It is with a great pride that
I welcome you to the City of Wauchula, Florida. Wauchula
is a small, progressive and growing city, located in the
beautiful heartland of Southwest Florida adjacent to the
scenic Peace River, at the junction of two major road transportation
systems, US Highway 17 N/S and FL Highway 64 E/W just off
CR 636.
Wauchula is the seat of Hardee
County, and is surrounded by “Old Florida” panoramas
rich in natural wonders. Wauchula has always been the heart
of agriculture in this region, and its relative proximity
to such large cities as Tampa, Sarasota and Orlando afford
significant economic and recreational opportunities while
maintaining the true ‘home-town' atmosphere.
Though historic Wauchula is
in the process of great and positive change and boasts a
diversified social, business, and economic mixture, it makes
every effort to maintain and cherish its heritage. Wauchula
offers the outstanding quality of life found in a safe rural
setting with clean air, friendly faces, and picturesque
landscapes.
Thank you again for visiting
the official site of the City of Wauchula. I hope you enjoy
your visit and please come back often!
Best regards,
Rick
Richard D. Giroux
City Manager
Wauchula, FL
Mission Statement:
My mission as city manager is to implement
the vision and will of the City Commission and give shape
and action to their policies and goals. To provide supportive
leadership, creating an environment in which the Commission,
all employees and the community, working together, can use
their abilities to the fullest extent to meet the City of
Wauchula’s current needs and to plan for our future
challenges.
Duties and Responsibilities:
A city manager is appointed by the City
Commission to act as the chief executive officer of the
City Manager, responsible for carrying out the direction
of the City Commission through the administration and coordination
of city operations, resources and assets, which includes:
Supporting the Commission with timely
and complete information and advice;
Insuring that effective and efficient
services are provided to meet community needs;
Supporting resident involvement in actions
which affect them an the community;
Responding in a timely manner to requests
for service
Preparing a draft annual city budget
with options for Commission review;
Meeting with citizen groups to understand
their needs better;
Providing executive leadership that encourages
good performance by city personnel;
Operating the city with a professional
understanding of how all city functions operate together
to best effect.
Develop short and long range strategic
planning and development strategies for the City’s
future.
Objectives:
The City of Wauchula has been pursuing a new strategic plan
and administrative agenda, and has determined that there
is a critical need to implement and facilitate community
development, community promotion, growth and management
initiatives to take advantage of current and pending population
shifts and development trends. Basically, by utilizing
a three-prong approach:
Develop the necessary infrastructure
to attain, support and maintain our goals.
Develop and promote the City and its
amenities as an attractive investment location and “the
place to be” when the requisite infrastructure is in place.
To control and nurture the shape and
content of the growth and development while maintaining
the City’s integrity and heritage.
This planned approached was designed to
specifically address what the Wauchula City Commission has
outlined as the City’s key objectives:
Address the spectrum of residential housing
needs.
Improve the City’s ability to retain
the young people in the community.
Address the City’s short and long term
economic and community growth and development challenges.
Set up mechanisms to accommodate growth
and development .
Set up mechanisms to promote growth and
development.
Set up mechanisms to sustain and control
growth.
These objectives can be achieved by taking
full advantage of Wauchula’s strategic location and amenities,
both natural and created.
A good location is absolutely critical to
any business, and local government in many respects is run
as a business for the benefit of its residents. A successful
location means exposure and easy access. Wauchula
has been blessed with a perfect location. Why?
Central to everything in South Florida;
Tampa, Bradenton, Orlando, Sebring, Okeechobee, all hour
away or less. Major population centers perfectly situated
from the radial hub of Wauchula. Excellent distribution
location for ANY business desiring to reach maximum market
area ·
Most attractive land prices and tax base
in the region
Open space for any size commercial or
industrial enterprise
Availability of essential infrastructure;
water, sewer, electric power, roads
Available workforce
Expansion of housing, commercial and
public amenities
An unsaturated and congestion free market
base
Professional Memberships:
International City & County Management
Association (ICMA)
Florida City & County Managers Association
(FCCMA)
FCCMA – Emerging Professionals Council
Executive Board
Florida League of Cities
Florida Ridge League of Cities
Florida Municipal Power Agency
Florida Municipal Electric Association
Florida Reliability Coordinating
Council
Central Florida Regional Planning
Council
American Statistical Association
Professional Awards:
City Patriot Medal
Public Administration Medal of Excellence
Meritorious Public Service Medal
Exceptional Public Service Medal
Distinguished Public Service Medal
– American Police Hall of Fame
Outstanding Public Administrators
Award
126 South 7th Ave. Wauchula, Florida
33873
Phone: (863) 773-3131
