🌅 💰 Costco’s Big Move & City Contract Details

Good Morning, Sunland

It’s Monday! And let’s jump right in!

📺 Shoutout: Ty Watson & VZNRY TV! Big congrats to Ty Watson on the launch of VZNRY TV, a new streaming network making waves! 🌊 They kicked things off with a live performance over the weekend, and from the looks of it, the turnout was 🔥. Wishing them all the best on this new venture—excited to see what’s next! 🚀

🌡️ Weather Update: A bright start with showers rolling in later

☀️ Day: High of 74°F | ⛅ Sun and clouds mixed, with a slight chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 66°F | 🌧️ Overcast with rain showers at times.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:43 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 6:23 PM
🎵 Sounds like: “In This Cloud” by Angie Stone ☀️🎶

🧐 Treasure Coast Trivia: When did the Treasure Coast get its name?

🍋 The Main Squeeze: 💰 Fort Pierce Finalizing Contract for New City Manager

TL;DR: The Fort Pierce City Commission is set to finalize a five-year contract for incoming City Manager Richard D. Chess at Monday’s meeting. Chess is expected to start March 31, with a six-month probation period, a salary review, and additional perks.

What’s happening: The contract lays out key terms for Chess, who is currently assistant general manager of finance for Broward County Transportation. His deal includes: health and life insurance, a $450 monthly car allowance, $2,200 for professional memberships, and relocation assistance. He’s also required to live in the city within six months.

• Performance review: Commissioners will evaluate Chess after six months, with an automatic year-to-year renewal if no changes are made.

• Severance: If fired without cause, Chess would receive 90 days of severance pay and insurance. If dismissed for violating the law, failing duties, or dishonesty, he gets nothing.

Why it matters: The city has been without a permanent city manager since Nick Mimms was suspended and fired last year after his arrest for bid tampering and official misconduct. The fallout left unanswered questions about city contracts and transparency.

What’s next: Commissioners will also discuss temporary pay adjustments for Deputy City Manager DeVoshay Johnson, who is serving as interim city manager until Chess officially takes over.

📄 Want to see the full contract details? Read the draft contract here.

🍊 The Press Round: Costco is Coming!

💰 Vero Beach’s Missed Audit Puts $32M in Grants at Risk

New details reveal that Vero Beach’s missed audit deadline could jeopardize $32 million in utility grants, on top of an estimated $250,000 loss in state funding. The earliest resolution isn’t expected until mid-April. (Vero News)

👉 Read more

🎡 St. Lucie County Fair Draws Massive Turnout

The St. Lucie County Fair kicked off with a strong opening weekend, with around 120,000 visitors expected by the time the event wraps up on March 9. (WPTV)

👉 Read more

🏢 Stuart Costco Nearing Completion—How Close Is It to St. Lucie Landmarks?

The 156,438-square-foot Costco at 3173 S Kanner Hwy is set to open in April, featuring a big-box store, 18-pump gas station, restaurants, and 378 apartments. It’s conveniently located 15 miles from Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, 20 miles from Clover Park, and 30 miles from Downtown Fort Pierce, making it a key shopping hub for the Treasure Coast. (TC Palm)

👉 Read more

What do you think? 🚨 Should Vero Beach be worried about $32M in grants at risk due to a missed audit? If you went to the St. Lucie County Fair, did you experience long wait times? Are you excited for Costco’s April opening in Stuart, or will traffic be a concern? Drop your thoughts here! 👇

🌆 City Playbook: What’s Happening in St. Lucie County

Here’s a look at the key meetings, projects, and events happening this week in Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County.:

🗓️ Key Government Meetings

• Monday, March 3 – Fort Pierce City Commission Meeting (5:05 PM) | Fort Pierce City Hall

  • Discussion on hiring an Interim City Manager as the city finalizes its decision on a permanent hire.

  • Smart City Initiative Expansion: Approval of an amendment to extend public Wi-Fi coverage north of the Manatee Center to the River Walk Center boundary. The project is expected to cost up to $20,000.

