Deric C. Feacher
City Manager
863-421-3600
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Jeffrey Brown
Deputy City Manager
863-421-3600
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Stephanie Snively
Communications and Marketing Manager
863-421-9951
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Margie Wells
Senior Executive Assistant
863-421-5560
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Polk State College Expands Services in Northeast Polk County
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Contact: Madison Fantozzi
863.298.6872/954.594.9808
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Polk State College expands services in
Northeast Polk at Ridge Community High School
Winter Haven, August 8, 2018
— Polk State College is expanding its services in Northeast Polk County at Ridge Community High School, where the College will increase its afternoon, evening, and weekend courses for adults seeking Associate in Arts degrees.
While Polk State partners with Polk County Public Schools to provide on-site dual enrollment at most high schools, the partnership with the Northeast-area school goes a step further to offer college courses for non-dual enrolled students.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) recently approved the College’s request to offer the Associate in Arts degree program at Ridge Community High, where Polk State will expand its course offerings to make higher education more accessible to residents in the fastest growing region of the county.
“Paired with our fully online degree programs, more residents of Northeast Polk have the opportunity to earn their degrees without ever leaving their community,” Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti said. “Providing opportunities such as this is at the core of Polk State’s mission to provide access to affordable, quality higher education to
all
residents of Polk County.”
In fall 2018, the site will offer nine classes in the afternoons and evenings, including literature, composition, math, psychology, and world religions courses. College administrators are working to determine additional courses to offer in spring 2019 and future semesters based on the needs of students.
Fall 2018 classes start August 20, and open enrollment is currently underway. Polk State classes at Ridge Community High, which are 12-week courses, begin September 17. Prospective students may submit an online application to Polk State on www.polk.edu. Currently enrolled students may register through their PASSPORT accounts.
Polk State has offered courses at Ridge Community High since 2008, but the recent SACSCOC approval will allow the College to increase its services at the school.
“Polk County Public Schools is thrilled about the opportunity for students to earn their Associate in Arts degrees at Ridge Community High School,” Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd said. “As a school district, we are making great academic strides, and our graduation rate is now at a 10-year high. We are proud to be partnering with Polk State to offer our students a convenient option for continuing their education after they graduate from us. Education changes not only the individual student’s life, but our entire community. As a school district, we’re committed to ensuring academic opportunity and supporting academic achievement, and this partnership with Polk State is a prime example.”
From fall 2017 through spring 2018, the site served more than 300 Polk State students – nearly one-third who were not dual-enrolled high school students. Sixty-one percent of those who were not dual enrolled attended part time, and 63 percent were 21 or older, illustrating the College’s ability to serve nontraditional students who are balancing school with other responsibilities, such as jobs and raising families.
With Davenport and nearby Polk City being named two of the five fastest growing cities in Florida by the U.S. Census Bureau, Polk State’s presence in the Northeast part of the county is more important than ever. Ridge Community High sits between Davenport and Haines City, Polk County’s third largest city.
“As Northeast Polk County continues to grow, access to higher education is crucial to ensure the best quality of life for our residents,” said Deric C. Feacher, City Manager of Haines City. “Haines City is moving forward at a rapid pace, and we are thrilled to have Polk State growing alongside the Northeast community.”
Cyndi Jantomaso, President and CEO of the Haines City Economic Development Council, explained that access to education has a positive effect on the growth of a region.
“The education available to build a strong workforce is one of the top business incentives we as economic developers can offer. Having a strong workforce is a major tool in the recruitment of companies to our area,” Jantomaso said. “Polk State’s investment and expansion in Northeast Polk County will contribute greatly to educating and training our workforce, which will in turn bring more businesses and better jobs to our area, thereby promoting higher per-capita earnings for our residents.”
On average, Polk State’s graduates earn wages that are 2.3 times higher than the average entry-level wage for Polk County, and 70 percent stay in right here Polk County.
“Our students go on to become highly-skilled members of our local workforce and the next leaders of our community,” Falconetti explained. “Polk State’s goal is to put college degrees in reach for everyone by bringing higher education closer to home for residents.”
“We are grateful to Ridge Community High School for its strong partnership and we are proud to serve the Northeast Polk community,” she added. “Together,
We are Polk
!”
About Polk State College
Located in Winter Haven, Florida, and established in 1964, Polk State College is a multi-campus institution serving more than 16,000 students with Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees, as well as a wide range of certificate and workforce training options.
