To: Daniel Parker, MSP From: Julianne Price, Environmental Specialist Through: Cheryl L. Dunn, RS, Environmental Manager Subject: September 2006 Wabasso PACE EH Grant Update
?Whenever we do what we can, we immediately can do more.?- James Freeman Clarke September was a relatively quiet month, but steadfast progress was achieved. It was a month of everyone saying ?OK this task has been completed, but what loose ends remain?? County staff, community members, and I are all STILL on board with PACE action plans and all parties are resolute in seeing projects through to final completion. The water project is in its full glory now and fire hydrants and water meter boxes are in place. I met twice with the Utilities Dept. and the project consultants to ensure the last remaining details, such as remaining easements and right-of-entry forms are addressed. Mr. Mehta, from IRC Utilities Dept., attended the community meeting on September 11th to give an update on the progress of the water project and was well-received by the community. Mr. Mehta, Detective Floyd, and I also walked an area of Wabasso that we are hoping to add to the water project and hope to receive communication from DCA for a change order to do so immediately with the remaining funds from the grant.
I attended numerous other meetings throughout the month, the most noteworthy ones were with FEMA, DCA, and a local agency called the ?Treasure Coast Homeless Council.? There are still over 40 families living in FEMA trailers and some of them reside in Wabasso. An option we all are considering is the ?donation? plan that would extend FEMA trailers leases, but FEMA would donate the trailers to a valid agency which then assumes liability of the units. We decided to continue to meet regarding the matter, due to the impending situation of these families becoming homeless in the near future. Once again, through the act of extensively networking with agencies and individuals, I have been informed there are large amounts of funding available to run sewer lines in Wabasso, however, we must approach the subject of whether or not residents can afford the monthly bill. This will be discussed at a future community meeting for input as to whether or not this is a viable solution that the community wants as part of the action plans for the identified issue of failing septic systems. Dr. Greg Kearney from Tallahassee visited our county on Sept.1st and I enjoyed taking him to see Wabasso firsthand and explaining the progress of our PACE EH program. Other meetings included giving a PACE EH presentation to the County Health Administrators who were gathered in St. Lucie County on September 19th for a best practices meeting. It is my opinion that this audience was perhaps the most important audience I have presented to, because they have the power to choose to formulate a PACE project and oversee the projects once granted approval. My hope was to show them the potential impacts of what can be done with PACE EH and inspire them to be more receptive to listening to the needs of communities. ?Never before has man had such capacity to control his own environment, to end thirst and hunger, to conquer poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and massive human misery. We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world-or to make it the last.?- John F. Kennedy
Outline some of the challenges you face in implementing PACE EH in your selected community. Express any difficulties, challenges or opportunities you may have encountered with other Government Agencies, business entities and/or Community organizations, during this reporting period. Elaborate on how you plan to address these emerging issues. There were no applicable outstanding issues and concerns other than specified in the above paragraphs.
The following files are provided in the Adobe Acrobat pdf format. Files over 100 kb in size that may take longer to download and view, have their file size listed. August 27, 2006 - Volunteers build home in a day for Wabasso's 'Big Mama' May 6, 2006 - County: West Wabasso Will Say Goodbye to 'Brown Water' April 13, 2006 - West Wabasso's long road to county water about to end February 18, 2006 - West Wabasso finds success in long quest for county water January 23, 2006 - Gospel Fest to raise money for hurricane repairs in Wabasso December, 2005 - In My Opinion: West Wabasso Assessment Project Update October 10, 2005 - West Wabasso residents rejoice over water project October 7, 2005 - West Wabasso to get county water September 20, 2005 - Indian River County replaces septic tanks for 10 families in west Wabasso July 8, 2005 - Indian River health officials receive national award June, 2005 - Spring 2005 PACE Progress Report for the Wabasso Environmental Assessment (380 kb) June 17, 2005 - World Changers group fixes homes in West Wabasso June 15, 2005 - Impoverished area to get waterlines June 12, 2005 - World Changers redo Wabasso May 1, 2005 - Water System on its way to Wabasso December 25, 2004 - Woman's work aids west Wabasso residents October 18, 2004 - Storms stall Wabasso help September, 2004 - PACE Progress Report for the Wabasso Environmental Assessment (620 kb) September 28, 2004 - Storms run Wabasso family out of own, borrowed homes August 28, 2004 - Families get new homes August 11, 2004 - Draft Brochure, Bringing Basic Needs to a Forgotten Community (1.4 meg file) July 30, 2004 - Kindness rules in Wabasso (109 kb) July 28, 2004 - Teens team up to build man's house June 2, 2004 - Indian River seeks aid for water May 26, 2004 - Groups enlist residents to help revive Wabasso May 11, 2004 - Wabasso may have to wait a year for street lights to come on May 9, 2004 - Town hall meeting to address Wabasso's needs
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