BATTALION CHIEF MIKE ARENA RETIRES SEE STORY, PAGE 3
PBSO ON WELLINGTON SAFETY WORRIES SEE STORY, PAGE 7
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TOWN-CRIER WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE • THE ACREAGE
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INSIDE
ITID Hires Management Company To Replace Fired District Manager
Volume 38, Number 27 July 7 - July 13, 2017
Serving Palms West Since 1980
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors’ plan to hire an interim manager for a few months became a longer-term agreement after a presentation last week from Special District Services Inc., a company headed by a team of veteran water management and special district leaders. Page 3
The villages of Royal Palm Beach and Wellington hosted patriotic celebrations to mark the Fourth of July holiday on Tuesday. (Above) Royal Palm Beach’s Star-Spangled Spectacular included a military tribute on stage. (Left) Teresa Holt, Melissa Madio, and Tabitha and James Sanders, along with Gino and Gia Madio (front), enjoy Wellington’s holiday celebration at Village Park. RPB PHOTOS, PAGE 10 WELLINGTON PHOTOS, PAGE 17
Wenham Presented Flag At Air National Guard Band Concert
The Air National Guard Band of the South held a concert Thursday, June 29 at the Wellington Amphitheater. The band played patriotic songs and held a special flag ceremony where former Mayor Tom Wenham, a. U.S. Air Force veteran, was presented with a flag. Page 5
Wellington Budget Proposes $110.4 Million In Spending
By Paul L. Gaba Town-Crier Staff Report Wellington officials released a draft village budget for fiscal year 2017-18 last week, projecting to spend $110.4 million over the next year. According to the preliminary numbers, that is a $20.8 million increase from the current year, primarily due to specific multiyear capital improvement projects. Those include $3.5 million in work being done with money from the 1-cent Palm Beach County sales surtax that voters approved last year, $9.6 million to renew water reclamation and water treatment facilities, and $4.5 million due to increases in personnel and operation costs. Total revenues are projected to increase by about $6.3 million. The most significant increases include additional ad valorem tax money of $1.18 million at the proposed 2.43 millage rate,
and $3.8 million in intergovernmental revenue, which includes the 1-cent sales surtax, half-cent sales tax, state revenue sharing, gas taxes and community development block grant funds. Utility revenues are projected to increase by $500,000 due to a 2.5 percent rate index on user water and wastewater rates. Wellington’s proposed tax rate of 2.43 mills is slightly lower than last year’s rate. However, increases in property values will bring in additional revenue. A 7.7 percent increase in the village 2017 taxable value to $8.03 billion provides the additional $1.18 million in ad valorem tax revenues. Using an averaged assessed value of $307,500 at the proposed 2.43 millage rate, homesteaded village property taxes would increase by $15 from the current year. Non-homesteaded village property taxes would See WELLINGTON, page 15
COPELAND DAVIS PATRIOTIC CONCERT
PHOTOS BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN AND JACK LOWNESTEIN/TOWN-CRIER
Royal Palm Drafts $49 Million Budget For Fiscal Year 2017-18
Summer Campers Enjoy Horsing Around At Casperey Stables
Casperey Stables popular riding camp held a horse show featuring its campers, who performed in the vault and the joust, on Friday, June 30. The camp riders showcased their skills in front of camp staff, friends and family. Owner Lori Cooper served as master of ceremonies for the event. Page 11
OPINION Take Steps To Avoid Becoming The Victim Of A Vehicle Burglary
According to Wellington’s May 2017 Strategic Review by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, there were 37 burglary attempts in Wellington during the month. Of these, the vast majority, 29, were vehicle burglaries. This is not unusual. While the occasional occurrence of more serious crimes grab headlines, vehicle burglaries remain the most common crime in Wellington and the surrounding areas, and they tend to tick up in the summertime. Page 4 DEPARTMENT INDEX NEWS...............................3 - 11 OPINION.................................. 4 NEWS BRIEFS......................... 6 PEOPLE................................. 12 SCHOOLS.............................. 13 COLUMNS.......................14, 21 BUSINESS..................... 22 - 23 SPORTS..........................29 - 31 CALENDAR............................ 32 CLASSIFIEDS................ 33 - 36 Visit Us On The Web At WWW.GOTOWNCRIER.COM
By Jack Lowenstein Town-Crier Staff Report The Village of Royal Palm Beach unveiled its proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-18 on Friday, June 30. The village will spend nearly $49 million to provide services to residents next year. The budget comes in at approximately $10 million more than the current year, with the majority of the difference coming in capital improvement projects. Village Manager Ray Liggins noted a 50 percent split between money allocated to the general fund and to capital improvements — close to $24 million for each. “This is a significant increase in capital [improvements] — over $10 million because of the impact fee increases, because of growth and the sales tax,” he said. That includes money from the new 1-cent sales surtax passed by
county voters. Royal Palm Beach will see $2.6 million of that surtax money in its budget next year. There are several different capital improvements funds — recreational facilities, community beautification, impact fees, sales surtax, general capital improvements, stormwater capital improvements and utilities. The sales surtax and stormwater capital are newly added funds. All the capital fund projects are on five-year budget plans. “The accounts are anywhere from $100,000 in the beautification fund all the way to $6.5 million in the general capital fund of new monies. Of course, we have carryover monies. That’s what makes up the $24 million,” Liggins said. “I think we have some interesting projects. In the impact fee fund for next year, we’re going to finish up the Commons Park
restrooms and the stage. That’s under construction right now. But, the Cultural Center remodel and expansion is our biggest project for next year.” The Cultural Center expansion project comes out to more than $2 million and is the largest project under impact fees, Liggins said. The stormwater improvement fund is partially financed by increasing the village’s stormwater management fee 50 cents — from $4 to $4.50. Improvements include fixing drainage near Camelia Park, but most of the revenue will fund stormwater maintenance operations, Liggins said. Total general fund operating expenses will increase by 2.44 percent, or about $1.1 million over the current year. The main increase to operations is due to higher personnel costs, with one See RPB BUDGET, page 4
