Why Choose The Polk County Press
Community Connection
In a world filled with constant digital noise, our small town newspaper stands as a beacon of community connection and trusted information. We provide coverage of local events, stories that celebrate our unique culture, and news that truly matters to our residents. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to ensure you stay informed about what's happening right here at home. By reading our paper, you stay connected to the heart and soul of our community. Stay informed and engaged with the stories that matter most to you.
The Mulberry/Polk County Press is one of Florida's oldest news media and advertising companies and is well over a century old! but we keep up with the times with the latest in news, public service and advertising.
Get Your Weekly Dose of News
Stay informed with Polk County Press
Leading Stories in The Press This Week. For Complete Details and Other Interesting Articles Each Week,
Subscribe to The Press.
---GROUND WAS BROKEN THIS WEEK FOR THE NEW MULBERRY CITY HALL COMPLEX. Read The Press for details.
----A LANDMARK HOME IN WILLOW OAK WAS TORN DOWN THIS WEEK TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW
POLK COUNTY FIRE/RESCUE/EMS BUILDING.
----POLK COUNTY IS PREPARING FOR NEXT WEEK'S THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. FIND OUT WHERE FREE
MEALS ARE BEING SERVED FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO COOK AT HOME.
----AT THIS WEEK'S CITY COMMISSION MEETING, A DELEGATION OF CITIZENS ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO
DELAY HIS ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
---GRAND OPENING OF NEW MULBERRY BOYS/GIRLS CLUB SET.
---SHOPLIFTING SUSPECT AT WALMART; FIGHTS WITH DEPUTY, CAUSING FELONY CHARGES.
---AUBURNDALE DEDICATES NEW CIVIC CENTER AND REVITALIZED PARK.
---SOME LAKELAND CITY COMMISSIONERS SKEPTICAL OF PLANS BY LAKELAND
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ARTICLES WE ARE COVERING. TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PRESS, mail us a check or money order for $42 for an entire year to:
Polk County Press
1020 N. Church Ave.
Mulberry, Florida 33860-2040
Tell us the name you want the subscription in and what address to send your papers to.
Please include a phone number and your email address in case there are any questions. We won't share that information with anyone.
Get Your Weekly Dose of News
Stay informed with Polk County Press
MULBERRY CITY MANAGER RICK JOHNSON WILL NOT DELAY RETIREMENT
Mulberry City Manager Rick Johnson has made up his mind that he will retire from the city on February 6,2026. Some have begged him to stay on the job for longer, as long as a year from then. He lost his father to death not long ago and he wants to spend more time with his family and in private pursuits. Mr. Johnson is actually retired from the State of Connecticut as a 17-yearprison part of that time in leadership and administration. He has not cost the taxpayers of Mulberry anything as far as hospitalization insurance since he was hired as his insurance costs have been paid by the State of Connecticut. He has been currently making a hair under $200,000 a year in salary with the City of Mulberry, and other benefits such as care allowance, retirement, etc. However, there is a prevailing view among many that he has more than paid for his own costs in terms of his management acumen, his ability to have gotten various grants for Mulberry from higher up governments such as for utility infrastructure. When he came into Mulberry as city manager over a dozen years, ago, he took the job as one of the lowest paid city managers in Polk County. Some believe his visions created many millions of dollars in value added to Mulberry through the repurposing of some city buildings, creating the Mulberry CRA, restoring various buildings. With the new Mulberry City Hall complex to cost some $30 million, most of it in bonded debt, and the CRA debt for te Depot 303 which doesn't seem to be that busy much of the time and even borrowed money for the rehabilitation of the downtown GEM Theater. Everyone has naysayers including Mr. Johnson. Some complain that with the new City Hall $30 million plus bonded debt to be soon realized, and debt on other things he has maxed out the City's credit cards so to speak for many years to come. Still, Mr. Johnson, along with the City Commission, has created value that would not otherwise exist.
Mr. Johnson has been aggressive in going after grants and low interest loans. One of the biggest apparent grants will soon be officially released by the state concerning tens of millions of dollars to do work to keep the Mulberry wastewater plant from flooding and overflowing into the North Prong of the Alafia River, potentially creating a major ecological disaster, especially in heavy rains associate with Florida hurricanes.
