INDIALANTIC
                RECORD        February 2004


Sixth Avenue Drainage to Improve

Drainage improvements are being constructed in the one hundred block of Sixth Avenue to lessen flooding that occurs after a significant rainfall.

The project involves construction of two inlets (one at the west end of 121 Sixth Avenue and the other east of the Scot’s Building grass parking lot); laying one hundred and eighty-six feet of concrete pipe; and constructing a drainage retention area measuring thirty-six feet by ninety-five feet.  The project is located at the lowest portion of the one hundred block of Sixth Avenue.

Atlantic Development of Cocoa, Inc. was awarded the project as the low bidder.  Total construction cost is slated for $27,101.  BSE Consultants, Inc. of Melbourne, the Town’s contractual engineer, designed the improvements.

Town public works personnel have installed several grass swales along both sides of the one hundred block of Sixth Avenue to assist in lessening the flooding condition.

TOWN WELCOMES NEW BUILDING OFFICIAL

Michael McCaughin has recently joined the Town staff as Building Official/Code Enforcement Officer.  Mike has worked as a building official for over seventeen years, most recently  for the City of Cocoa Beach.  There he supervised permitting, conducted inspections and was responsible for code enforcement. He also has experience with planning and zoning and occupational license programs.

Mike holds certifications from the State of Florida as a Building Code Administrator, Building Inspector and Plans Examiner.  He is also a certified Fire Safety Inspector and part time Fire Instructor at Brevard Community College.

Mike has been busy getting the building office into shape and familiarizing himself with the Town and the Town’s code. 

Town Fire/Rescue personnel are assembling a new plastic fire engine for installation in Orlando Park.  Due to significant deterioration the wooden fire truck was removed in February, 2003.  The new plastic  play item was provided through the Town’s warranty with the play equipment provider

RECENT COUNCIL ACTION

 December 16, 2003 Meeting

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approved parking space use agreements with Bizzarro’s Pizza and Shagg’s through March 31, 2004

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 approved the First Responder agreement with Brevard County for 2004

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 approved Res. 04-02 authorizing the Town Manager to execute a Firearms Range Agreement with the City of Palm Bay for continued police department use

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 adopted Ord. 04-01 amending Sec. 17-106.4(6)(f)  by increasing the maximum size allowable for transient signs

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 approved the appointment of Michael McCaughin as Building Official

 January 20, 2004 Meeting 

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approved Budget Adjustment #1 for FY-04

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agreed to schedule public hearings to amend the code to include regulations for portable storage units

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adopted Ord. 04-04 clarifying Sec. 8-5(b) regarding commercial trash requirements

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approved Ord. 04-05 relating to stormwater runoff and disposal of construction and demolition debris on first reading

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agreed to review policy on appointments to the Board of Adjustment at the February meeting

Sea Oats Sale

Now is the time to get in on the 1st Annual Bargain Sea Oats Sale.  Sponsored by Keep Brevard Beautiful and the Brevard County Natural Resources Management Office, the project is intended to encourage residents to plant sea oats in an effort to prevent dune erosion.

Plants must be purchased by February 13, 2004 and  cost $38.40 per pack of 96 plants (covering approximately 200 square feet.  A representative from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will be available at pickup sites in Indian Harbour Beach and Cocoa Beach on February 21st to issue free permits.

Order forms are available at Town Hall and should be mailed along with a check payable to:

Keep Brevard Beautiful

Attn: Pat Brown

1620 Adamson Road

Cocoa, FL  32926

For more information, call Paula Berntson at (321) 633-2016, extension 2431, or e-mail her at paula.berntson@brevardcounty.us
NEW FACES IN TOWN

Deratany Consulting. -  107 S. Riverside Dr. – Governmental consulting

Land & Sea Marine – 18 S. Riverside Dr., Ste. 103 – Dock/seawall construction

Laufer Group International – 105 S. Riverside Dr., Ste. 154 – International freight forwarding

Robert A. Luke, D.C. – 143 Sixth Avenue - Chiropractor

Town Public Works personnel are shown replacing dune crossover #3, which provides beach access from the restroom area of Nance Park to the beach.  Crossover #11 was replaced by staff a couple of months ago and the boardwalk deck from the emergency vehicle access ramp north to the restroom area was also recently replaced.  The deck and crossovers that were replaced were approximately fourteen years old.

UPCOMING BOARD AND COMMITTEE OPENINGS

There will be openings, including reappointments, on the Zoning and Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, and the Budget and Finance Committee.  Applications are available at Town Hall and on the web site – www.indialantic.com.  For more information on meeting days and time for these or any board or committee, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 723-2242. 

POLICE BEAT

 The Police Department will be hosting a Neighborhood Watch meeting on Wednesday, February 18th at 7 P.M. The meeting will take place in the Town Council Chambers. Topics of discussion will be what’s happening in your neighborhood and how to make your home a safe place to live. 

Anyone interested in joining the Police Explorers please call the  Police Department for information. Requirements are 14-20 years of age or at least in the eighth grade. The  Explorers is a fun organization that meets weekly. Young adults work with police officers to learn the different aspects of law enforcement, responsibility, and make new friends. Contact Officer Terry Tenpenny for more information. 

