Okeechobee County commissioners adopt land‑use code changes, approve grants and contracts, and authorize new ambulance purchase

The Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners on March 13 approved multiple ordinances, grants, contracts and purchases, including amendments to the county land‑development regulations and code, a year‑one economic development grant payment to Brightmark Energy, a new county attorney contract, an extension of existing outside counsel during a transition, a raise for the regional medical examiner, and the purchase of a 2025 ambulance funded through a regional behavioral‑health grant.

Why it matters: The board’s actions adjust how development near the county landfill and around the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park will be regulated, shift review authority for large development plans to the county commission, authorize capital spending and grant payments tied to job creation and public safety, and set the county’s legal team and medical‑examiner pay levels for the coming year.

Most significant actions

• Land‑use code changes — The board adopted three ordinance changes after public hearings. The measures: (1) add an explicit exemption for rotor‑wing and vertical‑takeoff aircraft from landfill distance limits; (2) expand the definition of “major development” (lowering the unit threshold) and change review procedures so major development plans come to the Board of County Commissioners for final action after a planning‑board recommendation; and (3) create a dark‑sky buffer area around the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park with exterior‑lighting standards for new development and replaced fixtures in the buffer area. Planning staff and the county attorney said the measures reflect state and FAA rules and local planning concerns. The dark‑sky ordinance was amended at the board’s request to include a recognition of Mayor Watford and a park ranger who had worked on the preserve’s designation. All three ordinances passed unanimously.

• Brightmark Energy grant amendment and year‑one payment — The board approved a third amendment to the county’s economic development grant agreement with Brightmark Sobeck RNG LLC (Brightmark Energy) that documents a financing arrangement in which bare title to certain tangible personal property was conveyed to a lending entity, while Brightmark continues operation and tax obligations. The board also authorized the year‑one grant payment under the agreement: $55,419.39. County staff said the payment follows the agreement’s established calculations and recommended using the Landfill Trust Fund’s economic‑development balance to cover the distribution.

• County attorney transition and contracts — Commissioners approved a contract with TG Law PLLC for county‑attorney services (retainer $17,000/month; litigation services at hourly rates), and they also approved an amendment extending the incumbent county attorney firm’s retainer through March 27 to facilitate the handoff. The votes were unanimous.

• Ambulance purchase funded through regional behavioral health program — The board authorized purchase of a 2025 Type‑1 ambulance (vehicle price $398,195 through state contract) plus additional ambulance equipment estimated at $186,000 and adopted the related budget amendment resolution. County staff said the purchase will be reimbursed using funds from the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network under a regional agreement tied to opioid/behavioral‑health response, and that the new unit will be positioned to respond to overdoses when available. Motion carried unanimously.

• Medical examiner salary increase — The Board approved increasing the regional medical examiner’s annual salary from about $367,140 to $494,997, effective June 1, 2025, following a salary survey and competing recruitment interest. Okeechobee County’s current share of the medical examiner interlocal is 7.04%; commissioners were told that will raise the county’s ongoing annual liability by roughly $12,184 and the prorated remainder for FY25 is approximately $4,061. The action passed unanimously; staff said the interlocal agreement will be amended once all participating counties complete parallel approvals.

Other approvals and consent items

• Consent agenda — The board approved the consent agenda unanimously, which included ratifying the minutes, accepting the warrants list ($4,823,479), and multiple grant acceptance and budget amendments: two JAG (Byrne Justice Assistance) sheriff’s grants ($30,558 and $12,647), a senior services Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program amendment ($25,696 total; $2,886 increase), and other routine items.

• Fire‑rescue and equipment items on consent — The consent agenda included a refurbished/remounted ambulance chassis purchase and related work (county staff cited a $254,683 cost for the chassis revision) and a PSAP E‑911 Spring Rural County grant application for PSAP maintenance ($122,996; grant term 05/01/2025–04/30/2026). Also approved was a utility easement for Florida Power & Light at the Airport Commerce Park (for NexAir), and a renewal lease for the incubator building used by the sheriff’s citizens patrol ($19,883.64).

• Other approvals — The board approved installation of two solar‑powered LED speed‑monitoring signs on Southwest 67th Drive after county engineering and public‑works review (installation and inventory items were discussed). The board also adopted a $200,000 FDOT SCOP/SCAP preliminary‑design grant agreement and resolution for NE 56th Avenue (Northeast 100th/20th to NE 140th/4th) to fund design work that will be advanced while later construction funding is phased.

Discussion and presentations

• Workforce/career services — CareerSource Heartland and partner staff reported on regional workforce planning steps and local job‑training efforts. CareerSource staff said Okeechobee is part of a regional planning request with CareerSource Southwest Florida; that arrangement drew pushback from one commissioner who argued Okeechobee’s economy and commuting patterns align more closely with the Treasure Coast. CareerSource outlined recent local work‑based training, a non‑custodial parent grant program, and employer‑assistance offerings including federal bonding and job‑training scholarships.

• Community development districts (CDD) information session — County staff presented a detailed briefing on community development districts under Florida law (chapter 190), including statutory petition requirements, typical powers, financing mechanisms, public‑meeting and disclosure rules, and optional powers (such as parks or, in rare cases, fire services). External experts and attorneys attended and answered questions; the board asked staff to continue research and return with options if developers submit petitions.

Public comment and decorum

The meeting opened with public comment. County officials warned and then removed or curtailed applause and some interruptions; one public commenter made prolonged and profane criticisms of local public officials and the sheriff. Chairman and staff reiterated meeting protocols and the board proceeded to the agenda.

What’s next

Staff will return ordinance documents and implementation procedures as needed, bring an amended interlocal for the medical examiner if other counties approve the raise, and advance grant and procurement work to finalize purchases and FDOT design agreements. The board scheduled follow‑up items and staff‑level work to refine review and permitting procedures for major development preliminary reviews.

Ending note: Commissioners framed the meeting as a mix of technical land‑use code updates and practical county business — from public safety equipment to long‑term legal and financial commitments — all passed on unanimous votes.