Commercial Truck Insurance in Lake Wales, FL

Business owners lined up at the beginning of the Lake Wales City Commission meeting Tuesday evening to explain to commissioners the various ways they are working to enhance the Lake Wales economy and the Northwest Neighborhood. They joined Florida Development Corp, Inc. COO Derrick Blue and CEO Frank Cornier after a special presentation period was added to the commission agenda. FDC operates the BizLINC business incubator under a $1.2 million contract with the City of Lake Wales.

The showing came after a perception that some were "attacked" in a LakeWalesNews.net article published on Tuesday, Feb. 13, which questioned the quality of the advice they were receiving from the business incubator.

FDC

FDC COO Derrick Blue led clients to a city commission meeting to defend his BizLINC incubator, but failed to explain why he had not advised them to pay city or county business taxes. He is expected to address other identified shortcomings of the $1.2 million city-funded incubator at a future CRA meeting.

The speakers offered compelling stories of the successes they have achieved, with some stating that they have created jobs above and beyond their ownership roles. Some explained that they had many years of experience in their fields before aligning with BizLINC. The nearly hour-long presentation was an unusual addition to the city commission agenda and did not appear to comply with the recently-adopted five-minute limit on public comment, which followed the presentation.

The business owners spoke after Blue attempted to refute the lack of Polk County and City of Lake Wales business tax receipts, commonly known as occupational licenses, among his own and certain client businesses, pointing out that some had professional licenses.

State-issued "professionals" including real estate agents, hairdressers, building contractors, barbers and others are required to obtain a state license by taking a course and test.

No testing is required to pay the standard business tax and obtain the permit, but many new business owners are unaware that those "business tax receipts" are a required step in conducting business. The lack of those permits raised the question of why business coaches failed to advise their clients of that necessary step.

After the News article was published, representatives of the Polk County Tax Collector's office conducted a meeting with business owners at the BizLINC site on Friday, February 16, and confirmed that seven businesses had obtained their business tax receipts that week, and that all at that location are now in compliance. One owner, they said, chose to dissolve their corporation rather than pay the tax. They confirmed that step was taken on Monday.

The issue of the lack of either city or county occupational licenses was pointed out to LakeWalesNews.net by a private citizen and confirmed by an official at the Polk County Tax Collectors office and through City of Lake Wales records.

No effort was made by Blue or Cornier to address the question of plagiarism and faked testimonials that were posted on the company website at mybizlinc.com, although some have since been removed.

Despite the questions regarding the management of the operation, the obvious value of a business incubator ran through the testimony offered by the various business owners who have stepped up to create value for the community. Most were apparently unaware to the need to obtain the county and city licenses once they had registered corporations with the state.

Mayor Jack Hilligoss used the presentation to defend Blue, who is on the teaching team at his church, before launching personal attacks against LakeWalesNews.net, contributors to the publication, and other citizens who have raised questions of the city. He was joined by Commissioner Danny Krueger in that effort.

Courtesy HPC

After nearly an hour of presentation, Hilligoss noted that the upcoming Community Redevelopment Agency meeting was the correct time for Blue to present FDC contract reports. There he is expected to present his full report on the progress the group had achieved.

LAKE WALES, Fla. (WFLA) — “Other than Bok Tower, it’s the tallest structure in town,” said Brandon Alvarado, the president of the Lake Wales History Museum.

According to Alvarado, the Dixie Walesbilt Hotel on 1st Street in Lake Wales was home to a grand entryway, businesses and 110 hotel rooms after it opened in 1927.

It closed in the 1990s.

In 2010, Raymond Brown entered into a redevelopment agreement with the City of Lake Wales to develop what was then called the “Grand Hotel” into residential units.

In 2022, after years of the hotel sitting largely untouched, the city sued Brown.

In a ruling last week, a judge found Brown had made false statements when entering the agreement involving the pre-sale of units and a multi-millionaire investor.

In making his decision, Judge William Sites stated Brown admitted in depositions that he had never sold any units and that investor Rajesh Kumar was never a member of the Dixie Walesbilt LLC nor contributed any capital.

