Steigerwald officially takes over as Kissimmee’s city manager

By Brian McBride
Associate Editor

At times being brought to tears by the celebration of his service with the city of Kissimmee, former City Manager Mark Durbin Tuesday said goodbye to a packed room of city residents, municipal leaders and political dignitaries during a special meeting at the Kissimmee Civic Center to recognize his retirement.

Durbin, working 23 years for the city, the longest tenured city manager Kissimmee had ever seen, was described as many things besides an effective city manager, according to a proclamation read by new City Manager Mike Steigerwald. He was the Wayne Gretzky on rollerblades. He made a mean chocolate chip cookie. And he was always quick with a joke.

By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

St. Cloud Main Street is revamping its program, cutting events and adding others, in an effort to spruce up the downtown area and draw in the public.

The Friday Night Live! Series and the weekly Farmer's Market have been cut this year due to a lack of volunteers and time.

The Farmer's Market, scheduled every Saturday, would have reopened from summer break Sept. 11, but with low vendor and customer turnout, Main Street closed the event.

Candidates file for St. Cloud races

Two last-minute filings have beefed up the race for what would have been an uncontested run for seat 2 on the St. Cloud City Council.

By Marvin G. Cortner
Editor

Consolidation of services and transportation impact fees were the two top issues Osceola County commissioners addressed Monday in their quarterly retreat.

Commissioner Ken Smith, who will retire from the commission after the general election, said he would not be “overly optimistic” about successfully convincing other municipal governments in the county to consolidate services.

Marcelo Gouts, a tennis instructor at Oak Street Community Park, provides to 6-year-old Jordan Balembo, of Poinciana, a sample of the  kind of instruction available.

By Marvin G. Cortner
Editor

Kissimmee voters Aug. 24 ap-proved all proposed charter changes except the one giving their commission the authority to waive the requirement that the city manager live within city limits.

Almost 59 percent of city voters rejected the ordinance relating to the city’s top administrator, on a vote of 1,824 to 1,276.