Dunedin Agrees: Ban Internet Cafe Game Devices

Dunedin leaders issued unanimous support April 4 for Pinellas County's proposed ban on gaming devices at Internet sweepstakes cafes.

Dunedin leaders issued unanimous support April 4 for Pinellas County's proposed ban on gaming devices at Internet sweepstakes cafes. The Internet cafes, which have been popping up in Dunedin and locations throughout the county in recent years, typically offer legitimate services such as Web access or telephone cards, in addition to onsite sweepstakes games. City Attorney Tom Trask explains: In general, a player purchases internet access at a point of sale station and receives an account, usually a card or number. The player uses that card or number at a terminal, sets his or her bets and begins to play. The terminal displays a game, such as spinning wheels like those of a slot machine, and then an outcome (a win or loss). When the player …

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Dunedin Honors Two-Time State Champion, District Wrestlers

Clarence Arrington, Dunedin's first two-time state wrestling champion, was honored, along with three teammates for their athletic and academic achievements.

Clarence Arrington is the first two-time state champion in Dunedin wrestling history. And he holds a 3.62 GPA. Arrington, a Dunedin High senior, was honored by city commissioners, along with three of his other district champion teammates, for their athletic and academic achievements on March 21. "I tell you what's impressive about these young men," said Mayor Dave Eggers, "they seem to be champions in the school room too."  Last year, Arrington and Kyle Goodnow became the second and third state champion, respectively, in Dunedin wrestling history by capturing their weight classes. Dunedin High's first state champion wrestler earned his title in 1975. Eggers also recognized the following Falcons wrestlers: "Our kids are earning those kind …

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Bayshore Eyesore Comes Tumbling Down

"The Gibson House" was demolished Monday, marking the finality of a property owner's longstanding impasse with the City of Dunedin.

The source of a 13-year stalemate came tumbling down in 35 minutes. "The Gibson House," an unfinished, unoccupied and dilapidated concrete and plywood structure with black tar paper siding at 1813 Bayshore Blvd., was demolished early April 1, marking the end of the city's longstanding stalemate with property owner Robert Gibson. Only the finished, pinkish-orange garage was left standing. Truckloads of rubble were hauled to a site in Pasco County. "The timing of the demolition couldn’t be any better, as this property will also be added to the MLS in the next couple of weeks," Matthew Campbell, assistant city manager, wrote in an email. A Realtor working for the city will list the former Gibson parcel as a "surplus property" for potential …

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waltallen

10:01 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Here's just one interesting part of the story Rebecca - most recent Channel 11 piece from November on some of the monkey business - good investigating work from I-team reporter Francis Gilpin - enjoy -http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/i-team-local-bank-folded-under-weight-of-dubious-multimillion-dollar-loans (correction I meant December 2012 in previous post)   more ›

Dunedin Looks to Reaffirm Commitment to Toronto Blue Jays

City officials look to pass a resolution urging county and state entities to align with Dunedin in its Major League Baseball retention efforts.

Retaining Major League Baseball in Dunedin isn't just a city issue. It's one state and county leaders should also have on deck, city officials say. That's precisely why Dunedin leaders look to pass a resolution during a Thursday, April 4 commission meeting urging several state and county groups to reaffirm commitment, along with the city, to keeping the Toronto Blue Jays. The resolution comes on the heels of the team's recent public statements that it is using the final four years of its license agreement with Dunedin to look at other spring training locations. Dunedin leaders talked strategy during a March 21 public meeting, sharing pieces of their retention efforts, which includes the possibility of hiring a professional negotiation firm…

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Mathew Eberius, CPRP

6:07 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Let's keep in mind that not only do the Blue Jays contribute for the spring months, but they also house a minor league affiliate in the stadium from Apr-Sept. That creates events, family days and more to stimulate the area in what would be a dead summer heat.   more ›

Helicopters to Drop Thousands of Easter Eggs in Dunedin

Two helicopter pilots are dropping 10,000 plastic Easter eggs at Highlander Park on Saturday.

