ater-efficient irrigation helps conserve water and also lowers bills.      That’s the message the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department is getting out there in July, which is Smart Irrigation Month.      To help residents do things such as lawn watering as efficiently, the county offers free irrigations through its Landscape Irrigation Rebate Program. Qualified single-family homeowners can earn annual...

   The Town of Miami Lakes is kicking off Parks and Recreation Month with a new play surface at the playground in Veterans Park.      The department unveiled a new, bright teal surface on June 11. Work on the park began June 2 and was completed June 8. The money for the $75,000 project came from the town’s midyear carry-forward.      The improvement is the latest in a series for the park. In...

The Miami Lakes Town Council voted four to three to begin the negotiations for Town Manager Edward Pidermann’s contract. Mayor Josh Dieguez broke the 3-3 tie in favor of negotiations. At the July 21 council meeting, Dieguez presented the item to retain Pidermann for two years under a new contract. “My item is not a clean approval, obviously there is a negotiating stage … ,” Dieguez said. “They would need...

As the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, Juan Fernandez-Barquin wears plenty of hats.      He oversees jury duty and traffic tickets, acts as clerk for the county commission and and works with real estate attorneys to keep a record of the deeds, mortgages, judgements and other documents.      “You want one individual or one office in each county to handle all these deeds if you...

The Graham Companies has announced changes in leadership, as it moves towards its fourth generation of family leadership. Stu Wyllie has stepped down as President and CEO, succeeding Carol Wyllie as Chair of the Board.      Luis Martinez, has been named CEO, while longtime Chief Financial Officer Andre Teixeira, has been promoted to President.      The moves usher the fourth generation of Graham family...