This recognition represents the highest honor in governmental accounting and financial reporting and reflects the City’s strong commitment to keeping its champions informed and engaged.

An independent panel reviewed Clermont’s report and confirmed it meets the program’s rigorous standards, including demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure and clearly communicating the City’s financial story in a way that encourages residents and stakeholders to engage with the information.

“This recognition is a tremendous honor for our city and a reflection of the outstanding work of our Finance Department,” said City Manager Rick Van Wagner. “We are grateful to our City Council for providing the leadership, tools, and funding needed to achieve this prestigious goal. Their continued support allows our team to deliver the high level of transparency and accountability our champions expect and deserve.”

The achievement highlights the strength of collaboration across the entire organization, with teams working together to ensure accuracy, clarity, and completeness in every detail of the report.

“This accomplishment truly reflects a team effort across our entire organization,” said Deputy City Manager Dan Matthys. “Our Finance Department works hand in hand with every department to gather, verify, and present the information that tells Clermont’s financial story. That level of collaboration and commitment to excellence is what makes achievements like this possible, and it speaks volumes about the professionalism and teamwork across our city.”

In addition to the City receiving this national honor, Clermont’s Finance Department was also recognized with the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement for its instrumental role in preparing the report.

To earn this distinction, governments must produce financial reports that are easy to read, efficiently organized, and in full compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable legal requirements. The review process is thorough and requires unanimous approval from expert reviewers, making this recognition a significant accomplishment for any government.

This achievement reflects a strong partnership between City Council, City Manager, and staff, all working together to ensure Clermont continues to operate with excellence and transparency. Through this collaborative approach, the City provides clear, accessible financial information that builds trust and supports informed decision making.

The Certificate of Achievement is valid for one year. Clermont remains committed to maintaining these high standards and will submit its next Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for continued consideration, reinforcing its dedication to continuous improvement and accountability.

For Clermont champions, this recognition is more than an award. It is a reflection of a city that values openness, teamwork, and responsible stewardship, all working together to support a thriving and connected community.

This is what it means to be the Choice of Champions®.

The post City of Clermont Earns National Recognition for Excellence in Financial Reporting appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

The post Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks to participate In Statewide Wildlife Corridor Expedition appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

The post Clermont Mayor Visits the Clermont Woman’s Club appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Frank worked with the City of Inverness and Citrus County, where he focused on community development, economic growth and local business support. His background and leadership will play an important role, strengthening Groveland’s downtown and creating opportunities for businesses to succeed.

Frank, Welcome to the Groveland Community.

The post Welcome Frank Calascione To The City of Groveland Team appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Members of the Clermont Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol and multi-agency members of the Mid-Florida SWAT Team came together on Thursday, April 2^nd, to participate in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida.

The Torch Run is a yearly law enforcement fundraising effort that supports Special Olympics athletes through relay runs held around the globe. The Clermont Police Department participates in several “Tip-A-Cop” events hosted by area restaurants throughout the year to help in the fundraising goals. The state of Florida is recognized as the top state not only in the nation, but in the world for meeting and excelling beyond fundraising goals for the Special Olympics.

The opening ceremonies, held at the Special Olympics Headquarters located at 1915 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont, were led by Ken Roop, State Director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Welcoming the attendees were Clermont Police Chief John Graczyk, and President/CEO of Special Olympics Florida Meghan McLean.

The group of walkers and runners, led by Chief John Graczyk, took the annual trek that led to Oakley Seaver Drive, Hancock Road, and Legends Way. The participants took a brief recess at Legends Way and Don Wickham Drive to allow the supporters to regroup as one in unity and teamwork while crossing the finish line together at the Special Olympics Headquarters.

Special Olympics is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities while working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Those activities give the participants continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships.

The Clermont Police Department has been a long-time advocate and support team for the Special Olympics of Florida organization through fundraising and participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Torch Run gains the support of over 300 Florida law enforcement agencies each year. With nearly 5,000 police officers participating statewide, the run includes a 1500-mile relay through 67 Florida counties before ending at the opening ceremony of the annual state summer games. The state summer games begin on May 15^th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and USTA National Campus, 700 South Victory Way, Orlando.

Visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org to learn more about the non-profit organization and its mission statement.

The post Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

What We Heard From Our First Community Survey

Earlier this month, we launched our first-ever community survey and the response was clear: Groveland residents care deeply about where our city is headed and want to be part of shaping the future.

We introduced this new engagement program to give more residents a voice in city decisions through quick, anonymous surveys, helping us better understand your priorities and make more informed choices. 

What We Heard – Across the board, several themes rose to the top. Residents told us that public safety, road improvements and managing growth are among the most important priorities for our city. You also emphasized the importance of maintaining quality infrastructure and preserving Groveland’s character as we continue to grow.

Just as important, many of you shared a desire for clear communication and transparency, wanting to stay informed about projects, decisions and how your tax dollars are being used.

One thing stood out: many of you don’t think you’re getting your money’s worth from the taxes you pay. This isn’t surprising, especially given the higher price of groceries and gas right now. We’ll be asking for more specifics in future surveys.

Why It Matters – The results of this and future surveys are more than just feedback: they’re a roadmap. They will help guide how we prioritize projects, allocate resources and plan for the future. Whether it’s investing in roads, expanding public safety services or improving communication, your input is directly shaping the work we do every day.

Keep the Conversation Going – If you haven’t signed up to take the surveys yet, please do so. Groveland works best when we work together and this is one more way we can listen, learn and move forward as one community.

Big Opportunity for Small Businesses – We recently celebrated an important investment in Groveland’s local business community: the groundbreaking of 1st American Way in the Christopher C. Ford Commerce Park.

This new small-bay industrial development will include three buildings with flexible spaces sized between 1,500 and 4,500 s.f. to support day-to-day operations, services and trades that residents rely on. With convenient access to the Turnpike, U.S. 27 and State Road 19, it will help strengthen connections between local businesses and the customers they serve. The first tenants are expected in early 2027.

K-9 Team Takes Drugs Off Streets – I’d like to take a moment to recognize the outstanding work of our Groveland Police Department, especially K-9 Officer Eastridge and his four-legged partner, Xena.

The 55-pound Belgian Malinois recently helped locate 104 grams of methamphetamine inside an abandoned building. That represents hundreds of individual doses and anyone in possession of that amount would be considered a drug trafficker.

This kind of work often happens behind the scenes, but it plays a critical role in keeping our neighborhoods safe. Our K-9 team is an essential part of that effort, assisting with searches, investigations and crime prevention every day.

Faster Care When Every Second Counts – In an emergency, seconds matter. That’s why Groveland has equipped every fire vehicle with advanced medical capabilities, allowing life-saving care to begin the moment crews arrive.

Our firefighters and EMTs can immediately respond to cardiac events, serious injuries and other medical emergencies with both the tools and training needed to stabilize patients on scene.

The impact of speed is well documented. During cardiac arrest, a person’s chance of survival decreases by 7–10% for every minute without CPR or defibrillation, and faster response times are directly linked to better outcomes.

By investing in advanced care, we’re improving response times and giving people the best possible chance when it matters most.

Private Investment to Pay for Improved Turnpike Interchange – We recently reached an agreement that represents a major milestone for Groveland’s future.

As part of its new master-planned community Brighthill, the Eisenhower Group has committed to funding major improvements to our Turnpike interchange, representing a private investment of $50 to $70 million. The group has already paid $7 million in impact fees. This is a significant partnership that will help advance critical infrastructure without placing that burden on taxpayers.

Improvements to the interchange will enhance mobility along the U.S. 27 corridor, support local businesses and help diversify Groveland’s tax base.

The post Groveland Mayor Keith Keogh’s News Highlights appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

On Tuesday, April 14, from 7 pm to 9 pm, Lake County Indivisibles will host a Community Town Hall at the Clermont City Center – 620 W. Montrose Street in downtown Clermont (across from City Hall). The 380-seat hall is expected to fill quickly. Invitations were sent to Rep. Daniel Webster, every Republican primary candidate, the Libertarian candidate, and the three Democratic primary candidates. 

