News Cast for October 1st:
The Okeechobee County school board ratified new contracts with teachers and classified employees.
The classified unanimously approved the contract (174-0) and just 10 teachers voted against their pact.
Starting pay for first year teachers rose to $51,000.
Classified received a bonus of $1,125.
Teachers received a bonus of $2,250 and a two percent raise.
Union President Jorje Botello said salary hikes could be better. He noted that work begins in Tallahassee working with the legislature to increase education funding.
“The teachers are happy to have more money in their pockets. They do have concerns with the state. You have to start taking care of veteran teachers. Legislation tries to handcuff that. Our district could do a little more locally.”
He said the teachers did have a concern about additional work load and the shortage of teachers.
Superintendent Dylan Tedders responded to the concern about the heavy work load faced by teachers.
“We have vacancies but we have certified teachers in those rooms. No one is sitting with 40 kids in a classroom. We will
keep the numbers where they need to be to keep students moving forward.”
The sheriff reported a good response to the effort to raise supplies for Taylor County.
He wants to fill a utility trailer filled with supplies for the hurricane damaged community.
All kinds of non-perishable foods, and batteries, water, toilet paper, and other items are being accepted at the sheriff’s office all week. They plan to deliver them Friday.
Spokesperson Jack Nash said Okeechobee residents are often generous.
“It could very easily been us so now is our time to help people in need.”
A camper fire was sparked by someone trying to light a stove with a cigarette lighter.
The woman was burned in the hands, legs and feet and have to be airlifted to a trauma center. A man suffered minor burns.
The incident in the Viking Property at 15325 NW 292nd Street on September 28 at 4:50 pm.
The state fire marshal ruled the fire as accidental.
An estimated $6,000 in damage was done to the camper.
The Okeechobee Utility Authority approved a six percent rate hike for water and sewer. They also approved more generous connection fee plans for those residents who are forced to tie on when service is available.
That will include areas in the southwest service area to Okee Tantie, Treasure Island and SW 5th Avenue.
The minimum down payment was reduced to $500 and the minimum monthly fee will be $25 until the costs of the connection is paid off.
OUA Executive Director John Hayford said they will be adding about 2,000 new customers over the next several years.
Indiantown voted in a new Mayor, Carmine DiPaolo to replace Susan Gibbs Thomas who is retiring.
DiPaolo praised Thomas for her leadership and opposing big village government.
“She fought, she worked hard and with the election of myself and Angelina Perez two years ago we were able to set the village on a better path.”
Phyllis Waters Brown also took the oath of office as the new village councilmember.
They approved the annual budget that will raise property taxes collected by 17.4 percent.
An accused drug dealer possessed fentanyl two weeks after she sold crack cocaine.
The Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force said the drugs were sold out of a residence on NE 6th Avenue. Haley Chouinard was held on 1 hundred and 50 thousand dollars bond to face charges related to sale and possession of narcotics. The alleged sale also took place near a church.
Leonel Ruiz was jailed on charges related to aggravated battery, false imprisonment and sexual battery after an alleged incident last week.
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE – EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AND DECLARATION
For Immediate Release
September 30, 2024
Hurricane Helene landed ashore in Florida’s west coast as a Category 4 Hurricane late Thursday with winds of 140 mph. Due to the onslaught of this Hurricane, on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at approximately 8:30 am, the City of Okeechobee, through its City Council, enacted Emergency Ordinance (No. 1297) which followed Okeechobee County’s Emergency Declaration issued the day before. The City’s Emergency Ordinance found that, with the onslaught of Hurricane Helene, a situation existed that potentially constituted an imminent threat to public safety, peace or order, and a threat to public and private property or persons. In these situations, local governments must act expeditiously when issuing emergency orders to protect residents from the potential of disorderly conduct in the aftermath of a major hurricane. Those who have lived in the aftermath of major hurricanes are well aware of this potential. In addition, issuance of an emergency ordinance is a prerequisite to qualify for reimbursement for any damages sustained to public Infrastructure or facilities.
The Emergency Ordinance commenced immediately upon the declaration by the Police Chief and was thereafter terminated by the Police Chief on or about 9:51 pm on the same date it was issued. The Emergency Ordinance was terminated for two primary reasons. One is that, fortunately, Hurricane Helene did not have a substantial impact on the City and its residents. Secondly, a provision prohibiting the sale of firearms and ammunition was inadvertently included in the Emergency Ordinance. Upon discovering this, the City and Police Chief acted expeditiously to terminate the Emergency Ordinance.
Safeguarding the life and property of its residents is the paramount role and responsibility of the City. Nothing more, nothing less. At no time did the City, or the Police Chief, contemplate, nor take any action, to prohibit, confiscate or otherwise regulate firearms or ammunition.