Indiantown council fires village manager, appoints interim leader during contentious meeting
INDIANTOWN, Fla. —
The Indiantown Village Council voted Tuesday night to fire Village Manager Taryn Kryzda, who had been in the role since 2023, during a meeting originally called to discuss a moratorium on data centers.
Kimberly Jackson Brown, a 59-year resident of Indiantown, shared her thoughts on the decision and the future of the village.
“Well, last night was a step in the right direction because the biggest change has to be to have the trust of the people for the council, so now if we have a council that we can trust, then to enact all the changes,” Jackson Brown said.
“I feel like that was a step in the right direction to regaining the trust of the people,” Jackson Brown added.
The council appointed Michael Giardino as interim village manager following Kryzda’s dismissal. Giardino, who was recently fired as Stuart city manager, said he was approached by two council members about the position.
“They asked me if I had an interest and I said yes. And then they asked me if I would attend the meeting, the special meeting that took place,” Giardino said.
Reflecting on the council’s decision, Giardino said, “Well, it appeared to me that the voters wanted a change in Indiantown and that the village council received that information. And then they made a decision. And this is where we are today.”
The meeting also addressed the issue of data centers, which has sparked debate within the community. During public comment, residents expressed mixed reactions to the proposed moratorium.
“Voting down data centers doesn’t approve it…it just gives us the chance to learn,” one resident said. Another added, “When it comes to my health…you’re messing with the wrong guy.”
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After hearing public input, the council rejected a resolution to pause data center development and instructed its new legal counsel to revise the proposal’s language.
Giardino is enthusiastic about the job.
“And after being at that meeting last night and hearing from the residents and hearing the village council, I know there’s a difference to be made, and I hope I’m a part of that, but I can’t speak to how long in the future that will be. But for now, I’m the village manager, and we’re going to get the job done,” she said.
Jackson Brow emphasized the importance of communication between the council and the community.
“We understand that you’re not going to be able to give us everything that we want, but at least listen to the people, give it an effort, and if you can’t, come back to the people and say, ‘Hey, I couldn’t do it.’ We understand that, and we expect that,” the resident said.
The data center issue will return to the council for further discussion.
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