March 28, 2024

Southeast Florida In the News - Sept. 2005

Pat Dunnigan | 9/1/2005
BOCA RATON -- Prison management firm The Geo Group (NYSE-GGI) is buying rival Correctional Services Corp. of Sarasota for $62 million.

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Federal agents looking into allegations surrounding Sheriff Ken Jenne's involvement with a number of private companies doing business with the sheriff's office have seized records and computers from a company that supplied the sheriff's office with equipment ranging from rescue transport backboards to automotive supplies. The company's website had listed Jenne as its "director of international operations." Jenne's lawyer claims the company used his name without authorization.

City officials have reached an agreement with the promoters of the annual military Air & Sea Show that will allow the cash-strapped city to continue to host the event without incurring huge costs for police and city staff time. Promoter Pro Series Inc. has agreed to pick up $100,000 of the cost, which totaled $143,000 this year.

FORT PIERCE -- County commissioners have approved a 950-unit condominium, townhouse and single-family development that will include 20 eight-story buildings near the county line.

All 10,000 trees on a 150-acre citrus grove operated by the University of Florida for research purposes had to be destroyed because of a canker infestation. The grove, which included a collection of rare varieties, will be under quarantine for at least the next two years.

HOLLYWOOD -- The city has approved a proposal to partly demolish the historic downtown Great Southern Hotel to make room for a 19-story condominium project, drawing the ire of some preservationists.

MIRAMAR -- Condo converter Hudson Capital has purchased the Aventine apartment complex in Miramar for $144.66 million. The acquisition represents the largest real estate transaction in Broward County this year, the company says.

PALM BEACH COUNTY -- The Florida Ethics Commission will take up a proposed settlement agreement this month in the case of Palm Beach County Elections Supervisor Arthur Anderson, alleged to have violated financial disclosure requirements by failing to report his house, two bank accounts and a $25,000 loan to his campaign. The settlement agreement calls for Anderson, who says he did not intentionally omit the information, to pay a $500 fine.

An administrative judge has approved the county's decision to appoint itself as the provider of water and sewer services for new development in unincorporated areas. The cities of West Palm Beach and Wellington and the Indian Trail and Seminole improvement districts had argued that the county was promoting urban sprawl by providing the services.

PALM CITY -- Rain, runoff and development have proved too much for the St. Lucie River. The river is covered in algae, tainted with fecal coliform bacteria and agricultural nutrients and full of abnormal fish, according to a Miami Herald report. Water managers plan to build a system of reservoirs to capture and clean runoff before it is deposited into the river, but it will be 2009 before the first one is complete.

ROYAL PALM BEACH -- Developers of the Southern Palm Crossing shopping center, expected to open next summer, have signed retailers Marshalls, Home Goods, Stein Mart, Sports Authority and Petco. The shopping center will also include Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's and Cheeseburger in Paradise.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY -- The chamber of commerce has announced plans to form a Hispanic council to represent the area's growing number of Hispanic-owned businesses.

Arts:
Museum MakeoverBROWARD COUNTY -- Commissioners have agreed to move forward with a $16-million makeover of the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale. Additions will include a 27,000-sq.-ft. environmental education center.STUART -- Jean Strickland has been promoted to president and COO of First National Bank and senior executive vice president of holding company Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida, succeeding A. Douglas Gilbert. Gilbert becomes vice chairman and chief credit officer of First National as well as president and COO of Seacoast Banking Corp. Dennis S. Hudson III, chairman and CEO of First National Bank, is now also chairman of Seacoast Banking, and Dale M. Hudson has been named vice chairman of the holding company.

WEST PALM BEACH -- County commissioners say they will build a $13-million lab for the Scripps Research Institute at Florida Atlantic University but only if the university agrees to give back part of a parcel the county donated to the school 40 years ago. The county wants the land back to build a library.

The stock price of rum maker Cruzan International (Amex-RUM) has nearly doubled following its partial acquisition by the maker of Absolut Vodka. Absolut Spirits Co. plans to acquire the remaining Cruzan shares by September.

The South Florida Water Management District has created a non-profit entity to sell $1.5 billion in bonds to help finance parts of the Everglades restoration project.

Luxury condominium developer Homer Meruelo has donated $1.5 million to improve the long-neglected waterfront Currie Park, including adding new lighting, landscaping, play equipment, benches and running paths.

Commerce Bancorp of Cherry Hill, N.J., plans to buy Palm Beach County Bank for $100 million in stock. Commerce says the acquisition will launch a 150-branch expansion in southeast Florida. Palm Beach County Bank has $350 million in assets and seven branches.

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