Page 1 - PGA Community News - September '20

VOL. 30 NO. 9 FAX 561-624-9088 • E-MAIL canpga@yahoo.com SEPTEMBER 2020

Commissioner’s Update

Voting Is Convenient By Mail to request the vote-by-mail ballot for you or someone else. you will have to wait until SOE staff can verify that you did not
The vote-by-mail option allows you to complete your ballot already cast your ballot. If they cannot verify that you have not
By Commissioner privately in a relaxed setting, utilizing the candidate information already submitted your vote-by-mail ballot, you may complete
Hal Valeche you may have acquired to make your decisions. If a particular a provisional ballot.
I hope this finds you well. contest appears on your ballot that you may not have anticipated, When planning to mail your ballot back to the elections
As we press on through the it allows you time to investigate that office and the qualified office, make sure you sign the envelope and allow at least one
COVID-19 pandemic and candidates in order to make a decision on who you think would week for it to reach the SOE office. The postage is already
sail into the peak months best serve that post. paid, so do not delay. You can also drop it off in person at any
of the 2020 hurricane The deadline to request that the SOE mail a vote-by-mail of the SOE offices during office hours or at early voting sites.
season, we have learned the ballot to you is 5 p.m. on the 10th day before the Nov. 3 election, For your ballot to count, the SOE must receive it by 7 p.m. on
importance of preparation. which would be Oct. 24. You can pick up a vote-by-mail ballot at Election Day. Please note that the satellite offices close at 5 p.m.
That is no less important any time it becomes available, right up to and including Election on Election Day and only the main SOE office in West Palm
as we approach this year’s Day. A designated person can pick up your ballot for you nine Beach is open until 7 p.m. If your ballot envelope is unsigned,
general election on Nov. 3. days before Election Day and that person must submit written or there is a discrepancy with your signature, you will be asked
You may have concerns about going out into public authorization or an affidavit and produce a photo identification. to complete and return a signature affidavit (DS-DE 139) with
places, even to vote. Everyone has different health One way to track the arrival of your vote-by-mail ballot a copy of your current and valid ID no later than 5 p.m. on the
vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, voting is a privilege that none once you have requested it is to sign up for Informed Delivery second day after the election.
of us takes for granted and all should exercise. Fortunately, through the United States Postal Service. Through this process, For complete information about the vote-by-mail process,
you do have options. you will receive emails with images of your mail for the day. candidate data, records and other helpful links, visit www.
Vote-by-mail is synonymous with absentee voting, and Once you receive your vote-by-mail ballot, carefully follow pbcelections.org. Once on the site, you can even track the status
refers to voting a ballot received by mail or picked up by the detailed instructions provided. Make sure to include your of your vote-by-mail ballot.
or for a voter instead of going to the polls to vote. You can signature or legal mark on the Voter’s Certificate Envelope, The Supervisor of Elections has worked closely with the
request your vote-by-mail ballot for a specific election or because failure to do so may cause your ballot not to count. County Commission to update their equipment and systems
for all elections through the next two general elections by If you make a mistake on the ballot, let the SOE office know to provide a safe, transparent and efficient voting process.
contacting the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) by phone (561) immediately, so that they can send you a replacement ballot. Just With three options to meet your needs: early voting, vote-
656-6208, fax (561) 656-6230, by email at votebymail@ like voting in person, voters can receive up to two replacement by-mail and Election Day in-person voting, you can be sure
pbcelections.org, or in person at the SOE’s main office or ballots prior to casting your ballot. your vote counts.
North County branch at 3188 PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach If you eventually decide to vote in person at the polls, just As always, if there is any way I can assist you, please contact
Gardens. Elections staff will confirm the address you have on be sure to bring your vote-by-mail ballot with you so that the me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.
file with their office and what information you must provide polling clerk can cancel it. If you forget to bring it with you, Remember, stay safe and be prepared.
Northern Notes

What Is NPDES? About 40 local governments from and proof that the regulations are being followed. Northern staff
around Palm Beach County have taken use these reports to prepare an annual compliance document.
By Katie Roundtree, Finance a cooperative approach to compliance, How can you help? By knowing the facts and being aware,
Director, Northern Palm jointly conducting several activities you can help clean up our lakes and waterways. Some examples
Beach County Improvement and collectively developing a number include, store materials in enclosed or covered areas, prevent
District of tools used to carry out pollution liquids from leaking out of the trash area, never clean paint
What is NPDES and prevention programs. Each year, the lead brushes or rinse paint containers into the street or storm drain
what does it stand for? You permittee (Northern Palm Beach County Improvement and keep vehicles and equipment in good working order to
see the initials mentioned District) enters into interlocal agreements with each of the prevent leaks. Always remember, nothing but storm water
at the bottom of every remaining local governments to oversee the joint activities. A belongs in the storm drains. Please see our website, www.
article Northern Palm Beach steering committee, composed of individuals representing local npbcid.org, for more information on the NPDES program. See
County Improvement District governments that participate in the program, advises Northern the Helpful Links section for information on the Palm Beach
(Northern) sends in to the on the various activities. County NPDES program (http://www.pbco-npdes.org/) as
newspaper. NPDES stands Contractors are required to maintain their construction sites well as a website designed to educate the public about keeping
for National Pollution Discharge Elimination System. It is a so that debris is contained and any sediment laden water will pollution out of our waters, www.stormwaterandme.org.
federal program designed to eliminate stormwater pollutant not find its way to the waterways nearby. If you’ve ever driven NPDES tip: If you suspect a discharge or spill is hazardous,
discharges to receiving waters of the United States. In 1987, by a construction site, you may have noticed hay bales or tubes call 911! For all other discharges, spills and illegal dumping,
the Environmental Protection Agency developed regulations placed around street drains. This is to help keep any construction call the local entity responsible for the stormwater system (a
governing stormwater discharge requirements under the Clean debris and/or soil out of those drains. The hay bales and tubes reporting list may be found at www.stormwaterandme.org)
Water Act. In 1990, the Federal Register indicated that the Palm act as filters so that only clean water runs into the drains. Either or call the FDEP Environmental Crimes toll-free number
Beach County area was to begin compliance with the program. the contractor or the engineer inspecting the site is required to (1-877-2-SAVE-FLA or #DEP from your cellular phone).
file reports on the contractor’s
compliance with the program.
In addition, companies that
spray chemicals into the
canals and lakes in order to
maintain aquatic weeds, are
required to report the use
of those chemicals and if
there were any spills each
month. The reports are given
to Northern staff for review