Government & Education news

New Mount Dora community hub is scheduled for open house on SeptEMBer 1 -4

8/26/2026

A long-awaited new hub in Northeast Mount Dora will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 31, followed by open house events on September 1 through September 4 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day. During the open house, residents can tour the Nathaniel Bell Community Resource and Recreation Center and register for a free membership to use the facility during its regular hours. Free membership is open to everyone regardless of residency. The official grand opening will be September 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The roughly 31,100-square-foot, multi-use facility is designed to bring recreation, education, programs, and essential resources together under one roof. The center also represents a dramatic transformation of the site it replaces.

The modern, airy, and colorful facility replaces Mount Dora's former Public Works building, which had blighted the surrounding residential neighborhood for years. In its place is a bright, welcoming space designed to serve residents of all ages and provide a variety of programs and services for residents across the city.

The $16 million center, funded by the Northeast CRA and located at 1010 Lincoln Avenue, was shaped in part by input gathered through several public meetings. The goal was to create more than simply a recreation facility. The city envisioned the center as a place where residents from across Mount Dora can gather, learn, participate in activities, access resources, and build connections.

The building's thoughtful design includes spaces targeted to a wide range of ages and interests. For young people, the center features a teen lounge furnished with couches and televisions, along with foosball and ping pong. A computer lab equipped with 24 computers provides access to technology, education, and other programs.

A commercial kitchen adds another useful resource. In addition to classes and other activities, the kitchen can support various food-related purposes, including food distribution in partnership with Lake Cares Food Pantry and Care Closet.

There are also dedicated areas for younger children and senior citizens, along with meeting and classroom spaces and flex spaces that can be adapted for various needs.

At the heart of the facility is a beautiful gymnasium with locker rooms, providing space for basketball, recreation programs, and other activities. Outside, the property includes parking, covered drop-off areas, and a large, fenced grassy area that provides flexible outdoor space for recreation, programs, and gatherings.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit Mount Dora Buzz's website, its Instagram and Facebook page. Sign up for the free monthly edition here.

Upate on downtown Mount Dora's one-way street conversions

8/20/2026

Mount Dora will start construction Tuesday, September 1, to convert parts of Alexander Street, Baker Street, and Tremain Street to one-way traffic as part of ongoing downtown parking and mobility improvements.

Work will begin on Alexander Street, generally taking place Monday through Thursday. Crews will move through the project one street at a time to limit disruption to downtown businesses, residents, and visitors. Each street will reopen under its new one-way pattern once work on that street wraps up.

Alexander Street will run southbound from 5th Avenue to 4th Avenue, with construction starting September 1. Baker Street will run southbound from 5th Avenue to 3rd Avenue, with construction starting September 7. Tremain Street will run northbound from 3rd Avenue to 5th Avenue, with construction starting September 14.

The project originated after the city considered adding angled parking downtown to boost capacity, but an engineering review found the streets weren't wide enough to make it work. The resulting one-way design is expected to improve traffic flow and emergency vehicle access while still adding downtown parking spaces. City officials say the plan fits with the Downtown CRA Parking Studies Update, which called for making better use of existing parking, and supports a goal in the city's current Strategic Plan to expand parking management and downtown parking.
Community Development Director and CRA Manager Adam Sumner said the project is about making the best use of the space the city already has.

"This project is about making the best use of the space we have while improving how efficiently residents, visitors and delivery vehicles move through the heart of our city," Sumner said. "This CRA-funded project is a practical investment in a more functional and accessible downtown for our businesses, residents and visitors."

Drivers are asked to follow posted detour and traffic signs and to allow extra travel time in active construction zones. Construction dates are estimates and could shift due to weather or other unforeseen conditions.

The full project is expected to wrap up in September.

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit Mount Dora Buzz's website, its Instagram and Facebook page. Sign up for the free monthly edition here.

RECAP: August 18 Mount Dora City Council Meeting

8/18/2026

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 Representative

Please keep in mind that I'm reporting to you as one individual city council member and not on behalf of the city council. Today I've selected a few items of discussion and votes that I think you might be interested in.

With the long-awaited Nathaniel Bell Resource and Recreation Center due to open in the next couple of weeks, city council voted to replace our interim construction financing with long- term bonds. The money to pay for the cost of the new building ($17,250,000) will come from Tax Increment Financing (TIF). That means that commercial businesses located within the boundaries of the Northeast Community Redevelopment Agency will foot the bill rather than residential homeowners' property taxes. (Non-ad Valorem Refunding Revenue Bonds).

We also approved establishing a five-year stormwater utility rate schedule based upon a study that is intended to provide financially sustainable funding for our stormwater utility.

We also heard a presentation on City Project updates. We continue to make headway.

Our quote for today comes from the Dalai Lama, who seems to me to be a very wise man: "When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new."

Thanks for your continued interest in Mount Dora.
By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 Representative

RECAP: August 5 Mount Dora City Council meeting

8/5/2026

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 Representative

We had a very full agenda for our August 4, 2026 City Council meeting. Please remember that I am reporting to you as one individual member and not on behalf of City Council as a whole.

Holly Smith, the president of the Florida League of Cities was on hand. She came to recognize outgoing council member, Cal Rolfson for his contributions to FLC and to give us an update on Amendment 3 that we will be voting on in November. There have been two significant things regarding State Constitutional Amendment 3 that have come up in the past week. A judge has ruled that the proposed constitutional amendment language is misleading and flawed. He ordered that within 10 days the language be corrected, but the amendment will still be on the ballot. The second update is that the Florida Sheriff's Association has come out in opposition to Amendment 3.

Mount Dora's fiscal year 2024-25 Annual Audit received an "unmodified opinion" which is equivalent to getting an A on our audit report card.

Council approved Phase 1 of improvements to the Simpson Farmhouse renovation plan paid for by $50,000 Library Impact Fee Funding money. This phase will include several additional parking spaces and improvements to the retention pond area.

On a split vote, council approved moving ahead with plans for implementing one-way portions of three narrow downtown streets to improve safety on Baker, Alexander, and Tremain streets. Baker will become one-way southbound between 5th and 3rd. Alexander will become one-way from 5th to 4th, and Tremain will become one-way northbound between 5th and 3rd. This was a difficult decision involving pedestrian and vehicle safety and access for large trucks, including fire engines. We will also gain 14 additional parking spaces. These changes will be made within the next several weeks. Lots of communications will follow to inform residents.

Our quote for today comes from former President Jimmy Carter, well-known for his many humanitarian efforts. "My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference."

Thanks for your interest in our wonderful town.

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 Representative