Because of this ruling, the city could potentially regain ownership.

“We appreciate the court’s ruling and we think it is eminently correct,” said Lake Wales Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson.

Gibson said more details on the court case and the future of the Walesbilt Hotel will be discussed at Tuesday night’s commission meeting.

Brown’s attorney, Brent Geohagan, said he plans to appeal the ruling.

“With the utmost respect, we disagree confidently and vehemently. We think this is the wrong decision for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is the statute of limitations,” he said in a phone interview.

Geohagan pointed out only one commissioner provided testimony saying her decision to approve the agreement would not have happened without the false statements.

“My client has a heart for this project and wants to do everything he can to make it what it should be,” said Geohagan.

“The hotel is iconic to Lake Wales,” said Ronnie Wood, executive director of the Lake Wales Main Street program.

She said the success of the Walesbilt Hotel is a part of the city’s downtown revitalization plan.

“The opportunity of the city regaining the hotel would be a dream come true,” said Wood.

Three challengers seeking two seat on the Lake Wales City Commission held the stage at a Monday evening candidates forum after both incumbents failed to show up for the 90-minute event. The election is four weeks away, slated for Tuesday, April 2.

Carol Gillespie, seeking seat 4 on the five-person commission, along with Brandon Alvarado and Crystal Higbee, both seeking seat 2, shared their ideas and responded to questions from the audience at the forum sponsored by the American Association of University Women and the Greater Federation Woman's Club of Lake Wales.

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Seat 4 incumbent Danny Krueger and seat 2 incumbent Daniel Williams absences were pointedly noted at the beginning of the forum, which was held and the Woman's Club Auditorium before an audience of 50, and live-streamed on YouTube, where it is available for viewing. "Your commissioners should be readily available to you to answer questions," Higbee told the crowd at one point in the evening.

Five questions had been submitted to the candidates in advance of the forum, focusing on economic development, future water supplies, adaptation to climate change, and the projected surge in population in the city. The fifth question, regarding improving communication between the city and citizens, brought wry comments from the challengers about the failure of the incumbent commissioners to attend, listen, and share their thoughts.

Gillespie used her opening remarks to describe her long service in law before sharing her concerns about the pace and nature of the growth that is impacting Lake Wales, She cited concerns about traffic, the destruction of natural areas, and the rapid depletion of water resources. She advocated following the Lake Wales Envisioned plan to allow growth without destroying quality of life.

Alvarado brought laughs when he described himself as a native Lake Walean, "an endangered species," before relating his deep involvement in the community, including current service on various boards, saying that "community service is one of the most important pillars of my life." He also endorsed the Envisioned effort, saying "it's still just a plan" that needs to have a majority of the commission behind it.

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Higbee described her move more than 20 years ago "from a larger city in California" and how she appreciated the small-town feel of Lake Wales. "Carol hit it when she talked about growth," Higbee said.

Asked about economic development and business growth, all three advocated for measured efforts. Gillespie said that "more jobs and infrastructure must work in harmony" but said it was important to require developers to pay impact fees, which are used to avoid passing the cost of new development to existing residents.

Alvarado advocated for new jobs in education and light manufacturing, and new housing in proximity to the downtown area to provide more support for small businesses there. Higbee agreed, telling the audience that keeping local businesses strong helps attract new businesses to the area.

All three candidates spoke favorably of the future of Eagle Ridge Mall, with both Alvarado and Gillespie mentioning a proposal presented in the Envisioned plan that would allow the conversion of portions of the vast parking lot into residential tracts, which Alvarado suggested would help build a local market for businesses there.

News photo

On the topic of communication between citizens and local government, Alvarado said that addressing the commission "shouldn't feel like punishment, like going to the principal's office," citing the body language exhibited during the public comments portion of formal commission meetings.

Gillespie agreed, pointing out that citizens are not permitted to participate in the commission's workshops where they typically reach concurrence on issues. "Commissioners don't have to respond at commission meetings," she said, calling for every city board meeting to be available on video. "Video everything," she said.

