Highland Park

Things change little from year to year in the bedroom community of Highland Park south of Lake Wales, said Earl Sehi, who has been the mayor for 30 years.

Hurricanes destroyed the Lekarica Restaurant in 2004, but the community's rolling 18-hole golf course remains open.

Tiny Lake Amorette, which had once gone dry, has made a comeback in recent years and the community is now making improvements in the park around the lake.

Incorporated: 1927

Size: 500 acres

Population: 246

Government: Mayor and two commissioners manage the government. They meet at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every other month, beginning with January.

Commission: Mayor Earl Sehi, 863-676-1840; and Commissioners Mark Smith, 863-676-2695; and Rusty Ingley, 863-679-7894.

Budget: $403,329

Property tax rate: $7.4294 for each $1,000 of assessed value.

Village Clerk: Lita O'Neil, 863-676-2760

Police: Polk County Sheriff's Office, 863-533-0444

Fire: Lake Wales Fire Department, 863-678-4203

Electricity: Florida Power Corp., 800-700-8744.

Water: Village of Highland Park. Call the mayor.

Recreation: 18-hole golf course.

Public schools: Lake Wales High School, Polk Avenue and Hillcrest Elementary schools (all three operated by Lake Wales Charter Schools) and McLaughlin Middle School (operated by the Polk County School District).