LADY LAKE -- The town soon could lift several restrictions on The Villages' government wing, clearing way for the huge retirement community to expand its garbage service into Lake County.

Officials with the Village Center Community Development District have met with several town commissioners, asking them to grant the district all powers permitted under state statutes.

After Lady Lake created the Village Center in 1992, it limited the district to operating recreational facilities, security services and certain other duties.

Since then, the statutes governing developer-influenced community development districts have changed a lot, granting them far more versatility.

The Village Center says removing the town's original restrictions will not affect residents in Lady Lake. But some town officials are cautious about giving the district any more power than it already has.

"If you approve blanket powers under [state statutes] Chapter 190 for CDDs, that could mean you approve anything that changes with those statutes in the future," Lady Lake Town Manager Jim Coleman said.

If allowed full powers, the Village Center could acquire a garbage service company serving part of The Villages in Sumter and Marion counties, CDD administrator Pete Wahl said.

The district could then compete with garbage companies under contract with Lady Lake.

"While this doesn't constitute a statement of a District interest in providing that service to Lady Lake, it would provide the flexibility to allow that to occur should that be to the benefit of the Town," Wahl wrote in a letter to Lady Lake Mayor Mike Francis.

Several commissioners met with Wahl recently to go over the plans. Town Commissioner Milton Platt said his conversation with Wahl was more confusing than helpful, adding to tensions he has with the development district.

"We have not been able to agree on anything since I have been elected," Platt said about The Villages and the Village Center.

Commissioners will get another chance to review the proposal Monday during a meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall off U.S. Highway 27-441.

Wahl has requested a public hearing in Lady Lake on April 7.

Part of the concern over the community development district is that many officials do not fully understand the statutes it must abide by. That same concern prompted Lady Lake's original restriction when it created the Village Center back in 1992.

To make the situation more difficult, Florida lawmakers frequently add to Chapter 190.

This year, a bill proposed by Rep. Ken Littlefield, R-Zephyrhills, could pile on even more changes.

If approved, his proposal could allow community development district governments to enforce deed restrictions contracted between private developers and home buyers.

Also, development districts up to 2,500 acres could be created without state approval.

Florida now requires state approval for districts more than 1,000 acres.