Identity theft or identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in the United States.  It is the criminal act of taking a victim's identity for the purpose of obtaining credit from banks and/or retailers, stealing money from existing accounts, applying for loans, establishing accounts with utility companies, leasing automobiles and residences, filing bankruptcy, and/or even obtaining employment.  Identity thieves often steal thousands of dollars in the victim's own name, without the victim knowing about the fraud for months or sometimes years.

There are several simple ways you can protect yourself from identity theft: 

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Never give personal information  to those you do not know or to businesses that are not reputable or known.  You would be surprised what one could do with only your name and social security number. 

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 Shred your mail and bank statements.  Persons who engage in identity theft often go through roadside trash and obtain banking and credit card information.

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Check your credit report every six months.  Contact the three major credit reporting institutions: Equifax, TransUnion or Experian and get a copy of your report.  You will have to pay a fee; however, it may save you hundreds or thousands in the long run.

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Contact the Florida Attorney General’s Office at 1-850-414-3300 (www.myfloridalegal.com) and the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357 (www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html) to obtain information on credit protection and filing complaints

Making yourself aware of the issues and information is the first step in safeguarding against identity theft. By making a slight change in your daily routine, you may be able to thwart a criminal from obtaining your personal information.

Contact Detective Michael Connor at the police department at 723-7788 for more information 

Public Works Update - Ron Cassedy

The Town of Indialantic collects household hazardous waste from Town residents ONLY.  Waste can be dropped off at the Public Works Building at 225 Fourth Avenue, Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3 pm.  Each resident must fill out a short form.

NOTE:  The Town does not accept drain oil in milk jugs.  Oil must be in a thick plastic container. 

Please do not leave household hazardous waste unattended

FIRE FACTS

The Indialantic Department of Fire Rescue and the Police Department strive to keep response times at a minimum.  Far too often precious time is lost trying to locate the physical address of an emergency.  Seconds count and can make the difference between life and death.  Please help us to help you  by complying with Town code Sec. 13-9 – Building numbering  - as follows:

 The house number of every residence and commercial establishment shall be prominently displayed on the face of the building, or on the mailbox or other structure near the street. The numbers shall not be more than  seventy‑five (75) feet from the property line, and shall be clearly visible from the street.

Numbers may be numerals or script, and shall be in contrast with the color of the immediate background on which they are mounted. The numbers shall be at least two and one‑half (2 1/2) inches in height, for residences, and three and one‑half (3 1/2) inches in height for commercial premises.

If you need assistance, please give us a call at 723-0366.Chief Tom Barker

REMINDER – REMINDER – REMINDER

Street resurfacing is expected to begin in mid-February at the following locations:

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S. Shannon Avenue from Fifth Avenue through Sixth Avenue

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 S. Shannon Avenue from Melbourne Avenue through Orlando Blvd.

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The 400 block of Ormond Drive

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Magnolia Avenue from Ormond drive to Melbourne Avenue

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Tampa Avenue immediately west of Palm Avenue

ü          The annual Craft Show will be held March 6th & 7th in Nance Park.  For more information, contact American Craft Endeavors at (813) 962-0388.

ü          Brevard County Lifeguards will be manning Indialantic’s two beach towers from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm during Spring Break – March 27 – April 4

EASTER EGG HUNT

The Parks, Recreation and  Beautification Committee is once again sponsoring the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3 in Orlando Park.  The festivities begin at 9:00 am with visits from the Easter Bunny and Chicken Little.  Come to the park to share some fun, prizes and surprises

The Indialantic Elementary Chorus spread cheer at the annual Tree Lighting ceremony in Nance Park.  Singing was followed by the arrival of Santa in the Town fire truck spreading joy, candy and cookies for all to enjoy

UPCOMING MEETINGS  

FEBRUARY

  9          10:00 AM        Parks/Recreation
            17             8:00 AM        Heritage Committee
            17             7:00 PM        Town Council
            24             5:30 PM        Zoning and Planning

MARCH

  8          10:00 AM        Parks/Recreation

16             8:00 AM        Heritage Committee

16             7:00 PM        Town Council

23           5:30 PM          Zoning and Planning

 

The Volunteer Fire Department meets every Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the Fire Department, 216 Fourth Ave.

Thanks to Nancee Hay for the following article.  Mrs. Hay was born and raised in the Detroit, Michigan area. 

DID YOU KNOW that there are several areas in Indialantic that have a connection to the state of Michigan?  Michigan Avenue is obvious but Genesee (an Indian name), Oakland (a family name) and Wayne (after General "Mad Anthony" Wayne) are also the names of counties in Michigan.

While reading the deed to my property I discovered that it and other parcels nearby were registered in Detroit, Michigan in 1928.  Grosse Pointe Avenue also has a Michigan connection and I understand was named by Lloyd Ecclestone of Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Look at the deed to your property........you may have  a "Michigan connection"!

The Indialantic Record is published every other month by the Town of Indialantic, 216 Fifth Avenue, Indialantic, FL  32903 at an outside cost of $.22 per resident.  Daniel S. Trott, Mayor; Vincent Benevente, Deputy Mayor; Councilmembers  Bruce Bogert, Cliff Cook and Michael McCabe; Christopher W. Chinault, Town Manager; Laura Eaton, Town Clerk – www.indialantic.com - (321) 723-2242