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2020-06-16 News ArticleJune 24, 2020 Lake Okeechobee News – merger �chcbee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, and Th 23 Five Okeechobee County candidates are unopposed By Katrina Elsken Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE — The 2020 election in Okeechobee County will have a shorter ballot than in previous years. In five local races, the incumbent faces no opposition. The qualifying period ended last week with just one candidate each for tax collector, property appraiser, sheriff, School Board District 2 and School Board District 4. • Mickey Bandi, who was elected prop- erty appraiser in 2016, is unopposed. • Celeste Watford, who has been Okeechobee County tax collector since 2000, is also unopposed. • Noel Stephen, elected Okeechobee County sheriff in 2016, is also unopposed. • Malissa Morgan, who has held the Okeechobee County School Board District 2 seat since 2016, is unopposed. • Amanda Riedel, who was elected to the Okeechobee County School Board Dis- trict 4 seat in 2016, is also unopposed. The Okeechobee County supervisor of elections race has the most candidates. Diane Hagan did not seek re-election. Can- didates are Melissa Arnold, Donna Howard, Faith Nielson, Lisa Rodriguez and Rodney Rucks. In the race for Okeechobee County clerk of court and comptroller, incumbent Sha- ron Robertson, who has held the position since 1995, is challenged by Jerry Bryant. All three of the county commission candidates whose terms end this year have opposition. In the Okeechobee County Commission District I race, incumbent David Hazellief is challenged by Mark Brandel. Mr. Hazellief has held the position since 2016. In the Okeechobee County Commission District 5 race, incumbent Kelly Owens, who was elected to office in 2016, is chal- lenged by Jack Boon. In the Okeechobee County Commission District 3 race, incumbent Brad Goodbread, who was elected in 2016, is challenged by Demeire Riles. ,"'City council makes pla N to work on .charter By Cathy Womble Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE — When Okeechobee City Councilman Bobby Keefe was elected, one of the things he particularly wanted to work on was updating the city charter. In the year since he won a seat, he has brought this up several times, but the year has been so filled with fire merger talks and the coronavirus, there's been no time for charter review. Finally, at the meeting on Tuesday, Junel7, the charter was on the agenda. It was decided that a committee will be formed of either city residents or city business owners who, along with the city attorney, will begin reviewing the charter. The desire of the council is to set the pro- cess up so that all citizens will have input throughout the entire process, most likely online. They expect it to take some time to complete the entire review but plan to get started as soon as possible. The committee members will be asked to fill out appli- cations, and anyone With any knowledge of government operations would be very welcomed. In other business, Detective Bill Saum of the Okeechobee Police Department was presented with a certificate of retirement and a retirement badge after 39 years of service to the city of Okeechobee. The city council discussed its summer meeting schedule and decided to continue with regular meetings all summer. In addi- tion, there is a workshop With the county scheduled for June 25 at 6:30 p.m, in the county commissioners' chambers at the historic courthouse. The meeting will also be accessible online. Okeechobee County seeks comments on block grant application Special to the Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee Coun- ty is offering citizens the opportunity to make comments on the proposed grant application CDBG-DR competitive solic- itation issued by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block (CDBG) to address unmet infrastructure needs related to improvements deemed necessary after Hurricane Irma. The project will consist of mitigation activities to Okeechobee County's street repairs at NE 304th Street, Okeechobee, FL 33414. These activities in- clude the replacement and installation of a pipe lining system to provide uninterrupted services during an emergency. The county is requesting $2,986,847.96. The program does not require matching funds from the county. The comment period begins on Tuesday, June 16, and ends on Monday, June 29. All comments must be submitted to Ijohnson@co.okeechobee.fl.us and must be received no later than close of business on June 29 to be included with the appli- cation package submitted to the State of Florida. IWO seats will be on the ballot for Okeechobee City Council in the 2020 elections. Monica Clark, who was elected In 2016, and Wes Abney, who was appointed in 2018 to finish the term left vacant