It's a phenomenon that's tied to growth . . . Palm Bay, with 97,000 people, is the most populated city in Brevard, so we're a popular area for these facilities.

If the city were to complete the current list of public improvements one at a time, it would take 10 to 20 years, but if bonded, it is estimated improvements could be completed within four to five years.

The main difference here is that Rita didn't affect a very populated area. If it had gone into Galveston or New Orleans, we would have seen very serious damage.

The Bay Area is stabilizing as the economy is showing nice, steady growth -- unlike what was happening in the late 1990s.

In the future, it will be a vibrant village center where people will live, work and play.

He tied it to his dog tags, which were tied to the belt loop in his pocket.