At this moment, only the three Democrats have accepted:

• Royal Webster
• Barbie Harden Hall
• Dan Williams

“This is not a campaign rally — it’s a voter rally,” said Cyn Doyle of Lake County Indivisibles. “No stump speeches, no campaign signs, no canned answers. Just real questions from real people in District 11, asked the same way to every candidate, with exactly two minutes to answer. The community writes the questions on the spot as they walk in — so no one gets a sneak peek.”The goal is simple and powerful: give voters a clear, side-by-side look at the candidates before the August 18 primary.  

Democrats can size up their options. Republicans, NPAs, and independents can decide whether they want to switch party affiliation for the Democratic primary, vote in the Republican Primary or simply sit this one out. (If one switches party affiliation, it must be done 29 days before the primary). 

Format: Same questions for all three candidates • 2-minute answers • Community-written questions • No campaigning allowed “Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, NPA, or just a curious voter, this is your chance to see the contenders without the filter,” Doyle added. “We expect it to be a very interesting evening.

Lake County Indivisibles
A non-partisan grassroots group dedicated to protecting democracy, holding elected officials accountable, and making sure every voter has a voice — regardless of party.

The post Lake County Indivisibles Is Giving Voters An Early, No-Spin Look At Who Wants To Represent Congressional District 11. appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Despite the efforts of Hays and other Supervisors of Elections across the state asking this organization (The Voter Participation Center), to cease these actions, we have been notified that they will be mailing information to Lake County voters.

The Voter Participation Center is a nongovernmental, third party organization. They are NOT affiliated with the Elections Office. The Elections Office has neither printed nor distributed these mail pieces, nor supplied the data used in them. These mailings often contain outdated or inaccurate information about a voter’s registration status. “Incorrect data in past mailings have consequently reduced voter confidence and aroused suspicion from voters who believe their information may have been compromised,” says Supervisor Hays. “Groups such as these continue to prey upon public uncertainty, generating more confusion and misinformation.”

Our office recommends discarding these mailings, or contacting the organization directly, to be removed from future mailings.

Voters can check their official voter registration status by visiting the Lake County SOE website at www.LakeVotes.gov and selecting Voter Information. Individuals wishing to register to vote, or current voters who need to update their voter record or signature, are encouraged to visit RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, Florida’s official online voter registration system.

Voters who have questions are welcome to contact the SOE at VoterOutreach@LakeVotes.gov or call the office at (352) 343-9734, Monday-Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

The post Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alerts Voters to Unofficial Voter Registration Mailings appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

The City of Clermont Fire and Police Department’s together hosted a recent open house and official media tour  for a new Public Safety Training Center that is currently in operation. The training center officially opened its doors in January of this year and has been a continual work in progress since.

The training center, located at 400 12^th Street, is a makeover of the former public works facility that had previously occupied the property for decades. Existing buildings were retrofitted to accommodate the needs of not only training but also office space for the fire department’s inspection personnel. Much of the work has been completed by fire personnel when staffing availability allowed for the extra work – much of which was completed in volunteer fashion by Clermont firefighters. “A lot of the building was left in disrepair by Hurricane Milton in 2024, but we were able to repair the damages, primarily to the roof at reasonable costs,” says Assistant Fire Chief Rick Casler.

The property and structures have been somewhat divided between the two departments with the police department taking control of the former auto mechanic bays. Portions of the bays will be retrofitted to accommodate at least one training room and one classroom for police personnel. Other plans for the building remain in the active planning stage. “This additional space will free up space at the police headquarters building to allow for further growth in the future,” says Police Chief John Graczyk.

Other plans for the facility include a regional training facility that will be open to area public safety agencies in the south end of the county, at a minimum. Currently, police officers and firefighters alike must travel to other parts of the county, or even Central Florida to acquire certain types of hands-on training.

