2021-08-17 News ArticleAU9US1 25, 2021 Lake Okeechobee News - mer�er ot okeechobee News, Clewlston News, Glades County Democrat, end The Sun 27
•
eec o ee ��
le
_. _ �
City taxes unlikel� to go down with new budget
By Cathy Womble
Lake Olceechc�bec News
OKEECHOBEE — Despite the hope that
city laxes would go down a(ter closing [he
fire departmenl, it does not Hwi< lilre that is
going to happen.
During its Aug, 17, 2021 meeting, ihe
Olceechobee Ciry Council finished up the
proposed budgel fur the new fiscal year.
It will need lo gu througl-i public hearings
betnre being officially appruved, but if
approved, the millage rute will be sel at
7.f018, tl�ie same as lasi vear.
In addition, the city is considering
instituting a fire assessment or having !he
county lal:e over and do their own fire
assessment. This is not considered a tae
explaiued Mayur powling Watford, but tu
Ihe tax payers, it has the same effect, more
money coming out of thcir p�xkets. 'The
mayor said the council wanled to lower
the millage rate bul in order io balance
[he budget, hacl no choice but lo leave i[
a1 7.6018. It is feasible Ihai the rnilla�e rate
could be lowered if a fire assessment is whal other conVibulions ihey can get.
instituted, but Wat(ord said il is unlikely. '9 think we made it dear Ihis has to be a
"We would need to do a study before collaborative efforP, a community efforL ICs
we could do an assessment and possibly not just going to Ge all on ihe bacics of the
lower the millage rate, and ihen we'd have city," said Ritter.
lo loolc at it each year qoing (orward," he Commissioner Terry Burroughs said he
said. thought Main Street should be allowcd to
In other business; Councihnan Bob Jarri- just take over Cowboy Pad< and get things
el was bacic in attendance after missing [wo done in the manner they see fiL "I thinlc
meetings due to his heal[h. Main Street c2n do this whnle projecl. I
The mayor issued a proclamalion des- dodt see any reason thai ihey can't do
ignating Ihe month of September 2�G 1 as this. Tliey have beer� very successFul over a
Hunger Action Month. number of years and many projects in this
A certificate of appreciation was pre- comrnunity."
sented to forrner city adi ninisvator Marcos Brandon Tucker, chairman o( lhe Eco-
MoNes de �)c� fo. six years o[ service to nomic Council o( Okeechobee, spolce [o
the city. the muncil about Ihe poliry relating tn the
City Adminisirator Gary Ritter told the ciry's reserve fund. "Since 2015, the reserve
council he uiet with the park plamiing fund has gone trom $11.9 million to $10.9
canmittee aud agreed to mee� with the million al the end of 2010 acmrding to
consultant auA with Main Street arid come numbers we rereived From tlie ciry staff."
up with a budget fnr the "Cowbrry Paric." He said it is cominon (or municipalities and
He said it will bc presenfcd tu the com- non-profits �o I<eep a reserve equaling 90
mittee aud then !he c:ummiltee ovill talk to days wurth ot operating Funds on hund for
tl�ie f3oard of Covnty Crnnmissioners to see emergenries. This would be about a$I 62
.... � .�x . ,....
F e:
�¢s .
� , � '��.,
�\ ;
4 +:'.,. , � .
j
t :.: .
i �"
�`
4�
,a�t�r
� �. /
I� .
7�
I 2.`.�a �, i;
�' � } .
;�l71S�•';
; "'
, �_ — _. . _- - �`�'�' "`- -_.-�
. Spacial to !ne Lalic GNcecnobee News
IVlontes de Oca honorec�
OKEECM08EE — At the August '17, 2.02.1 city cow�cll meeting, for3»er Cify
AdminSstr2tor Marcos Montos Ue OcA was presented wiih a certiFicata ofi
�pprer.iation by Mayor Watford for his fniin4ul servica anU dedicatinn as cRy
�dm7nistraior for the pasf six years. "Thank yo�� for ali you'va done for our
commimity. Wo wfsh you much success in your new endeavors,° sald the
council members. `?hank you to the Mayor and Ciiy ior tiie recoynition!1!
Can't wait to start as the Glades County Manager," safd Monfes de Oca.
million dollar reserve, he explained.
"Thaf chasm between th�t, IePs call ii $2
million and the $10.9 that exisis today, we
would aslc [hat there be a plan or a frame-
worlc, and we would love to work with
you all on lhat to see how you could inves[
thcse dollars over, say a five year, six year,
wltatever ynu think is an appro�riate time
(rame as to how yoi� invest thal money
bacR intu thz cornrtwniry." Ne mentioued
streets, sidewalks, etc The economic coun-
cil believes the reserve fund is excessive as
it is now.
The couucil discussed accepting a
settlement ofier in a code enforcernent
case against Bella Rose Day Spa. The spz
accumulated $14,G00 in code enforcement
fines, but the special magisirate recum-
mended reducing the fine by 50°h. During
the Special Magistrate hearing, 6ili Rose,
who, with his wiEe, owns the spa, testified
he was unaware ol [he cude violations or
fines. I-le said tiie notices were served to an
employee wtio never told the ouvners. hle
claimed retired i'ode Enfurcement Officer
Fred Steding never spolce �e him aboul
violations but surreptitiously took pictures.
Rose requested ihe fine be reduced to $0.
Code Enlorcement 0(ficer Mthony Smith
said Rose was di(ficidt to work with, and
he haA difficulty contacting him despile
mul[iple tries.
The city- council vuted on April 20, 3 to I
in (avor o( approving the fine reduction ro
50°/o u( the original fine Flowever, in May,
Rose filed an appeal in court and o((ered tu
pay 84,500.
Police Chief Dub Peterson said lhe
� ode enforcement violatiuns have all been
brought into compliance, and code eo-
forcement has a good business relalionship
with the Roses. He recommends accepting
the o(fer.
The couucil voted unanimously to ao-
cept fhe settlerient offer.
The next city council meeting will be
held on Sept. 7 in the council chambers.
�.
„ ,.
,� � , y.,
',�1 S �. 'Dr �� ��� y—�Jk't �:
, � r ,, 3r
�� k �:
�� ��
� ,.
,r:
s��� 3
^ �'�
,�
i, ��'�, ��:'..
6peGal tc Ihe 2iw_ O:<ee,chui»�e Pl.,ws
�t�+��r�#� ��� s�i�nt�fa� ��t�t��
OK�ECH03EE — On .4ug. 19, Mrs. Feldman's fiffin gred= scie;�c�e elass at
Cerrtral El��men�tary Sci�oof coiild he fiound r�u�i:ng 41�e'tr scies�3Eii� �raefh4tl
skills io 3ti9 tesi. 7he s4c�clants made paper airpfanos fo Yos4 She1r hypothes3s
and determine the indepe��dent, dependent, and cuntroiled variables in tf�e
ox�erimont.
AU�. 17, au�� M+