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Complaints lead city to close parks earlier
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published June 14, 2005
ZEPHYRHILLS - City parks soon will close at 10 p.m. nightly, a change of two hours due to complaints about noise.
City Council members in a meeting Monday evening voted 4-1 to amend a city ordinance moving the time back from midnight. Police Chief Russell Barnes said residents have complained about kids making noise, leaving trash and disturbing private property owners late at night.
The time change does not affect sports leagues whose games can run past closing time. City parks open at 6 a.m.
In other city news:
--Council members passed on final reading an amended landscape ordinance governing new development. The ordinance, which was written by a committee that included builders and architects, expands on existing requirements and provides for protection of certain trees. It applies to commercial projects and residential subdivisions but not to individual houses.
--The Fire Department is applying for a new Homeland Security Department grant that will pay for 50 percent of a firefighter's salary and benefits over five years. Zephyrhills is seeking three new firefighters. Chief Robert Hartwig acknowledged that the chances of winning the grant are slim. He said the federal funding pays for only about 1,800 firefighters nationwide.
[Last modified June 14, 2005, 01:27:13]
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