by the resignation of Mike O'Connor, will be up for reelection. Candidates must be residents o;the City of Okeechobee. The qualifying period opens at noon on Aug. 17 and closes at noon on Aug. 21. City council candidates run as a group and voters may choose up to two names from the list. The two with the most votes will be elected. For more in- formation on how to qualify to run for city council, contact City Clerk Lane Gamiotea at Okeechobee City Hall, 863-763-3372. Fire services meeting set June 25 Special to the Lake Okeechobee News hokeechobeecountyfl.igm2.com/Citizens/ OKEECHOBEE — The Okeechobee County Detail Meeting.aspx?1D=3799. Board of Commissioners and Okeechobee City Any person deciding to appeal any decision Council will conduct a joint workshop meeting made by the Board of County Commissioners about fire rescue services on Thursday, June with respect to any matter considered at this 25, at 6 p.m. in the Judge William L Hend- meeting will need a record of the proceedings, ry Courtroom at the Historic Okeechobvee County Courthouse, 304 N.W. Second St. in and for such purposes, he or she will need Okeechobee. to ensure that a verbatim record of such pro - Public comment for the workshop can be ceedings is made, which record shall include submitted two ways, no later than I p.m. the the testimony and evidence upon which the day BEFORE the workshop: appeal is to be based. • Email at pus omment@ co.okeechobee.fl.fl.0In accordance with the Americans with Dis- • Residents Without Internet access can abilities Act, persons with disabilities needing comment by phone at 863467-7249 special accommodation to participate in this Notice to Attendees: Room sealing capacity proceeding should contact the Okeechobee will be limited due to social distancng require- County Administrator's Office no later than mems, screening will be conducted before four working days prior to the proceeding at entering the meeting room, and all persons are 309 N.W. Second St., Room 123, in Okeechoee, andmrequired to meeting masks while in the building or call 863-763.6441.1( you are hearing or voice and meeting room. Y g All citizens are encouraged to attend or impaired, all TDD 800-222-3448 (voice) or watch live through the website at: 1-888-447-5620 MY). CITY OF LABELLE, FLORIDA PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD NOTICE CITY OF LABELLE CDBG GENERAL PLANNING SUPPORT GRANT DRINIQNG WATER MASTER PLAN The City of LaBelle is developing an Application for the Florida Department of Economic Opportu- nity Community Development Block Grant -Mitigation (CDBC MIT) Rebuild Florida General Planning Support Program. The City is seeking input from potential stakeholders and the public on the grant application. The City is in a HUD Designated Priority Zip Code area and Is over 50% LMI and Is in a Rural Area of Opportunity (RAO). The City is applying for approximately $250,529.40 to mitigate the risks to the protected Com- munity Ufellnes of Food, Water, Shelter and Health and Medical, through the development of a Drinking Water Master Plan. These funds must be used for the following purposes: To support high-quality mitigation planning that will build a foundation for continuous coordination and data -driven outcomes in the state of Florida. Planning projects should be oriented towards regional projects that mitigate high -impact hazards and integrate multiple programs and funding sources. The resulting plans should detall community hazards and present realistic solutions for treatment of these hazards. The City's proposed activities Include assessments of current popu- lation, existing systems and conditions, site assessments, development of GIS Water Database, Hydraulic Modeling Data Gathering, creation and calibration of existing Hydraulic Model, Hydraulic evaluation of existing and future systems, and the development of a Drinking Water Master Plan Report and Its Presentation. A public announcement of these funds and the proposed project is posted on the City's Website and an advertisement is published in the local paper. The public is Invited to provide comments on the CDBG-MIT General Planning Support Program Project. A draft application has been developed and the public is invited to review the draft application posted on the City's web at www.chylabelle. corn/cdbg-grant-applications-for-review/ or to view a hard copy by contacting Ron Zimmerly, FI- nanceDirector at phone: (863) 675-2872 or em 11, Imm rlyarMlabelle com . Written comments maybe provided to Ron Zimmerly and MUST be received no later than July 16, 2020. For non-En- 9lishspeaking residents, Spanish and Haltran Creole versions of this Notice and the Appilcetlon will be made available upon request. City of LaBelle 481 West Hickpochee Avenue LaBelle, FL 33935 Fair Nousing/Disability Access Jurisdiction and Equal OpportunRy Employer N2