By JOY MURPHY
The Ledger, 8/13/2000

WINTER HAVEN -- As the search for a new city manager gets under way, Yvonne Brooks, a candidate for commission seat No. 4, thinks there are a number of other issues Winter Haven commissioners must also address.

City Manager Carl Cheatham agreed three months ago to retire at the end of October. Commissioners will meet this week to choose a search firm to begin looking for Cheatham's replacement.

"Commissioners, both new and old, need to put a sense of urgency into the hiring of a new city manager," Brooks said. "I was very pleased to see the number of search firms that were solicited for the contract."

Brooks thinks commissioners should only consider candidates with successful experience and education in municipal management.

The new city manager should work well with people, too, she said.

"A good city manager should know how to motivate people well," Brooks said. "The city manager should also work with the City Commission."

Brooks has one opponent for the Sept. 5 election, Robert "Smitty" Smith. The seat is being vacated by Commissioner Dave Dershimer, who is running for state representative.

If she's elected, Brooks said city residents can count on her to be honest.

"I will always speak my mind," she said. "I'm also always going to tell the truth."

Brooks, 66, was transferred from Tampa as manager of Maas Bros. at Winter Haven Mall in 1987. She retired in 1999 after a 25-year career with Maas Bros./Burdines.

"I was able to keep the Burdines store in Winter Haven while the rest of the mall was going through its demise," she said. "I'm especially proud of that."

After the city hires a new city manager, Brooks said the most pressing issue for commissioners' consideration will be growth.

"We have an opportunity to guide the growth through the Community Redevelopment Agency, Main Street and the vision process," she said. "When annexing areas, the city must offer a package of services that will make property owners, especially in enclaves, want to be a part of the city."

Redevelopment can also have an impact on the city's growth, but the process will take real commitment on the part of city commissioners, Brooks said.

"We have to be very aware that the city is going to have to help with the Florence Villa CRA," she said. "The police station is going to be in Florence Villa. And maybe we can locate some other public buildings in the area to help bring the property values up."

The decision to purchase property in Florence Villa for a new police station came several months after commissioners initially planned to build the facility downtown on property the city already owned.

Having a more concrete plan would have spared commissioners the controversy over changing the location, Brooks said.

"The whole delay of the police station came because the plan came before the hiring of the CRA consultant," she said. "In the end, I think it was the right decision."

As a former retail manager, Brooks said she knows the economic impact spring training has on the community. And even though it's a burden to the city's budget, that impact isn't one she wants to see local businesses lose.

"Burdines has big sales during spring training," Brooks said. "Perhaps resources to support spring training should come from other sources."

Commissioners have discussed the possibility of selling property on which the deteriorating Baseball Dome is located. For several years, the building has had no permanent use and has sat primarily empty.

Brooks thinks the city should keep the property and make improvements to the dome so that it can be used for different events.

"We need to figure out a way to put some air conditioning in the building. And the bathrooms are in deplorable condition," she said. "The city should keep the property and make it available to people for a fee."

City officials have also recently discussed starting a curbside recycling program, but decided instead to continue a current program where residents have to take recyclables to a collection site. Some people argue that more residents would recycle if the material was picked up at the curb.

"We need to have a five- or 10-year plan on recycling," Brooks said. "We need to eventually get to the point where we have a very comprehensive recycling program."

As of July 28, Brooks reported having received $3,445 in contributions for her campaign. She spent $927.

Peggy Threlkel said she thinks Brooks' business knowledge will serve Winter Haven residents well, since the city is on the brink of going through a lot of change.

"She has a good idea of the community and what the community needs," Threlkel said. "She did a wonderful job managing Maas Brothers and Burdines. If she can translate that success for the city, I think we'll be much better off."

Commissioners are paid $9,496, including about $2,500 for expenses.