MAY 2025

ALAN FIERS- MAYOR

Have you ever flat run out of steam (energy)? Well, yesterday I did! As I sat at the keyboard to write my Newsletter comments, I had “nothin”: No Energy, no thoughts, no desire to write, just “nothin”. So, I stopped. The last three weeks at Townhall have been really intense. On top of the usual business and on-going house building projects, we had the Community Center roof replacement and interior repair, several housekeeping issues with Riviera Beach (paving of lake Drive north of our town boundary, working on getting Riviera Beach to install a back flow valve on their Beach/Island road outfall pipe and getting information need for insurance qualifications), and work on the Channel Dredging project; In fact over the last two weeks, as we went out to bid and opened contractor bids, this project has been nearly all consuming and intense for the Town Clerk, Karen Hancsak, and me.

So, by Thursday afternoon, I was out of steam. Now, those of you who are ten or fifteen years younger than I am may ask, “Where does the term 'out of steam' come from? Well, if you grew up in the Midwest during the era of coal, steam, and smoke, you would understand instantly. When I use the term' steam,' I instantly envision a steam locomotive pulling up a grade with the fireman constantly shoveling coal into the firebox to keep the fire hot, thereby producing enough steam to turn the engine driver's pistons and shafts on the engine wheels.

In fact, the image came to mind of a scene I watched back some 53 years ago when I was living in Ankara, Türkiye. Back then, Ankara was a grey, dismal place in the winter. Black clouds of smog and coal smoke hung low over the city from November to April. So, folks would escape on the weekends to the seaside town of Izmir. To get there, one drove 250 miles on a long, winding road that descended the Anatolian Plateau (a drop of some 2,500 feet), then, on the return, climbed the same road up to the Plateau. The railroad track ran parallel to the road. On this trip, there was a freight train pulling up the grade. I slowed down and drove beside the train for maybe five miles and watched the fireman constantly shoveling coal into the firebox. The image burned this thought into my mind: “If you want to make progress, you have to work like hell nonstop. Well, that is how the last couple of weeks have been in Townhall.

May Commission Meeting

The May Commission meeting had a very light agenda. Accordingly, the meeting was quite short. Only three members were present: Vice Mayor Larcher, Commissioner DeReuil, and I. Commissioners Smith and McGahran were absent. Business items were as follows:

Annual Fee Update: The Town's service fees are reviewed and updated annually. This year, several changes were implemented, including the introduction of a vacation rental fee and adjustments to the Community Center fees, as per the previous Commission decisions.
A Contract Modification for the Dredging Project: As we delved into the project's details, it became clear that cash flow issues were too complex for our small town to manage. Accordingly, I request that the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) modify our grant agreement to permit upfront payments instead of reimbursement payments. The FIND Commission approved this request and a new contract. The new Grant Agreement was approved by our Commission. The new agreement eliminates all cash flow concerns.
The Financial Report for April: The report was approved by the Commission. Town finances are tracking similarly to those of prior years in terms of expenses and expenditures, with one notable exception. Due to the lawsuits involving Dish and Inlet Park, our legal expenses are considerably above budget. As we approach the fiscal year-end, a budget amendment will be required to address this. At this point in the year, it is not yet clear whether we will have a sufficient budget surplus to make up the difference or if we will be required to draw on our cash reserve to cover the legal expenses. We will have a clearer view of this in a month or two.
FPL (Florida Power and Light) Pole Removal: The removal process has begun, with ten poles already removed on Lake Drive. The crew was supposed to have returned this week, but they did not. They diverted to higher priority work elsewhere. We are told they will be back next week. Time will tell. It is now obvious that this process will be intermittent, much like the other phases of the underground project. We will keep at FLP until the job is done.

And that is a wrap for the month of May. The Florida summer weather has arrived. Enjoy.

Alan

TREVOR STEEDMAN

PBS FIRE CHIEF

FIRE DEPARTMENT and Office of EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

· Hurricane / Disaster Preparedness – The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season is upon us. We encourage our residents to begin planning early. A disaster preparedness checklist template can be viewed at: https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/hurricane-supply-checklist/. Hurricane re-entry passes for our residents are available at the PBSO District 20 Office, located near Town Hall.

· Emergency Alerts: If you haven’t already done so, sign up for alerts. Palm Beach County has an alerting system compatible with your mobile devices. PBC DART (Disaster Awareness & Recovery Tool) is a mobile application available for both Apple and Android platforms, used by the public to check for:

Evacuation orders and zones
Check shelter locations and status.
Locate nearby stores with generators.

