Matheny named to Florida League of Cities committee
St. Cloud City Council Member Linette Matheny has been appointed to serve on the Florida League of Cities 2023-24 Legislative Policy Committee.
As a Legislative Policy Committee member, Matheny will help develop the League’s legislative platform, which details priority issues that are most likely to affect municipal governance and local decision-making during the upcoming legislative session, as well as help League staff understand the tangible implications of proposed legislation. Committee members also serve as advocates for local decision-making throughout the legislative process.
Council Member Matheny is in her second four-year term as a City Council member, and has served four terms as Deputy Mayor during her tenure on the Council.
Victory Village receives state funding to make repairs, maintain affordable rent
Victory Village apartments, the first hotel-conversion project in Osceola County to turn out-of-use rooms into affordable housing, completed about a decade ago, will be able to make necessary repairs without increasing rent on tenants on low or fixed incomes.
State Rep. Kristen Arrington (D-Kissimmee) recently presented $250,000 in state appropriations funds.
“I’m proud to consistently bring home state dollars to assist with bolstering affordable housing projects for Osceola County. This money will be used for necessary repairs and updates to Victory Village Apartments to keep from raising rents,” Arrington said. “With attainable housing being a challenge in Central Florida—we don’t want rent increases to push them out of their homes. It is important that everyone has a safe and comfortable place they can call home.”
Victory Village, on west U.S. Highway 192, features 20 apartment units, ranging from one to three bedrooms, with access to transportation and within walking distance to shops and other services. Residents have access to varying services, from playgrounds and laundry to an onsite community center. Qualified residents also have access to education, employment assistance, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and job training. The goal of Victory Village is to allow homeless families the ability to live comfortably and independently so that they can re-establish themselves into society.
New St. Cloud Hospital helipad under construction
Construction work began last week at Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital. Its helipad is being relocated to a new site on the west side of the campus, at the corner of 17th Street and Communication Way, to make room for a state-of-the-art resource that will benefit patients in need of life-saving medical care. Construction of the new helipad and an expanded parking lot is expected to be completed in December 2023.
Joshua Stevens DAR chapter finds new home
Diane’s Tea Room & Restaurant, 114 Broadway in Historic Downtown Kissimmee, has partnered with the local Joshua Stevens Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution as the organization’s new home base.
Have you considered joining DAR? Let us help you find your Revolutionary War Patriot. Visit an event or email joshuastevensnsdar@gmail.com.
