Highlands County Board of County Commissioners Annual Report Fiscal Year 2018-2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE BOARD ...... 3 COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RANDAL VOSBURG ...... 4 BUSINESS SERVICES ...... 5 Human Resources ...... 5 Non Ad-Valorem Assessment ...... 5 Office of Management and Budget ...... 5 Purchasing ...... 6 Risk Management ...... 6 COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ...... 7 Children’s Advocacy Center ...... 7 Countywide Libraries ...... 8 Healthy Families Highlands ...... 8 Human Services ...... 9 Veteran Services ...... 9 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ...... 10 Building ...... 10 Housing ...... 10 Planning ...... 11 Economic Development ...... 12 Tourist Development Council ...... 13 ENGINEERING ...... 14 GIS ...... 14 Solid Waste ...... 14 Traffic Operations ...... 14 PARKS & FACILITIES ...... 15 Facilities ...... 15 Parks and Recreation ...... 15 PUBLIC INFORMATION ...... 16 PUBLIC SAFETY ...... 17 Emergency Management ...... 17 Fire Rescue ...... 18 ROAD & BRIDGE ...... 19 Bridge and Concrete ...... 19 Fleet Maintenance Shop ...... 20 Natural Resources ...... 20 Warehouse ...... 20

2 The Board

Highlands County is one of 67 counties in Florida and was established by an Act of the Florida Legislature. By the authority of the Constitution of the State of Florida, the Board of County Commissioners share the functions of government with the Constitutional Officers.

Highlands County’s five commissioners are each elected to serve a four-year term. These terms are staggered and each member is elected at-large but represents a geographic district within the County. The chairperson of the Board is elected annually by the other Board members and presides over all board meetings. The Board meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month and all meetings are open to the public. For a current Board meeting schedule, please visit www.highlandsfl.gov.

The Board of County Commissioners is a policymaking board. They have responsibility for the provisions of general government services, the development of infrastructure and establishment of regulations regarding zoning and land use provisions. The Board approves the County’s operating and capital budgets, passes ordinances and takes actions that provide for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Highlands County.

The Board is also responsible for setting the millage rate (tax on real property) to fund all functions of County government, with the exception of the Tax Collector and most court-related functions.

3 County Administrator Randal Vosburg

It has been my pleasure to serve this Board and the citizens of Highlands County over the past year. This annual report takes a look back at the progress of the past year and highlights the accomplishments that demonstrate the Board’s commitment to sustainable growth, economic development, investment in infrastructure, and fiscal responsibility.

2019 was an exciting year for our TEAM as we continued to make significant progress on several large projects and saw others to completion. We were excited to see the Hurricane Irma reimbursement process come to a close with receipt of a significant portion of the federal and state hurricane reimbursements. As of Dec. 31, the County had received $12,315,700.21 in reimbursement of hurricane-related expenses. We celebrated the completion of the Panther Parkway (formerly known as Sebring Parkway Phase III) with a grand opening and 5K fundraiser to benefit United Way on Dec. 7. Construction of this 4.3-mile road project began in February 2019 with inhouse forces, a coordinated effort between the Road & Bridge Department and the Engineering Department, and was completed in 10 months on time and within budget. A coordinated effort with the Town of Lake Placid brought closure to the $944,278.36 CDBG project extending water lines within the town. Additionally, staff moved the IMWID Phase I Impoundment Project to near completion and are excited to move forward with the close out and reimbursement process.

The year brought forth significant progress with the transition to a paid Fire Rescue system. The newly implemented non-ad valorum fire assessment generated $4,859,901.20, which were directly used to support the first round of hiring and the operation of two fully staffed paid fire stations. The County also secured a $5.5 million loan that will be used for construction and apparatus needs.

The Board accomplished this year’s balanced budget while leaving the millage rate at the current 8.5500 mills for the sixth year in a row. The budget of $154.6 million was a 7.58% increase from the previous year’s budget. We demonstrated our commitment to responsible stewardship with the development and balancing of the full Capital Financial Strategy for FY 2018/2019 through 2027/2028, a feat not accomplished for Highlands County since FY 2012/2013. We continued to educate citizens on County budgeting by holding community meetings in all three municipalities.

