🛒 Costco (Maybe) Coming to PSL

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🎶 Sounds like: "This Woman's Work" — Maxwell

Daisy at SE Benchmark has been on me about making sure I have all my insurance in place. It's the top of the year, so I'm already doing an analysis of what I'm spending and how much. Insurance is a big piece of that.

Here's the thing: insurance companies just took a rate decrease. Yesterday, Daisy saved a Fort Pierce resident almost $1,000 for the year on their auto insurance. One phone call. $1,000 saved.

Port St. Lucie city leaders are meeting Monday at noon to consider selling about 23 acres in Southern Grove to Costco Wholesale.

If approved, Costco would build a 170,000 square foot store with a gas station on the property. The land sits west of I-95, south of Tradition Parkway and north of Southwest Becker Road, right next to the Costco distribution center that's opening this month.

How it works: The Governmental Finance Corporation, a nonprofit created by the city to handle real estate deals, will vote on the purchase and sale agreement. The GFC board is made up of all five City Council members.

City officials say a Costco has been "a top request from residents for many years."

The Treasure Coast got its first Costco last year when Stuart opened a 160,000 square foot location off Kanner Highway after years of debate. That distribution center opening this month is expected to employ more than 500 people.

Camille Wallace was named Fort Pierce's junior deputy city manager effective March 1, moving from her role as senior assistant city attorney to work under City Manager Richard Chess. Wallace will prioritize getting control of dozens of city-owned properties leased to businesses and nonprofits after the city struggled to screen tenants and manage lease terms that generate revenue.

👉 Read more (Hometown News)

Port St. Lucie opened The Preserve, a 13-acre park with half a mile of trails and elevated walkways connecting to the boardwalk along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. The $970,000 park sits next to The Grove entertainment district, with $400,000 funded by a Florida Inland Navigation District grant and the rest from parks impact fees.

👉 Read more (WPTV)

Martin County School Board is considering banning e-bikes and motorbikes on campuses unless students are 16 with a driver's license and helmet, with a 2 mph speed limit for those who qualify. The board tabled the decision to see what state legislators do with a bill that would ban e-bikes for kids under 16, with the Martin County Sheriff's Office backing the restrictions after seeing crashes and riders without helmets.

👉 Read more (WQCS)

The St. Lucie County Commission voted 3-2 Tuesday night to move forward with direct negotiations on two major airport parcels, skipping a competitive bidding process.

The deals involve Aero East (40 acres) and Aero West, with a company offering 34-cents per square foot, above the appraised 32-cents. The tenant would bring a paint facility and FBO from Fort Lauderdale, where their lease expires in 18 months.

Commissioners Clasby and Townsend voted no, pushing for an open RFP process. "This is a 50-year relationship," Clasby said. "I haven't been given a good reason we wouldn't go back out to bid."

Commissioner Leet disagreed. "We have the perfect company. They're ready to go. If we put it out for bid, we're going to lose this company."

The direct negotiations would generate $750,000 annually for the county and avoid $50,000+ in appraisal and RFP costs.

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See you Monday!
With Love, Ja’Min

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