County Administrator David Hamilton wants to find out what's on county commissioners' minds. ...more

November 30, 2008

'Working perfectly' in Sumter County ...more

November 27, 2008

DUNEDIN -- Only a decibel meter salesman might have felt enthusiastic at Tuesday night's conclusion of the city's latest noise task force meeting. ...more

May 31, 2008

Highlands County commissioners have the right idea in asking whether the county really needs another level of administration. The costs are high to implement such a plan, and the payoff is difficult to deduce. Tommy Todd is serving as facilitator for the county on this project, which would make new positions as division directors. Department heads would report to them, while they report to the county administrator. The plan is to make the administrator less of a day-to-day manager and more of a public figure who keeps the commission informed of what's going on in the county. We understand what Todd is saying, but wonder if it's necessary for Highlands County. Granted, our county government has a lot of employees and departments, but it doesn't seem like that's been an issue until now. Can't department heads serve as that level of manager to report to the administrator, or assistant administrator. It's also true that a county manager should not be bogged down in work that keeps him or her away from the most important facets of the job. It's difficult to be an effective leader if you're buried in minutiae that could be better handled by someone else. ...more

February 5, 2008

A downturn in housing, a jittery stock market, increased fuel prices and government cutbacks are causing more people to be out of work. ...more

January 9, 2008

A downturn in housing, a jittery stock market, increased fuel prices and government cutbacks are causing more people to be out of work. ...more

January 9, 2008

The selection committee charged with interviewing applicants for county administrator narrowed the field to three people Friday: Kathy Rice, Tom Marko and David Hamilton. ...more

December 21, 2007

And then there were three. ...more

December 21, 2007

SEBRING – Recommendations that will come from the citizens committee on Lake Denton –– which will meet for the first time at 4 p.m. today –– could have implications for public access to other public lakes throughout Highlands County. "More than one committee member has suggested that," said Highlands County Commissioner Don Bates, who chairs the committee as a non-voting member. Bates agrees with that assessment. ...more

September 25, 2007