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2020-12-15 News ArticleDecember 23, 2020 Lake Okeechobee News — mer1w of Okeechobee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, end The Sun 13 CC.KAC la1151av Mez4A J F; ic. City By Cathy Womble Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE —The Okeechobee City Council established a charter review committee to go over the city's charter and determine whether any changes need to be made. It has been about 60 years since the last review of the charter, and Councilman Bobby Keefe has been strongly urging the council to move forward on this since his election two years ago. Originally, the committee was to consist of seven members and one alternate, but 10 people applied, and the council unani- mously voted to accept them all as mem- bers. Suzanne Bowen, Noel A. Chandler, Steve Dobbs, Jamie Gamiotea, Jeremy R. LaRue, Sandy Perry, Cary Ritter, Myranda Whirls and Hoot Worley met Tuesday council charter review committee holds first meeting afternoon, Dec. 15, for the first time. Cary Pigman, who is also on the committee, was unable to attend the first meeting due to a prior commitment. Their first item of busi- ness was to elect a chairperson, and Ritter was elected as chairman for one meeting only with the understanding the committee would discuss it again at the next meeting when Pigman could be in attendance. City attorney John Fumero explained the areas of law that apply to the committee. He discussed the code of ethics, and ex- plained that accepting gifts to influence the outcome of decisions, etc. was a huge no - no. He explained the Sunshine Law, which affects all government meetings. 'Basically, the Sunshine Law is that governmental decision -making and all the elements that go into that decision -making must be done in a publicly noticed meeting so that any member of the public can watch and participate in their government decision making process," he explained. He said the meetings should always allow for public comment and they should remember that the public records laws apply to them as well. The committee's job will be to go through the charter and determine what, If any amendments they want to put in the charter. Pumero said the committee has the option to linker with what is on the books now or just develop a whole new charter using templates of modern Florida city charters. He said if they chose that option, he would find templates from areas of a similar size. "We don't need to build a Cadillac if we can get from point A to point B with a Chevy." He explained that a city charter is the equivalent of a state or federal constitution. "It is the backbone of govern- ment." The committee requested some exam- ples of charters from other small cities be available for them to review at thew next meeting, and Pumero said he would make sure they had several. The committee plans to meet twice a month. In January, those meetings will be on the 7th and 28th at 6 p.m. Future meet- ings will be announced in January. They will also be utilizing Zoom. To see the charter visit https://library. municode.coriVfllokeechobee/codes/code of_ordinances?nodeld=PfICH If you have any questions about the charter, the city clerk's office will be happy help. to help. Call 863-763-3372. focal leaders bring requests to Okeechobee Legislative Delegation By Katrina Elsken Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE — On Wednesday, Dec. 9, Okeechobee County officials asked the Okeechobee Legislation Delegation to support septic -to -sewer funding; make decisions about Lake Okeechobee based on science and not on politics; and not pass unfunded mandates. The Okeechobee County Legislative Delegation convened on Dec. 9, for a public hearing on local bills and other issues. State Rep. Kaylee 7bck and State Sen. Ben Albrit- ton listened as representatives from the City of Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Okeechobee County Schools, Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA), Helping People Suc- ceed and Healthy Start asked the legislators for their support. Albritton warned those present the state budget will be tight this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said Florida is required to balance the budget each year. "There is a real hole in our budget, hovering somewhere between $2.5 and $3 billion," said Albritton. "The message has been consistently from the leadership in both of our cham- bers and from the governor as well, that this is going to be a very lean year," he continued. He said the Florida legislators and governor are required to balance the state budget. "We are largely a legislature that is not interested in taxing our way into a spending scenario." "It's going to be a tough year," he said. "Please do all you can to prevent any unfunded mandates and attacks on home rule," said Mayor Dowling Watford. He also asked for local control of medical marijua- na dispensaries. He asked that any deci- sions about Lake Okeechobee be based on science. The mayor said the city also highly supports the requests by Okeechobee Utility Authority for septic -to -sewer con- version funds and for funding for a new Okeechobee High School. "That building needs to be replaced," he said. The mayor said four-laning State Road 70 West should be a high priority for the Florida Department of Transportation. The coast to coast