HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouzzo_Courier_11/21/2010 His inspiration sets a positive tone and outlook
for our village's future.
Village manager completes 10 successful years
■ Couzzo has A =' -
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BY LORI MCWILLIAMS
Special to the Courier
Michael Couzzo recent- Fq
ly celebrated his 10th year '4
as the manager for the vil-
lage of Tequesta.
As manager, he has
been involved in an array
of hot topics over the past
10 years while leading the
e
char . H
g PHOTO PROVIDED
As the first village man-
ager of the new millenni- Michael Couzzo has been Tequesta village manager for 10 years.
um, he helped propel the
village and its infrastruc- dedicated to round out the construction of Tequesta with the three collective
ture forward into the 21st municipal complex. Due to Drive Bridge. Through his bargaining units, and his
century. the manager's ingenious guidance and leadership, ability to negotiate fiscally
He was an integral part foresight and financial the bridge opened to traf- sound contracts.
of the continued develop- creativeness, Village Hall fic on time. As he worked For example, the village
ment of Constitution, Te- was built with no remain- through numerous chal- of Tequesta is the first and
questa and Paradise parks, ing debt to taxpayers and lenges at both the state only municipality to pro -
planning and development completely paid in full. level and with the con- vide fire rescue services
of the new municipal One of the manager's re- tractors, his responsive- on a contract basis to Palm
complex, upgrade of the cent illuminating ideas re- ness to resident concerns Beach County. Addition -
village's water utility sys- sulted in Paradise Park — a was always a top priority. ally, he was able to secure
tem and most recently the passive green space used His innovative ability to do two cell tower contracts,
construction of Tequesta for village events and resi- more than "think outside thereby increasing the
Drive Bridge. dent use. His resourceful- the box" proved exception- village's annual revenues.
Couzzo's vision and ness cultivated significant ally beneficial during the Lastly, he helped negoti-
oversight were instru- cost savings by using cur- process. A day did not pass ate $3 million in stimulus
mental in the continued rent staff skills to operate that he did not suggest or funding for construction
development of Constitu- the heavy equipment and engage an alternate way of Tequesta Drive Bridge
tion and Tequesta parks, assist in the grading and to solve a problem or situ- and obtained $1 million in
as they became lushly construction of the park. ation that may have oth- grant funding for expan-
landscaped and blissful The manager's ideas to erwise held up the project sion of our alternate water
wonderlands. Residents make sweeping improve- or cost residents additional supply system.
enjoy family events such ments to a site that had money. It is safe to say that
as movies and concerts been in disrepair for years The manager's fiscal Couzzo, as manager, has
in the park, newly resur- came to fruition through a accountability has en- accomplished a great deal
faced tennis and basketball joint public /private part- sured financial stability during his 10 years. And
courts and brick paved nership effort costing the for the village during these his inspiration sets a posi-
walking trails. residents $1 per year to most difficult economic tive tone and outlook for
The new Public Safety lease the property. times all while maintain- our village's bright future.
Building facility for police Couzzo's's most recent ing a substantial reserve.
and firef was built and ded- inspiration is probably This is due in part to his Lori McWilliams is Tequesta
icated in 2002; and in 2006 the village's largest infra- forward - thinking and village clerk.
Village Hall was built and structure project — the progressive relationships