• Tuesday, March 4 – St. Lucie County Board of Commissioners (6:00 PM)

  • The city will review proposals for the Avenue D Model Block, a redevelopment project aimed at increasing affordable workforce housing and revitalizing commerce along Avenue D. The project, a collaboration between Fort Pierce, the FPRA, and St. Lucie County, will help shape the future of the corridor. The next phase involves selecting a development partner to move the project forward.

🚧 City Projects & Updates

• Beach Nourishment Project at Jetty Park (March 3 – May 30) 95,000 cubic yards of sand will be added south of the jetty to combat erosion before hurricane season. Expect truck activity near South Ocean Drive and St. Lucie Court.

🚨 Public Safety Notice

• Thursday, March 6 – Nuclear Power Plant Siren Test (Noon) St. Lucie County & FPL will conduct a one-minute siren test within the 10-mile emergency planning zone. Get ready for the “This is only a test,” blaring through your walls.

🌿 Community Events

• Saturday, March 8 – Community Cleanup (8:00 AM – Noon)

  • Join Keep Fort Pierce Beautiful for a community cleanup across multiple locations. Volunteers get free breakfast, t-shirts, and community service hours. Kickoff at Manatee Center Parking Lot (480 N. Indian River Dr.)

📢 Have Your Say

• Port St. Lucie National Community Survey – Deadline: March 5 The city is collecting resident input to guide future planning and projects. If you didn’t receive a mail-in survey, you can complete it online: www.cityofpsl.com/communitysurvey

🎉 Events: 📆 Your Weekday Planner

Monday, March 3

• 🎨 Mom’s Wine Glass Painting at SusieDoos’ Playhouse. Enjoy a fun night of crafting, games, and prizes. BYOB! | 6 PM–9 PM | $20

Tuesday, March 4

• 🌱 Gardening Advice at Morningside Library. Get expert tips and bring your gardening questions for assistance. | 1 PM–3 PM | Free

• 🧵 Beginner Sewing Class at Hurston Library. Learn a simple sewing project—no registration required. | 4:30 PM–6 PM | Free

Wednesday, March 5

• 🔭 Wednesday Workshop: Eclipses, Transits & Occultations at Hallstrom Planetarium. Explore the science of eclipses with a hands-on workshop. | 7:30 PM–9:30 PM | $25

Thursday, March 6

• 🎶 Groovy Night – Throwback to the 70s & 80s! at Meating Street. A retro dance party featuring DJ Super Jay Dee and a best-dressed contest. | 8 PM | 21+ Event

Friday, March 7

• 🍖 6th Annual Treasure Coast Ribs, Wings & Music Festival at Causeway Cove Marina. Enjoy three days of mouthwatering BBQ, live music, and fun. | March 7-9 | $5-$10

• 🎸 Friday Fest – March 2025 with Kyle Kraft at Marina Square. A night of family fun with live music, food, and drinks. | 5:30 PM–8:30 PM | Free

If you have an event, send it to me here

💧 The Last Drop: 📢 3 Florida Headlines For The Road

1. ✈️ Miami Airport Defies ATC Shortage

   While air traffic controller vacancies rise nationwide, Miami Airport reports lower-than-average shortages. Read More

2. 🏀 Jimmy Butler Lawsuit

   The former Heat star is facing a lawsuit over $260K in unpaid rent and property damage in Miami Beach. See the Details

3. 🛍️ Macy’s Closing 8 Florida Stores

   Macy’s is shutting down several locations across Florida, including Boynton Beach, Sarasota, and Tampa. See the List

📸 This is Sunland: 🏃‍♂️ Counting Down to Slate Rocks 5K!

We’re just weeks away from Slate Rocks 5K, a race Sunland News is proud to help put together in honor of my late great uncle, Darin Slater, and to raise awareness for Colon Cancer Awareness Month this March.

The run happens March 15, and if you haven’t already, grab your official race shirt at slaterocks5k.com. Let’s make this one count! 💙

See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min

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