The College also operates three charter high schools. Polk State’s advantages include small class sizes; hands-on learning; dedicated faculty; day and night classes; online options; affordable tuition; excellent financial aid; and a diverse community and vibrant student life, including fine arts opportunities, clubs, and intercollegiate athletics.
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Linda Bourgeois
City Clerk
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Cemetery Clean-Up Notice
Please review the Public Notice about Haines City Cemeteries provided in English and in Español in the attached documents below.
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Community Information and Events
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Stay Informed On What's Going on
in the Business Community
The Haines City Area Chamber of Commerce is an excellent way to promote your business and showcase your services. Click on the link below to keep up-to-date on all the wonderful things your Chamber is doing to promote businesses in and around Haines City and contact them to become a member!
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Attention Business Owners and Developers
Become a Part of Haines City!
The Haines City Economic Development Council is here to assist you with any of your business and development needs. Contact Cyndi Jantomaso, President, to set-up an appointment to review any of your upcoming projects or business transactions/acquisitions. Click on the link below for additional information.
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Haines City Rotary presents Taste of the Ridge
(On the eventbrite page select tickets). Or contact Pixie: 863-439-4981 or Stacy: 863-422-3900.
Restaurants/ Food Vendors can showcase their best fares by registering a booth and providing food to the public. Booth fee is free for participants. Booth space is limited to make your reservation as soon as possible! There will be 300 tickets sold to the public at this event, so buy your tickets asap. $30 per person. Live band, Steel Horse Band, will be playing throughout the evening.
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Wine & Cheese at the Park
Presented by the Haines City Area Chamber of Commerce
and the City of Haines City
Friday, October 12, 2018
6 - 9 p.m.
Railroad Park, downtown Haines City
Reserve your tickets now for this can't-miss event!
$25 per person -
Includes: souvenir glass, and complimentary wine & cheese
samples from multiple vendors.
Click
HERE
to register and purchase tickets.
Sample wine & cheese from vendor businesses,
*food trucks The Catering Company of Central Florida, The Hotel Tea Room & Flower Corner, Tallulah's Table by the Sea & more,
entertainment by Hunter Smith!
(*items purchased from food trucks additional fees -
not included with ticket price)
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Public Education Course: About Boating Safely
If you are interested in an exciting, in-depth boating safety course, check out the in classroom (seminar) version of our popular online boating course.
This beginner boating class will give you the knowledge needed to obtain a boat license or safety certification in many states. Many boat insurance companies will offer discounts on boating insurance to boaters who successfully complete
About Boating Safely
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Presented by Flotilla 070-07-07
Polk County FL
Course:
About Boating Safely
Start Date:
Sat .September 22, 2018
Hours:
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Duration:
8 Hours
Location:
Polk County Sheriff Command Center. 3635 Ave G NW. Winter Haven, Florida 33880
Contact:
Gil Thomas gthomas901@msn.com
(863) 687-9639
Course Cost:
Early Paid Registration $30.00 per person, registration at the door $35.00.
Comments:
Bring Pencils & Bag Lunch (30 min lunch) Classroom cool, bring sweater.
Application:
See Download Below**
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TOPICS INCLUDE:
Introduction to Boating
- Types of power boats; sailboats; outboards; paddle boats; houseboats; different uses of boats; various power boating engines; jet drives; family boating basics.
Boating Law
- Boat registration; boating regulation; hull identification number; required boat safety equipment; operating safely and reporting accidents; protecting the marine environment; Federal boat law; state boating laws; personal watercraft requirements.
Boat Safety Equipment
- Personal flotation devices ("life jackets"); fire extinguishers; sound-producing devices; visual-distress signals; dock lines and rope; first aid kit; anchors and anchor lines; other boating safety equipment. About Boating Safely
Safe Boating
- Bow riding; alcohol and drug abuse; entering, loading, and trimming a boat; fueling portable and permanent tanks; steering with a tiller and a wheel; docking, undocking and mooring; knots; filing a float plan; checking equipment, fuel, weather and tides; using charts; choosing and using an anchor; safe PWC handling; general water safety.
Navigation
- The U.S. Aids to Navigation system; types of buoys and beacons; navigation rules (sometimes referred to as right-of-way rules); avoiding collisions; sound signals; PWC "tunnel vision."
Boating Problems
- Hypothermia; boating accidents and rescues; man overboard recovery; capsizing; running aground; river hazards; strainers: emergency radio calls; engine problems; equipment failures; carbon monoxide (CO); other boating and PWC problems.
