2019-2021 Successes

We have made significant improvements to our operations and assets in the last two years.  Town staff is a strong performing team, focused on improving services that help our residents and businesses. 

 

Annexation

  • Working with a group of elected officials and managers from key cities in the State, we were able to get annexation identified as one of the Florida League of Cities legislative priorities two years in a row.
  • Submitted a local bill for annexation in 2020 and 2021.

 

Communication

  • Created “virtual” Town Council and CRA Meetings and then transitioned to a “hybrid” format.  The hybrid format allows for virtual participation and six in-person guests. Our first virtual meeting had 55 attendees and another 13 participants.  This virtual format has increased resident participation in Town and CRA business.
  • Currently using the “hybrid’ format for most Town initiated public meetings (Code, Council, CRA, Parks)
  • We currently publish public meetings on the Town’s Youtube channel.
  • Made a $32,500 investment in audio/video equipment in Town Hall to enhance and improve communications with the Public.

 

COVID

  • Maintained near normal business operations through 12 months.
  • Revised several business practices to operate during COVID
    • No cash taken at the window
    • Office open by appointment only
  • Reassigned staff as needed to insure as continuous of an operation as possible while dealing with 22 weeks of COVID related absences.
  • Held local COVID 19 pop-up testing events here at Town Hall
  • Created a virtual work force for 6 weeks (closed Town Hall).
  • Work with DOH on an application for a Closed POD. 
  • Recovered approximately $49,000 of COVID related expenses from Palm Beach County

 

FRED

  • Both of our residential PACE funding partners have gotten out of the business.  FRED now is doing commercial PACE exclusively. 
  • We continue to expand our Commercial PACE programs.
  • We are following new PACE legislation in the 2021 State Legislature
  • Total bonded program costs through inception are $73.5M Residential, $39.3M Commercial

 

Employee Development

Staff is working on a variety of projects to provide better services to our residents by improving processes externally and internally. 

  • Working to upgrade Munis to version 2019.  Version 11.2 has reached its end-of-life.  This move requires a server upgrade.
  • Heidi Kintz coordinated the new meter change out program including overseeing the implementation of new software needed to download data from the meters and upload to Munis for billing purposes.
  • Asset Essentials has been implemented.  Staff have been trained and are using the program.  The Utilities Department is now tracking all work orders and the work status is being shared with the initiator. 
  • Emilie Pearson is overseeing ADA compliance and the Town’s website, as well as overseeing the electronic document management solution - Laserfiche
  • Emilie Pearson, Heidi Kintz and I are working to better utilize MUNIS.   Staff continues to work with Tyler Solutions to begin rolling out the new cashiering PCI compliant solutions as well as the Citizen Self-Service Portal and the new utility bill format.
  • Mery Ramirez has moved to Permits and Business Tax Receipts and has reorganized the department to provide better customer service and interactions.  She works by appointment only and has still processed more than 600 permits during COVID. 
  • Lieutenant Dana Schack received training and has taken over town-wide payroll responsibilities.

 

Utilities

  • Completed the second phase of Mango Circle Water Main project
  • Received $300,000 special appropriation from the Legislature in 2019 for septic-to-sewer design needs. We requested but were denied $500,000 in 2020 Legislature.  We have requested $1,000,000 in the 2021 Legislature.
  • Designed a small sewer project for the CRA.  Working with Palm Beach County Housing and Economic Sustainability to get the project funded.
  • Completed repairs to three sewer failures that normally would have been assigned to an outside contractor saving the Town thousands of dollars.
  • Received site plan approval from Palm Beach County Planning for a new hardened Utility Admin Building.
  • Received $125,000 CDBG Grant from Palm Beach County to assist in the construction of a new 12-inch water main along Lawrence Road in Seminole Manor.  Palm Beach County bid and awarded the project for Lake Clarke Shores.  We are currently negotiating a funding agreement.

 

Outside Activities 

  • Florida League of Cities Smart City Working Group (Member)
  • Florida League of Cities Land Use & Economic Development Committee (Member)
  • Lake Worth Beach Sewer Oversight Member Board (Chairman) 
  • Florida Resiliency and Energy District Board (Chairman)
  • Business Watch Board (Secretary)
  • Florida City and County Management Association Board (At-Large Director 2019-2020)
  • Florida City and County Management Association Board (Committee Chair 2020-2021)
  • Blueway Trail, Inc. Board (Treasurer)

 

Events

  • Most were cancelled due to COVID.  We did do two virtual Lake Cleanup Events.

 

Police Department

  • Began converting the police cars from purchased to leased.  Replaced 11 vehicles with new leased vehicles reducing maintenance costs and saving the Town approximately $40,000 per year.
  • In cooperation with the Village of Palm Springs, the Town is implementing a new records management system for the Police Department making it easier and more efficient for the LCS Police Officers to receive call information and create call reports.    

 

Other

  • Negotiated a new 5-year agreement with Waste Management and implemented a new standardized trash can program for the Town.
  • Hired a new Auditor for the Town.
  • Printer-friendly version