Plans include enlarging the useable grounds of the property to accommodate additional training structures soon. “Today is an important chapter in the 20-year plan of this facility. The vision began under Retired Fire Chief Carle Bishop and continued with current Fire Chief David Ezell,” says City Manager Rick Van Wagner.

Fire Chief Ezell stated in a previous interview that the facility will reduce travel and overtime costs of first responder personnel. Much of the training center will be funded by grants sought by the City of Clermont. Along with saving travel and overtime costs, Chief Ezell plans to improve firefighter readiness, increase hands-on, scenario-based training, ensure compliance with state and national standards, and provide realistic training in a controlled environment.

“The facility will also be utilized for joint training with other agencies throughout the area. This training facility represents a major investment in first responder safety, preparedness, and community protection,” says Chief Ezell. Continual training is a must in today’s first responder safety, and for the safety of the public as well. A simple yet profound message printed on the welcome brochure sends a clear reminder of the importance of training: “let no one’s ghost return to say their training let them down.”

Some of the displays at the tour included fire suppression training exhibits, technical and heavy rescue, hazardous materials, EMS and paramedic medical training that included demonstrations of life saving measures such as mechanical CPR and cardiac arrest assistance, along with firefighter fitness training. The Clermont Fire Department maintains one of the highest survivability and recovery percentages of cardiac patients in distress in the county due to the state-of-the-art equipment that is on each of the department’s fire engines and continual training of first responder personnel.

The police department presented a visual demonstration of its DRONE program. The department operates two Drones that serve very different purposes, including both interior and exterior capability. Each drone has suspect detection abilities that significantly reduce the danger to on scene officers at active and in progress calls. Both drones have entry capabilities to vehicles and structures alike, including glass cutting and breaking abilities.  A brand-new piece of training equipment for the police department was the hands-on display of a virtual reality device that allows officers to train in simulated, realistic scenarios that officers may face in the field. The innovative approach enhances traditional training methods by providing immersive experiences that improve various skills, such as taser deployment, firearm use, deescalation techniques and verbal commands.

The Clermont Fire Department and Police Department provide a variety of community services and programs for Clermont residents of all ages. Please visit each of the department’s webpages at www.ClermontFL.gov for further information.  

The post City of Clermont Fire and Police Department’s Open House appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

At its meeting on Tuesday, March 24, the Clermont City Council considered a proposal that could have significantly changed how long its members serve in office—but ultimately chose to leave the current system in place.

Mayor Tim Murry brought forward an agenda item for discussion and possible action to amend the City Charter, proposing that council member terms be extended from two years to four years. The measure, if approved by the Council, would have required staff to draft an ordinance for both first and final readings, along with public advertising. Final approval would have placed the proposed amendment on the November ballot, allowing Clermont voters to make the decision.

Supporters of the change pointed to several potential benefits. Extending terms to four years was described as a way to provide greater stability and continuity in city leadership. Longer terms could allow council members to focus more on governing rather than campaigning. Additionally, aligning elections with statewide election years could save the City an estimated $80,000 to $160,000 in election costs.

During public comment, the majority of speakers expressed support for the proposed four-year terms, noting that term limits would still apply. Under the proposal, council members would be limited to a total of eight years in office, with no reset provision.

Several residents emphasized that the decision should ultimately rest with voters, urging the Council to allow the issue to appear on the ballot for public consideration.

After extensive discussion, however, the Council voted 3-2 against moving the proposal forward. The decision keeps the current two-year term structure in place and removes the possibility of voter input on the issue at this time.

In a separate but related concern raised during the meeting, residents voiced dissatisfaction with the current 3:00 pm meeting start time, citing accessibility challenges for those who work during the day. While some advocated for a return to the previous 6:30 pm meeting schedule, that change does not appear to have strong support among council members.

The discussion highlighted ongoing tensions between governance efficiency and public participation—issues likely to remain part of future conversations at City Hall.

The post Clermont City Council Declines Proposal To Extend Term Lengths appeared first on South Lake Tablet.