highway is often used for hurricane evacuations, which backs traffic up on the portions of the road that are two lanes. "It would be helpful to have that four-laned at least to U.S. 27," he said. "Stan at Okeechobee County and go to the west coast," agreed Okeechobee Coun- ty Commission Chairman Terry Burroughs. Anytime there is an evacuation, we have a problem," he said. Burroughs asked the legislators to support the Spot in the Sun stormwater treatment project. He said this water goes into Nubbin Slough, which has high levels of phosphorus. "Clean that water up before it gets into Lake Okeechobee," he advised. He also asked for state funding for a public safety fire tower. The firefighters spend a lot of time going back and forth to Indian River State College for training, he said. They would like to have a tower in Okeechobee so they could train here. Burroughs asked the legislature to allow a local government surtax to fund infra- structure. "Giving the county the opportuni- ty to do this doesn't mean we will be able to pass a referendum," he said. If the state allows a local option tax, the county leaders would still have to convince the taxpayers how this will be beneficial to them. He also asked for help with broadband access which is a problem for Waal coun- ties. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed gaps in Internet access for education, work at home and tele-health, he said. Another item on the county wish list is funding for Inmate healthcare. "If some- body can't pay for it, it comes back on the taxpayers," he said. If a person who is ar- rested has Medicaid or Medicare, once they are incarcerated, they lose benefits. "From the day the person is incarcerated they lose all benefits," he said. He suggest- ed they continue Medicare and Medicaid benefits for those who are in jail awaiting trial, because those individuals have not yet been convicted of a crime. At the start of the pandemic, Florida al- lowed elected officials who needed to self - isolate to attend government meetings via teleconference. Burroughs said they would like to keep the option for remote meetings. Albritton said there will be discussion of septic to sewer in the next legislative ses- sion. He said they will also address the use of reclaimed water. Coastal communities should stop turning hundreds of millions of gallons out to tide each year, he added. Okeechobee County Commissioner Kelly Owens asked the state require septic tank permits be aligned with local zoning laws. The Florida Department of Health currently permits septic tanks for properties on which the structures do not meet county zoning or code, she explained. She said DOH should check with the county building department before approving a septic tank permit to make sure the structure the septic tank will be connected to is a permitted structure. Steve Nelson of the Okeechobee Utility Authority asked for regulatory support for a state requirement that residents connect with sewer fines when they become avail- able. He also asked for funding for a septic - to -sewer conversion project in Treasure Island to remove 2,400 septic tanks from that area. Superintendent of Schools Ken Ken - worthy asked for funding for a new Okeechobee High School. He said the state has determined the current Okeechobee High School is in critical need of replace- ment. He said OHS was ranked second on the list of state schools that should be re- placed. The top spot on that list is a school that was damaged by Hurricane Michael. The aging structure has plumbing prob- lems and is not large enough to house all of the students, he continued. About 500 freshmen go to a different school across town." About 300 of those freshmen are bused to the main OHS campus for some classes and they lose a significant amount of time sitting on a bus instead of being in class. Kenworthy also asked for some help this year due to the pandemic. He encouraged them to lest for diagnostic purposes but not to use the test results to evaluate teachers. Okeechobee seniors are resilient By Katrina Elsken Lake Okeechobee News OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee County senior citizens are holding up well despite the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Tom Leach of Okeechobeee County Senior Services. "Our seniors are really holding up quite well," Leach told Okeechobee County commissioners at their Thursday, Dec. 10 meeting. "This is a resilient generation," he said. "They know how to get by. They know how to hunker down." He said they have lost some clients in the past nine months but as far as he knows none of the deaths were due to COVID-19. The seniors who regularly attended the senior center before the pandemic are anxious to come back when it is safe, Leach continued. He said the county staff is putting forth a drive to "adopt a grandpar- ent for Christmas" to provide holiday gifts for all of the seniors. He added finding out what the seniors might have on a wish list is difficult because "every time we make contact with our clients, they say they are sure there is someone else who needs help more than they do." in related business, the commissioners designated Okeechobee Senior Services as the lead agency for the Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beact✓Iteasure Coast Inc. (AAA). They recently received an overall funding increase of $20,166.83.