Michael Horan, 76, ex-St. Pete Beach mayor, real estate agent
As St. Pete Beach mayor, Michael J. Horan Sr. battled St. Petersburg over sewage treatment charges.
By CRAIG BASSE, Times Obituaries Editor
Published September 15, 2005
ST. PETE BEACH - Michael J. Horan Sr., a real estate agent and former mayor and city commissioner, has died at 76.
Mr. Horan, who was mayor from 1992 to 1996 and a commissioner from 1982 to 1987, died Tuesday (Sept. 13, 2005) at home.
In 2001, he was honored with a "Michael J. Horan Day" for his part in a battle between St. Pete Beach and St. Petersburg over sewage treatment charges.
The commission and administration congratulated themselves and former public officials like Mr. Horan for resolving the eight-year legal dispute. Mr. Horan, the mayor when the dispute flared up, was credited with insisting the city withhold sewage treatment payments from St. Petersburg.
The dispute began in the 1970s when the Environmental Protection Agency forced St. Pete Beach to close its sewage treatment plant and contract for outside treatment services.
When St. Petersburg began billing in 1994 for maintenance and operational costs in addition to actual treatment, St. Pete Beach refused to pay that portion of St. Petersburg's sewer bills.
St. Petersburg contended that St. Pete Beach owed $4.3-million, plus more than $2-million in other disputed charges. Instead, the cities negotiated a $2.8-million settlement.
A New York native, Mr. Horan came here in 1973 from Falls Church, Va. He was the owner of Horan Realty.
He retired from the Army as a colonel after 26 years with the 1st Cavalry Division. He was a member of American Legion Post 305 and the Armed Forces Aviator Association. He was a pilot who enjoyed boating.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Dorothy; two sons, Michael Jr. and Patrick, both of St. Petersburg; four daughters, Catherine Jackson, of Ellenton, Cynthia Hudson, of Grapevine, Texas, and Connie Kest and Colleen Picard, both of St. Petersburg; 17 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Beach Memorial Chapel, 301 Corey Ave. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. John's Catholic Church, 445 82nd Ave., where he was a member. Burial will be at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Clearwater.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga. 30368-2454.
--Information from Times files was used in this obituary.
