District News

Re-elected Supervisors Sworn In and New Board Member Appointed at December 5, 2024, Board of Supervisors Meeting

The Board of Supervisors ratified the 2024 election results at their December 5, 2024, Board Meeting. John Meyer and Susan Kennedy, who were re-elected, were sworn in by District Attorney Seth Behn for three-year terms.

The District received the 2024 Board of Supervisors’ certified election results from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, Wendy Sartory Link, on November 6, 2024. The results are as follows:

Susan A. Kennedy (West Side) – 1,536
John Meyer (West Side) – 1,287
Gene Colwell (West Side) – 602
Bob Berman (East Side) – 802
Kenneth Trapasso (East Side) – 672

Michael Howard was re-elected as President, Tom Powell as Vice-President, and Jane Woodard as Secretary. Committee assignments include Mr. Howard and Mr. Meyer – Policies and Procedures, Mr. Powell and Ms. McElroy – Budget, and Ms. Kennedy – Communications.

In addition, due to the untimely passing of Supervisor John Jones, Beth McElroy, a resident of Palm Beach Country Estates, was appointed to fill the reminder of his term through September 2025. She was sworn in by Mr. Behn. Ms. McElroy has been a District landowner for 30 years and has a vested interest in the sustainability and resilience of the District’s drainage system. She has a Master’s of Public Administration degree and over 30 years of government experience, including a background in water management with South Florida Water Management District as Director of Emergency Management and Safety.

Ms. McElroy also has expertise in human resources, budgeting, outreach, and intergovernmental coordination. She has been a frequent atendee at South Indian River Water Control District's Board meetings for several years and is knowledgable regarding the District's challenges, objectives, and ongoing projects.

She worked with the Executive Director, William Kennedy, during his tenure with South Florida Water Management District, fostering a productive and collaborative approach to addressing water management issues.

Ms. McElroy looks forward to serving the landowners of the South Indian River Water Control District.

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South Indian River Water Control District's Board of Supervisors Names William Kennedy as Executive Director

The South Indian River Water Control District Board of Supervisors has selected William 'Chad' Kennedy as the new Executive Director for the District. Mr. Kennedy takes over the position on June 5, 2024, from Michael Dillon who retired from the District in April.

In choosing a new Executive Director, the Board was looking for an experienced candidate who could maintain the efficient and effective day-to-day operation and management of the District, both now and in the future. They felt that Mr. Kennedy’s extensive employment experience and Master's degree in Business Administration will provide a sound foundation to accomplish this goal.

Previously, Mr. Kennedy was a Program Administrator with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration, from August 2006 to May 2024. He was responsible for managing a team of engineers and biologists providing planning support and regulatory guidance to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District to help ensure projects met state objectives and compliance with applicable laws. He served as agency spokesperson on the South Florida Water Management District's Water Resources Analysis Coalition, the Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating Council, and Science Coordination Group. In addition, he has expertise managing construction, wetland restoration, public recreation, scientific research, and various grants and contracts.

Prior to working at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, he was a Senior Environmental Scientist at South Florida Water Management District. Mr. Kennedy worked in a number of positions over his tenure there from September 1990 to August 2006, including Staff Environmental Scientist, Senior Supervising Scientific Associate, and Scientific Technician.

Mr. Kennedy has a Bachelor of Science degree, as well as a Master's of Business Administration with Environmental Emphasis degree from Florida Atlantic University, and he also is licensed as a Florida Certified Contract Manager.

Mr. Kennedy has been a resident of Jupiter Farms for over 30 years and welcomes the opportunity to help ensure the safety and well-being of District landowners through the management of stormwater, as well as protection of water quality and the environment.

“We were fortunate to have had a number of qualified candidates to choose from, but Mr. Kennedy’s education and employment experience were exceptional,” said Board of Supervisors’ President Michael Howard. “We look forward to working with him to continue providing outstanding service to the landowners of the District.”

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South Indian RIver Water Control District Receives Proclamation from Palm Beach County

The South Indian River Water Control DIstrict received a proclamation celebrating its 100th Anniversary from Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Marino at the 29th Annual Landowners Family Day on March 18, 2023. From left to right - Supervisors John Meyer, Tom Powell, Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Marino, Manager of Operations Michael Dillon, Supervisors John Jones and Susan Kennedy.

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New Telemetry System for Jupiter Farms Now Operational

At a Board of Supervisors Board Meeting held on June 17, 2021, the Board approved a recommendation by the Manager of Operations, Michael Dillon, to replace the outdated telemetry system for Canals 2 through 5 and 14 in Jupiter Farms as a capital improvement project in the 2021-2022 Proposed Budget. The cost of $164,000 was based on proposals from vendors with expertise in constructing these types of systems. The system is now installed and operational.

What is telemetry? According to Wikipedia, “Telemetry is the automatic recording and transmission of data from remote or inaccessible sources to an IT system in a different location for monitoring and analysis.” Some major uses of telemetry include communications, meteorology, military intelligence, flight testing, and health care. Telemetry is an automated communications process, which is usually associated with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems comprised of computers, networked data communications and graphical user interfaces. This allows for high-level supervisory management of data and the ability to send control commands to devices in the field.

There are five water control structures in the system that are intended to improve groundwater recharge and reduce over-drainage during the District’s dry season. It also is designed to improve water quality of runoff discharged into the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River. The District’s Telemetry System for the structures enables management to control gate elevations, as well as monitor headwater/tailwater levels from the District’s Work Center, instead of manually making changes and taking readings in the field. This is particularly important during storm events.

