Page 13 - Jupiter Spotlight - February '25

Jupiter Spotlight, Page 13
Northern Notes

Easements On Your Property An easement is a legal arrangement that permits another A water management
party to use a specified portion of property for a particular maintenance easement
By Katie Roundtree, purpose. It does not grant ownership of the property; rather, typically grants the
Director of Finance and it allows the user to utilize the property without the risk easement owner the rights
Administration, Northern of being charged with trespassing. For instance, a water of ingress and egress,
Palm Beach County management maintenance easement may exist between two allowing access to the
Improvement District homes, designating an area where the easement holder can property for maintenance
If you own property travel to access something on the other side. Another example of water management tracts
in Florida, you may come is a flowage easement, which allows water to flow from one or preserves located on the
across the term “easement.” location through a body of water owned by someone else. other side. The easement also allows the agency’s agents
An easement can influence A common easement in this context is a water management and contractors to pass through the property, with or without
how you use your property, easement, usually covering areas where pipes, used for equipment and vehicles.
and the rights associated with stormwater management, may be buried. As the property owner, you are responsible for maintaining
it. These legal agreements Once both parties agree to the terms of an easement, it is the easement area and keeping it free from plants, trees,
are often present in areas where the Northern Palm Beach recorded with the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Court. fences, and structures, unless specifically permitted through
County Improvement District has facilities and maintenance This ensures that any future owners of the property are aware the official permitting process. You cannot block access to
responsibilities. Easements are essential for allowing the of the easement’s existence. If the property is sold later, the the easement. If a permitted fence with gates exists within the
district to access locations where it does not have ownership easement will be noted in the title search and property survey easement, access should not be hindered by dogs or security
rights, particularly near its facilities, preserves, or waterways. to document the easement area. systems. The owner and their contractors have the right to
pass through the property safely and without harassment.
Additionally, trees planted in water management easements
can grow into and damage pipes and structures, potentially
impacting stormwater management or causing sinkholes from
collapsed pipes.
It’s important to understand the significance of easements
on your property and to keep these areas clear of personal
belongings. Easements provide necessary access for district
employees and contractors to legally enter properties
located on the other side. Without this access, maintenance
of preserves and stormwater facilities becomes impossible,
which could put the district in violation of regulations with
the South Florida Water Management District. In some cases,
this lack of access may even result in improper functioning
of these systems.
For more information, please visit our website at www.
npbcid.org, where you can view facility maps that display
the locations of easements. Additionally, the site includes a
link to our geographical information system (GIS), which
presents property information and district facilities in an
interactive map format.
NPDES tip: Dirt, oil, and debris that collect in parking lots
and paved areas can be washed into the storm sewer system
and eventually enter local waterbodies. Sweep up litter and
debris from sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, especially
around storm drains.

Free In-Person

SAT Practice Test

By Peggy Forgan, M.Ed.,
College Planner
Let’s face it, college
acceptance is a competitive
process and strong SAT scores
are one way to set yourself
apart from the crowd. High
SAT scores are important
for college admission but
also for qualifying for merit-
based scholarships that can
significantly reduce the cost
of tuition. Class 101 is offering a free SAT practice test on
Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. After the test,
students can receive their test scores and a test analysis during
an individual appointment at no cost.
Class 101 helps your student improve SAT scores with
live expert instruction, study guides, interactive quizzes,
and personalized worksheets. The program covers key areas
including specific test-taking strategies designed to boost
performance across the entire test. A practice SAT is the
first step, helping understand where your student needs to
focus their attention to raise scores. This baseline assessment
allows us to tailor instruction to the areas that need the most
improvement.
Additionally, Class 101 will be offering a six-week SAT
test prep course beginning this spring, designed to help your
student thoroughly prepare for the test. Space is limited, so
sign up now to secure your spot! This is a great opportunity
to improve SAT scores for college admissions and earn merit-
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Our program includes practice tests that simulate the actual
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test tracks progress and refines strategies. Class 101 also
emphasizes test-taking psychology, teaching students how
to manage anxiety and stay focused under pressure—critical
skills for performing well on test day.
To register, call or text Peggy Forgan at (561) 418-7897,
or email pforgan@class101.com for more information.