Message from Commissioner Aaronson

January 12, 2009

Last month, I reflected back on the many exciting events that took place during 2008.  Now it is time to look forward to a new year that I am certain will be both exciting and challenging.

The County’s 2009 Guide to Services is now available.  The Guide helps you to determine who to contact for answers and information about Palm Beach County and the various agencies which are here to help you.  It provides a wealth of information including addresses and phone numbers of your federal, state and local officials as well as constitutional officers, municipalities and taxing authorities such as the School District.  If you would like a copy, please contact my office at the address, phone numbers or email listed below and a copy will be sent to you.

You will soon see construction begin for the Main Access Road extension at South County Regional Park.  The road will connect the northern, central and southern portions of the park.  This is a two-lane road with a bike path on each side that will let residents enter the Park from either Yamato Road or Glades Road making it much easier to get to the different areas of the park without having to drive all the way around.  The contract also includes a boat launch ramp for 18-20 foot vessels for the lake at Sunset Cove Amphitheatre and parking for 14 boats with trailers near the ramp.  These new features should be ready by the summer months.

I recently received an email from Water Utilities’ Director Bevin Beaudet thanking me for my assistance in the Backflow Preventer issue with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).  Many of you may recall that last May, the FDEP received guidance from Tallahassee that prompted it to redefine a rule that would have greatly impacted residents  who use lakes, canals or even individual wells for landscape irrigation.  The interpretation required that expensive backflow prevention devices be installed at water meters of individual residences.  Water Utilities disagreed with the interpretation and action by FDEP because they already had a backflow prevention program to protect residents from back siphoning of potentially harmful contaminants if the water pressure were to drop due to a line break or other uncommon event.  Estimates for installation of a backflow prevention device was $800 per residence with an additional $75.00 per year cost for annual testing.  The potential total cost to Palm Beach County residents was a staggering $80,000,000!  I worked with Bevin, the Alliance, COBWRA and the West Boca Community Council to fight this unnecessary cost to residents.  We coordinated a group of residents who attended an August 7, 2008 public meeting.  FDEP issued a memo last month that said in part, “Based upon a careful consideration of comments received from the workgroup members and other interest parties at the public meeting, along with comments submitted since the meeting, the Department is proposing to amend the current rule requirements…”  In short, utility companies and homeowners on reclaimed water systems will have the flexibility needed to meet backflow requirements without installing expensive backflow preventers.  Bevin’s thanks to me belongs to you, the residents.  Without your quick action and cooperation, the outcome of FDEP’s recommendation might have been totally different and very costly to many of us.

As always, I invite your comments on any issue of interest to you.  As your Commissioner, I am here to help you.  You may write me at 301 N. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, 33401 or call my staff at 276-1310 or toll free at 877-930-2205. You can also email me at baaronso@pbcgov.org.