Council, TECO at oddsThe Tampa City Council recently rejected a 25-year franchise agreement proposal offered by Tampa Electric Co., asking the utility to bury its power lines and adopt more environmentally friendly policies.Beckner vs. sprawlThe Gulf Coast construction industry will be keeping an eye on Kevin Beckner, who recently defeated conservative incumbent Brian Blair for a seat on the Hillsborough County Commission, running on a platform of limiting sprawl, protecting the environment and building mass transit.Developer pleads guilty One of the biggest mortgage fraud cases ever on the Gulf Coast saw its first guilty plea recently when onetime developer Michael A. Tringali admitted to his role in the scheme. Pappas resurfaces The Selby Foundation, one of the most well known charitable groups in Greater Sarasota, has chosen a new leader, one almost as well known as the organization.Lee visitors declineThe number of visitors who traveled to Lee County in September dropped 21% to 262,439, compared with the same month a year ago, according to Davidson Peterson Associates.Lely canal widenedCollier Enterprises and Collier County government have widened the Lely Main Canal from 50 feet to 125 feet.
