STUART — To contend with the ongoing budgetary uncertainties facing local governments, Stuart City commissioners Monday unanimously approved an early retirement incentive package for city workers.

In addition to regular retirement benefits, city employees who would be eligible for retirement by Sept. 30 can opt to receive 36 months of paid insurance at their current coverage and premium level or a lump-sum, before-tax payout of $20,000, said Stuart City Manager Dan Hudson.
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Port St. Lucie’s next biotech institute is one step closer to reality.

Oregon Health & Science University’s Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute signed a deal this month to design and build its new $30 million laboratory in the Tradition development west of Interstate 95.

The institute tapped Baltimore-based Whiting Turner Contracting Co. to oversee construction of the 105,000 square feet of laboratories and offices. The building is on target to be completed in May 2011, said Andrew Favata, vice president for Tradition’s developer, Core Communities LLC.

VGTI Florida, as the local campus has been dubbed, will be built on eight acres at Core Communities’ Florida Center for Innovation at Tradition, a fledgling research park that’s now home to another biotech outfit, the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies. (more…)

Is there such a thing as a recession-proof business?

Mark Libratore, whose Stuart company sells diabetes equipment and other medical supplies, thinks his comes close.

Last week — the same week Florida’s unemployment hit its highest level since 1976 — Libratore’s Liberator Medical Supply said it intends to hire 200 employees within the next two years. That’s including the 50 jobs it announced in January. (more…)

PALM CITY — A throng of people in the former fire station on Southwest Martin Downs Boulevard Thursday evening celebrated the opening of the new home of the Palm City branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Martin County with food, dance and exploration of the building’s colorful rooms.

The facility replaces rooms leased from Immanuel Lutheran Church as the Palm City Boys & Girls Club’s base of operations, and club members said they are happy with the large, bright facility.

The building, leased from the county, is impressive compared to the second-floor space the club used in the church, said 9-year-old Kylie Bass, who started attending the club with her sister after school last year.

“It’s so big, and the other one’s so small,” she said.

The new building at 1150 S.W. Martin Downs Blvd. comes with a gymnasium and basketball court, computer room filled with new flat-screen monitors, kitchen, teen leadership room and more. (more…)

FORT PIERCE — A plan that includes eliminating 331 jobs and closing three schools to cut $30.6 million from next year’s budget was explained in detail Tuesday evening to elected members of the School Board, who sat silent through the presentation by Schools Superintendent Michael Lannon.

Their lack of comment was deliberate. Chairwoman Judi Miller said after the meeting all five members of the School Board had previously agreed in individual conversations with Lannon not to speak until after a town hall meeting on the proposal, scheduled for 6 p.m. March 31 at Fort Pierce Central High School auditorium.

Lannon spoke for almost one hour on a problem that he laid entirely at the feet of Tallahassee lawmakers who refuse to raise more money in the face of shortfalls created by the economic recession.
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Port St. Lucie is getting into the home-buying business.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last week gave city officials the go-ahead on a plan to spend $13.5 million in federal money buying, repairing and reselling foreclosed homes.

Port St. Lucie hopes to start working with local real estate agents this week and begin closing on homes in as little as a month, said Pat Selmer, assistant director of the city’s community services department. (more…)

Beth Mazzouccolo, a widow with two children and her 86-year-old mother living at home, is concerned about landing a new job and being able to pay for health care.

But she’s hopeful that President Obama’s $75 billion housing plan will allow her to reduce her monthly mortgage payments.

With her unemployment benefits soon to run out, Mazzouccolo’s income tax refund has allowed her to catch up on her $1,600-a-month mortgage on the Fisherman’s Cove duplex in Stuart that is now worth nearly $40,000 less than the $195,000 she bought it for two years ago. (more…)

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Lennar Homes, Inc. was granted a three-year development agreement Tuesday to put 325 homes on about 156 acres at the southeast corner of Silver Oaks Drive and Tilton Road in a move that drew heavy criticism from those living near the land.
County commissioners ultimately decided 4-1 that the proposal is about as good as they could get and decided this is not a precedent that could give developers expectations to extend other projects. The applicant agreed during the meeting to accept three years instead of five years to develop the project.
“I am not convinced you’re going to get a much better development on this property,” said Commissioner Chris Craft, who voted for the project along with Commissioners Doug Coward, Chris Dzadovsky and Paula Lewis. (more…)

“Hopefully, this is going to bring an end to the massive overtime problem we’ve had in Martin County for the last 12 years,” Billington said. The county paid $2.3 million in overtime to fire rescue workers last year. (more…)

Some residents of St. Lucie County have a chance to protect their homes against hurricane damage. For free.

The county and I.N.T.A.C.T., a local long-term recovery organization, are seeking low-income residents to apply for inspections and grants offered through the My Safe Florida Home Program.

Low-income residents who own their own home and have a homestead exemption could be eligible.

Improvements covered may include hurricane shutters, exterior and garage doors and gable end-bracing.
For more information about income limits, or to apply, call (772)462-1777.

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