Also of note, the County has undergone a rebuilding process over the last two years in terms of staffing. With major staff changes in all areas of the organization, the County is getting the right people in the right places. Once fully implemented, the County will be stronger than ever before.

As we move into 2020, we encourage you to get involved with your County government and ask that you visit the County’s newly designed webpage at www.highlandsfl.gov where you will find more information about the County and its programs. We thank our employees, Constitutional Officers, municipalities, districts, and community partners for everything they do, for the programs and services they provide, and for making Highlands County a wonderful place to live, work and play.

4 Business Services

HUMAN RESOURCES The goal of Human Resources is to assist the Board of County BY THE NUMBERS Commissioners in achieving the strategic mission through our commitment to providing professional, progressive and strategic 365 leadership to all stakeholders. Employees served • A new Interview Scoring Sheet was created and tested for 126 validity before implementation in an effort to streamline the Positions advertised interview process. • Created workgroups to continue improving the employee 1,613 evaluations and to create a new Leave Sharing Policy. Applications received • A new carrier for the County’s health, dental, life, telehealth and 105 Employee Assistance Program benefits was selected. Employees hired • Hosted and participated in the “True Colors” personality trait workshop as a teambuilding exercise. 9 Retirements

45 NON AD-VALOREM ASSESSMENT (NAV) Resignations The Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Division continued to work with the Tax Collector’s staff and consultants to create new software 10 to manage assessments and generate assessment rolls. Oak Terminations Manor Avenue Road Paving MSBU was created and paved the way for a County Road Improvement Program. The NAV Division 714 Employees particpated in worked with the Road and Bridge Department to assist with the the County’s Wellness Event developments of a Road Improvement Program. The Highlands Park Estates Community Center was completed, and continued progress has been made on clearing the overgrowth within the park and improving the waterfront view.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB) The Office of Management & Budget (OMB) successfully completed another Budget Season. OMB worked with the Clerk of Court’s Accounting Department in the setting up and recording of budgets, revenues, expenditures and other entries necessary for the tracking and spending of funds. OMB also monitored the expenditures of the major funds and communicated with Administration as to any variances when compared to the budget. OMB tracked and monitored all currently open projects, working with the project managers to update their project control records as needed, adding new projects and closing those that have been completed.

5 Business Services (continued)

PURCHASING In FY 2019, Purchasing provided for 83 solicitations, up from 69 in BY THE NUMBERS FY 2018. Additionally, staff assisted with six ITB’s for property sales and logged 104 new escheated properties. PURCHASING 83 The Purchase Card expenditures in 2019 totaled $1,300,789, which Solicitations represents a substantial savings in time and cost associated with small purchases. 39 Invitations to Bid

Vendor enrollment in Vendor Registry increased by 374 companies/ 33 persons with 80 of these registrations attributed to persons Formal written quotes interested in the surplus property. 6 Partially completed ITBs RISK MANAGEMENT During the fiscal year, Risk Management worked diligently with all 1,681 Board departments to complete a new Safety Handbook. The Safety Purchase Orders issued totaling $23,729,195 Handbook was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 1, 2019. 5,828 P-Card transactions Staff successfully negotiated another two-year Property Casualty, totaling $1,300,789 General Liability, Water Craft and Workers’ Compensation renewal for FY 19/20 and FY 20/21, with a decrease in premiums and enhanced coverages.

Over the past four years, the County’s Workers’ Compensation claims activity decreased significantly. The Workers Compensation Experience Modification factor, an indicator of overall claims expenses, has been reduced to 1.00%, a 12% improvement from BY THE NUMBERS FY 17/18. RISK MANAGEMENT Risk Management has been diligent in focusing to prevent claims 64 from occurring and by managing claims that do occur. Claims processed • Quarterly Claim Review Meetings with claim adjusters • Employee communication to be sure injured employees have the 39 best medical care possible for expeditious recovery and return to Workers Comp claims processed work • Liaise with Senior Risk Consultant and utilization of other safety 25 resources Auto & General liability claims • Implement current online training programs for employees including general safety and post accident training 1 Mediation attended • Attend webinars concerning current risk concerns

