OKEECHOBEE – A request for a zoning change to allow small farm animals in the Basswood subdivision is on the agenda for the Thursday, June 22 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commission.

Glenda Hardaker has requested the County consider a zoning change for her property within the Basswood subdivision area to allow small farm animals (i.e., chickens).

At this time, the Basswood subdivision is zoned Residential Single Family (RSF), which would not permit farm animals within this zoning district. Hardaker is expected to be present during the meeting to provide additional information and/or answer any questions that the commission may have.

Also on the agenda for the June 22 meeting:

• Joe Mrak with Securitecture, LLC., and Senior Project Manager Paul Fernandes with Ajax Building Company, LLC. will provide a report on the progress of the Okeechobee County Jail Expansion and Renovation Project.

• Commissioners will consider final plat approval for Old Grove Manor subdivision. They will be asked to approve the extension of SW 131st Avenue into Old Grove Manor as an approved private street. Erica Morse and Kayla Mohney are the property owners. The property is located to the east of River Oak Acres and is accessed from SW 131st Avenue.
Old Grove Manor is a proposed two (2) lot subdivision on the east side of River Oak Acres. As a result of the parent parcel previously being included as part of a lot split, any further division of the property, such as the proposed two lots, is required to be platted as a new subdivision. The subdivision includes a private street that, if approved, would be the maintenance responsibility of the lot owners. Construction for the new privately maintained street has been completed and certified by the developers’ engineer. The county is not being requested to assume maintenance responsibility for the street or any other subdivision infrastructure. The final plat has been reviewed and recommended for approval by the Planning Board and Site Plan Technical Review Committee.

• Commissioners will discuss the County Administrator’s Performance Evaluation and based upon the evaluation, determine the amount of merit percentage increase as deemed appropriate.

• Commissioners will discuss whether the board wants to reallocate the funding approved at their Nov. 22, 2021 meeting and revised at the Feb. 10, 2022 meeting for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Funding.

According to the county staff report, on March 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of Treasury released an Interim Final Rule, FAQs and a fact sheet for a significant portion of the $362 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP). This specific Interim Rule and guidance covers the $61.5 billion in direct federal aid to counties. Okeechobee County’s portion is $8,190,640.

The meeting will be held in the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse, 304 N.W. Second Street. The meeting starts at 9 a.m.

On July 22, 2021, the board approved the allocations of the funding based on the Interim Final Rule (calculating the revenue loss using the U.S. Treasury formula, the revenue loss was $1,500,000). On Nov. 12, 2021, the Board revised the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding, allocating $1,500,000 of ARPA revenue loss funding and $500,000 of stormwater funding towards Phase 1A of the Jail.

On Jan. 6, 2022, the Treasury adopted the Final Rule, which took effect on April 1, 2022, providing state, local and Tribal governments with greater flexibility and simplicity to respond to local public health and economic needs. The American Rescue Plan Final Rule provides for a one-time standard allowance of up to $10 million revenue loss, which would allow recipients to spend the funds on government services through the life of the program. The county elected the Revenue Replacement/standard allowance.

Funds must be incurred and obligated by Dec.. 31, 2024 and expended by Dec. 31, 2026.