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2020-06-02 News ArticleJune 10, 2020 Lake Okeechobee NewS - merger echobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, and T 23 PACE E Special to the Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE — For many months now, the Florida Department of Health in Okeechobee County has been working with the residents and leaders of Douglas Park on a PACE EH project. The Bureau of Environmental Health adopted the National Association of City and County Health Officials' (NACCHO) Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environ. nlal Health — or PACE EH. County health H Program departments work within thea communities and address environmental health concerns. Collectively, the county health departments across Florida that have implemented PACE EH in communities have become a national model and provided evidence that communities identify built environment and urban planning issues as environmental health issues. The Douglas Park PACE EH project is designed to open the lines of communication between the county health department and the Okeechobee fire By Cathy Womble Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE — Once again, the topic of a fire department merger was on the table at the Okeechobee City Council meeting'Ibesday night, June 2. The discussion began with an apology from Mayor Dowling Watford Jr., who said he knew it was the city council who had asked for the merger. The county commission did not ask for it. "The county commission has caught, in my opinion, probably more flack than they deserve over this," he said. He went on to say that he felt some com- ments had been made that were derogatory toward the county staff, and he believed the council members were all in agreement that the paramedics and firefighters on their staff are all very professional, and they would not be entering into a contract with them if they did not feel that way. A letter was read into the record from Local Firefighters' Union 2918 asking the city to cease and desist all negotiations with the county unless they can ensure they will have jobs for all the employees. Mayor Watford also read a letter from the county commission on the subject. In the letter, Commissioner Terry Burroughs made it clear the board of commissioners has not made any Mayor Watford mentione "Palm Beach County BCC Briefs is in Douglas Park Douglas Park residents. The local DOH office is with outcomes proposals on community driven co0ecting information to address community objectives. concerns and needs brought forth by the resi- dents of the community Residents of the community may pick up or This week the Florida Department of drop of(a y P paper copy at Chobee Grocer and/ Health in Okeechobee County will be sending or the Health Department. All surveys need to be postcards to every address in the Douglas Park completed by June 24. Results will be forward - area. These postcards have a survey link. We ask every member of the community to fill out ed to the Office of Minority Health and Health the survey. This will give the PACE EH team the Equity in Tallahassee, with plans to pursue an data and information needed to move forward improvement project. merger task force next step\ decision for or against a referendum. Mayor Watford asked the council members if they still wanted to continue with the negotia- tions despite the county not wanting to agree to most of the proposals the city asked for, and all of them said yes. Councilman Bob Jarriel said the merger was brought up last year to reduce the expenses of the city, to reduce the taxes of the residents. "Somehow, we've got off track," he said. "When we're paying II% in the county for taxes, it's not fair to our senior citizens on a fixed income. If we can save $500,000 or $600,000 a year and give them the same service..." He went on to say he felt the county was already covering 87% or so of the calls here and doing a good job. "That only leaves about 300 calls," he said. "That's not even one a day." He disagrees that they need seven people, he said, but that's beside the point. "I( we had no complaint over the EMT all these years, why would we have a complaint now?" he asked. Later he said it is unreasonable to expect the county to quote a price for seven employees and then tell them they have to take on 12, especially when labor is the biggest factor in the expense. " I was in business all my life, if I needed one or two employees, I'm not going to hire seven, because I can't afford them." d that a suggestion Special to the Lake Okeechobee News PALM BEACH COUNTY — At the June 2 Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action: Non -congregate sheltering — approved a finding of emergency establishing that the design and renovation of two county -owned properties would be the most effective way to meet non -congregate sheltering needs in the Glades region. To implement the multisite non -congregate sheltering program, a capital appropriation of up to $5 million in CARES Act funding was approved for the facility in Pahokee and an additional $500,000 in funding for capital improvements at the Belle Glade facility. Annual operational costs for both sites are estimated at $2.2 million. COM 19 status —received an update from Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health -PBC, on local COVID-19 mitigation efforts. To date, there have been 56,830 total cases statewide and 2,460 deaths. Palm Beach County had 6,135 confirmed cases and 337 fatalities; 92 percent of local patients who died were age 55 or older. Mobile app— approved an emergency contract with Shield Group Technology in the approximate amount of $875,00D for an exclusive mobile app to help prevent the spread COVID-19. County residents can download the free app and be discreetly notified if they come within 6 to 13 feel of someone who has tested positive and who has voluntarily downloaded their test information. There is no tracking involved; the notification remains active on