WOKC Local News – August 18, 2026, 7:41 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. A busier airport. With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Okeechobee County Airport has seen a near 14% increase in plane traffic. That’s nearly 2,900 more planes landing at the airport in the past three years, a total of 23,542 planes. Airport revenue is also up just under $280,000 this quarter. Airport manager John Zericke talked about the overall improvement of the airport. Continued airport growth through increased revenue sources, strong aviation activity, infrastructure advancement, compliance, and private investment. Okeechobee County Airport remains focused on maintaining safe and efficient operations while supporting aviation demand and economic development opportunities for the community. The county is applying for a $5.4 million grant from the FDOT and FAA for the Airport Hanger Project. The funding would improve drainage and stormwater, utility infrastructure, taxi lanes, and even security fencing. The commission also approved a five-year lease extension with the airport restaurant. The monthly rent will be $3,400. The contract does call for a 3.5% annual hike. Florida’s Attorney General is revising the state’s property tax amendment for the November ballot. The amendment titled Increased Homestead Exemption aims to reduce property taxes by raising the homestead exemption to $150,000 next year and $250,000 in 2028. The original title was Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes. It was changed after a judge found the original wording to be misleading and political. Okeechobee County wants to change their permit vendor who handles building permits and inspections. For two and a half years, the county reports a number of problems with Tyler Technologies. Public Safety Director Justin Haysalief has been looking into the problem. So the very largest issue we have with them is the data conversion was not done properly. And we have 80,000 plus permits that are listed under legacy data that didn’t translate properly. So now anytime we go to deal with a property that has one of those permits, there’s a lot of manual data entry and sometimes missed data entry. They have created a committee to find alternative permit and inspection software solutions. They currently pay Tyler $320,000 per year. Speeds have been lowered in Spring Lake by Highlands County Commissioners. The problem was the speed signs went up before the county voted. Commission Chairman Don Elwell says the Spring Lake Board was a bit irked by this. And somehow, someway, those couple of citizens got their wish. Without it coming to us, without the Spring Lake Board knowing about it, without anybody that may live out there knowing about it. An Oga Choy man is under arrest for super speeding. The latest victim, 48-year-old Michael Sandoval. He was caught going 86 in a 35 up North Indian River Drive in St. Lucie County last week. The charges, speeding in excess of 50 miles an hour over the posted speed limit. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).