The City of St. Cloud will hold a special election Nov. 9 to fill Seat 3 on the City Council, following the passing of Council Member Charles E. “Chuck” Cooper on June 12.
Council Members also voted last week to hold a primary election if needed on Oct 5, with the two top candidates facing off the following month.
The qualification period for candidates begins at noon on Monday, July 19, and ends at noon on Friday, July 23.
Council Member Cooper passed away on June 12, just months into his fourth term on City Council. His service to the city spanned nearly 40 years, dating back to his first election to the Council in 1985.
The City charter requires a special election be held if a Council seat is vacated more than six months from the scheduled end of the term. The person elected to the seat in the special election will serve the remainder of the term, which ends in November 2024.
Cooper, 72, was first elected to the council in 1985, and had served off and on since, then. He was re-elected last year to the board with about 52 percent of the vote.
During that campaign cycle, the Republican railed against what he called a “pro-developer” council disposition and “mass annexation.”
In other action, the Council:
• Acting as the Dependent Special District (DSD) Governing Board, approved a third amendment to sell tracts 4 and 5 of Stevens Plantation Corporate Campus to allow Madison Grove LLL to apply for financing. The amendment requires Madison Grove to submit the application for financing on or before Aug. 26, 2021; pay the outstanding taxes and assessments on the property not to exceed $20,000; and if approved for financing, close on the transaction on or before March 30, 2022.
• Acting as the Dependent Special District (DSD) Governing Board, agreed to move the Stevens Plantation retail center proposed plaza sign from Lot 1 to Lot 2. Lot 2 provides better visibility from Nolte Road, and because that lot is no longer under contract for sale, the city can change the location for the planned sign.
• Held a final public hearing and approved an ordinance to abandon portions of a utility easement in the Silver Springs subdivision, east of Jones Road and south of Eagle Road.
• Passed on first reading an amendment to the Land Development Code that changes the City’s sign regulations to be the same as those adopted by the City of Kissimmee. The changes are designed to reduce clutter. Final public hearing will be held on July 15.
• Passed on first reading the annual action plan for the Community Development Block Grant program. Final public hearing will be August 12.
• Approved a water and wastewater agreement for a 222-unit residential development named Twin Lakes Phase 7, located in unincorporated Osceola County on the north side of Alligator Lake, south of Nolte Road, east of Hickory Tree Road and west of Godwin Road.
• Appointed James Morency as an alternate on the Recreation Advisory Board, for a term that expires in November.
• Discussed the merits of purchasing an ice pigging truck and ultimately decided it does not make sense for the city to purchase one.
• Changed the date of the July Council meeting to July 15.