6 Community Programs

The Community Programs Department is comprised of five divisions: Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), Countywide Library System, Healthy Families Highlands, Human Services, and Veteran Services. The programs under the Community Programs umbrella address many of the quality of life needs in Highlands County. The success of the department is our staff who have a heart for the community and possess the skills, commitment and knowledge to facilitate outstanding programs for the citizens we serve. CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER TRAINING • 9 multi-disciplinary team (MDT) partners attended Krimes Against Kids • CAC staff attended the National Children’s Alliance Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. • National Children’s Advocacy Center’s Family Advocate Child Abuse Prevention Month Training Highlands County, FL • Renewed Victim Advocate Training (Victims of Crime Act) • Darkness to Light Facilitator Training PREVENTION BY THE NUMBERS • 200 adults in Highlands County trained in Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children – Child Sexual Abuse Prevention 91 • Child Advocacy and Protection Program (CAPP) events had over New clients 100 attendees: courthouse kickoff; proclamation; reading events; Empowered to Connect simulcast 130 Forensic and spercialized CHILDREN’S SERVICES COUNCIL/MDT ADVISORY BOARD interviews conducted • Family Wellness and Trauma Informed Community Project initiated • Renewed MDT Interagency Agreement previously completed in 2016 1,438 Victim advocate encounters STAFFING/SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS • CAC mental health therapist position created and filled 169 • New linkage agreement with Children’s Home Society for full-time Direct therapy services counselor • Medical services re-started at CAC – Agreement with Child 12 MDT case reviews Protection Team (CPT) • CAC administrative secretary (part time)

7 Community Programs (continued)

COUNTYWIDE LIBRARIES The new Advanced Workstations in Education (AWE) computers purchased last year for all three libraries continue to be used by our young patrons and their families who benefit from internet free educational games. Individual users to these computers totaled 26,655.

“A Universe of Stories,” was the theme for this year’s summer reading program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. Staff at the three branches offered programs following that theme.

Story times for toddlers, programs for infants, movies, after school BY THE NUMBERS programs and S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities are offered by staff members on 576,662 a regular basis. Annual circulation transactions Vikki Brown is the new Avon Park librarian as of November 2018. She has worked in the Highlands County libraries in different capacities as 238,261 Members who visted library assistant, cataloger, intern, and volunteer. The Avon Park library library facilities has a new area designed for young adults and a brand-new collection of video games available to patrons. 126,415 Virtual sessions With the support of the Friends of the Lake Placid Memorial Library, the 5,165 Lake Placid Mural Society and the Lake Placid community, artist Keith Volunteer hours worked Goodson completed the “Inspiring Minds is Our Gift” mural on the west at library facilities wall of the Lake Placid library. 2,816 Library cards issued HEALTHY FAMILIES HIGHLANDS Healthy Families is a network of evidenced-based home visitation programs that help parents provide the safe and stable environments children need for healthy growth and development. BY THE NUMBERS Healthy Families is nationally-accredited and proven to prevent child abuse and neglect. The Healthy Families Highlands team works to 99 families & 214 children improve childhood outcomes and increase family self-sufficiency by Received home empowering parents through education and community support. visitation services 134 Some highlights of the year include: Program staff alongside a Assessments conducted program participant presented the Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation to the Highlands County School Board in April 2019; 289 a community-wide school supply drive and Back to School event for Referrals to community resources program participants was held in July 2019.

8 Community Programs (continued)

HUMAN SERVICES Human Services strives to provide support and assistance to residents of Highlands County by connecting them to available services within the community as well as providing direct services when available.

Residents were assisted by the Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA), which requires counties to pay for indigent hospitalization when it occurs in a hospital outside of our county. Support was also provided through Prescription Assistance, funded by the Coast2Coast Rx Card, which provided life-sustaining medications to uninsured and low income citizens of our county. The funding source for our prescription assistance service is provided by the Coast2CoastRx prescription discount card. This card is available to residents of Highlands County. To learn more about this program and to print a card, visit www. coast2coastrx.com. This program is a great benefit to participants and in turn provides funds to Human Services for the Prescription Assistance Program. Partnerships with a network of funeral home within the county provided for indigent cremation services.

