Town-Crier Newspaper July 3, 2015

Page 1

RPB ZONERS REFUSE PARKING CHANGE SEE STORY, PAGE 3

PROFILING MUSICIAN BOBBY GUGLIUZZA SEE STORY, PAGE 7

THE

TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE

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Wellington To Consider Resolution On GMOs

Volume 36, Number 27 July 3 - July 9, 2015

Serving Palms West Since 1980

WELLINGTON ROTARY INSTALLATION

The Wellington Village Council agreed last week to consider a resolution supporting the labeling of food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). At its meeting Tuesday, June 23, the council heard a presentation pointing out that such labeling is not required in the United States. Page 3

Controversial Canal Clearing Work On Hold

Wellington has halted all canal clearing until it gets more information on the controversial project, which has drawn complaints from some residents who say their back yards are unnecessarily being razed of foliage. Page 4

The Wellington Rotary Club held its 35th anniversary installation gala and awards banquet Saturday, June 27 at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington. Outgoing President Tom Neumann (right) was honored for his service, while Henrik Nordstrom (left) was installed as the PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER club’s new president. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 7

Short Stacks Hosts Fundraiser

Short Stacks restaurant hosted a benefit Sunday, June 28 to raise funds for Alanna Rizzo and Dustin Moore-Gerasimchik, two of five Short Stacks employees who were involved in a severe car accident on June 12 in Royal Palm Beach. The event featured raffles, Chinese and silent auctions, a 50/50 drawing and more, along with a barbecue dinner. Page 5

Garden Of Hope Bingo Night Brings Large Crowd To Gator’s Shack

There was a packed house Thursday, June 25 at Gator’s Shack on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road for the Garden of Hope’s latest Bingo Night. This month, the proceeds will help Juan Rodriguez, who is suffering from complications due to a brain tumor. Page 10

OPINION Enjoy The Fourth Of July, But Make It A Safe Holiday

As we embrace celebrating our nation’s 239th birthday this weekend, the Town-Crier encourages residents to think before they drink, party safely and leave fireworks to the experts. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office will be enforcing its ban on illegal fireworks this weekend, and with good reason. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 10 OPINION.................................. 4 CRIME NEWS.......................... 6 NEWS BRIEFS....................... 11 PEOPLE................................. 12 SCHOOLS.............................. 13 COLUMNS.......................14, 21 BUSINESS..................... 22 - 23 SPORTS..........................27 - 29 CALENDAR............................ 30 CLASSIFIEDS.................31 - 34 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM

Wellington Crafts $79 Million Budget For Upcoming Year

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Wellington has prepared a preliminary budget of $79 million for fiscal year 201516. That is about $2.1 million higher than the 2014-15 budget of $76.9 million. It includes major roadway, governmental facilities and surface water management projects. Administrative & Financial Services Director Tanya Quickel noted that Wellington’s property values have increased 9.7 percent over the past year, which will help cover the increased budget. “That shows an increase in the economy, so that’s a good thing,” Quickel told the Town-Crier on

Wednesday. “The additional ad valorem tax revenue at the same millage rate… will yield an additional $1.4 million in ad valorem revenue.” While the tax rate is slated to stay the same, the average homeowner will pay a bit a more. “The bottom line is, if we stay at the 2.45 mills, a homeowner with a $200,000 house that is homesteaded will see a $4 increase in their ad valorem tax,” Quickel said. “If they are not a homesteaded property, they would see a $48 increase.” The Acme Improvement District drainage assessment is proposed to remain the same at $230 per unit.

Two significant revenue decreases are projected in the budget. License and permit revenue is expected to drop by $660,000, and impact fees will decrease by about $500,000 due to the decrease in buildable property. The proposed operating budget includes increases of $3.9 million for major maintenance programs and capital projects, with $626,400 for new equipment, including computers and software upgrades, utilities, tools and equipment, building maintenance vehicles and equipment; $457,000 in wage increases slated at 2.5 percent; $365,000 for water and wastewater operations; and $164,000 more See QUICKEL, page 16

GL Homes Planning 4,000 Homes West Of The Acreage

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Residential builder GL Homes has submitted a request to change the land use of its 4,900-acre Indian Trail Groves site west of The Acreage from its currently approved one unit per 10 acres to one unit per 1.25 acres, which has community leaders looking closely at its effect on local roadways. The proposal would add approximately 4,000 homes in an area that is currently underserved by roadways, and would use an improved 60th Street North and Hamlin Blvd. as its primary arteries. The developer plans to officially submit a proposed comprehensive land use amendment and future land use amendment to Palm Beach County on July 15. Urban Design Kilday Studios submitted a letter June 16 to the

Palm Beach County Commission on behalf of property owner Palm Beach West Associates asking for the approval of a special comprehensive plan amendment round in order to process concurrent requests for the comp plan and future land use amendments for the Indian Trail Groves project, as well as any necessary zoning applications. The developer is proposing a predominantly single-family residential community with accessory commercial and civic uses. The project will also incorporate a significant open space components. The property is currently in active agricultural use and is surrounded by drainage canals, conservation areas and properties in residential, civic and agricultural uses. According to the letter, development of the property will See GL HOMES, page 16

FAMILY GAME NIGHT

A Family Game Night event was held Tuesday, June 23 at Primrose Park in Wellington. Throughout the summer, Wellington’s Community Services Department will offer a series of Family Game Nights at parks in Wellington. Shown here, Isaiah and Jada Morency play Connect Four as mom Vanessa looks on. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 10 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER

