BCC Briefs

At the April 7, 2009 Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Palm Beach Ranchettes – if approved for legal sufficiency, directed engineering staff to petition all 425 property owners in the unincorporated community near Wellington about having their remaining dirt roads paved. A majority of property owners would have to be in favor, and if so, they would be assessed for all expenses; no tax dollars will be involved.

Land swap – approved an agreement with G.L. Homes to exchange a narrow strip of land (.86 acre) on the north boundary of South County Regional Park for a 2.36-acre strip along the north border of Samuel Friedland Park in western Loxahatchee. The county-owned .86-acre strip will be incorporated into G.L. Homes’ Collier PUD residential development, while the developer’s 2.36-acre strip would become part of the Loxahatchee park. The property swap squares off the boundary lines of the respective properties.

Southwinds Golf Course – approved a contract with Ocean Gate General Contractors in the amount of $1.299 million for construction of a 7,900-square-foot clubhouse at the county-owned Southwinds Golf Course to replace the building destroyed by Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

South Bay – authorized the Parks & Recreation Department to assume operation, maintenance and renovation of the South Bay Crossroads depot and boat ramps in conjunction with expansion of the adjoining county-owned South Bay RV campground. The proposed project will cost an estimated $2 million; $1.5 in non-ad valorem funding has been secured, and grants will be submitted for the remaining $500,000.

Fire-Rescue – approved an interlocal agreement for Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue to provide fire protection and emergency medical services to the City of Lake Worth beginning October 1; also approved a separate pension agreement with the city.

Legislative Affairs – received a mid-session report on the status of local legislative priorities and funding requests.