VETERAN SERVICES October-December 2018 BY THE NUMBERS • Staff attended the Lake Placid Women’s Club annual Women Veterans Appreciation Luncheon. 4,905 • The Veteran Services team handed out 90 Thanksgiving meals. Veterans served • Highlands County received the first and only ambulance dedicated to the veterans of Highlands County. 1,452 People connected with • Community Services Christmas party was a blast! Many veterans during outreach efforts benefited from the Christmas dinners. • Leah Sauls, Community Programs director, was nominated as 91 Employer of the Year, 927th ARW Employer Flight-Dec. 8, 2018; US Veterans assisted with Air Force Reserves. mental health counseling 14 July-September 2019 Veterans on finanacial • Staff attended Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Forward March Initiative to assistance understand the needs of the veterans in Florida. 140 • Staff attended Project 65 to promote and educate for suicide Veterans assisted prevention amongst veterans and first responders. through food pantry

10,503 Phone calls

4,586 Faxes

9 Development Services

BUILDING Housing starts increased this fiscal year, with total starts of 225, increasing 22%compared to the prior fiscal year. This increase is mainly due to new site built single family homes.

Mobile home activity increased this fiscal year. Commercial permit activity increased 20%, mainly because fire alarms, towers and commercial miscellaneous projects increased. BY THE NUMBERS The following projects were valued over $500,000:

Raise the Barre Studio – Dance Studio BUILDING Avon Park Baptist Church 6,804 Iglesia Cristiana Jersalem Inc. – Interior Remodel Permits issued Avon Park Lakes Baptist Church Adventist Health – 24 Bed Expansion 14,431 Inspections conducted SBRONC LLC – Medical Office Building Shoppes at Robin Center LLC – Retail Stores 496 Wedgworth’s Inc. – Steel Building Complaints inspected

HOUSING Helped 61 people last fiscal year and injected over $760,000 into the community for housing- related activities.

10 Development Services (continued)

PLANNING County BY THE NUMBERS Zoning changes: 10 Board of Adjustment (BOA) cases: 15, 11 special exceptions, 4 CODE ENFORCEMENT variances 2,142 Staff reports prepared: 17 for Zoning, 22 for Future Land Use (FLU), Complaints and 16 for BOA, for a total of 55 870 Plan/plat reviews, including pre-app, preliminary and final: 31 Violations compiled Environmental clearance permits: 52 Land clearing permits: 364 $8,196.16 Future land use amendments: 10 (3 large scale and 7 small scale). Civil citation fines and administrative fees collected

Town of Lake Placid $90 Special exception for cell tower: 1 Parking fees collected Rezoning: 1 Future land use amendment: 1 small scale $29,285.30 Special Magistrate fees Comp plan amendment: 1 CIE large scale collected Staff reports: 7 Sign permits: 5 6,823 Alcoholic beverage permits: 5 Customer calls Commercial site plan review to include pre-app: 7 3,623 Total number of inspections

ZONING 5,957 Phone calls

1,754 Customer questions

11 Zoning changes

36 Staff reports

31 Number of plats reviews

$120,466.45 Revenue collected

11 Development Services (continued)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Economic Development is a coordinated approach to leveraging the county’s assets and resources, as well as the strengths of its stakeholder partners to facilitate the expansion, development and attraction of businesses and associated job creation to position the economy for positive, sustained growth raising quality of life for all.

Office activities For FY 18/19, Economic Development staff attended 100+ business meetings with existing or prospective entities, 125+ partner/stakeholder meetings, nearly 15 speaking engagements, responded to 50+ prospects or requests for information, and worked 25 leads. Staff develops and issues monthly e-newsletters, as well as monthly BY THE NUMBERS activity reports and provides biannual update presentations to the Board. In FY 18/19, staff gave 14 presentations to various groups. 105,424 Population

Grants 4.3 percent • Economic Development worked closely with the City of Avon Park, Unemployment rate as of the Department of Economic Opportunity, and the Central Florida Septmeber 2019

