Updated from the Sept. 5 print edition   During a Special Call Meeting last week, the Town Council voted 5-0 to hire the Akerman LLP law firm to assist Town Attorney Raul Gastesi to protect the town’s charter from a pending lawsuit by suspended mayor Michael Pizzi.  Lawmakers made it abundantly clear they were sworn into office to uphold the Miami Lakes town charter and voiced their opinions that the additional legal...

  Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Manny Cid recently climbed atop the roof at IKEA’s first store in Miami-Dade County. His IKEA tour primarily focused on the store’s 178,000 square feet of solar panels on the rooftop. Cid said he would like to bring solar panel technology to Miami Lakes’ government buildings. “Renewable and alternative sources of energy, such as solar, will continue to become a bigger part of our overall...

  Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez rescinded a proposal to shut down one of the two 18-hole golf courses at Country Club of Miami, to the delight of residents who have been fighting to keep its status quo as opposed to converting the massive green space fairway to a leisure area for foot golf. Gimenez made the announcement last month when he presented a significantly improved spending plan during a series of budget town hall meetings,...

  After a years of planning, the Town of Miami Lakes is finally set to unveil its new Veterans Memorial located in the facade of the Government Center building where the monument will pay homage to residents who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.   Residents are invited to attend the free historic event scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, at 6601 Main Street.  The town’s Veterans Committee will conduct the...

  The town of Miami Lakes commences the 2014-2015 fiscal year with a $1 million budget deficit caused by a reduction in franchise and utilities revenues and increased public safety costs conceivably scaling back on some of its original plans for beautification and parks and recreation, among other municipal services. Lawmakers chose to keep the 2.3581 tax rate which would generate $5.7 million in property tax revenues, but a $400,000...