One of the more intriguing details in Orange County's recent poll of its residents is the support for a new performing-arts center downtown.
Arts backers have fought for years to get a center off the ground, hoping the county's $115 million stash of tourist taxes could help build a world-class home for everything from symphonies to ballets. But local leaders have often seemed more interested in spending cash on renovating the TD Waterhouse Centre for the Orlando Magic and the Citrus Bowl for college football games.
But according the county poll, the folks whose opinion should matter most -- residents -- want the performance center more.
Four times the respondents (16 percent) ranked the arts center as "very important" while only 4 percent called for a renovated basketball arena for the Orlando Magic. Just 10 percent said the football stadium was very important.
As for negative rankings, 43 percent and 35 percent said an arena and Citrus Bowl renovations respectively were "unimportant." Meanwhile, just 23 percent said a performing-arts center was unimportant.
"We're pleased," said Margot Knight, president of United Arts of Central Florida. "To me, it says that the 125 cultural organizations in our region touch people."
Still, Knight made sure to be diplomatic.
"Having said that, I think the Orlando Magic and their presence here in our community is very important," she said. "This is not either/or."
CHECKS STOP FOR A TALK
Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal is picking up where his predecessor left off, and that's not good news for Sheriff Kevin Beary.
Former Commissioner Ted Edwards, whom Segal replaced last November, was a frequent critic of Beary's habit of handing out public checks to charities.
Edwards and others have long said Beary spends too much money from a trust fund of seized money and property -- which can also pay for law-enforcement tools such as Tasers and bulletproof vests -- on nonprofits without a clear crime-fighting purpose. Through the years, Beary has written checks to groups ranging from a three-ring circus to youth golf programs.
Some opponents have even accused the sheriff of using the trust fund contributions to curry political favor.
Beary has long dismissed the charges, saying the contributions help prevent crime by keeping kids out of trouble. The sheriff's legal staff also scrutinizes all of the organizations to make sure they're eligible, said Chief Ken Cox, who oversees Beary's dealings with other governments.
"Trust me, we turn a lot of them down," Cox said.
Term limits forced Edwards out of office in November, but Segal took up the cause last week. He yanked a pair of contributions Beary wanted to make from the County Commission agenda -- $1,000 to a Christian evangelical group that works with inmates and $2,500 to a domestic-violence shelter.
Segal said he was "a little nettled by" Beary's spending. He stopped short of taking a shot at the sheriff, saying his objection is a philosophical concern about governments in general giving too much money to nonprofits.
"I'd like to talk to the sheriff about it," Segal said.
SAND LAKE TOPS PRIORITY LIST
County leaders have decided to move widening Sand Lake Road between Orlando International Airport and the Orange County Convention Center to the top of their wish list as they shoot for federal transportation cash this year.
The plan is to widen Sand Lake from four lanes to six over nearly 4 miles between Presidents Drive and Interstate 4. The county is asking the feds for $35 million.
County lobbyists say that by focusing on Sand Lake they can enlist the political muscle of the powerful businesses that would directly benefit from the widening -- Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and Lockheed Martin -- to help persuade Congress to fork over the cash.
U.S. Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando, will try to stuff the project into the federal budget. An aide to Keller said to expect about $6 million.
"It looks like a done deal," the aide said.
HEIGHT RULE TO DRAW CROWD
Maitland Mayor Sascha Rizzo announced last week that the City Council meeting Feb. 28 will be at the Orangewood Presbyterian Church on Maitland Boulevard to accommodate a big turnout.
Likely to draw a crowd is a reworking of the city's building-height ordinance. Some with good memories saw irony in the new venue because years ago the ordinance denied the church its steeple.
SMILE, IT'S `SPAY DAY'
Tomorrow marks the start of "Spay Week," though county pols kicked it off last week with -- what else? -- a photo opportunity.
The goal is to encourage spaying and neutering to prevent overpopulation. Tuesday is "Spay Day USA," on which the county's Animal Services Division will snip dogs or cats for half price.
To launch the week, County Mayor Rich Crotty and commissioners posed last week with an adorable, patch-eyed puppy named Barkley -- who clearly had no idea what he's going to lose.
Jason Garcia and Christopher Sherman of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report.