By Marvin G. Cortner

Editor

The Osceola County Commission Monday approved an ordinance change to set in place term limits for both the chairman of the Osceola County Tourist Development Council and council members.

The limits are that a chairman cannot serve more than two consecutive one-year terms and members cannot serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.

The Osceola County Commission appoints council members and the council makes recommendations on policies related to tourism and on how the county should spend the revenue generated by a 6 percent tourist tax on lodging of 180 days or less.

Commissioners Monday also approved changing the makeup of the council by requiring that four rather than three of the six at large appointees be involved in the lodging industry. Three council members will still be comprised of one official each from the city of Kissimmee, city of St. Cloud and the County Commission.

While commissioners did approve some changes to how the council operates, they did not approve –  pending further discussion – a resolution that would require the council be notified at least 30 days in advance of the commission considering any non-budgeted spending of tourist development tax funds of more than $100,000 or the consideration of policy level issues.

The next meeting of the council will be at 3 p.m. Monday, at the Commission Chambers. Agenda items include an economic development project, the SMG management contract for Osceola Heritage Park and consideration of the County Commission request for a definition of “policy level issues.”

Commissioners Monday also unanimously approved moving forward with an ordinance limiting pain management clinics, commonly called pill mills, with plans to enact the ordinance May 2.

The ordinance, county officials have said, would set the hours of operation, prohibit cash sales and limit where new pain management clinics could open. The commission is working with Sheriff Bob Hansell on the new ordinance.

The city of St. Cloud recently adopted a moratorium on this kind of clinic to give officials time to draw up an ordinance. The city of Kissimmee also recently agreed to consider a moratorium and ordinance relating to pill mills.

And on a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Michael Harford opposed, the commission approved a modification of a transit shelter agreement with 20/20 Media Holdings establishing a new monthly payment from the company for advertising on 28 bus shelters.

The new contract also put in place a method by which the county could assume ownership of the shelters if the company did not make its monthly payments in a timely manner or make arrears payments as set out in the new contract.

The company previously had missed payments and owes the county more than $50,000. The arrears payments will be spread out over two years and the new agreement will be in force until Aug. 1, 2015.

Joel Davis, of 20/20 Media, had requested reduced monthly payments due to the recession and the difficulty of selling advertising on the shelters, which is how the company pays for the structures. The company also is responsible for repair or replacing shelters if damaged or destroyed.