Regional Planning Council to apply for the Governor’s Job Growth $35,230 Grant Fund for Infrastructure. Gov. Rick Scott awarded the City of Average wage Avon Park $971,500 for the extension of water and wastewater infrastructure approximately 2.5 miles up U.S. 27 into north Avon 2,288 Park. Number of establishments as of Q3 2018 • Staff continued collaborative efforts to develop an aviation cluster in Polk and Highlands counties through the awarded $300,000 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant. • Staff worked closely with the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to apply for the national Citizen’s Institute for Rural Design (CIRD) grant for assistance in the design of the waterfront redevelopment project. The Sebring CRA was 1 of only 17 nationwide communities with less than 50,000 residents to be selected to join the national learning cohort.

Duke Energy site readiness program Highlands County was selected by Duke Energy’s Economic Development team as 1 of 3 communities across their Florida territory to participate in their 2019 Site Readiness Program. The program involved a detailed evaluation of 120+/- acres of a potential industrial development site in north Avon Park (unincorporated Highlands County).

Strategic plan In March 2019, staff finalized a five-year strategic plan with VisionFirst Advisors with short-, mid- and long-term goals.

12 Development Services (continued)

Business development and projects • In November 2018, Highlands County welcomed one of its newest businesses, Steel Blue Fabrication, which provides meter sets to natural gas and propane gas markets. • Sun Pure Holdings/Plastirex, the international plastics recycler and manufacturer, acquired the old Cargil juice plant back in 2017 and has since been working with staff closely. • Nucor Steel Florida. While the project is technically located in Frostproof (Polk County), the nation’s largest steel manufacturer will access their facility through Highlands County. Staff worked closely with the company to facilitate working relationships with the City of Avon Park and other local resources, as well as organized local meet and greets and hiring events, as many of the 250+ new jobs will be filled by Highlands County residents. • Staff worked closely with other divisions with Development Services to bring the issue of reconsidering long-standing county ordinance restricting the starting sale time of alcohol on Sundays to the Board. The ordinance was changed, allowing alcohol sales to begin at 7 a.m., consistent with all other days, in Highlands County, thus benefiting local businesses. Shortly thereafter, the City of Sebring followed suit. The Town of Lake Placid had already made this change back in 2014.

Regional economic development Staff worked closely with FHERO (Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity) and Enterprise Florida to coordinate an in-market site selector trip to Atlanta this fiscal year. The region also launched a Skills Gap Study to address the local and regional workforce issues being faced. Because of these ongoing efforts, the FHERO Board chose to recognize a staff member as this year’s Richard L. McLaughlin Volunteer of the Year recipient at the Rural Economic Development Summit.

Emergency Management/ESF 18 Hurricane Dorian: Staff updated its disaster preparedness page on highlandsbusiness.com including marking the disaster status as active after the declaration by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Board. Sent preparedness information via the website, the monthly e-newsletter, and email blast to local businesses and shared information on social media including HCED’s disaster preparedness check list. In advance of the storm, staff reached out to all big box retailers to obtain direct contact information for store managers for after storm efforts if needed.

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Tourist Development continued to promote Highlands County as a friendly, attractive and diverse destination for tourism, thus creating a positive economic impact benefiting the entire county. Tourism revenue more than doubled in FY 18/19 from the previous fiscal year, from $510,114 to $1,029.44. Revenue exceeded the projected estimates in FY 18/19 with the addition of the additional two cents tourism tax. The total tourism tax is 4 cents.

