POLK NEWS-SUN VOL. 90 NO. 4 Wednesday, January 22, 2020 www.polknewssun.com $1.00 The Lake Wales News INSIDE THIS EDITION Participation Program seeing results implications A matching grant program discussed at aimed at attracting restaurants to Lake Wales PRWC meeting is having success. PG 3 By CHARLES A. BAKER III Staff Writer Orlando Health POLK COUNTY – At a Polk comes to Polk Regional Water Cooperative meeting The healthcare provider Jan. 15, Polk County Commissioner has purchased land near George Lindsey and PRWC lawyer Ed Lakeland, marking its de la Parte repeated what Frostproof Mayor Martin Sullivan described as entrance into the Polk an “old threat.” County market. Lindsey and de la Porte said that any PG 12 Polk County municipality that does not want to participate in the PRWC plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on two Lower Floridan Aquifer (LFA) wellfields and the associated PHOTO BY CHARLES A. BAKER III desalination treatment plants may not Participants in the Alafia River Rendezvous don traditional attire from the mid-1800s and set up have any access to additional water to camp as early as late-December. The campsite is open to the public this weekend. fuel future growth. The only Polk County municipality not to opt in as a member of the PRWC History comes alive at Alafia River in 2017 was the City of Frostproof. "That is the same old threat we heard Rendezvous a few years ago,” Sullivan said. “It was a veiled threat then, but foreshadowed exactly what has become the actual By CHARLES A. BAKER III Participants in the Southeast's largest threat.” Staff Writer pre-1840 living history encampment In reference to other municipalities Bartow hoops keeps start setting up camp in late-December. which may weigh whether to drop out POLK COUNTY – Florida history On Friday, Jan. 24, and Saturday, Jan. 25, winning of the PRWC in the future, Lindsey comes alive at the 49th Annual Alafia members of the Florida Frontiersmen See our photos from asked de la Parte, “What happens if River Rendezvous this weekend in club open up the camp to the public. the Bartow High boys they decide not to (participate)?” Homeland, between Bartow and Fort Attendees can walk around the camp, basketball team’s big win In response, de la Parte suggested Meade, just off U.S. Highway 17. find unique food offerings, listen to that municipalities in Polk County against Winter Haven last ALAFIA | 4 week. which vote to leave the PRWC are unlikely to get a water-use permit PG 18 from the Southwest Florida Water Polk County Youth Fair arrives Management District Water for The annual Polk County Youth Fair kicks off this Saturday additional water to be pumped out in Bartow. PAGE 9 PRWC | 4 FREE SNOWBIRD SHOW TUES & WED JAN 28 & 29 RP FUNDING CENTER • 9:00 AM TO 4:30 PM 701 W. LIME ST., LAKELAND, FL 33815 • INFO: 1-800-265-3200 HUNDREDS OF EXHIBITORS • FREE ENTERTAINMENT Featuring GEORGE CANYON, JOHN WING, MYLES GOODWYN, VALDY & MORE! Page 2 January 22, 2020 Estate home development moves forward in Bartow By CATHY PALMER Another staff concern, according to Wiegers, was land, located just off U.S. Highway 17 in southeast Contributing Writer the ability for utility and emergency vehicles such as Bartow, was annexed into the city in 2001, but left garbage trucks or fire engines to maneuver through unzoned, Wiegers said. BARTOW — Magnolia Acres, a proposed the development. He added however, that both the He also explained to the commission that the land was development of eight estate homes in north Bartow, city's utility and emergency services said the narrower mined property and there were some remains from the got the green light from Bartow City Commissioners at roadway were acceptable. mining process that the owner, Bartow Citrus Products, a meeting earlier this month, along with the rezoning of “We will give each home a long or circular driveway,” would have to address before any development could a 37-acre piece of property that some said could result explained Gadd. “Which we believe will give those proceed. He added that only a few acres of the parcel in objectionable odors. vehicles plenty of room.” were affected by mining leftovers. Proposed by Rodney Gadd and located just off E.F. Gadd also told commissioners the development Commissioner James Clements, echoed by fellow Griffin Road, Magnolia Acres gained the city planning will have drainage swales instead of the standard Commissioner Steve Sjobom, said he was concerned commission's approval, Bartow City Planner Bob underground, curb and gutter drainage. The nine-acre about potential odors emanating from that site, Wiegers told commissioners, but with a few caveats. site will also feature a sidewalk along the north side of should it be further developed by the citrus processing He explained that the planning staff was concerned the road. company. that the proposed gated entry road to the eight-home The commission agreed to allow the development “I live not too far from there and that is a concern,” development was only 20-feet in width, as opposed to to proceed after Wiegers assured the city leaders Clements said. the 24-foot width which is normally approved. Several the approval would not set a precedent for future Wiegers assured both commissioners that the city commissioners also voiced their concern about the development. had ordinances in place that would be used to address narrower roadway, however, Gadd explained that the Also at that meeting, the commission approved that issue should it arise. The commission approved posh homes would sit on 3/4 acre lots and would have zoning a 37-acre plot to accommodate industry. The the zoning matter. substantial driveways to accommodate parking. Lake Wales CRA Board sets sights on affordable housing By CHARLES A. BAKER III bypass a law that states a city can only sell property to 38%/,&127,&( Staff Writer the highest bidder. A CRA Board doesn't have such restrictions of public property and can vote to decide Notice is hereby given that the City of Bartow is LAKE WALES – The Lake Wales Community who to sell a piece of property to based on what would accepting applications for the following voluntary Redevelopment Agency Board laid the groundwork for be in the best interest of the public. advisory board(s): an affordable housing initiative Jan. 14. “Every community is concerned about affordable ¾ Beautification Advisory Board Currently, the board owns two pieces of property housing,” Lake Wales CRA Chair Robin Gibson said. “It's ¾ Citizen’s Advisory Committee near the corner of B Street and Lincoln Avenue, in the just across the board, everywhere, the reality of life right ¾ Community Redevelopment Agency Northwest neighborhood of Lake Wales. Last Tuesday, now and we want to do something about it.” the board authorized a “Request for Proposals” from ¾ Zoning Board of Adjustment The Bartow CRA Board is taking a different approach contractors who want to submit plans on how to convert and focusing on converting public land for commercial To obtain an application or board description contact that vacant property to affordable housing. use, mostly surrounding the former parole office on the City Clerk’s Office at (863) 534-0100 ext. 1256 The Lake Wales City Commission transferred the Main Street. That plan should come into shape sometime or visit the City Clerk section on the City’s website: property from city ownership to CRA ownership to before September 2020. www.cityofbartow.net GOT A NEWS TIP? Got an event you would Send any tips or story ideas like to see included in next Polk News-Sun (USPS 437320), an affiliate of D-R Media & to Editor Steven Ryzewski at week's calendar? 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LAKE WALES – In late 2019, the Lake Wales ”There are a lot of people in Lake Wales who want to addresses handling of Community Redevelopment Board budgeted $200,000 bring it back to the way it was. I'm willing to take my in matching grants of $50,000 for those interested in money to invest in this town.” FDOE message bringing restaurants and other food-related businesses Peggy Jean Young Williams, a lifelong Lake Wales to the City of Lake Wales.