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2021-05-18 Item VIII - City Attorney Update�-)�-�1 m+-g Robin Brock �+-'D,��' From: Carlyn H. Kowalsky <CKowalsky@nasonyeager.com> � �� Sent: Monday, May 17, 2021 3:06 PM �m m�n-�5 � To: Dowling Watford; Dowling Watford-Work Email �� '� (dowlingwatford@okeechobeeford.com) Cc: Robin Brock; John Fumero; Marcos Montes De Oca Subject: Letter from Lakeside Communities to Col. Kelly Attachments: 2021-05-12 Lakeside Communities Letter Re LOSOM_.docx; Local Government Contacts - Lakeside Communities.docx Hello Mayor Watford — We have developed a letter to Col. Kelly that we would like to get signed by members of the lakeside communities concerning management of Lake Okeechobee. We are hopeful that you would be willing to send the following email and the attached letter to your colleagues in these communities. Pulling together a coalition of similarly affected people can help strengthen the voice of rural Florida as we are faced with the loud voices and competing demands of other interests. Please let me know if you are agreeable with this and if you have any revisions to these communications. If you want to proceed, I will work with Robin to provide her with the addresses and can help coordinate the logistics of this effort. - Carlyn DRAFT EMAIL FROM MAYOR WATFORD TO LAKESIDE COMMUNITIES Dear Colleagues The attached letter has been drafted for all the lakeside communities to sign and send to the US Army Corps concerning the management of Lake Okeechobee. The letter is intended as a show of solidarity, emphasizing that our concerns are important and that we should be heard — regardless of who we have hired to represent us. If you are willing to sign this letter, please send us your logo and we will finalize the letter and send it to you for signature. We would like to have everyone's response and logo by May 28, 2021. Thank you for your consideration. Dowling Watford Mayor, City of Okeechobee 0 carlyn H. Kowalsky Attorney at Law Email: C;�ObVd;S�:yCa�ilc�,50^/�cQ��.;,0ii� Tel: 561-982-7114 � Fax: 561-982-7116 Mobile: 561-248-3922 :�3^l71'�i�.' �/�,�41�t1 `'�. I��Son�'�a �r ___ _____.. __. __ _ c�r�s�h i��r�hts � tunu.h�. r�,�. :�f 7t5H.;J:iY'S. li. '_�\45�� _nl. IUr,U 750 Park of Commerce Blvd., Suite 210 �Boca Raton �FI L�i�>>/U�I.'?cl�Qi�1`/�dQ�i .COITI The information contained in this transmission is attorney privileged and confidential. It is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone (collect) and return the original message to us at the above address via the U.S. Postal Service. We will reimburse you for postage and/or telephone expenses. WIRE FRAUD ADVISORY: Due to the increased risk associated with wire fraud and e-mail hacking and phishing attacks, in the event you receive an e-mail from Nason Yeager containing wire trensfer instructions, please call Nason Yeager using previously known contact information and NOT information provided in the email, to verify the information contained within said wire transfer instructions prior to sending funds pursuant to such wire transfer instructions. Think Green! Please do not print this e-mail unless absolutely necessary. _ _ _ . __ __. _:_ _ _. . ._-. . This email has been scanned for email related threats and delivered safely by Mimecast. For more information please visit ni��://�nn,wv.rnim�cast.com 2 "All Lakeside Communities" May 17, 2021 Colonel Andrew Kelly, Commander, Jacksonville District U. S Army Corps of Engineer 701 San Marco Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32207 Re: Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual Dear Colonel Kelly: We are writing to emphasize how important the management of Lake Okeechobee is to our rural communities located around the shores of Lake Okeechobee. The people and businesses we represent are directly affected by the decisions of the Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District in