The Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners discussed proposals to develop affordable housing projects.
Habitat for Humanity of St. Lucie and Okeechobee and Lennar Homes Palm Atlantic Division both presented projects and answered questions from the commission.
The property to be developed is owned by the county. It measures 2.8 acres and is located on SE 10th Avenue.
Habitat proposes to develop 11 single family homes. Lennar would like to develop 24 various housing units.
Habitat said the cost of their homes would be lower than Lennar.
County Commissioner Frank DeCarlo said he welcomes these efforts. He said he hears young people will never be able to afford a house.
“It is just too hard. They are a young couple, get married, they have cars, cell phones, both work, somebody gets pregnant, momma can’t work, there’s one income, and they can’t climb out.”
He said the county should do what it can to help these young families.
“Young people in particular I don’t see how they can get started without a little assistance.”
A family tragedy as a baby left with its great grandma was mauled by a dog in Volusia County.
A five month old baby boy died after being attacked by the family dog in Ormond Beach.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the parents of baby Carter left the child in the care of two relatives, and went out to celebrate the mother’s birthday.
Chitwood said the great-aunt let her three dogs out of their cage after putting the baby down to sleep in the bedroom. Moments later she found the 130-pound Great Dane husky mix next to the bleeding baby.
The dog is now with animal care and an investigation is underway.
Highlands County approved an ordinance that restricts people in the median and on the road soliciting for funds.
The law does not totally outlaw panhandling per see but you can not go onto the road pavement to collect the funds.
Christopher Suffley asked commissioners how the homeless population can support itself it is can’t pan handle.
Commissioner Kevin Roberts said he felt there are numerous agencies and programs to help the homeless.
Commissioner Don Elwell said part of this issue came up when youth groups and kids were collecting funds or advertising car washers and fund raisers and it just wasn’t safe to have kids along the road without proper adult supervision.
Okeechobee City Council rejected a staff proposal to raise taxes by one mill this year as they plan the budget.
It is usually a routine thing they do to have flexibility when developing the spending plan.
The council can not increase the tax rate after setting the tentative rate on the trim notice for taxpayers.
The council opted to keep the tax rate at the roll back rate plus the consumer price index increase for the past year.
Councilmember Bob Jarriel said administrator Gary Ritter overlooks the taxpayers all the time.
“That is who we work for, that who voted for me and put me here to represent them.”
Ritter said he respectfully disagreed with Mr. Jarriel’s comment.
Vice Mayor Monica Clark said every year her city taxes go up even though the city cut millions of dollars by eliminating the fire department.
“I think we need to work on tightening the belt a little bit and give our businesses a break.”
Miami Dade Commissioners recently voted to build a new waste to energy facility for their garbage.
They have been sending part of the waste stream to Okeechobee via train and tractor trailers.
Okeechobee has received close to $6 million in tipping fees from Miami trash.
The trash flow could potentially be reduced once the facility is developed in Miami.
A restaurant worker along the truck route In Okeechobee said she has seen an increase in truck traffic since the landfill started to accept garbage from South Florida.
She also reported more traffic accidents involving trucks along Berman Road.
It is estimated that close to 400 tractor trailers and or garbage trucks visit the landfill each day it operates.
The city of Fort Pierce and the railroad has gone to court over the trains being used to haul the trash on the Florida East Coast Railroad. They transfer the trash to tractor trailers in Fort Pierce. They want the company to clean up debris left along the tracks.
Residents have complained about noise, smells, flies and rats drawn to the railroad by the trash.