Page 13 - Waterways - July '19

Waterways, Page 13
Commissioner’s Update

Keep Your Yard Hurricane lumber and broken lawn furniture, and place them curbside to get prepared for a storm, and are not hindered, delayed
or prevented from taking all necessary actions to keep
on your bulk waste collection day.
Ready • Place vegetative material from routine maintenance communities safe.
at the curb on your regularly scheduled collection day. The SWA works with the Palm Beach County Emergency
By Commissioner Unincorporated Palm Beach County residents may place Management Operations Center to monitor a storm’s
Hal Valeche up to 6 cubic yards – equivalent to three standard size potential path to determine any facility closures or cancelled
Now that we are in the refrigerators – at the curb. garbage, recyclables and yard waste collections in the
2019 hurricane season, I • Follow the 6/50 rule: Each piece of vegetation cannot unincorporated parts of the county. Every resident plays a
want to share with you some exceed 6 feet in length or 50 pounds in weight. role in helping in the efficient removal of debris leading up
helpful information from If you are contracting with a lawn care services company to, and after a storm.
the Solid Waste Authority for major vegetation trimming, make sure the contractors For additional information on debris collection in
(SWA) to assist you in include the price of debris removal as part of their service. unincorporated parts of the county, contact SWA Customer
your efforts to keep your Keeping vegetation under control can help lessen debris Information Services at (561) 697-2700 or toll-free at (866)
yard vegetation trimmed to removal post-storm. Last hurricane season, Hurricane Irma 792-4636, or visit www.SWA.org/Hurricane. Residents living
minimize property damage left almost 3 million cubic yards of vegetative debris on the within city boundaries should call their local municipality
and keep our communities ground. It took three months and cost more than $30 million for collection guidelines.
safer in the event of a storm. to collect and dispose of it all. The SWA is a dependent special district created by
To ensure your yard is as prepared as possible: Once a hurricane threatens, residents should refrain from the Florida Legislature in 1975. The Board of County
• Cut back trees and weak branches that could hit cutting down whole trees or undertaking major yard or Commissioners sits as SWA’s Board. The Authority
buildings. construction projects until after the storm passes. has developed an award-winning integrated solid waste
• Thin out foliage so that wind can flow freely through Do not place any debris at the curb if authorities issue a management system to handle the county’s waste and
branches, decreasing the chance of uprooting trees or plants. Hurricane Watch or Hurricane Warning, because this places a recyclables. Each year, they process almost 90,000 tons of
• Containerize small pieces of vegetation in bags or cans tremendous burden on the collection and disposal processes, recyclables, burn approximately 1.8 million tons of trash
weighing less than 50 pounds when full, and place at the and there is not enough equipment or workers to handle to generate electricity at renewable energy facilities, and
curb on your scheduled pickup day. additional material before a storm makes landfall. produce enough energy to power 74,000 homes.
• Clean your yard of any items that could pose a danger to State of emergency declarations are made to ensure that As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance at
you or your neighbors in hurricane-force winds, such as old local governments have ample time, resources, and flexibility (561) 355-2201, or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.
Property Matters

New Texting While Driving Renew Your Local Business
Dear Friends,
Summer is in full Law Takes Effect July 1 Tax Receipt Online
swing … whether you
are enjoying a day on the On July 1, Florida becomes the 44th Business owners can renew Local Business Tax
water, participating in the state to make texting while driving Receipts (LBTR) from July 1 through Sept. 30. Avoid
lobster mini season later a primary offense, meaning law crowded offices, renew your LBTR on our website at
this month, or planning a enforcement can stop drivers www.pbctax.com.
road trip, our office is here solely for texting behind the Here are a few helpful tips for business owners:
to help! wheel of a moving vehicle. • Sale of Business – If you sell your business, transfer
Before you hit the road, Drivers are required to go the LBTR to the new owner. You must provide a bill of
I want to share important totally “hands-free” in school sale to the new owner and surrender the current original
information about a tougher zones and in construction zones receipt to our office. The new owner will pay a transfer
new distracted driving law that aims to make our roads when workers are present. Drivers fee.
safer. Beginning July 1, texting while driving is a primary will still be able to use their phone • Out of Business – If you close your business, please
offense in Florida. In this issue, learn how the law will be while their car is stopped. notify us immediately by emailing ClientAdvocate@
enforced and the penalties drivers face if they are caught The penalty for a first offense is taxcollectorpbc.com or complete and sign the “out of
texting while driving. $30 plus court costs. A second offense business” portion of your Local Business Tax Notice payment
As a reminder, our office is closed Thursday, July 4, is a $60 penalty plus court costs and three points on the stub. Mail the stub to: Palm Beach County Tax Collector,
in observance of Independence Day. driver’s license. A crash resulting from texting would P.O. Box 3353, West Palm Beach, FL 33402-3353.
Warm wishes for a safe and happy Fourth of July result in six points on a driver’s license. Drivers with • Relocate Business – If you relocate your business,
holiday. additional points can have their license suspended. There transfer your LBTR. You must complete a new LBTR
Anne M. Gannon, will be a grace period through January to help inform application, provide proof of zoning approval (if required)
Constitutional Tax Collector motorists of the new law. Warnings will be issued during and surrender the current original receipt.
this time.
Tax Collector Office Presents

Checks To Employee-Funded
Palm Beach Beauty Salon Charities

On May 28, tax collector office employees proudly
presented checks to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
and Little Smiles of Florida, our 2017 and 2018 charity
10% partners. Each charity received a check for $8,108, from
monies collected last year through employee participation
in Dress Down for Charity. This program gives employees
OFF the ability to dress down every Friday in exchange for a
weekly contribution through payroll deduction.
In addition to the support raised through Dress Down
Tues. for Charity, both organizations received thousands of in-
kind dollars from employee fundraising activities such
as agency wide bake sales and supply drives.
New clients only The charities were thrilled to receive the donations,
and we are proud of our employees’ generosity and big
hearts!
Susan

Swafford

formerly with Beauty To Go
561-312-0457

4595 Northlake Blvd., Suite 113
$
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 Products starting at 69 Tax collector Anne Gannon presents a check for $8,108 in
employee donations to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
CEO Rich Anderson.