how the level of the lake will be managed. Water Supply for our drinking water, agriculture, flood protection, and recreational access to the lake are important, objectives we hope to see protected in the new Lake Okeechobee Systern Operating Manual. Most of us have attended the public meetings you have hosted in or near our communities since the LOSOM process began. Some of us even partic'ipate personally in the Delivery Team meetings conducted by your staff. We can't pretend to understand all the science, or even the acronyms that dominate these sessions; but we hope our presence communicates to you how important the lake is to our communities, and fiow much we care about the outcome. We have directed our representatives in this process to support balanced plans that make things better for all the rnany interests affected by the lake, not just what is most important to our community. The present schedule, adopted in 2008, reduces the water supply capabiliiy of the lake and also results in lower levels in the dry season which have affected our drinking water intakes and can, at times; prevent recreational boating access. We look forward to working with you to correct these problems with this next operating plan. Thankfully the model results shared by your staff have shown that this is possible and that improvements for both estuaries and the Everglades can be gained at the same time. Colonel Kelly, please convey our sincere thanks to your team for the dedication and professionalism they have shown in this effort. We will be watching closely and participating with the goal of achieving a balanced, predictable Lake Okeechobee Operating Manual that can serve all of us for many years to come. Sincerely, Glades County Tim Stanley, Chair, Glades County "All Lakeside Communities" Hendry County Mitchell Wills, Chair, Hendry County Okeechobee County Terry Burroughs, Chair, Okeechobee County City of Okeechobee Dowling Watford, Mayor City of Clewiston Mali Garnder, Mayor City of Moore Haven Bret Whidden, Mayor Okeechobee Utility Authority John Creasman, Chair Drew Bartlett, SFWMD Lakeside Communities Glades Countv County Manager — Bob Jones ��2sC��r��..c�l��,�c��n May 17, 2021 Letter Signed by — Tim Stanley, Chairman District 5 i Si�nl�� rr3�� la�Ls��r� Copies to: s��'�5��o��,�i��d�s,c��r� — Coun�j Manager �dministrative �lssistant as��aoj��iC�mv�l�des.c�� - (Rlarne and Titie) Hendry Countv County Administrator — Jennifer Davis ?? i�!�j�isC�.��r�i�l�,r�e� Letter signed by - Mitchell Wills District 3- Chairperson �occ3@;��r��i;�ii l� , n�� Copies to: Ramon Iglesias, Hendry Co. Commissioner, District 4 i��i ilt3i'lj�_1_ �n-1 1��{_aCi, �fliT'i � ��=� LLU i ; � i � �,1 a^>�'� ! � , ii'��i Karson Turner, Hendry Co. Commissioner, District 5 O��C��+ �l2i�C�� jIi a�,fi�C Mark Lapp — County Attorney I"�uv��Ji�vi"]�ji'`f; i- ,i��C Okeechobee Countv County Administrator — Deborah Manzo Office: 863-763-6441, Ext 1 Mr. Louis ]ohnson, MPA, Deputy County Administrator Office: 863-763-9312 ext. 2 ia��;�so��ors�L��,��.�s Letter Signed by — Terry Burroughs, Chairman Phone: 863-763-6441 ext. 1 '��3rro�.o��s@�o,n�:��cr��nee,fa�� 3� ?�"'�` , _''""��. �I City of Clewiston City Manager — Randy Martin +"� :i+d�'�/.i i 1�;"':1i�,.`�J,��i'�>>I'ijL7ii"� �,+„�li��, Letter signed by - Mayor Mali Gardner Vice Mayor Michael Atkinson Commissioner Kristine Petersen Commissioner Julio Rodriguez Commissioner Melanie McGahee Email for Clewiston City Council members — Kathy.CornbassC�cle�;��s{ ��-i l,c,�v Moore Haven City Manager — David Miller ��i�.��,�i��rCci��:��;��iL��c��c� 863-946-0711 Letter signed by — Bret Whidden, Mayor of Moore Haven �'��If�1�C�Uf?(��r��t_ivSC.�.�3i f1 C: 863-227-1360 City of Okeechobee Letter Signed by — Dowling Watford, Mayor Okeechobee Utilitv Authoritv r Executive Director — John F. Hayford �1na��i �rdC�o��fl,�r�� 863-763-9460 ext. 118 Letter Signed by - John Creasman, Chairperson (email)