News Cast September 11th:
Drainage issues raised
Okeechobee County is after $4.3 million in grants to improve drainage in the county.
Areas impacted include Four Seasons, Fort Drum, Nubbin Slough, Berman Road and Spot in the Sun.
They’ve been successful in the past getting state funding for drainage.
One new area of concern is 70 west.
The county sent FDOT a letter of concern asking why they are not cleaning ditches and culverts and letting standing water stay too long in yards.
Commissioner Brad Goodbread said normally two days is long enough to see water drain.
“Everybody is complaining about water. The big ones are Spot in the Sun, Four Seasons and Dixie Ranch. A lot of these older homes were built at ground level. Now they are built 18 inches above the crown of the road.”
Chairman Terry Burroughs said residents on 70 west are living through a lot of pain caused by drainage.
“We got some show cows standing around in water. They are trying to get them out. A number of people have the water almost up to their house.”
The county also received some state funding to put in new sidewalks.
The body of a missing man was found in Moore Haven.
Glades County Sheriff Deputies said Eric Palazolo had been missing since July 29th.
Lt. Gary Johnson said a person mowing near a cane field spotted a bicycle, and investigated and found the remains.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the lead agency. Foul play is not suspected.
The US Army Corps of Engineers in Jacksonville will no longer draw down Lake Okeechobee if a hurricane approaches. They point to guidance under the new LOSOM schedule and the stronger Herbert Hoover Dike.
Major Matthew Wescott said the lake is nowhere near the point they would consider releases anyway.
“In the past we did drawdown the lake but we no longer do that. We do not make any preparatory releases before a storm is inbound over the lake.”
The lake level was 14.58 feet as of this morning.
The city of Stuart rescinded their agreement with Brightline to build a train station downtown.
Residents were mostly split at the marathon meeting this week.
Some want to get vehicles off the road and bring new visitors.
Others said the $60 million dollar deal is too much for taxpayers.
Bob Shot said Brightline wants a lot of faith.
“Brightline is asking Martin County to invest over $30 million in Brightline’s future. I wonder if that is a prudent investment.”
Others said the 100 mile per hour train is mostly empty as it travels up and down the coast.
Martin County plans to keep talking with Brightline.
Commission Chairman Harold Jenkins doubts it will work and the train will likely go nowhere.
“I want a station in Martin County. We now have a 100 mph train with absolutely no benefit. It is ridiculous. We fought the train and we lost. The train was here before we were but it wasn’t going 100 mph. We can talk to Brightline all we want but my personal opinion, if I was a betting man, we have very little chance.”
The city of Fort Pierce remains interested in the station.