PONCE INLET -- Town police Detective Max Binz said the already overworked force has had to adjust to yet another responsibility in dealing with the recession: keeping an eye on more than two dozen foreclosed homes.
"It's something we've had to deal with, especially in the past year," said Binz, a 12-year veteran and the department's lone detective.
"That's an extra patrol we have to do, but everyone has had to tighten their belts and we're no different," Binz said. "Still Ponce Inlet remains a great place to live where residents pay more because of the quality of life."
Ponce Inlet, the lone Volusia town on the Atlantic coastline amid the larger coastal cities, relies predominantly on residential taxes to provide municipal services.
Councilwoman Tami Lewis said she's pleased that Ponce Inlet held its own in 2009, in dealing with tough economic times.
"There's a lot to be positive about," she said, noting, "we got through the budget process this year, keeping taxes down and that will be our challenge in the new year. That's what we need to be focused on."
Though Lewis didn't have a vote on the fiscal 2009 municipal budget since she was only elected last month, she was pleased that the council listened to the taxpayers and kept spending in check.
Lewis was among three newcomers to the council in November's election, besting Nancy Epps, also a former mayor, by a mere 13 votes, 608 to 595, for the district 3 seat.
Tom Rutledge, the lone incumbent to win, reclaimed seat No. 5, with 541 votes, over challengers Bill Milano and Dennis Raposa, 346 and 317 votes, respectively.
Tony Goudie was elected mayor with 59 percent of the vote over Jack Sturno, 711 to
The newly reformed council has high hopes for the new year under the administrative leadership of Interim City Manager Jeaneen P. Clauss, the former assistant town manager promoted in May in replacing Cassandra Blissett.
Clauss received an $11,000 raise, bringing her salary to nearly $86,000.
Lewis said she and the rest of the council members are so pleased with Clauss' leadership of the city's 46 employees that the search for a permanent town manager has been called off and the prognosis of removing the "interim" label seems favorable early in the new year.
PONCE INLET FAST FACTS:
Population: 3,279 in 1,206 households on scenic Atlantic shoreline
Local elected officials
* Mayor, Seat 1 - Tony Goudie
* Vice-Mayor Seat 2 - Kris Derr
* Council-member Seat 3 - Tom Rutledge
* Council-member Seat 4 - Barbara Davis
* Council-member Seat 5 - Tami Lewis
* Interim Town Manager (appointed) - Jeaneen Clauss
Municipal Budget
* $5.4 million operating budget for fiscal 2009-'10
* $2.61 million in reserves
Points of Interest
* Marine Science Center
* Lighthouse Point Park and historic lighthouse
* Ponce Inlet Jetty
* Timucuan Oaks Botanical Garden
* Marinas: Adventure Yacht Harbor Inc., Inlet Harbor Marina, Sea Love
Marina
Sources: Town of Ponce Inlet online, Wikipedia
-- Henry Frederick