News Cast 6/9
News Cast for June 9th:
The governor vetoed a bill (SB 2508) that would have insured water supply for agriculture and people wanting to use area canals and the lake for fishing.
Supporters of the bill said South Florida would of had fewer water shortages.
Senate President Wilton Simpson, who supported the bill, said he did not want Florida to become like California with constant droughts and water shortages.
The bill also would have provided water for municipal water systems in cities around the lake and the city of West Palm Beach.
Corporate media falsely claim it will only ensure water for agriculture and would have hurt the Everglades.
Environmentalists want the lake levels lower and don’t want any releases to the St. Lucie estuary.
Captain Daniel Andrews of Fishermen for clean water said they are making progress on water issues.
“You see record investments for the Everglades and projects that get the job done. Construction of the Everglades reservoir and restoring water flows of the water the way nature intended. We are confident. We think we’ll be able to go out there and catch tarpon and enjoy the resource.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis promoted $1.2 billion in state funds this coming year to help the Everglades.
“This budget alone invests in water resources. It is far and away the best we have ever done.”
DeSantis also vetoed $350 million in aquifer storage wells designed to store water north of Lake Okeechobee.
Some on Okeechobee City Council want to see a reduction in costs for fire and rescue in the coming year.
Robert Jarriel said he would like to see a lower figure.
“You’ve done the service now. You know how many people it took. I hope a reduction would be forthcoming.”
The call volume has been steady when compared to other years and also gasoline prices are higher making it more expensive.
Councilmember Bobby Keefe suggested a city fire assessment and not taking money from ad valorem revenues.
He said he expects the costs to remain high.
“I know you requested the fire chief to come back with a smaller cost. Fuel prices and costs across the board are increasing. Nothing is going to get cheaper.”
A grim milestone set with child drowning deaths in Florida in 2021.
The number of deaths were a 30 percent increase over 2020, and the most in 12 years.
Florida also led the nation in drowning deaths of children under the age of five.
Scott Dressel with the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office said we have to do a better job of educating and supervising our children.
“There should always be an adult whose sole task is watching the kids while they are swimming. If your child will be spending a lot of time around lakes or pools, make sure that teaching them how to swim is a top priority.”
It could cost up to $18 million dollars for a new Indiantown village hall and administrative complex.
Plans also include a gymnasium, a bus stop, community center, splash pad and space for a pool, police station and fire station.
Councilmember Janet Hernandez said the village has to build with an eye toward the future.
“Our public has to understand that we are not thinking about today, tomorrow or the next five years. We are thinking about our great grandchildren.”
The new administrative complex could be two or three stories and would measure at least 13,00 square feet.
The village also wants to set up a green market in Post Family park to cut down on private yard sales and sales of goods along the highway like vegetables.
Architects presented a plan that also included a gymnasium, community center, splash pad and space for a future pool, police station and fire station.