And provides the users with:

Platform to report damage to homes or businesses.
Ability to upload pictures of the affected areas.

Alert PBC is Palm Beach County’s Emergency Notification System, allowing you to opt in to receive notifications via phone calls, text messaging, email, and more based on locations you care about. You can choose to receive notifications about events that may affect your home, workplace, family, schools, and more.

More information about PBC DART and Alert PBC is available at

https://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/dem/pages/dart.aspx

A helpful disaster and emergency preparation guide can be viewed at https://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/PDF/Hurricane-Guide.pdf

Community Risk Reduction – Public Access AED’s:

Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) are sophisticated, yet easy-to-use medical devices that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm for someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Public Access AED’s, which are designed for use by laypersons, can significantly increase survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest, especially when implemented quickly. The Town of Palm Beach Shores has increased its Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) program. Previously, the only PAD was located on the upstairs of the Community Center. That PAD has been updated to a current model, and a second one will be placed in a designated cabinet on the first floor of the Community Center upon completion of the renovation project. A third PAD has been installed by the rear doors of the Commission Chambers at Town Hall. PBSFD offers community CPR and AED training for those interested in learning about these lifesaving techniques and devices. For more information, contact Fire Chief Trevor Steedman.

OCEAN RESCUE:

Beach Safety: Palm Beach Shores is prone to occasional high/rough surf conditions and the prevalence of rip currents. Our Lifeguards want to remind everyone of these dangers. Use caution near the shoreline when beach erosion has created a drop-off and dangerous shore breaks. The lifeguards update the information status boards (at the entrance to the beach walkway and the back of the Lifeguard tower) daily to advise beachgoers of surf conditions, water quality, and any dangerous marine life. Please reach out to your on-duty Lifeguard with any questions or concerns.

Please use extra caution if you choose to enter the ocean outside of the guarded beach or before/after guarded beach hours. “It’s best to keep your feet in the sand until the lifeguard is in the stand”.

As always, please reach out with questions or if we can be of any assistance. tsteedman@pbsfire.org or (561) 296-3380

Well, Summer is here, and I don't want to start it off with hurricane advice, but I'm going to anyway. If you have not yet, please pick up a hurricane pass from our office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Riviera Beach Police handle bridge security, but they are aware of our passes. You must still stop and speak with the officer, showing your pass and any ID you may have. Once in town, we will look for the pass while we are in recovery mode; recovery does not happen until the storm has passed and the roads are clear.

Below is the system we have used for many years, which is CodeRed by Onsolve. We brought this over to the Sheriff, and he continues to pay the fees. It allows me to email, call, or text you as needed about town emergencies; you can opt out if you prefer not to receive these messages.https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BFB7CC4C6C0A

If the evacuation notice is given, remember that you don't need to go far. There are several hotels around Military Trail and 45th Street, as well as PGA. I believe the ones on 45^th and 95 are pet-friendly, or at least they used to be. I am usually here, hiding in the office, if you need me.

As mentioned last month, Floatopia was held on the intercoastal waterways, and we had plenty of units out there; no harmful incidents were reported.

We made one arrest due to a domestic situation involving one individual with an active warrant. A code complaint has been registered against the property for potential violation of the certificate of use ordinance. The town has closed this property in the past. The allegation will go before a magistrate soon.

Suspicious persons/vehicles- 11
Disturbances- 3
Domestics- 8
Neighbor issues- 0
911 Hang-ups- 30

We do have a new deputy on the day shift, Marshall Miller. I have been trying for some time to have him transferred here and was able to do so this month. He is completing his emergency medical technician classes, is a member of the dive team, and is a member of the Emergency Field Force. We now have three (3) bicycle-certified deputies and four (4) members of the Emergency Field Force. June Stewart came down from the night shift to join us in the daytime. We believe we have assembled a strong team. Recently, we have recruited deputies from South Palm Beach, Wellington, Lake Park, and the North Region to join the existing team.

Additionally, during the summer, people often check door handles on cars as they walk down the street. Please keep them locked. We have done a pretty good job with patrolling, but they are relentless. Thank you again to all who have reported suspicious persons or events to us.

As usual, we are here if you need us.

Thanks,

Steve Langevin

SANDI LUE - OFFICE MANAGER

I was informed by a representative from the USPS (United States Postal Service), who looked into the matter of the collection box replacement on my behalf, that the blue collection box—formerly located in the town’s parking lot—was removed due to severe rusting, and there are no plans to replace it.

I was also informed that the box had been previously broken into.