RPB To Stage Several Free Events To Mark ‘Park Month’
By Julie Unger Town-Crier Staff Report July is Parks & Recreation Month, and the Village of Royal Palm Beach is ready with three free events taking place at Royal Palm Beach Commons Park. “What that entails is bringing the community together by offering a number of events for the families in our community and getting everyone outside, enjoying the scenery, and enjoying our parks and what Royal Palm Beach has to offer,” Program Coordinator Rochelle Wright explained. The first event, the Family Fun
Bike Ride, will take place Saturday, July 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. Residents are invited to come to the park with their bicycles, helmets, water, friends and family to explore the pathways at the park. There will be free refreshments and giveaways available. This is not an event where participants need to register; they only need to show up and enjoy the park. “We’ve added some new additions to Commons Park,” Wright said. “I think the community will definitely enjoy the beatification of the park and what we’ve done
to enhance it to make it more family-oriented and inclusive. We’ve extended a new sidewalk area, as well as made it into our 5K route.” The 5K loop is wide enough for walking, running, bike riding, skateboarding, inline skating and other activities. On Saturday, July 22, the village will host Bark in the Park from 9 a.m. to noon. Dogs, and their human companions, are invited to enjoy the dog park at Commons Park and meet with vendors, enjoy refreshments and giveaways, learn See PARK MONTH, page 7
Jazz pianist Copeland Davis and his band performed “An Evening of Patriotic Music” on Saturday, July 1 at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington. Davis played familiar jazz songs, as well as popular patriotic songs. Shown above is Copeland Davis (front) with bandmates Jeff Chafin, Bill Alexander and Richard Chisholm. MORE PHOTOS, PAGE 5 PHOTO BY DENISE FLEISCHMAN/TOWN-CRIER
ITID OKs Tentative Budget Plan With Assessment Hike
By Ron Bukley Town-Crier Staff Report The Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors gave unanimous initial approval to its proposed 2017-18 budget during a special meeting last week before handing the budget over to its new management company, Special District Services. The total proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-18 is $13,494,675, compared with $13,162,059 in the current year. The proposed budget includes an average 8.05 percent assessment increase, or $42.44, to $594.60 for activated units, and a 7.71 percent increase, or $36.87, to $535.07 for all units. The board’s top priority is to improve drainage as part of implementing a comprehensive drainage plan. Other priorities are to
improve canals using in-house canal improvement personnel for canal maintenance, continue the automation of manually operated control structures, and adhere to road improvement projects assigned by units of development. Budget expenditures by department are 43 percent ($5,811,622) for road maintenance and operations, up nearly $200,000 from the current year; 14 percent ($1,928,284) for debt service, down slightly from the current year; 14 percent ($1,922,769) for administration, up nearly $30,000 from the current year; 18 percent ($2,431,269) for stormwater management through pump operations and aquatics, down approximately $45,000 from the current year; and 11 percent ($1,400,741) for parks, up apSee ITID BUDGET, page 15
Wellington’s ‘Dragon Lady’ Eyes World Championships
By Randa Griffin Town-Crier Staff Report Shortly after her family moved to China in 2000, Debi Yohn was bitten by “the dragon” and joined a woman’s dragon boating team. Now, years later, the Wellington resident is still dedicated to the sport and about to participate in her biggest competition yet: the 2017 IDBF World Championships in China. In search of something to connect her to her Miami roots, Yohn knew she needed to find an activity that involved the water while she was living abroad. “I found a flier that mentioned something about dragon boating, so I got on a bus and went to where the team was forming,” she recalled. “I got bitten by the dragon,
started going to practice once a week, and the rest is history.” Dragon boating is an ancient sport that typically places 20 crew members on a long, narrow boat. Paddlers use long paddles to propel the boat through the water, while a drummer keeps the beat of each stroke at the front of the boat. Dragon boating has yet to be included in the Olympics, so teams from around the world gather at the World Championships every two years to compete and celebrate the sport. The teams are divided into different divisions based on age, and medals are awarded to the winning teams. Yohn, an active member of the Wellington Rotary Club, is going for the gold. “It’s really all about teamwork. Everyone depends on you because
there’s not a seat on the boat that isn’t important,” she said. “It really brings sisterhood to a whole new level.” This year’s World Championships will take place in Kunming, China, where Yohn will represent the United States and her community. With a doctorate in counseling psychology and a successful professional career to her name, Yohn said that she has always been comfortable with academic challenges, but the physical demands of dragon boat racing were a new obstacle. “I was never really an athlete growing up, so overcoming the physical challenges has been new for me,” she said. Yohn worked hard to make the
team competing in the championships and hasn’t slowed down since. She is required to check in with her coach every month and spends as much time as she can in the gym or out on the water. “I race in every race I can. It’s all about increasing your involvement with paddling,” Yohn said. Dragon boating has become an increasingly popular sport, and Yohn is doing her part to expand the sport in South Florida. She became the coach of the Jupiter United Dragons, and teamed up with the Lighthouse Dragons, a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team, to empower and encourage women. “I’ve been coaching these wonderful women since January of this See DRAGON LADY, page 4
Dragon boat racer Debi Yohn with some of her medals.