The Latest From City Hall
By Commissioner Lewis J. Thaler

Both Madi and I want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and safe new year. I am very proud of the citizens of Sunny Isles Beach for their handling of the aftermath of hurricane Wilma. We have heard many warnings of more storms coming this hurricane season and the City is busy planning ways to make all of us safer and more comfortable.

For any of you who might have missed the special Commission meeting, Sunny Isles Beach has hired a new City Manager. John Szerlag comes to us from Troy, Michigan where he was their City Manager for many years. Mr. Szerlag will be starting approximately March 15th and he looks forward to meeting the people and working with the Commission in making this the best City in all of Florida.

Publix has brought in a proposal for a new store at the same location and projects to have it up running by the end of 2007. They also proposed to run a bus in conjunction with the City on a regular scheduled basis to an Aventura Publix.

Work on the “active park” and the Community Center has begun and is projected to be completed in 2007.

For those who haven’t seen it or who have guests visiting, come to the Government Center building and walk down the “History Hall” located just to the left of the elevators. Relive the “good old days” and see how the City grew. There are pictures of the old pier as well as some of the motels and people who stayed there. It is quite interesting and worth the trip.

Hats off our wonderful lifeguards! As they do all year long, they have done a terrific job this holiday season keeping our residents and guests safe and well. Walking the beach almost everyday, I have talked to them and they tell me how many rescues there have been. They are a very enthusiastic group of people who love their job and want to see everyone, tourists and residents, enjoying themselves. They urge everyone to check the flags at the lifeguard stand to learn the conditions of the water before entering it.

Just a reminder that our monthly “Sunny Serenade” is on January 18, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Samson Oceanfront Park at 174th Street.

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