patterson “We just need to make the maxi- mum use of this Staff Writer despite Part of St. Cloud Police Chief space,” Gauntlett Pete Gauntlett’s overall vision to said of the 13-year- strengthen his department is coming old building at 4700 opposition to fruition after finishing touches to a Neptune Road. “It training facility have been completed. needs a little bit of a In addition, the City Council last makeover because By Brian McBride week unanimously approved nearly it’s worn.” Associate Editor $900,000 for upgrades and renova- The renovations Gauntlett Former Kissimmee city commissioner tions to the police station. totaling $872,000 will be paid for Jeanne Van Meter was appointed to the One of Gauntlett’s challenges is to from a combination of law enforce- Kissimmee Utility Authority board of anticipate needs within the depart- ment impact fees and a penny sales directors Tuesday, but not before two ment. So, a state-of-the-art building tax, supplemented with federal seizure funds. commissioners opposed and a local training facility for K-9, The building, which used to house ratifying nomination, say- newly-hired and veteran officers are both the police and fire departments, ing they wanted a fresh ways to “update and enhance the perspective for the utility. operation,” he said. The City Commission See St. Cloud, page A-2 at its meeting voted 3-2 to appoint Van Meter with Commissioners Art Otero and Wanda Rentas opposing the action. Van Meter Rentas said it was nothing personal against Van Meter, but that the KUA board would better benefit from “new faces, new ideas and vision for future growth.” “It is disappointing that in this time and day and age that KUA and city leadership doesn’t place importance on the make-up of our citizen boards, as they should be reflective of the community diversity,” Rentas said. Otero acknowledged that Van Meter has had extensive involvement in the community, sitting on Rentas numerous civic boards, but it should have no bearing on the KUA board appointment. He also added that it wasn’t about race. Both Otero and News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan Rentas are Hispanic. Kissimmee City Commissioner Cheryl Grieb was one of several “We need people that are qualified, elected Kissimmee and Osceola County government officials to that have experience, new ideas, take part in the Heavenly Hoofs Pet Parade & Prized Pet contest Photo/St. Cloud Police Department something new that we need,” he said. Oct. 15 on Dakin Avenue along restaurant row at City Centre in St. Cloud Police Department Officer Scott Jensen kicks a pro- Are we going to continue being back- Kissimmee. Grieb led Sheba, a boxer mix that was available for tective pad held by Officer Michael Abner as part of training at adoption, along a red carpet for judging in the contest. the agency’s newly-equipped training facility while Officer Jason See Kissimmee, page A-2 Barrett looks on. All three men were recently hired. County tables airboat proposals for Partin Triangle Park By Marvin G. Cortner The top-ranked firm for the the county: at the private East center at the park and con- 3301 Lake Cypress Road, County proposal, based on an evalua- Lake Fish Camp on East Lake struct a boat dock that would Kenansville. Business opera- Editor The Osceola County Com- tion committee recommenda- Tohopekaliga, and at South- be accessible to the handi- tors are Douglas E. and Julie mission Monday postponed such as what would be the tion, was Boggy Creek Air- port Park on Lake Toho- capped. The company also M. Brown, of St. Cloud. selecting a company that appropriate size of airboats boat Rides. The company is pekaliga, where it leases a site would provide additional • And third, A-Ulitmate Air- would offer eco-tourism air- and how many trips going in run by Christopher J. and from the county. improvements if it were given boat & Eco Tours, which does boat tours launching from and out of the park would be Margaret Long and is based at Some key elements in the a 10-year contract. business as Marsh Landing Partin Triangle Park on Lake allowed per day. The airboat 2001 Southport Road, company’s proposal include The other two bidders and Adventure and is operated by Tohopekaliga. business would be required Kissimmee, according to state an offer to incorporate ferry their ranking were: James C. and Angela R. Pass- Staff requested the delay in to pay an annual fee and corporation records. The service to Makinson Island as • Second, Osprey Eco more, of Kissimmee. order to consider additional make certain improvements company has two other com- part of the eco-tourism opera- Tours, which does business as County staff recommended details about the proposal, at the park. mercial airboat operations in tion, build a portable welcome Cypress Lake Airboat Tours, See County, page A-2 Inside Community Lifestyles Sports Classifieds........... D-1 For the latest “Halloween” to be Harmony boys, Business.............. B-1 shown at the Legals.................. D-4 classes, Osceola girls Lifestyles ............. C-1 events and Enzian; for a are OBC swim Local news .......... A-3 activities, preview of the champs. Opinion................ A-4 see ... Police news .......... A-2 classic, see ... Sports................... A-5 Page C-4 Page C-1 Page A-5 Page A2, NEWS-GAZETTE • Online All The Time • www.aroundosceola.com • Saturday, October 22, 2011 St. Cloud Continued from page A-1 Arrested for scheme to defraud was never previously renovated Osceola County Sheriff’s refund the money. and now services a police force Office detectives on Tuesday Police news Based on the evidence and that tripled in size to 142 Photo/St. Cloud charged Yvonne Rossetti, 46, information provided during employees since 1998. Police Department of 1139 Mosaic Drive, Cele- Detectives re-arrested Rossetti the investigation, a felony The entire property will get St. Cloud Police Det. bration, with two counts of Tuesday for an incident that warrant was obtained for a facelift from patching and Curtis Wesler and scheme to defraud and was reported in July of this Rossetti and she was booked resealing the leaky bright blue Officer Kevin Burkard deposit with the intent to year. into the Osceola County Jail. roof to adding 16 parking demonstrate to new defraud. Rossetti now is accused of The investigation is ongoing spaces and expanding the recruits during train- The investi- a scheme to defraud a local at this time. fenced, secure parking for ing how to hold their gation began businessman out of approxi- Detectives with the Eco- employees.