Higbee called for regular public forums where "commissioners should be there to take your concerns back to the commission."

Higbee also said she was "worried" when she read that the city's allotted water supply would be exceeded in five years, calling for the city to "slow-roll" development."

Alvarado pointed out that it is impossible to "put a hard pause on development," but called for "infill in the core," saying that "five acres and a single family house is not sustainable." He called for more "cottages and townhomes that are affordable, saying that as a young adult he was being priced out of his hometown by rising housing costs.

The city has already "approved thousands of new homes, and there's not much we can do" about it," Gillespie said, but "in the future we can follow the Lake Wales Envisioned plan. Every project must be consistent with the plan."

All three expressed support for the potential redevelopment of the Walesbilt Hotel, which may soon be back in the hands of the city following a recent court decision. Alvarado called the building a potential "economic driver" for downtown, while Gillespie called it "the diamond of downtown."

Asked about sustainability in the face of rapidly-changing climate, Higbee called for conservation while Alvarado called for up-to-date building codes and the implementation of the "Big Green Network" of environmental lands called for in the Envisioned plan.

Gillespie advocated a list of responses the city could take, including retrofitting existing structures, installing solar panels on city buildings, public vehicle charging stations, and using electric vehicles in the city fleet, saying that the effort would "save us money, reduce emissions, and contribute to health."

Gillespie had focused much of her campaign on sustainability, while her opponent, Krueger, has called climate change a "hoax" perpetrated by the United Nations.

On the topic of parks and recreation, both Gillespie and Alvarado voiced opposition to a proposal to deed city-owned land at Lake Alta to a developer to allow higher-density in a proposed development adjacent to the tract.

"We are besieged with developers wanting to do development in the city" Gillespie said. "I don't see why we are incentivizing any development," Gillespie said. "I haven't been on the front lines, I don't know what kinds of negotiations happen with these developers," she said, but acknowledged that some new development was needed to expand the tax base and "keep the city financially sound."

Gillespie expressed support for an increase in local transportation initiatives to help children access the city's Family Recreation Center pool, located "on the hill" on Burns Avenue.

Asked about a year-old city policy giving the mayor control over proclamations and who may lead a pre-meeting prayer, Gillespie said she didn't understand "why it can't include people of all faiths."

Alvarado agreed, saying that commissioners "represent all of them."

Higbee mentioned a 2020 episode that saw two commissioners walk out of the meeting when an atheist was scheduled to speak. "My good friend {former commissioner Curtis} Gibson exercised his right," Higbee said.

Gibson, who was present at the forum, offered a response to Lake Wales News, saying that "If I could go back in time, I would have changed my actions. I would have stayed and listened," adding that he read the remarks afterwards and they were not offensive, but rather inclusive. Commissioners "represent everybody," he added. "As a leader, the thing to do is recognize and admit it when you're wrong."

Gillespie got perhaps the biggest applause of the night when pointedly asked about Mayor Jack Hilligoss obliquely endorsing the incumbents from the pulpit of the church he pastors. Citing the Constitutional separation of church and state, she said that "churches should stay out of politics...The firmer the wall, the more secure the government and the church will be."

A separate candidate forum that had been planned by Rotary on the Ridge for next Monday has been cancelled. Rotary District Governor Chevon Baccus told Lake Wales News that "Williams said 'no' and we didn't hear from Krueger or Higbee."

The Rotary event has been a popular forum for several years. "We'll try again next year," Baccus said.

Colonel James R. (Jim) Bell, 85, of Babson Park, Florida, died on December 12, 2023, after a brief struggle with lymphoma. He was a decorated Air Force fighter pilot and longtime public servant in multiple positions of civil government.