Originally installed as part of the 9th Plan of Improvements begun in 2005, the telemetry system has become outdated and is no longer functioning as originally designed. Over the past couple of years, the system is showing its age and parts are becoming obsolete, so a complete upgrade is in order. The District Engineer originally provided initial construction plans, specifications, permitting and design of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system in 2005, as well as construction inspection services and project certifications. Each water control structure contained a sheet pile weir with concrete cap from approximately 30 feet to 50 feet wide and an operable dual-gate structure that is 72 inches wide by 48 inches tall. Each gate was designed with telemetry in order to control them remotely at the District Work Center. The structures may also be operated manually.

Executive Director William Kennedy Accepted Into the Florida Association of Special Districts' Certified District Manager Program

Executive Director William Kennedy has been accepted into the Florida Association of Special Districts’ (FASD) Certified District Manager (CDM) Program and will take the course during their Quarterly Meeting from October 21-25, 2024, in St. Augustine.

In addition, Mr. Kennedy has been awarded the FASD Scholarship by the Education and Certification Committee. The CDM designation requires experience and/or education components along with the successful completion of the course written project administered by the Florida Institute of Government.

Subjects covered in the course include the following:

• Contract Management and Procurement
• Project Management
• Intergovernmental Affairs
• Public Information and Public Relations
• Strategic Planning and Budgeting
• Board Relations
• Ethics and Sunshine Law
• Collective Bargaining

Graduates of the program will be given a certificate of completion at the end of scheduled course, and an official CDM Certificate will be presented at the following Annual Conference. The CDM designation requires re-certification every 2 years.

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Solid Waste Authority Post-Storm Update

The Solid Waste Authority has asked the District to provide this information to landowners.

This is not a typical hurricane debris response. Most areas of the unincorporated parts of the county have not been significantly impacted by this storm.
 
The SWA asks those residents who are not in a tornado impacted area to place their waste to the curb as usual, by putting no more than 6-cubic yards of vegetation and 3 bulk items out on their regularly scheduled collection day. SWA waste haulers have been instructed to collect piles of vegetation as normal.
 
This is not an opportunity for those not heavily impacted by this storm to start an annual tree trimming effort thinking that it is going to be collected. FEMA does not approve the reimbursement of routine vegetation collection.
 
There are several isolated areas that have been significantly impacted by tornados, and SWA efforts and resources will focus on these areas to get them back to normal as quickly as possible. The SWA plans to mobilize a debris contractor early next week to start collecting storm debris, which includes vegetation, construction and demolition, and bulk items, in the tornado impacted areas of the unincorporated parts of the county only.
 
If unincorporated residents living in a tornado impacted area have storm related damage, in accordance with Palm Beach County Ordinance 2019-002 (PDF), the 6-cubic-yard curbside limit for vegetation does not apply.
 
Please be patient and careful when getting this storm debris to the curb. We have seen trees in power lines; trees leaning in precarious positions. If in doubt of safe conditions, we encourage you to hire professionals to get your storm debris to the curb. The SWA and its contractors do not go on private property.
 
To speed collection, please keep storm debris in separate piles. Keep vegetative storm debris separate from construction/building debris, and separate from regular garbage and recycling.
 
And avoid placing piles near mailboxes, fire hydrants or other obstructions.
 
If residents living in unincorporated parts of the county have any waste questions or concerns, or experience service issues, contact SWA customer service at 561-697-2700.
 
By working together, we will get our community back to normal as soon as possible.

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Thank you Letter to District Landowners

Supervisor of Operations Dustin Fazio and Executive Director William Chad Kennedy would like to thank landowners who assisted in clean-up efforts after the tornado touchdown in Jupiter Farms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Jones, Supervisor

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of John Jones, a member of the Board of Supervisors, on September 19, 2024. Mr. Jones was appointed interim Supervisor on July 20, 2017, after the resignation of Michael Ryan. He was elected to the Board in September 2017 and served up until his passing. He was on the Parks and Recreation Committee from 2017 to 2024 and the Budget Committee from 2018 to 2024.

Mr. Jones was a Certified Public Accounting serving area residents and businesses for many years. His accounting expertise was an asset in helping to develop budgets for the District.

As a Supervisor, he worked to manage stormwater, as well as protect environmental and water resources through projects, services, and operations in the District. He was greatly admired by his colleagues and peers, and his knowledge, experience, and personal warmth and friendship will be profoudly missed.

The District Supervisors, staff and employees extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife Donelle and their children Kristine, Ross, Matt, and Drew.

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Philip Walton Celebrates Five Years of Service

Dustin Fazio, Supervisor of Operations, (on right), presents a certificate of acheivement award to Philip Walton for five years of dedicated service to South Indian River Water Control District. Mr. Walton joined the District as an equipment operator in May 2019.

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Tom Powell Re-Elected to Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors ratified the certified results of the 2023 Board of Supervisors election received from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, Wendy Sartory Link at the monthly board meeting of the South Indian River Water Control District held on Dec. 7, 2023,. Tom Powell was re-elected to the Board with 945 votes.

Mr. Powell was sworn in by the District’s Attorney, Seth Behn. Michael Howard was elected President, Tom Powell as Vice-President, and Jane Woodward as Secretary.

In addition, the following appointments were made to the committees – Thomas Powell and John Jones - Budgeting; Susan Kennedy - Communications; John Jones - Parks, Recreation and Water; and John Meyer and Michael Howard - Policies and Procedures.

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Manatees!

Mother and baby manatees were spotted in a canal in the District!

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