Miami Lakes will pay former Mayor Michael Pizzi $1.625 million for legal fees for his defense in a federal criminal case, a decision that ends a decade of courtroom battles and payments to lawyers. After a jury found in 2014 that Pizzi was not guilty of conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery, he wanted the town pay more than $2.5 million to his lawyers and sued. Reimbursement of a public official’s legal fees is allowed in...

The law firm that represents the Town of Miami Lakes has won a new government client: The City of Doral. Doral hired Gastesi, Lopez & Mestre, PLLC on June 3. The firm, based in Miami Lakes at 8105 NW 155th St., won a contract potentially worth $1.74 million. Doral will pay it $25,000 per month for the first year and increase the rate to $30,000 per month in years two through five, according to the contract. “We got...

Litigation between former Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi and the town is nearly settled, the parties said. After a federal jury found in 2014 that Pizzi was not guilty of conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery, he sought to have the town pay more than $2.5 million in legal fees. On Friday, he said that he and the town agreed that the municipality will pay him $1.625 million, spread out in three payments made over three fiscal...

     The Town of Miami Lakes will begin its annual summer maintenance of the turf on athletic fields at Royal Oaks Park and Miami Lakes Optimist Park.       From June 9 through  Aug. 12, residents will not have access to the turf spaces at either park.       Parks will remain open with limited access. One field may be left open at Optimist Park on a rotating...

     The Town of Miami Lakes, its Economic Development Committee and the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 9 to welcome Ernie’s Acai Bowls. The new restaurant is in the Royal Oaks Plaza, at 15468 NW 77th Court. Owner Andrew Platt serves Acai frozen fruit bowls with a variety of toppings, as well as smoothies made from the berries that grow on acai palm trees, and coffees and...