Trailering, Storing and Protecting Your Boat
- Types of trailers; trailer brakes, lights, hitches, tires, and bearings; loading, balancing, and towing a trailer; towing (and backing) a trailer; boat launching and retrieving; boat storage and theft protection; launching, retrieving and storing a PWC.
Hunting and Fishing, Water-skiing and River Boating
- Carrying hunting gear and weapons in a boat; fishing from a boat; water-skiing safety guidelines and hand signals; water-skiing with a PWC; navigating rivers, and other boating tips.
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Special Events, Athletics, Library, Recreation, Parks
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Terrell Griffin
Parks & Recreation Director
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Click on this link to see the
Aquatics Information:
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Click on this link to see the
Parks & Recreation Athletics Information:
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Recreation, Seniors, Wellness
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Click on this link (and scroll down to "City Calendar) to review the
entire calendar of events for Recreation, Wellness and Senior Events:
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Mark Your Calendars.....
The City of Haines City presents its first ever
“Under the Stars” concert series. C’Nergy Entertainment closed out our 4th of July Thunder on the Ridge Celebration and is slated to kick-off the series Friday, September 28, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the band shell in Lake Eva Park (
see flyer in dowloads below). C’Nergy, which features a six piece band will deliver an extraordinary show, taking your experience to the next level with a crowd-pleasing, dynamic performance. The event is free and open to the public. Please stay tuned for additional dates and performances. For more information, please contact Parks and Recreation at 863-421-3700.
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Haines City Veteran of the Year 2018 Nominations
To be eligible for consideration for the Haines City Veteran of the Year Award, the nominee must have served their country honorably in a branch of military service and must be confirmed by attached copies of documentation.
All nominee packets (see download at end of article) must be completed and returned by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 26
th to be considered. These may be submitted to the Haines City Community Center at 555 Ledwith Avenue OR City Hall at 620 East Main Street, or emailed to
btrafford@hainescity.com.
The honor will be presented on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2018 at the annual Veterans Day celebration at Railroad Park in downtown Haines City. The recipient will be awarded a plaque and a paver in their honor will be placed in the Military Court of Honor.
Submission for Veteran of the Year
To submit a Veteran for this honor the following items will need to be completed and submitted:
·
The application.
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A copy of discharge papers or other documentation of service.
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A copy of awards or commendations received.
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A short essay on the nominee’s contribution to our country, not to exceed three pages. Please tell how this nominee’s service has made a significant difference in others. This should include their achievements as well as why you feel this individual should be considered for the Veteran of the Year Award.
Downloads:
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Click on this link (and scroll down to "City Calendar) to review Other Upcoming
Special Events:
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Haines City Public Library
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In addition to the multitude of books the Haines City Public Library provides, it also offers age-specific opportunities of discovery and fun with programs like the Needlework Group, Scrabble Club, Story Times, Teen Programs, and movies every month in English and Español. Come find your heartbeat at the Haines City Public Library!
Operating Hours
Monday:
10:00 AM-7:00 PM Tuesday: 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
Wednesday:
10:00 AM-6:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Friday:
10:00 AM-5:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Sunday:
CLOSED
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Internet Information and Citizen Assistance
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Lynda.com a leading online learning platform with over 7,000 courses that can assist anyone with learning the following: business, software, technology, and creative skills to achieve personal and professional through video-based, self-paced courses available 24/7.
Through individual, corporate, academic and government subscriptions, members have access to the Lynda.com video library of engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognized industry experts.
For 20 years, Lynda.com has helped students, leaders, IT and design pros, project managers—anyone in any role—develop software, creative, and business skills. Now part of Linkedin, Lynda.com serves more than 10,000 organizations. With tutorials in five languages, Lynda.com is a global platform for success. Access to
Lynda.com
is free with a Haines City Public Library card.
Ancestry.com® is a website that brings together science and self-discovery to help anyone find their story.
Bringing together science and self-discovery,
Ancestry.com
helps everyone, everywhere discover the story of what led to them. Our sophisticated engineering and technology harnesses family history and consumer genomics, combining billions of rich historical records, millions of family trees, and samples more than 7 million people in the AncestryDNA database to provide people with deeply meaningful insights about who they are and where they come from.
Access to Ancestry.com is available to our patrons through the computers at the Haines City Public Library.
ProQuest® African American Heritage is a groundbreaking digital resource exclusively devoted to African American family history research.
