2020-03-17 News ArticleLake Okeechobee News March 20, 2020`.,
City declares a `state of preparedness'
Lake Okeechobee News/Cathy Womble Lake Okeechobee News/Cathy Womble
John and Peggy Dubose accept a proclamation from Mayor Dowling Watford Public Works Director David Allen (lett) and Mayor Dowling Watford (right)
proclaiming March 2020 "Red Cross Month." present Willie Hall with a five-year longevity award.
By Cathy Womble
Lake Okeechobee News
OKEECHOBEE — After much consider-
ation, Okeechobee City Council members
voted to declare a public health emergency
at their meeting on March 17. Council
members were concerned that issuing the
declaration would cause the public to pan-
ic, and stressed it was, in part, a financial
decision. if they need to make any purchas-
es related to the crisis, they may be able to
file for reimbursement for the costs if they
declare the emergency.
The primary purpose, said City Attor-
ney John Pumero, is to empower certain
individuals to act expeditiously — specifi-
cally, the police chief and the mayor. "The
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Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near
84. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday night: Mostly dear, with a low
around 62. East-southeast wind around 5
mph becom-
ing
calm t
in t
mayor, in consultation with the police chief,
can exercise certain emergency measures
including, among other things, closing
public places."
Councilman Wes Abney said the
president, the governor and more than 20
counties have declared, so he would be in
favor of it as well. "It doesn't hurt to do it,"
he said. "I think it's better to do it and not
need it than not do it and need it." He did
ask about changing the wording a little bit
so it wouldn't sound quite so serious but
was told by Mr, Pumero, "It's like pregnan-
cy. You're either pregnant or you're not."
Councilman Bobby Keefe said, "The
bottom line is, this is a state of prepared-
ness."
Police Chief Bob Peterson said he felt
the evening.
Saturday: Mostly
sunny, with a high near
83. Calm wind becom-
ing southeast around 5
mph.
Saturday night:
Mostly clear, with a low
around 61. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near
85. East wind around 5 mph becoming
south-southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday
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good about the decision, because a lot of
people out there are not taking it seriously
at all. "We don't want them to panic, but
we do want them to prepare," he said.
If any action is taken under the resolu-
tion, it will be communicated to the council
immediately.
In other business, Jennifer Tewsbury of
the Economic Council of Okeechobee sug-
gested the council find a way to livesbeam
its meetings so they can follow the guide-
lines of limiting gatherings to 10 people or
less.
Courtney Moyett gave the council an
overview of tobacco retail licensing regard-
ing the new federal Tobacco 21 law and
strongly recommended they make their
Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. East
wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south after
midnight.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near
86. Calm wind becoming south around 5
mph.
Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a
low around 64. Calm wind becoming south
around 5 mph.
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Mayor Dowling Watford declared March
2020 as Red Cross month, and John and
Peggy Dubose accepted the proclamation
on behalf of the organization. Mrs. Dubose
spoke about swimming lessons beginning
in the summer and said she is particularly
excited about the junior lifeguard program.
Willie Hall was awarded a five-year
longevity service award by Public Works
Director David Allen. Mr. Hall is also being
promoted to the role of lead operator.
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