INDIAN SHORES — The Town Council unanimously accepted the FY 2025 Town Financial Audit presented by Zach Chalifour, CPA, at the April 14 council meeting. At the start of the meeting, Chalifour, a partner at James Moore & Co., P.L., commended the town’s Finance Director Amy Lockhart for her part in the town’s positive financial outlook.

Chalifour highlighted the areas where the town finances were especially positive. According to Chalifour, a town in good shape would have at least two months in reserves to pay the town’s bills in the event of a calamity such as a hurricane. Indian Shores has more than four times as much with nine months in reserves, giving the town a fair amount of leeway in such a situation.

Additionally, the town has a positive fund balance, and the police pension plan is funded at 100%. These financial pluses add to the town’s positive financial position.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Mayor Diantha Schear said, “This all sounds like good news.”

Proclamation declaring May 3-9 Municipal Clerks Week

The 57th annual Municipal Clerks Week will be recognized the week of May 3 through May 9 in Indian Shores. The town’s proclamation specifically named the town’s municipal clerk, Freddie Lozano, and assistant to the town clerk, Ashley Ierna, in recognition and appreciation of their service.

Council and Committee Member assignments approved for 2026-2027

With the exception of two vacant committee positions, all the council and committee member assignments were filled and approved for 2026-2027. The first vacant position is for the citizen alternate position on the Administrative and Finance Committee for a 5-year term ending March 2029. The second opening is for the citizen alternate position on the Planning, Zoning & Building Committee for a 1-year term.

Schear is asking residents to consider volunteering for these positions. Interested candidates should contact town hall.

Presentation of annual Library Report for FY 2023-2024

Library Board President Alice Lawrence presented the annual Library Report for FY 2023-2024. The report covered Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024.

Twenty volunteers served the library during that time. Among the volunteers, five were approved for the library board at the May 14, 2024, town hall meeting, including Alice Fennell Lawrence, Betty Hill, Peg McDermott, Claudia Riva and Rene Weyburne.

The library celebrated its 60th anniversary in January 2024 with a dinner at Salt Rock Grill attended by all past and present volunteers still living in the area. Sunday Morning Market book sales were held from November to April, and the library volunteers also sold hot dogs and green beer in addition to books at the St. Patrick’s Day Festival.

Other funds raised for the library included card fees, donations, and Read & Feed revenues. There were 138 items donated to the library, including 16 non-fiction books and six puzzles. The library purchased nine E-books for the Kindles that were used for their Read & Feed events.