-
2 weeks ago | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has issued a Consent Order to the City of Apopka for violations at its Golden Gem water storage facility. First posted on the Apopka Critic Facebook page on Friday, the Order is dated April 2nd, 2025, and addressed to Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson. It outlines three violations, a fine, dozens of conditions to mitigate the issues at Golden Gem, and a timeline of actions the City must comply with that stretches almost two years into the future.
-
3 weeks ago | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
The Apopka City Council reviewed former city administrator Jacob Smith's contract at its April 2nd meeting, but a vote was never taken, and the reason for the agenda item was never made clear. "I guess the question is, why is this in front of us at this point?" Commissioner Nick Nesta asked. "Well, I'm gonna go ahead and just read you a statement," Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson responded, unmasking what appeared to be the true reason for the agenda item.
-
1 month ago | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
Updating a Developing Story:More details are known about Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson's sudden termination of former city adminiatrator Jacob Smith.
-
1 month ago | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
It's not easy to shock Apopka. We've seen a fire chief "retire" and later learn he was forced out. We've seen a mayor censured by his commissioners, then try to get it reversed, fail, and then accuse a former commissioner of telling a City employee that he would drop the censure if the mayor promised not to run for re-election. That allegation, to date, has never been proven. We have seen public comments moved to the back of the City Council meetings and the video turned off.
-
1 month ago | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
The Apopka City Council will hold a workshop at 6 p.m. on the charter amendments it has discussed off and on for over a year before its scheduled meeting.
-
1 month ago | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
The Apopka City Council, at its March 19th meeting, will vote on a potential successor to Police Chief Michael McKinley. If approved, Lovetta Quinn-Henry, currently the Orlando Police Department's deputy chief, will take over as Apopka's Deputy Police Chief. She will replace former APD Deputy Police Chief Jerome Miller, who retired in December 2024.
-
2 months ago | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
First, after decades of inactivity and nearly being defunded, I applaud the Apopka Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board for its commitment to action over the past couple of years. However, the plan presented at the February 12th meeting seems ill-advised. At that meeting, the Apopka CRA Board discussed turning a city-owned property on South 8th Street and Highland Avenue into either six new homes, five new homes, four bigger homes, or four homes and a pocket park.
-
2 months ago | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
In a democratic society, the voices of the community are essential to effective governance. However, the current public comment format for the Apopka City Council meetings sidelines these voices by putting them at the end of the agenda, rendering them less influential in the decision-making process. But then, the Council takes the extra step of turning off the video feed it leaves on during the meeting so that there is no beneficial City record of their comments.
-
Dec 8, 2024 | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
You will not find a stronger advocate than The Apopka Voice for annexing South Apopka into the City's borders. Since 2015, we have called for it and stated why in multiple articles and editorials. The history of South ApopkaSo, you would think our news site would be thrilled to see the Apopka City Council discuss a possible vote for annexation at its most recent meeting on December 4th. Unfortunately, for a multitude of reasons, we are not. First off, there is the timing.
-
Nov 13, 2024 | 
theapopkavoice.com | Reggie Connell
What would it take to put your day-to-day life on hold, buy a recreational vehicle (RV), and travel America for a year? Do you have the organizational skills to plan the trip? Do you have the financial resources to fund it? Do you have the work flexibility to stay employed and still travel? Or do you have to just commit to the bucket-list adventure and make it happen? In the summer of 2021, Simon and Susan Veness decided to downsize.