The plastic, pastel eggs are loaded with prizes and ready to go airborne. All 10,000 snap-tight Sunny Bunny Easter Eggs, which are specifically designed for helicopter drops, were driven over in boxes to Tampa Bay Aviation in Clearwater on Monday, says Angel Trueblood, a new Dunedin employee organizing her first city event. The next time those eggs will see Dunedin is on the descent of a 20-foot free-fall over Highlander Park on Saturday. And the city has so many eggs, they wouldn't all fit into the single Robinson R22 helicopter they rented for $300, says Trueblood. The pilot would have had to make several trips. To prevent delays, they allotted another $600 for a slightly bigger Robinson R44. This way, both helicopters can arrive in …

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Dredging: Who Should Pay $2.4 Million for Cedar Creek, Lake Sperry?

Sand buildup in Cedar Creek and Lake Sperry may become a big stormwater drainage issue if it is not dealt with, says an engineer hired by the city.

A sand buildup is scientifically proven to be an increasing problem for some Dunedin residents. And it may be the source of a political back-and-forth over whether taxpayers should foot an estimated $2.4 million dredging bill to get rid of it. More than 15 years worth of sand and silt is filling Lake Sperry, a private neighborhood pond, and Cedar Creek, which abuts several residential yards, preventing the flow of runoff into St. Joseph Sound. "There are going to be impacts to the system eventually if no maintenance is done out there," Joe Wagner, P.E., of Taylor Engineering, Inc., told Dunedin commissioners during a March 12 public workshop.  "It's going to a condition that's going to, at some point, cause stormwater and drainage problems…

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Maintaining Major League Baseball in Dunedin: Officials Talk Strategy

A looming December 2017 expiration on Dunedin's license agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays has city officials getting serious about retention efforts.

The Toronto Blue Jays have about four years before deciding the fate of its 35-year relationship with Dunedin. Team officials recently told a Canadian reporter that they were using the time to look at other locations, citing Dunedin's stadium conditions and its three-and-half mile distance from the clubhouse as reasons for leaving. The looming expiration has prompted city officials to develop strategies for keeping the team happy to call Dunedin its home. "There are still approximately four and a half years remaining on the current agreement, and it is advisable to use that time wisely to secure a contract extension," Vince Gizzi, parks and recreation director, wrote in a March 13 memo to Rob DiSpirito, city manager.  They'll be discussing…

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r. murphy

5:40 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013

Hi Mark, Its April 25th and here we are for 10 days, staying at Innisbrook, spending money at the Black Pearl, Dunedin Brewing Co, the local Barbershop and Leukins.As Canadians, we visit all during the baseball season and many elect to stay, buy property and become tax payers. If the team and the city can't come to an agreement we'll follow them, and their minor league team wherever they go. I …   more ›

Time Change for March 12 Commission Workshop

A Commission Workshop will be held Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall Chambers.

Evolving Dunedin

Developers May Close Deal on Gateway Project Before September

Finalizing the plans on the six-years vacant Gateway Project lot in downtown Dunedin is in "the home stretch," according City Manager Rob DiSpirito during Thursday's commission meeting at City Hall.

City Manager Rob DiSpirito can envision it already: A pedestrian-focused block extending downtown to the hospital, with green space, apartments, retail shops and restaurants welcoming visitors at downtown Dunedin's easternmost gateway. It's been a long time coming, and would be such a boon for downtown, he said following Thursday's commission meeting at City Hall. And they're so close to setting the plans in motion. Developers of the vacant 4.1.-acre prime downtown parcel at Main Street and Milwaukee Avenue, across from Mease Dunedin Hospital, get six more months to close the deal, commissioners decided Thursday. But DiSpirito expects them to be ready much sooner than that.  Plans have been delayed for the better part of six years because …

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Sail Honeymoon Not Exempt from Bid Process, Commission Rules

Dunedin commissioners agreed in a 3-2 vote to move forward on a three-year-old agreement with Glen Steinke, the expiring concessionaire at Sail Honeymoon on Dunedin Causeway, to open the land to competitive bidding.

Sail Honeymoon supporters turned out in droves to Thursday's city commission meeting, hoping to convince city officials to make a policy exception for beloved owner Glen Steinke. Despite Steinke's plea to "do what’s right, do what’s right for me, right for the taxpayers and right for the community," the exception they all hoped for wasn't approved. An estimated 60 supporters filled the seats inside City Hall, overflowing into the aisle and front foyer. They wore printed stickers that read "I Support Glen + Sail Honeymoon Dunedin Causeway," and many spoke of their affection for the longtime owner of the iconic kayak rental business. They all asked them to skip the competitive bidding process, known as the RFP (request for proposal) process…

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