Matters of note
By LESTER R. DAILEY
Article published on Wednesday, April 23, 2008  |
Mayor getting hip replacement
CLEARWATER – The city isn’t getting a hip, new mayor; it’s getting a mayor with a new hip. Mayor Frank Hibbard is getting a hip replacement.
When someone remarked that Hibbard was going to have a rough week, getting the hip replacement and having to decide whether to vote to increase the allowable hotel room density citywide, Hibbard replied that the only difference was that the hip replacement would be done under anesthesia.
City suffers gas pains
CLEARWATER – In the past year, the city of Clearwater spent $2.2 million to buy fuel for its fleet of vehicles, 60 percent of which use unleaded gasoline and 40 percent of which burn diesel fuel. So, City Council members were stunned when the city’s Solid Waste Department, which maintains the fueling facility for all city vehicles, requested the authority to spend up to $3.93 million for fuel in the 12 months starting next month.
City officials arrived at that figure by estimating that the price of gasoline will reach $3.80 per gallon by the end of this year, and diesel fuel will go to $4.35. The fuel will be purchased from McMullen Oil Co., the lowest bidder that meets the city’s requirement of having a 100,000 gallon on-site storage tank so that fuel will be available if a hurricane or other emergency temporarily closes the port of Tampa.
Free trees for residents
CLEARWATER – In celebration of Arbor Day, the city is giving free trees to Clearwater residents. The species available include slash pine, live oak, Shumard oak, Chickasaw plum, red cedar, bald cypress, southern magnolia, red maple and Walters virburnum. Crepe myrtles also will be available in pink, white, red and lavender.
The giveaway will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at the Public Services Complex, 1650 N. Arcturas Ave. More than 1,800 trees will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, but recipients must have proof of Clearwater residency. A representative of the Florida Division of Forestry will present Clearwater officials with a Tree City USA award.
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Article published on Wednesday, April 23, 2008
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