Royal Palm Council To Review Capt. Hart: Traffic $41 Million Budget On July 6 Crashes Remain An Issue In Wellington

By Paul L. Gaba Town-Crier Report The Royal Palm Beach Village Council will review the community’s annual budget for fiscal year 2015-16 on Monday, July 6. But for the most part, don’t expect many deviations from prior years in terms of spending allocations. According to Finance Director Stan Hochman, the 197-page, $41.16 million proposed budget was prepared with the intent of not increasing the current tax rate of 1.92 mills per $1,000 of taxable property, while maintaining the level of service Royal Palm Beach residents have come to enjoy. The budget does reflect a tentative $6.27 million increase over

the 2014-15 budget approved last September. At face value, this looks like a huge difference — it is nearly an 18 percent jump. But Hochman explained the reason for this increase is a number of capital improvement projects slated for the upcoming fiscal year. “A variety of them are new projects, and the major one is road resurfacing,” Hochman said. “Other than that, the operating budget is basically the same.” A total of $2.35 million is slated for road resurfacing within Royal Palm Beach, including Saratoga Blvd., Kings Way, La Mancha Avenue, Ponce De Leon Street and Queens Lane. Some of these are carryovers from the current

year, and it is also possible that other projects could get bumped up, based on available money or emergencies that occur. “It’s an expensive cost, when you put the asphalt down,” Village Engineer Chris Marsh said. “We try for a three-year cycle, but this year, it’s a significant amount of resurfacing that’s taking place. It’s a function of the roadway, how many vehicle trips and the types of trips. Sometimes in the three-year cycle, you have heavier resurfacing needs than others. This happens to be one of those years.” Marsh also noted improvements and additions taking place at Royal Palm Beach Commons See RPB BUDGET, page 4

PBSO’s Mounted Unit Serves Several Important Purposes

By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report Following a winding road, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit’s home base — its two barns and an office building — can be found among the trees and foliage of Okeeheelee Park. There, living in the peace and tranquility, are a cat, a dog and

seven horses, who call the area home. They’re cared for by PBSO officers, a civilian, volunteers and veterinarians, all of whom understand just what an important job these four-legged creatures are entrusted to do. Leading the Mounted Unit is Sgt. John Howley, who, after about a decade on the job, is looking to

Sgt. John Howley with Dakota, a Belgian draft mare.

PHOTO BY JULIE UNGER/TOWN-CRIER

retire next year. Overall, Howley has been with the Mounted Unit for almost 25 years. “I’ve always had a passion for horses; I grew up riding horses as a kid,” he said. “Horses get under your skin. Once you’re involved with them, it’s really hard to leave it and do anything different. I’ve always enjoyed the bond with another sentient being, as well as being outside and being involved, being closer to what I’m doing as far as meeting people and interacting.” Howley has always had a passion for the law, and for horses. The Mounted Unit allows him to combine the best of both worlds. “We’re a complement to the law enforcement efforts of Palm Beach County,” Howley said. “We’re a complement to road patrol as well as the protective bureau. We respond to different requests for patrol. We can get into different areas with a horse that you can’t get into with a car, in between houses, behind houses, along the canal banks, easements, things like that.” The unit frequently visits Lake Worth, and are able to get through See MOUNTED, page 16

By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report Juvenile crime, property crime, traffic crashes, golf cart thefts and illegal golf cart use on roadways continue to be issues for Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Wellington, according to District 8 Commander Capt. Jay Hart. A total of 189 property crimes were reported between October 2014 and March 2015, Hart told the Wellington Village Council in his semi-annual report June 23. The department made 17 burglary arrests and 138 retail theft arrests in that time period, and there was a 16.7 percent overall decline in burglaries. One construction theft and six business burglaries were reported during that time frame. “We’re holding our own as far as burglaries are concerned,” Hart said. There were no robberies in the

first part of the fiscal year. “We’re very happy about that,” Hart said. “We realize we’re having an impact out there as long as we stay high-profile.” There were only 57 residential burglaries, compared with 112 in the first part of 2014. “We’re right around 50 percent lower,” he said. Vehicle burglaries, however, are up. Traffic crashes were down slightly to 862 from a spike of 892 in the first half of fiscal year 2014, but the drop fell short of the department’s goal to achieve a crash rate of 2.2 crashes per 100 village residents. The crash rate is projected to be 3 per 100 residents for fiscal year 2015. There were 665 crashes in the first half of 2013. The number of crashes for the first half of fiscal year 2015 was 32 percent above average. “We’ve talked about this ad See PBSO, page 16

COMING SOON: NEW OFFICE AND SUMMER SCHEDULE CHANGE

After nearly 10 years at our current location, the Town-Crier will be moving offices later this month. However, we will not be moving far. Still operating out of the original Wellington Mall at 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington, we will be moving from Suite 31 to Suite 33. Our phone numbers and e-mail addresses will remain unchanged. To facilitate this move, the Town-Crier will take a brief midsummer break from our normal operations. After the issue coming out Friday, July 10, we will skip two issues, returning to our regular weekly publication schedule on Friday, July 31, working out of our new offices. While there will not be issues published on Friday, July 17 and Friday, July 24, that does not mean that Town-Crier will disappear during that time period. While helping facilitate the move, Town-Crier writers and photographers will also continue to cover important community meetings and events. News items will be published online at www.gotowncrier.com during the second half of July, and shared with print readers in the July 31 issue. Our apologies in advance for any disruption to your normal, weekly routine. We will return you to your normally scheduled newspaper reading in short order.


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