The city of Okeechobee selected a contractor to begin the work on hardening City Hall.
Proctor Construction was chosen by City Council.
The city also got little to no public comment on the annual budget.
They set the millage at 5.9602 mills. It represents an increase in property taxes collected of 4.5 percent this year.
The Florida Highway Patrol said incidents of road rage are on the uptick again.
Sr. Trooper Kenneth Watson said road rage is a real thing. He said people don’t understand mistakes any more.
“There’s another human being in that car and they could have simply made a mistake when they cut you off or cut in front of you. We have all made mistakes before. We need to take a deep breathe and let that person continue to travel.”
Lt. Greg Bueno said it is more and more common to see guns and other weapons brandished or used during incidents of road rage in Florida.
“We had a few incidents of people discharging a firearm at other vehicles, displaying a firearm at other vehicles. It is something that we have zero tolerance with.”
The Indiantown Village Council approved the annual budget that will reduce spending by 5.5 percent and reduce property taxes collected by 4.73 percent.
Commissioner Phyllis Waters Brown argued the village should continue to fund the bus service to Stuart on Saturdays. It costs the village $64,000 per year.
Brown did not want to hire a deputy manager for $130,000 per year. She also wanted a committee to select the deputy manager and not let the current village manager Taryn Kryzda hire her successor.
Commissioner Karen Onsager suggested they cut the salary of all the council members which is $10,000 per year.
The board voted 4-1 to keep the bus service for the coming year. It helps those with transportation challenges get groceries and other things they need.
The state is conserving another ranch in Okeechobee County, the Remlap Ranch owned by the Palmer family.
It is a 5,940 acre cattle ranch located south of NW 160th Street and US 98 near Basinger.
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program will fund the project for $32.1 million
The governor and cabinet voted to approve the application on Sept. 30.
83 percent of the land is improved pasture and dry prairie. 726 acres are wetlands.
The ranch runs 1,700 head of cattle and calves.
The state said the ranch is in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and will help enhance water quality, aquifer recharge, and reduce flood hazards.
Okeechobee law enforcement said they expect more operations from ICE and Homeland Security that seeks to locate illegal immigrants. One man was arrested outside LaFiesta on 70 west this week.
Authorities said the man had been deported three times and was driving with no valid driver’s license.
The deputies were also interrupted by a woman filming on a cell home who they say fraudulently claimed to be the man’s niece.
Lawmen note a new Florida law prohibits people from video recording near where a lawman is doing his duty like making an arrest.