ProQuest
is committed to empowering researchers and librarians around the world. Its innovative information content and technologies increase the productivity of students, scholars, professionals and the libraries that serve them. Through partnerships with content holders, ProQuest preserves rich, vast and varied information – whether historical archives or today’s scientific breakthroughs – and packages it with digital technologies that enhance its discovery, sharing and management. For academic, corporate, government, school and public libraries, as well as professional researchers, ProQuest provides services that enable strategic acquisition, management and discovery of information collections.
ProQuest is available to our patrons through the computers at the Haines City Public Library.
The
Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP)
assists low-income households, with at least one person age 60 and older, when the households are experiencing a home energy emergency.
A home energy emergency may result from a delinquent utility bill, lack of fuel or wood, or the receipt of a shut off notice. Payments are for home heating or cooling and other emergency energy-related costs during the heating (October-March) and cooling (April-September) seasons. Eligible households may be provided one benefit per season, up to $600 per season. Payments are made directly to the vendor or by a two-party check to the vendor and client for electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, kerosene, or wood.
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Stay Connected With All Our Upcoming Library Events!
Want to know what is going on at the Haines City Public Library? Check out our
Facebook page and get the scoop. You can also see what's going on at the Library by viewing our calendar for adults and children!
Click on this link to review the
entire calendar of events for the Library:
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Book Sale
The Friends of the Haines City Public Library, Inc. is sponsoring a one-dollar-a-bag book sale on Thursday, September 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the library, 111 N. 6th St. A large inventory of soft and hard-cover titles will be on sale.
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Richard Greenwood
Development Services Director
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City Industrial Park Property Request for Proposals (RFP)
Last Friday, August 31st, the City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the possible sale or lease of City owned property located in the City’s Industrial Park. Located next to Jain Irrigation, on the south side of County Road 544 and 1.35 miles east of State Road 17, the site consists of 36.87 acres. Currently vacant, the site previously contained citrus groves. The property is zoned Industrial Park, which allows for a variety of light industrial, warehousing/distribution and similar types of uses. By issuing an RFP and eventually selling or leasing the property, the City hopes to promote industrial development, thereby bringing jobs and increased tax base to our community.
The Development Services staff appreciates the efforts of the Information Technology Department in preparing the RFP and the Haines City Economic Development Council for their continued efforts to market this property.
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Auburn Taylor
Human Resources Director
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Would you like to be part of the City of Haines City Team? Apply today! All interested applicants are required to submit an employment application, unless otherwise instructed on the City's website position announcement page.
Employment Applications and copies of complete position announcements can be accessed on the City of Haines City's website at
www.hainescity.com
.
Positions are considered "Open Until Filled," unless otherwise denoted. Corresponding pay grade ranges are included to represent earning potential and shall not be an assumption of potential starting wage, which will most likely be at the minimum rate of pay. If a conditional offer of employment is made, please note everything included during the application process will be verified.
Click
here
to view the open job listings and find out how you can be part of the City of Haines City Team!
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Information Technology Department
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New City of Haines City Website
Mobile
App
The Haines City Technology Management Department would like to inform the citizens that our website,
www.hainescity.com
, is now available as a Mobile App. This free app is available for both Android and Apple iOS devices. Many features are available in the mobile app. You can find information about our Cemeteries, Report an Issue with the City of Haines City, view the Staff Directory, and much more!
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To install on an Android device, search “Haines City FL” in the Google Play store. Tap the green Install button and the app will begin downloading to your device.
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For Apple iOS devices, open the App Store and search “CivicMobile”. Tap the blue Get button to allow the app to install on your device. Open the CivicMobile app on your Home screen. When the app fully opens, search
Haines
and tap “Haines City, FL” when it appears. Alternatively tap the Find Your Location button to find our Haines City, FL app. Tap the white box with the pointed arrow to continue to the app services.
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You can choose to sign up and receive app notifications by tapping
Sign Up
at first launch. Enter your details into the New Account fields. First Name, Last Name, and an Email address is required. Read the privacy policy and scroll down and tap the check box next to “I agree to the policies;” indicating you have read the policy. Also, tap the box next to “I’m not a robot” and complete the reCaptcha verification. Tap the green Create Profile button to finish creating your profile. You will receive a validation email to create a password for your account.
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The Alert Center shows all current alerts posted by city staff. Current alert categories include Road Closures, Utility Outages, and Weather Alerts. Tapping [Done] at the bottom returns you to the main screen.
