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Manager hints of hotel possibility for Seminole

City Manager Frank Edmunds says inquiries about property give him reason to hope.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published May 22, 2005

SEMINOLE - At least one hotel might be considering Seminole for a new location, according to City Manager Frank Edmunds.

The interest came in the form of two inquiries about property along Seminole Boulevard, but Edmunds said he couldn't divulge more information.

The discussions, he said, made him hopeful that Seminole might finally get a long-awaited hotel. In the past, hotels have not deemed Seminole a lucrative location.

"The economics have changed as the hotels are being bought and demolished on the coast," Edmunds said.

Edmunds' revelation came during a luncheon speech Thursday to the Seminole Chamber of Commerce. With the 10th anniversary of Seminole's council-manager form of government coming up in August, Edmunds spent most of his time giving a "state of the city" type address.

But he did offer one bit of advice regarding the upcoming hurricane season.

Local governments, he said, cannot provide help for everybody, so "it's really for residents to prepare now for the upcoming hurricane season."

Make a plan and "adhere to it," Edmunds said.

Edmunds is Seminole's first city manager, having taken the helm 10 years ago after voters decided to change from a strong-mayor to a council-manager form of government. Under a council-manager form, a city council sets policy and pays the manager to carry it out.

When Edmunds took over, the city was 2.2 square miles and had 9,000 residents. Through development and annexations, the city has more than doubled to 4.7 square miles - with 20,000 residents. The ultimate goal is to have 12 square miles and a population of 50,000, he said.

"We feel that we can comfortably grow to that size and still provide good services," Edmunds said.

At the beginning, the council spent much time planning - now that planning is paying off, he said, with new and improved parks, a joint-use library with St. Petersburg College and a new City Hall.

Through it all, the city has been fiscally responsible, he said. Seminole carries little debt and that is covered either by the Penny for Pinellas or accrued reserves.

"We're in sound financial condition," he said.

Now, the council is preparing to create more plans, he said. Council members are especially interested in establishing a downtown or city center. Part of that would be "theming" the business community.

That theming could take many forms, Edmunds said. It could mean common sign styles, colors, storefronts, landscaping or a mixture of those and other ideas.

[Last modified May 22, 2005, 01:07:21]