Born April 25, 1938 to Tracy and Dorothy Bell and happily raised in Albany, Georgia, Jim began his flying career as a teenager, achieving his pilot's license in high school. Participating in ROTC during high school and college, he graduated from Emory University with a degree in economics. In 1960, Jim married his high school sweetheart Linda Hard (deceased) and they were blessed with two sons, Chris and Tony. Following his education, Jim was commissioned by the United States Air Force, serving as a fighter pilot and tactical commander for nearly thirty years. He displayed courage, honor, dedication to his country, and earned the respect of his comrades and superiors alike. In 1983, Jim and Susan Clausen (Susie) were married at Luke AFB in Arizona where they were both stationed. Katie and Christie were soon welcomed and the new family enjoyed Jim's last assignment as Base Commander of Tyndall AFB.

Upon retiring from the military in 1989, Jim transitioned to civilian life as the City Manager of Auburndale, Florida. He went on to serve in Polk County government for the next twenty years as director of multiple departments. Jim especially enjoyed flying for the Sheriff's department, providing aerial photography for the county. Throughout his tenure, he demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a deep commitment to the betterment of the people of Polk County. After retiring from the county, Jim served as Interim Executive Director of the Central Florida Economic Development Council and as President of the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce.

After his second retirement, Jim remained active in church and community endeavors. He managed his twenty acre family homestead which included a citrus grove. He loved working with his tractor on the land, boating, and hosting gatherings with family and friends. Jim was always ready to share a joke or a thrilling story about his many adventures across the globe. Above all, Jim cherished the time he was able to spend with his children and grandchildren.

Jim was a devoted husband to his beloved Susie and a loving father to his children Chris (Rita), Tony (deceased), Katie (Gerald) and Christie (David). He was a proud grandfather to Curtis (deceased), Gerald, James, Madeleine, Samuel, Esther, Charlotte, Eleanor, and Beatrice. He cherished his sister Anne Sheppard of Summerville, South Carolina.

A memorial service honoring Jim will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lake Wales, Florida. Visitation with Jim's family and friends will be at 2:00 p.m., prior to the service. A private interment will be held at family cemetery following the memorial service.

In lieu of floral tributes, the family requests that donations be made to the Lake Wales Care Center. Contributions can be made online at https://lakewalescarecenter.com/donate/.

BARTOW, FLORIDA -- Lake Wales received its wake-up call but the bell didn't ring until the fourth quarter.

Class 3S defending state champions Lake Wales erupted for four fourth-quarter touchdowns to turn back Bartow 28-3 Friday and finish the regular season 10-0. The Highlanders also extended their winning streak to 25 straight games.

"We made some great things turn real ugly tonight," Lake Wales head coach Tavaris Johnson said. "My favorite quote is, 'Champions don't always win, but they win at the right time.' So I am proud of the way we just fought through adversity. ... I am proud of Highlander Country tonight. We are undefeated and we are going to keep riding on that wave."

Lake Wales also finished the regular season without yielding a single rushing touchdown.

"Our defense is nasty. Our defense is stingy," Johnson said. "They are playing through some pain and some hurt. But I am proud of the way they set the wall tonight."

The Lake Wales streak is the longest current overall winning streak in the state. Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna has won 34 consecutive games playing against Florida schools, but lost to Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) in a national matchup this past December following its 13-0 state championship season.

"I am proud of them because we were picked to be a .500 team," Johnson said. "I told this team from Day 1, you control your destiny. The world doesn't do that."

After a lack-luster performance for the first three quarters, which included giving up three interceptions, Lake Wales found itself trailing Bartow 3-0 entering the fourth quarter.

But Lake Wales senior running back RaShad Orr broke free down the Memorial Stadium northern sideline on a 31-yard touchdown run to give the Highlanders a 7-3 lead.

The burst ignited Lake Wales on a fourth-quarter rampage.

Senior Johnqaue Richardson busted the game open, scoring on a 6-yard run before exploding on a 73-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 20-3. Kylor Sanford capped the Lake Wales assault with a 37-yard touchdown run with 1:52 remaining.

"I just trusted the process, trusted my linemen," Richardson said. "(The first touchdown) was a play we work on all week. That is liable to get into the end zone, 100 percent."