Calendar allows you to see all of our upcoming events by date. Tap a date on the calendar to view all events that occur on that specific date. Events sort by department names.
The Cemetery button opens the Cemetery Information page on our website. You will find pricing for both Forest Hill and Oakland Cemetery, along with access to our cemetery databases.
The Contractor Portal opens the iWorq website portal for searching open permits with the City of Haines City.
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The Employment icon takes you to our job listing website. From there you can view open positions and apply for a job online.
If you have a particular question about the city, you may find the answer in the FAQs section.
News Flash articles inform you of what is happening in and around our city.
If you created an account for the website, you can choose which mobile alerts you receive in the Notify Me section of the app.
The Public Meetings portal allows you to listen to past meetings and listen to live commission meetings. Tapping this icon opens your device’s web browser and displays the meeting portal page. When a meeting is live, tap the green “Listen Live” link on the page.
Recreation Registration opens the Community Pass website where you register for upcoming events held at the Community Center or around Haines City.
Report an Issue is a new service our app offers. You can contact the city when finding issues such as pot holes, graffiti, a broken light, or other concerns. You can include a photo of the incident by tapping the Take Photo button or Choose Existing Photo. Your device’s GPS location sets the location of the incident. You can also set a specific pin on the included map, or type in the address. A name and email address are required when submitting an issue. Someone from the city will contact you within a reasonable amount of time after submitting your issue.
Use the search feature within the app to find more information regarding a topic. For example, you may want to find when a facility is open. Searching “hours” provides results related to your search term.
Lastly, you can also pay your utility bill using our mobile app. Contact our Utility Billing department at 863-421-3600 and choose option 1 to speak to a customer service representative about setting up online access.
If you have any questions regarding the Mobile App, please contact the city at 863-421-3600.
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Adriana Trujillo-Villa
Interim Public Works Director
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School Crossing Added in Oakland Neighborhood
Recently the Head Start program in the Oakland Community Center requested a crossing be installed across Ave D for a safe, defined spot for the children to cross the road and go to the playground. Public Works took on the task and not only added a crossing, but a sidewalk and restriped the parking lot as well.
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C.R.A. Project
Working in conjunction with the Community Development Department, staff from Public Works recently completed a project on Park Street where a concrete barrier was replaced with four decorative bollards and brick pavers to create an outdoor venue that could be used for various events. This project was completed at no cost to either department.
7 remaining!"
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Right-of-Way Permits and Road Closures Permits
Right-of Way Permits
The application can be found on the Haines City’s Website. Once the application is completed, the approval is required to be obtained through the Public Works Department.
Road Closures Permits
Effective now, Road Closures Permits will need to be obtained through the Public Works Department. Once the application is completed, approval will be received from the Public Works Department.
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Tracy Mercer
Utilities Director
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Mark Your Calendar for 2018 Lunch and Learn Classes!
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The Utilities Department will host Lunch and Learn classes instructed by the University of Florida from 12:00-1:00 PM at the Haines City Library the following dates:
October 16, 2018
– Pollinators, Not Just the Birds and the Bees
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Lawn Watering Days and Times
The District's year-round water conservation measures went into effect August 2, 2017. Lawn watering is limited to no more than twice per week.
Lawn watering days and times are as follows:
- Even addresses may water Thursdays and/or Sundays before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM
- Odd addresses may water Wednesdays and/or Saturdays before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM
- Locations without a discernible address, such as right-of-ways and common areas inside a subdivision, may water Tuesdays and/or Fridays before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM
- Hand watering and micro-irrigation of plants (other than lawns) can be done on any day and any time
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WOW! (Watched Outstanding Work!)
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The City of Haines City would like to thank all of our excellent, dedicated employees and volunteers who help make the City a great place to work, live and play. We would not be able to serve our community well without the dedicated, excellent employees and volunteers! Have you "Watched Outstanding Work" within the City lately? Let us know at wow@hainescity.com.
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Haines City Commission
Front row (left to right): Mayor Morris West, Commissioner Roy Tyler
Back row (left to right): Vice-Mayor Don Mason, Commissioner Anne Huffman and Commissioner Horace West
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City Commission Meetings
Are held every first and third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 620 E. Main Street.
For questions or more information, please call the City Clerk at (863) 421-9921.
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Mark Your Calendars for the following City Commission Meetings
Thursday, September 20, 2018 - 7:00 PM
Thursday, October 4, 2018 - 7:00 PM
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City of Haines City| 863-421-3600 | www.HainesCity.com
STAY CONNECTED
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