In our opinion, was Mr. Johnson way overpaid? We don't believe so. We believe that he created more value long term for Mulberry than he cost in salary and benefits. Whether private industry or government, sometimes you have to pay extra for those who hit home runs.
---Bill Histed, Editor
The City of Mulberry
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Mulberry will hold a Special Workshop for discussion on a recruitment company to assist in the search for a city manager, on Tuesday, December 09, 2025, at 5:00 PM in the City Commission Chambers, at 104 South Church Avenue, Mulberry, Florida, 33860.
Persons with disabilities needing assistance to participate in the meeting should contact the City Clerk at 863-425-1125 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.
City Clerk
WATER RESTRICTIONS START DECEMBER 1
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Florida’s Water Management Districts: Protecting A Natural Resource
Whether we drink it, bath in it, cook with it or flush it, we most often associate our water with the provider that pipes it into our homes and to whom we pay our bill. It might be the water system operated by the city or county in which we reside, or perhaps an entity like Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) that owns and operates many systems throughout the state. But have you ever thought about the “bigger picture” of the water supply that comes into your home?
The reality is that most water issues are regional, not local, and hydrology – the science that encompasses the occurrence, distribution, movement and properties of the waters of the earth – doesn’t follow city or county boundaries. As a result, the Florida Legislature established five water management districts and gave them authority over specific regions. One of the five districts – the Southwest Florida Water Management District, often referred to as “swiftmud” (SWFWMD) – has just imposed some restrictions and other districts might follow suit.
Southwest Florida District Water Restrictions Effective December 1
SWFWMD has issued what it calls “Phase 1 Water Shortage Restrictions,” effective December 1, 2025 through July 1, 2026. These restrictions apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Lee County.
What Are The Restrictions? Why Are They Being Imposed?
While the restrictions do not change allowable watering schedules, they do prohibit “wasteful and unnecessary” water use, such as allowing water to be dispersed without any practical purpose, using water in a grossly inefficient manner and using water for a purpose that can be readily accomplished by other means. SWFWMD currently has a 13-inch rainfall deficit compared to the average 12-month total, primarily due to lower than normal rainfall during the summer rainy season. Water levels in aquifers, rivers and lakes within the District and statewide are declining and are anticipated to decline further as the dry season progresses.
Do These Restrictions Effect When I Can Water My Lawn?
SWFWMD’s current twice-per-week lawn watering schedules remain in effect, except where stricter measures have been imposed by local governments. Lawn watering accounts for more than 50% of household water usage. Click HERE [https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/epermitting/district-water-restrictions] for more information on SWFWMD’s lawn watering days and times, remembering that local governments may have imposed stricter measures.
What Water Management District Am I In?
In addition to SWFWMD, the water management districts in Florida include Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River and South Florida. Click HERE [https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/floridas-water-management-districts] to determine your district based upon your address. Click HERE[https://www.sfwmd.gov/sites/default/files/documents/florida_water_management_districts_map.pdf] to view a color map of the districts statewide.
Always Check Local Restrictions First
It's important to note that when it comes to water restrictions, including watering days and times, always refer to your local city or county regulations first as these are sometimes more strict than regional restrictions. You can find links to all county and city regulations HERE[https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/epermitting/local-government-water-restrictions].
How Can I Help?
While governmental authorities work hard to keep our water supplies plentiful, clean and safe, their success is greatly limited without the understanding and cooperation of homeowners and other users in protecting and conserving this precious resource. For more information including helpful tips, visit SWFWMD’s Water 101 For Homeowners page HERE [https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/residents/water-101/homeowners].
The Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) owns and operates almost 100 water and wastewater utility systems in 15 Florida counties, providing service to more than 120,000 customer connections. Counties served by FGUA include Citrus, Hillsborough, Lake, Marion, Orange, Pasco, Polk, Seminole, Hardee, Lee, Alachua, Flagler, Putnam, Volusia and Nassau.
# # #