January 7, 2022

What's Ahead in 2022

As 2022 begins, I want to share with you some highlights of what's ahead for District 6 this year.

Next week, I will travel to Tallahassee for the Legislative Session. I look forward to working with members of the Legislative Delegation to bring home dollars for projects throughout District 6.

Construction is expected to commence this year on the northern end of Royal Palm Beach Blvd to reduce congestion in the Acreage. Repairs will continue on CR 880 from Belle Glade to 20-Mile Bend, while the CR 880 bridge will be replaced over the C-51 canal. The County will also continue to push for the vital extension of State Road 7.

I also anticipate further movement on some new parks in District 6. A request for construction and operating bids should be issued soon for the ATV/Off-Highway Vehicle Park near 20-Mile Bend. Also, the new Village of Windsor Park, which will include a dog park, is being planned on Hypoluxo near Lyons Road. The design phase is expected this year, and it is currently estimated to begin construction in about 15 months. A new picnic area at Duncan Padgett Park in Pahokee will be constructed in the spring, while Phase 2 of Orange Bowl Field at Pioneer Park in Belle Glade is underway.

As always, I will also continue monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic, the drug overdose epidemic, and the affordable housing crisis and look for ways where we can make a difference for our struggling residents.

I look forward to sharing with you progress on the above projects and priorities, as well as others that will come forth during the year.

Human Trafficking Prevention Month Proclamation

On January 4th, I presented a proclamation declaring January 2022 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world today and is tied with arms smuggling as the second largest international criminal industry. Traffickers view Florida as one of the most attractive destinations and transit points for their victims and accounts for the third largest call volume to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

I'm proud that Palm Beach County was the first of Florida's 67 counties to implement an ordinance requiring the posting of the National Trafficking Hotline at adult entertainment establishments to inform trafficking victims where and how they can get help.

I was happy to be joined at the podium by my colleague Commissioner Dave Kerner, who was instrumental during his time in the State Legislature in passing anti-human trafficking legislation, Susan Kanoff (VP of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches), and The Honorable Ellyn Bogdanoff (Chair of the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking).

Human Trafficking Month_1-4-22_McKinlay.jpg

L - R: Susan Kanoff, Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff, Commissioner McKinlay, Commissioner Dave Kerner

COVID-19 Home Testing Kits

Palm Beach County has received several thousand home test kits for the COVID virus and will begin distributing these test kits to Palm Beach County residents only, at several locations across the county. The test kits will be available on a first come, first served basis and will be limited to two test kits per household. Proof of Palm Beach County residency must be shown to receive the test kits.

Drive-through test kit distribution locations will open starting on Friday, January 7 at 10 A.M. The following locations will open at 10 A.M. and remain open until that days allotment has been given out or 2 P.M. All locations except Jupiter Community Park will reopen on Saturday and remain open until all test kits are gone or 2 P.M.

Jupiter Community Park (Friday Only)

3377 Church Street, Jupiter

Dyer Park

7301 N. Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach

John Prince Park

2520 Lake Worth Rd., Lake Worth

Commons Park

1600 Poinciana Blvd, Royal Palm Beach

Glades Pioneer Park

866 State Road 715, Belle Glade

West Delray Regional Park

10875 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach

City of Boca Raton Administration Complex

6500 Congress Ave., Boca Raton

District 6 COVID-19 Testing Sites

Lakeside Medical Center, 3200 Hooker Highway, Belle Glade 33430. Mon - Sat, 9 am - 4 pm. No appointments needed. Walk-ups welcome. Any age. No cost.

C.L. Brumback Health Center, 38754 State Road 80, Belle Glade 33430. Mon, Thurs, & Friday, 8 am - 4:45 pm. No appointments needed. Walk-ups welcome. Any age. No cost.

For a full list of sites throughout the County, visit here.

Press Release!

Housing Rehabilitation Assistance

Palm Beach County’s Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) has announced the availability of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation assistance funds for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

Funding will assist income eligible homeowners, residing in the unincorporated area of Palm Beach County, with substantial rehabilitation to correct code violations or items that will soon become a code violation. Properties MUST be located within a federally designated Qualified Census Tract (QCT). Properties located outside of a QCT, may not be eligible to apply for assistance. NOTE: Applicant must provide a statement on how their household was financially impacted by COVID. PROPERTY’S ASSESSED VALUE CANNOT EXCEED $352,371.

ARPA Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program applications will be available online by visiting the website at https://pbcgov.com/HED beginning Monday, January 24, 2021 at 8:00am – Monday, February 28, 2022 at 11:59pm (or until 90 applications have been submitted). Applications will be processed on a first submitted, first qualified, first served basis, subject to funding availability. NOTE: Additional program information and required documents needed for application submittal are available on the website at pbcgov.com/HED.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: ALL applicants are required to attend a Virtual Mandatory Orientation prior to application submittal. Interested parties may register at https://survey.pbcgov.com/s3/HED-Owner-Occupied-Housing-Rehabilitation beginning Monday, December 13, 2021. NOTE: Applications will not be reviewed if proof of orientation attendance is not provided.

For additional information, please contact:

Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED)

Mortgage and Housing Investments Division

Telephone: (561) 233-3600

Email: HEDverify@pbcgov.org

Grocery Card Program

The Palm Beach County Community Services Department (CSD) has launched a new Grocery Card Program for eligible Palm Beach County residents. The department is issuing $400 pre-loaded grocery cards to be used for food purchases within the county. The program will end when the funding source has been depleted.

To qualify, at least one or more individuals within a household must meet the following criteria:

· Qualifies for unemployment or experienced a reduction of household income, or incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardships due to COVID-19; and,

· Has not received a food card in the past from Palm Beach County Community Services Department; and,

· Has a household income at or below 200% Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG).

All participants must be able to provide documentation to prove they were impacted financially by the COVID-19 crisis. Applications must be submitted online; this program is a limited-time offer and is subject to funding availability.

For a full list of eligibility requirements and to apply, visit www.FoodAssistancePBC.org.

For additional information, please contact the CSD’s Contact Center at 561-355-4700.