2021-03-16 News ArticleMBroh 24, 2021 Lake Okeechobee News — mer9er ot okeecnotee News, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, and The Sun 9
OHS seniors will have � Dedicated to Quaiity & Service
signs in
By Cathy Womble
Lake Okeechobee News
OKEECHOBEE — During the March 16
meetinq of lhe Okeechobee City Council, a
request to recognize lhe gradualing class
of 2021 with temporary signs featuring
a photograph and name o( each senior,
displaying approximately one week before
graduation on May 28 was approved. The
signs will be paid (or by donations.
In olher business, Brandon Tucker,
representing the Economic Council of
Okeechobee spoke about some o( the goals
and concems of the Economic Council.
He said their council believes Okeechobee
could become the best small town to live
in Plorida within the next five years. "We'd
like to be on lhe cover o( Florrda Trend
magazine saying this is the place. This
is [he best small town in Plorida to live."
Tucker went on to tell [he city council how
the economic council fclt they should go
about getting there. One was lo work on
the management of Lake Okeechobee. It is
lheir opinion that 12.5-15.5 feet is the ideal
level for �he lake. "We believe we should
be looking at the science, always looking at
the science, not the politics." He appiauded
the city council for bringing in MacVic-
ar Consulling to help with the planning
process (or the development of a new Lake
Okeechobee System Operating Manual
(LOSOM) by the Army Corps o( Engineers.
The second item his council feels is
important to the growth o( Okeechobee is
code enforcement. He acknowledged the
hard work lhe city and the police depart-
ment have done wi�h code enforcement
and went on to say, "We have taken a
laser focus on what I call a box. That box
basicalty extends from 441 North, from let's
say Cemetery Road to Lock 7 over lo the
overpass at 710 and west over to U.S. 98."
He said Okeechobee has a huge issue with
code entorcement. His councii feeLs they
should focus on the properlies thal lhey
already know have issues and make sure
they are brought into compliance. If they
are not brought into compliance aftcr [he
magistra[e does everything he is legally able
the park
ro do, the council believes the properties
should be foreclosed upon.
In conclusion, "ILcker said he would like
to come before the wuncil once a month
to get and give updates and to o(fer his help
as needed.
The city council approved a request
from [he Okeechobee County Commis-
sioners to move the Tourist Development
Council into the charnber o( the commerce
building.
Although several Okeechobee residents
applied for the position, a retired school
teacher who lives in Fort Pierce was chosen
to be an alternate on the Flagler Park
Design Review Commitlee. Bob Burdge is
a(ormer Fort Pierce City Council member
and curren[ty serves on the Fort Pierce
Planning Board. The need (or an alternate
arose after Frank Irby resigned his position
on the commit[ee. Jenni(er Tewksbury was
moved up from her position as an alternate,
leaving an empty alternate posi[ion. The
other members of the committee are:
• Robbie Chartier, chair,
� • Bert Culbreth, vice chair,
• Susanne Clemons,
• -Regina Hamrick,
• Kathy Scott,
• Denise Whitehead, �
• Jenni(erTewksbury,
• Gregg Maynard, allernate.
Code entorcement was discussed —
fines, court cos4s, lhe magisVale's duties,
the possibility of allowing code en(orce-
ment to issue citations, etc.
City Altomey John Fumero gave an �
updale on Ihe charter review commit[ee.
He said things are going welt, but they are
working on a way to facilitate the discus-
sions, because they are only on article
two. "We have lols of opinions and lots of
inpu[." He said things have gotten realty
bogged down, and iPs literalty to the point
o(, "Where shou�d we move this comma?"
while examining the charter.
Fumero also updated [he council about
the fire services agreement and said things
are going well there too, despite rumors to
the mn[rary. f
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Special ro the Lake Okeechobee News
TALLAI-IASSEE — Copher Tortoise Day
is onty a few weeks away... Join us in our
e((ort to raise awareness for this incredible
reptile!
Show your support for Florida's gopher
tortoises by contading your local repre-
sentatives now and urging them to adopt a
resolution procJaiming April 10 as Gopher
Tortoise Day. Not only are you becoming a
ct�ampion for the gopher tortoise, but il is
also a great way to pariicipate in your local
community.
For more information on adopting a
resolutlon and (or resolulion lemplates vis-
it GopherTortoiseDayFL.coMresolulion/
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adop[ a Copher Tortoise Day resolution.
Join others in the mission to raise aware-
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