Jupiter's fire fees would scale with home size. The mayor isn't on board.
Late May in Jupiter looks like this: athletic fields under repair at JCP, the lighthouse adding sunset slots, and a Memorial Day morning at the Veterans Memorial.
Jupiter's fire fees would scale with home size. The mayor isn't on board.
Jupiter is launching its own fire department on Oct. 1, and the question this week is no longer whether -- it is who pays what. The funding plan being discussed scales the annual fee by home size, and Mayor Jim Kuretski has signaled he will oppose it from start to finish.
Under the structure being discussed, a family in a 1,199-square-foot unit would pay $15 a year, while a family in a 3,100-square-foot unit would pay $93. The town says residents will still spend nearly $10 million less than what they currently pay for fire services.
Kuretski raised the issue at the May 5 town council meeting. He pointed out that West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton all charge every residential unit the same flat rate, and questioned why a 1,199-square-foot two-person family pays $15 while a 3,100-square-foot two-person family pays $93. "I'm going to be the no vote throughout the entire process here," Kuretski said.
What's locked: the Oct. 1 launch. What's not: how the bill lands on your door. If you own a home in Jupiter, this is the line item to watch through the summer.
Wednesday: 105 steps and a sunset at the lighthouse
The next Lighthouse Sunset Tour is Wednesday, May 27, and the draw is exactly what the title says: 105 steps up the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse with the timing set around sunset. If you have been meaning to do the climb before the heat gets truly punishing, this is the window.
The lighthouse calendar: Twilight Yoga with Mary Veal on Mondays at 7 p.m., Tremble Pilates on Saturday mornings at 8 a.m., and a May buy-one-get-one admission offer tied to MOSAIC. Regular admission hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with guided tours at noon and 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Memorial Day weekend at Harbourside
For a low-friction long weekend without leaving town, Harbourside's calendar lists Memorial Day Weekend at Wyndham Grand from May 23 through 25, with live music, deck games, and a grill out overlooking the water. The Market at Harbourside Place is listed for Sunday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A few easy midweek options from the same calendar: Margarita Monday at Calaveras Cantina has $6 margaritas; Taco Tuesday has $2 tacos; The Jupiter Grill lists $32 lobster on Tuesdays; Think & Drink Trivia Night at Subculture Coffee is Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m.
Monday: Memorial Day at the Veterans Memorial
The Town of Jupiter's Memorial Day Ceremony is Monday, May 25, at 9 a.m. at the Town Veterans Memorial.
It is a short morning, but a real one: show up, stand still for a few minutes, and then let the rest of the long weekend be the rest of the long weekend.
JCP fields are under repair
If your kids use the multipurpose fields at Jupiter Community Park, plan around them for now. Field renovations and irrigation improvements are underway at JCP, including upgrades to athletic fields and irrigation infrastructure. The notice does not list a reopening date, so this is a check-before-you-load-the-car item until the work wraps.