13 Engineering

ENGINEERING In FY 18/19, the Engineering Department submitted 24 grant BY THE NUMBERS applications, totaling $23,619,421.84, for various transportation- related grant programs including the Florida Department of 24 Transportation’s (FDOT) Five Year Work Program, Small County Grant applications submitted, Outreach Program (SCOP), Small County Road Assistance Program totaling $23,619,421.84 (SCRAP), Transportation Operation and Safety Improvement Program, Transportation Enhancements Program, County Incentive 153 Applications received Grant Program, and Transportation Regional Incentive Program. 153 Engineering projects Utility permits reviewed • Sebring Parkway Phase IIA – Project #17062 142 • Sebring Parkway Phase IIB – Project #17063 Utility permits issued • Sebring Parkway Phase III – Project #09021 • Highlands Park Estates Clubhouse – Project #12056 • Thunderbird Road Sidewalk (Comet to Grand Prix) – Project #15009 • Thunderbird Road Sidewalk (Grand Prix to Cougar) – Project #15010 • Arbuckle Creek Road Turn Lane – Project #16002 • Interlake Blvd. Resurfacing – Project #16066 • ADA Transition Plan – Avon Park Health Department – Project #16006 • CR 623 (Kenilworth Blvd.) – Project #18009 • CR 721 (SR 70 to SR 98) – Project #17046 • Animal Services Building – Project #16044 • Heron St. – Project #18007 • W. Stryker Roadway Improvement – Project #18008 BY THE NUMBERS

GIS GIS The Geographic Information Systems Division created a new GIS 7 Interactive Map and conducted nine training sessions. Roadways renamed 1,100 Address points verified and SOLID WASTE corrected Took in 113,367 tons of municipal solid waste and 3,366 tons of recycling. Waste Connections serviced 37,726 households on average. 2,200 Citizen walk-ins and phone calls TRAFFIC OPERATIONS The division fabricated, installed or repaired 13,883 signs, and 1,455 traffic signal and streetlight repairs/replacements. Traffic Operations also contracted/installed 797,645 linear feet of roadway striping and 6,343 thermal plastic messages and raised pavement markers.

14 Parks & Facilities

FACILITIES • The Facilities maintenance team responded to more than 526 BY THE NUMBERS service repair calls in more than 35 buildings across the county. • The Clerk of Courts IT, Records and Auditing renovations were FACILITIES completed and other renovations were completed at the County 526 Extension Service and the Children’s Advocacy Center. Service repair calls • The LED lamp replacement project continues. • New HVAC units were installed at the Avon Park health department PARKS & REC 74 building, the Lake Placid library, Sebring library, Children’s Advocacy County properties maintained Center, Supervisor of Elections and the EOC Radio Room. • A new fire alarm system was installed at the Government Center REVENUE and a new generator was installed at Lake Placid’s health department $10,450 buiding. Facility rentals • The custodial team worked diligently to keep county facilities clean $43,537 and safe for staff and public in more than 40 buildings. Sports Complex • With the departure of the capital project manager, the superintendent took over the management of 10 projects that included health department upgrades, courthouse re-roofing, and the Government Center HVAC upgrades.

PARKS AND RECREATION • Parks and Recreation crews performed year-round maintenance at 74 properties, which includes boat ramps, parks and public facilities county wide. Maintenance at all properties, ball fields, boat ramps and parks include treatments with fertilizer, herbicide and insecticide year-round. • Crews prepare the beach area at H.L. Bishop Park for a safe summer swimming season, where water testing is done before and during the season. • At the Sports Complex, the team performed year-round regular maintenance of all nine fields. Highlands United Soccer Club, Heartland Soccer Club and the Highlands Youth Sports Football organizations continue to play as well. Local adult softball leagues included three seasons with a total of 38 teams in the Recreation League. Nine senior teams (age 50+) participated in league play and five softball tournaments were hosted. • Carpentry crew made improvements at the Star Center in Lake Placid and a new sidewalk was constructed behind the Annex building. • The crew also built picnic tables, benches and a pump cover at Sun N Lakes of Lake Placid, repaired the dock at Hickory Hills Park and installed an electrical panel box at Placid Lakes clubhouse. They re- docked the Lake Istokpoga dock and others were repaired. • Revenues totaled $53,987 for FY 18/19, up $9,177 from last year. • Since April, we have had extraordinary work orders from OMB NAV and Fire/EMS. We have serviced 15 work orders from OMB/NAV totaling $6,036 for labor and equipment, and 35 work orders from Fire/ EMS reimbursing $2,431.18 for labor and equipment.

15 Public Information

During FY 18/19, the Public Information Office was presented with many challenges and rewarding opportunities.

During the first part of the FY, the Public Information Office and the County was challenged with one of the many ADA (Americas with Diasbilities Act) lawsuits filed statewide. This prompted a learning curve for all County employees and the development of a new County website that is ADA compliant.

