News cast for July 29th:
Okeechobee Clerk of the Courts Jerry Bryant requested the commission increase the starting pay of his employees to $19 per hour.
He said that will help with recruiting and retaining employees.
He also requested one additional employee. This budget proposal increases the current year plan by about 10 percent.
Bryant pointed out the clerks computer system is constantly the target of hackers. He said there were 142,0000 cyber attacks by cyber interests, many from outside the United States, in the past few years.
Bryant also told commissioners it would cost an estimated $1-$2 million to digitize all the records the county has stored in paper form.
An estimated $75,000 in property damage was reported after a fire damages a camper, boat and a structure at 1306 SE 12th Drive.
Okeechobee County Fire Rescue reports said they found a pontoon boat and a 5th wheel camper with approximately 50% involved in flames when they arrived.
Sheriff Deputies and the resident were using fire extinguishers to fight the fire.
Firemen knocked down the flames quickly. There were no injuries reported.
The home owner said he heard an explosion and came outside and saw the fire and dialed 911.
The State Fire Marshall’s office will determine the cause.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are conducting aquatic plant management on Lake Okeechobee this week.
The plan is to treat 2,500 acres of torpedo grass in the northwest and western sides of Lake Okeechobee at Indian Prairie and Steamboat marshes.
All of the chemicals used were approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Okeechobee County Emergency Management Director Karen Kozac vowed to work closer with the city of Okeechobee in future disasters.
Kozac made a presentation about her background and her plans for emergency management to the city council.
She said it is important for the community to get back to normal quickly after a disaster for economic and other reasons.
She has already met with the Mayor to try and improve cooperation and cohesion.
The Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force along with the Drug Enforcement Agency and other agencies executed a search warrant of a residence at 12050 NE 26th Avenue on July 25.
They arrest Melissa Marie Garza, 43, on multiple charges.
The ONTF said Garza was selling methamphetamine out of her residence. They noted there were two children living in the home.
She faces charges that include methamphetamine trafficking.
Pahokee’s Big Dog Express won a contract with Osceola County to handle grinding and disposal of vegetative food waste a the county facility on Bass Road.
The two year contract will be no more than $2.72 million.
Osceola County Commissioners approved a rezoning change for the former Desert Inn property at 5570 South Kenansville Road, 441.
V6 Holdings proposed a new zoning of commercial general from commercial restricted for the property which would measure 3.4 acres.
There was no public comment at the hearing.