your phone for 21 days. Reopening — authorized the mayor to execute letters to the state endorsing reopening plans for amusement attractions and entertain- ment venues without further board review or approval. Black elected oflfclals — heard from sev- eral local black elected leaders expressing out- rage and demanding change in the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. They called on county officials to hold public conversations encourag- ing reforms that can be enacted locally, such as prohibiting the use of excessive force by police, including chokeholds or putting pressure on the neck or throat, independent investigations of police -involved deaths and creation of a registry of complaints filed against officers. Staff was directed to organize an open dialogue town hall event with citizens, civic leaders, law enforce- ment officials, the state attorney's and public defender's offices, the judiciary, the Criminal Justice Commission and the Bar Association. was made by one of the county commissioners that the two administrators and a council mem- ber from the city and a county commissioner sit down together to try to work out the finer details rather than hash it all out in public. Councilwoman Monica Clark expressed disappointment and sadness over the comments made recently about the city, the county and the county firefighters. "We are all one communi- ty," she said. "I would hope we are all coming together to do what's best for our community, and making false accusations and personal comments has no place in my book at all. I'm just disgusted with some of the comments that have been made." She said she does not feel confident negotiat- ing the contract, and after the last meeting, she talked to Ton, the Southeastern representable from the firefighters' union. She told Council- woman Clark that she has been involved in many consolidations ca ons or mergers because small cities just cannot afford to keep their fire depart- ments anymore. She said in every situation, the have hired ALL the firefighters at their current rank, and maybe the first year it cost the city a little more than the second year, third year and fourth year, but it could be done. "One of the things we are missing from all of this is the labor aspect from the union, and I think if we are going to put together a task External audit — approved a three-year contract with RSM US LLP in the amount of $2,588,488 ($862,816 per year) for external auditing services, through July 31, 2023. The contract includes two two-year renewal options at the county's discretion. RSM was selected in part because it has a significant number of ma- jor clients similar in size to Palm Beach County and was the highest ranked proposer by an Ex- ternal Auditor Selection Committee comprising representatives from each of the constitutional offices and the BCC. The board agreed to review the company's performance approximately 18 months before the initial term expires, which would give staff enough time to conduct a new RFP process if the contract is not renewed. Budget — received a report from Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks on property values in Palm Beach County and anticipated 2021 prop- erty tax revenue. Water UtlBties — adopted a resolution revising the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department's (PBCWUD) Uniform Policies and Procedures Manual (UPAP), which contains fees, standards, legal documents, policies and procedures thatgovern the provision of potable water, reclaimed water and wastewater services within the water utilities service area. Proposed changes to the UPAP include allowing the de- force, we need to have Josh or Tori involved in this process. One of the sticklers in all of this has been, I said I would never agree to this without our firefighters that are going to the county get- ting paid what they are getting paid now, at the levels of years of service. It's a stickler for me," said Councilwoman Clark "If we can't work to- gether for the benefit of the county and the city, then I don't think we need to continue." Councilman Wes Abney agreed about having the union representatives help and said from day one he has wanted an outside consultant to come in and help them with this. The consensus of the council was to set up a task force, of sorts, consisting of the city and county administrators, a member of the city council, a member of the county commission, both bodies' attorneys and one or two union representatives. In other business, the city council approved the first reading and set the final public hearing date to July 7 for an ordinance allowing package sales of alcoholic beverages within the city limits on Sunday. The 2019 audited financials were reviewed and approved. Finally, the school resource officer agree- ment with Okeechobee Christian Academy was reviewed and approved. partment director to have the authority to mod- ify/waive rates, fees and charges not to exceed $200,000 for new or existing customers where there are unusual or extenuating circumstances that support the application of said modification or waiver. UtlBty right of ways — adopted a reso- lution authorizing the county administrator or designee to execute subordination of utility interest instruments associated with right of way conveyances from developers and property owners. Subordination instruments require the utility company to move any facilities in a right of way, when and if requested by the county. CARES Act grants — Received an update from County Administrator Verdenia Baker that during the first week of the CARES Restart Busi- ness Grants Program, 80 local eligible compa- nies have been issued a total of $1,365,612. The Department of Housing and Economic Sustain- ability began accepting online entries on Friday, May 22, and has received 3,961 applications. CARES Restart Business Grants Program was approved on May 19 by the BCC to accelerate the reopening process for businesses directly impacted by executive orders for COVID-19. cC M � �f