PIO Gloria Rybinski participated in the Master Public Information Program, a FEMA-sponsored class consisting of three sections and a research paper. Rybinski graduated in September 2019, becoming 1 of 74 PIOs nationwide who hold the Master Public Information title.

In February, the County won a yellow ribbon at the Highlands County Fair.

With the addition of Fire Rescue, two new social media accounts were created. The community response to all three accounts has been very positive.

Highlights • Successful implementation of various social media campaigns: “Did You Know;” “preparedness campaign;” “Weeks/Days Celebration” • Increase in Sunshine training presentations • Successful United Way 2018/2019, increasing contributions by 140%, with Rybinski recognized as “Employee Coordinator of the Year” • Successful local publication of the All Hazards Guide and distribution of over 14,000 copies • Hurricane Expo event was successful • Good feedback on Dorian activation from communication department

16 Public Safety

Highlands County Public Safety (HCPS) is comprised of Emergency Management (EM) and the Fire Rescue (HCFR) divisions. In 2018, the Board of County Commissioners approved a single fire district, which coupled with the emergencies mentioned below and the natural disasters that are routine to Florida has provided for a challenging year.

Public Safety continues to grow its resource capabilities and provisions for service. It had command and control roles in four significant events that garnered international news coverage during 2018 and 2019: a “Noro-virus” type event at a kids camp resulting in 33 children being transported to area hospitals; a gyro-copter crash/ fire in Sebring resulting in two fatalities, the loss of one mobile home, and damage to two others; the fatal shooting of five women at the SunTrust bank in Sebring; and the Kosan propane plant explosion all challenged our response policies and demonstrated how coordinated response and strong command and control elements are necessary to responding to our particular community needs.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EM was challenged in 2019 on several fronts, finishing the 16-month project to coordinate and obtain $15M in reimbursement for Highlands County, due after 2017’s Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Dorian, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, was originally forecast for a glancing hit on Highlands County, resulting in the stand-up of the Emergency Operations Center for a 3-day period in September 2019. Fortunately, Dorian turned north and spared Highlands County.

EM coordinates all the county’s FEMA interactions and the emergency response training. EM is working with the Sheriff’s Office to train and establish a Highlands County critical incident stress team, which will assist our responders coping and dealing with the many significant situations they deal with daily.

17 Public Safety (continued)

FIRE RESCUE HCFR continues to evolve with the merger of Highlands County EMS into a single countywide fire and EMS response department. This has resulted in the voluntary cross-credentialing of existing EMS employees along with the hiring of our first 24-hour firefighters. By the end of 2019, three stations will have three-person fire-crews assigned 24/7, in addition to the existing nine fully-staffed medic units around the county. Coupled with the continuing volunteer coverage, Fire Rescue will continue to meet growing needs.

We have now merged into one reporting system. As a matter of comparison nationally, call volumes increased approximately 5 percent annually.

Hazardous Materials and technical rescue have transitioned from EM to HCFR, as HCFR continues to spin-up staffing and capabilities. Significant investments in equipment and training approved by the Board will help Public Safety respond to these and other incidents in the future.

HCFR continues to expand its public outreach through improved fire prevention and EMS care public events and the advent of the HCFR Facebook presence. We believe keeping our communities informed and engaged is critical to supporting the Public Safety mission.

Public Safety has partnered with the newly established Highlands Fire and EMS Foundation (HFEF), which helps support both HCFR and our community. In 2019, three significant fundraisers were held: breast cancer awareness month shirt sales; the first 9/11 stair climb; and the first HCFR calendar. Fundraisers have supported several local fire rescue personnel tragedies, the Humane Society of Highlands County and the Highlands Breast and Imaging Center.

