Page 8 - Waterways - September '20

Page 8, Waterways
Commissioner’s Update

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

What Is NPDES? States. In 1987, the Environmental Protection Agency there were any spills each month.
developed regulations governing stormwater discharge The reports are given to Northern
By Katie Roundtree, requirements under the Clean Water Act. In 1990, the staff for review and proof that the
Finance Director, Northern Federal Register indicated that the Palm Beach County regulations are being followed.
Palm Beach County area was to begin compliance with the program. Northern staff use these reports
Improvement District About 40 local governments from around Palm to prepare an annual compliance
What is NPDES and Beach County have taken a cooperative approach to document.
what does it stand for? compliance, jointly conducting several activities and How can you help? By knowing the
You see the initials collectively developing a number of tools used to carry facts and being aware, you can help clean up our lakes
mentioned at the bottom out pollution prevention programs. Each year, the lead and waterways. Some examples include, store materials
of every article Northern permittee (Northern Palm Beach County Improvement in enclosed or covered areas, prevent liquids from leaking
Palm Beach County District) enters into interlocal agreements with each of out of the trash area, never clean paint brushes or rinse
Improvement District the remaining local governments to oversee the joint paint containers into the street or storm drain and keep
(Northern) sends in to the activities. A steering committee, composed of individuals vehicles and equipment in good working order to prevent
newspaper. NPDES stands representing local governments that participate in the leaks. Always remember, nothing but storm water
for National Pollution Discharge Elimination System. It program, advises Northern on the various activities. belongs in the storm drains. Please see our website, www.
is a federal program designed to eliminate stormwater Contractors are required to maintain their construction npbcid.org, for more information on the NPDES program.
pollutant discharges to receiving waters of the United sites so that debris is contained and any sediment laden See the Helpful Links section for information on the
water will not find its way to the waterways nearby. If Palm Beach County NPDES program (http://www.pbco-
you’ve ever driven by a construction site, you may have npdes.org/) as well as a website designed to educate the
noticed hay bales or tubes placed around street drains. public about keeping pollution out of our waters, www.
Full Moon New Moon This is to help keep any construction debris and/or soil stormwaterandme.org.
September 2 September 17 out of those drains. The hay bales and tubes act as filters NPDES tip: If you suspect a discharge or spill is
so that only clean water runs into the drains. Either the hazardous, call 911! For all other discharges, spills and
Third Quarter First Quarter contractor or the engineer inspecting the site is required illegal dumping, call the local entity responsible for the
September 10 September 23 to file reports on the contractor’s compliance with the stormwater system (a reporting list may be found at www.
program. In addition, companies that spray chemicals into stormwaterandme.org) or call the FDEP Environmental
the canals and lakes in order to maintain aquatic weeds, Crimes toll-free number (1-877-2-SAVE-FLA or #DEP
are required to report the use of those chemicals and if from your cellular phone).

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