NEXT PRINTED ISSUE OF THE TOWN-CRIER OUT FRIDAY, JULY 31 THE
TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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SPECIAL NEWS UPDATE JULY 20, 2015
Serving Palms West Since 1980
Wellington Adds $480,000 In Extras To Community Center
Sarah Menor, Christina Cooney, Ruth Menor, Lisa Johnson, Sara Neering, Kim Elie and Deb Levinsky at the July 16 fundraiser at Lindburgers.
PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER
Hundreds Come Together To Support Special Olympian Christina Cooney
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report More than 200 people came out to the Lindburgers Restaurant in Wellington on Thursday, July 16 to help local athlete Christina Cooney get to the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. Christina, 37, is an experienced rider at the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center in Loxahatchee Groves. She will be one of the 10 riders on the U.S. 2015 World Special Olympics Equestrian Team and will be among 7,000 competitors from 177 countries at the games. Christina has been riding since she was 11 years old, said her father, Mike Cooney. Hearing impaired, sight impaired and mentally challenged, riding has been a boon for Christina. When she gets on a horse, or works with a horse, her issues all seem to disappear. Vinceremos Executive Director Ruth Menor founded the organization in 1982, and this is only the second time that she has sent a rider to the Special Olympics World Games. Christina is excited about all
the attention her bid for glory has brought. “This, for her, this is the most attention she has ever had in her life,” Mike said. “She went to the Royal Palm School, and had a circle of hearing-impaired friends, but this is the most attention she has ever gotten.” The fundraiser at Lindburgers was an extra special night. The Cooneys are regulars at the restaurant, and when employees Sara Neering and Lisa Johnson heard about the trip, they worked quickly to put together the fundraiser, which raised approximately $7,000. After all, Christina won’t be traveling to California alone — she will have her coaches and her family cheering her along and helping her prepare. Expenses add up. “We brainstormed and put this together in a week,” Neering said. The duo worked tag-team style to drum up support from local businesses and organizations. “One of us would work at the restaurant and the other would go out for donations,” Johnson explained. They took turns following up,
working together with Mark Meyers, president of the Wellington Lindburgers location. “A night like tonight, and seeing this amazing community come out and support this wonderful person, is just amazing,” Meyers said. “We See COONEY, page 4
By Ron Bukley Town Council Staff Report The Wellington Village Council approved $480,000 in changes for the new Wellington Community Center on Tuesday, July 14. The money will allow the inclusion of a larger balcony overlooking the lake, an extended entry cover, and a lobby on the northwest side of the building that had been omitted in the final design stage after council approval. Councilman Matt Willhite had asked for a review of the building design at the council’s previous meeting after commenting that the final plan did not look like the plan that had been approved. The $13 million, 26,000-squarefoot facility is planned for completion in the spring or summer of 2016. The plans include an event room that will seat 360 people, an Internet lounge, three multi-purpose rooms, a fitness room, a conference room, an arts and crafts room, a baby/tots classroom and a warming kitchen. Also at the July 14 meeting, the council approved a preliminary truth in millage (TRIM) ad valorem tax rate at the current rate of 2.45 mills, an Acme Improvement District as-
sessment rate unchanged at $230 per unit, and solid waste assessments of $140 for curbside and $105 for containerized service, which is $20 less per customer than last year. The 2.45 millage rate is the same as last year but above the rollback rate of 2.24 mills. It is anticipated to raise an additional $1.48 million for a total $16.16 million in ad valorem revenue due to rising property values. The total budget of $79.05 million is an increase of $2.10 million, or 2.7 percent, which proposes a total of $6.6 million in capital projects to include drainage, road and building improvements. Also at the meeting, six proposed charter amendments developed by the Charter Review Task Force were presented to the council, which decided to plan a joint meeting with the task force for further review, as well as several public workshops. Proposed charter questions for the March 16, 2016 ballot include proposed changes to council compensation, procedures to fill council vacancies, policy on notice for public meetings, referendum policy on increased millage rates and protection of the Equestrian Preserve Area.
Lennar Moves Ahead With Royal Palm Land Purchase
By Paul L. Gaba Town-Crier Staff Report The sale of Royal Palm Beach’s former wastewater treatment plant property will proceed as planned, Village Manager Ray Liggins told the Town-Crier last week. The $35 million sale of the 154acre property at the north end of Crestwood Blvd. was approved by the Royal Palm Beach Village Council in February, but had to go through several studies by purchaser Lennar Homes, including a traffic study and an analysis of cleaning up an old shooting range.
Liggins said Lennar met a Monday, July 13 deadline to submit a “notice to proceed” with the sale to the village, and that the sale’s “due diligence period” is now over. “The next step is they have to close on the property, either within 10 days after site plan approval or by Dec. 31, whichever is first,” Liggins said. Lennar has paid the village two deposits totaling $597,000 so far. As part of the site plan approval, representatives from Lennar will meet with village staff and put together a concept of what it intends
to build on the property. After that is completed, the proposal will go before the Royal Palm Beach Planning & Zoning Commission, and then to the council for final approval. Liggins said the village’s goal is to have things finalized for council approval by its Nov. 19 meeting, and close within 10 days of that date. According to the village’s proposed 2015-16 annual budget, $5.5 million of the capital improvement fund — of which nearly half was dedicated to major road resurfacing projects in 2016 — is to come from the property sale.