18 Road & Bridge

Sebring Parkway Phase III was Board approved on Feb. BY THE NUMBERS 20, 2018 for County forces to begin construction. Through 16.5 September 2019 approximately Total miles of county $7,600,000 has been spent on roads resurfaced construction costs. 13,568.67 Shell material was added to Tons of asphalt used for resurfacing approximately 100 different unpaved road segments throughout the county. In addition to resurfacing and road reconstruct projects, 12,235.31 routine right of way maintenance operations including mowing, Tons of asphalt used repairing potholes, cleaning maintained right of way drainage ditches for first lift of and tree trimming were performed. Road and Bridge employees Sebring Parkway Phase III were assigned to inspect contracted construction projects daily 27,978.35 ensuring the projects were completed per county standards. Tons of asphalt produced at asphalt plant Annual excavation and mitigation monitoring reports for the County Shell Pit and the County Marl Pit were submitted to the appropriate regulatory agencies. Annual excavation of shell was approximately 121,032.05 tons. BY THE NUMBERS BRIDGE & CONCRETE The Bridge and Concrete Crew assisted with culvert and catch 37 basin maintenance, culvert inspection for drainage improvements Bridges maintained and installation of drainage grates, throughout the entire County. Numerous headwalls and mitered end sections were reconstructed 30 Miles of sidewalks and by this crew all throughout the County. multi-use paths maintained

The Road and Bridge Construction Crew gathered GPS information 28 for illegal dump sites that can be input into the Cartegraph Asset Illegal dump sites cleaned up Management Software System. This GPS information provides $5,252.63 County Administration with a better understanding of where to focus Fiscal impact of illegal Law Enforcement efforts to combat Illegal Dumping. dump site cleanups

All units worked together to transport fill material to ongoing jobs 24,696 and projects. All employees are becoming much more familiar with Acres of right of way maintained Cartegraph Asset Management software. 3,306 Miles of county-maintained shell/dirt road segments graded

19 Road & Bridge (continued)

FLEET MAINTENANCE SHOP The Road and Bridge Fleet Maintenance Shop completed 2,008 work request repairs and performed preventative maintenance on 670 different fleet units. Preventative maintenance is performed on all Road and Bridge fleet units as well as vehicles from Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, all fleet units from Highlands County Fire Recue, the State Attorney’s Office, and fleet units from various other county departments. Fleet Maintenance welding staff also repaired aluminum handrail damaged along county right of ways after vehicle accidents.

Road and Bridge continues to offer several training opportunities such as Commercial Driver License training and reimbursements to employees. Road and Bridge employees attended annual Mining Safety and Health Administration certification classes, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) certification classes, and Gencor Asphalt Plant training programs. Two Road and Bridge employees have FDOT Asphalt Plant Level 2 Certifications and at least four Road and Bridge employees have FDOT Paving Level I and/or Level 2 Certifications. One Fleet Maintenance Shop employee attended Emergency Vehicle Technician certification training that permits him to work on various components of ambulances, fire trucks and other Public Safety fleet equipment.

NATURAL RESOURCES The Natural Resources Division manages IMWID Phase 1&2 projects, Lake Jackson Hydrology Study, Lake June in the Winter BMP and water quality projects. Recently was awarded a Natural REsources Conservation Service Watershed Protection Grant of approximately $690,426.00 for Josephine Creek and Catfish Creek Erosion Control projects.

Invasive Plant Management Division sprays canals and ditches as well as completes Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s State Work Plan Invasive Plant Management spraying.

WAREHOUSE County warehouse personnel obtained vehicle and equipment titles and tags, managed the parts warehouse facility and maintained all three county fueling sites. Warehouse inventory was completed on Sept. 30, 2019, with accuracy information compiled by the Clerk’s Finance Office. Surplus processes continue through Gov. Deal’s internet auction site and Insight Auctioneers with an annual total of $49,669.51 for FY 18/19. Computer records generated from all three county operated fuel sites, the Highlands County Asphalt Plant and County Shell Pit show a total of 686,200.44 gallons of diesel and gasoline dispensed, which was captured by 40,239 transactions. The chart below reflects the cost for both gas and diesel, transactions (Issues), and the number of gallons used during FYs 18/19 and 17/18.

September Unleaded/Issues Usage/GL Diesel/Issues Usage/GL

FY 18/19 $2.50/26,541 326,553.10 $2.50/12,4777 355,804.80 FY 17/19 $2.50/26,093 321,548.10 $2.50/12,745 379,872.02

20