During the Oct. 2, 2024, Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting:
Commissioners presented the 2024 Anti-Bullying Recognition Award to Nick DeCastro, who was nominated by his school resource officer at Steinbrenner High School.
While finishing his senior year, Nick became aware of a group of freshmen who were bullying students from different cultures and with disabilities.
Nick took initiative by providing education, leadership, and examples on how to respect one another.
The Board declared October 2024 as Youth Justice Action Month. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the 13th Judicial Circuit’s Juvenile Diversion Program, which offers a community-based alternative to formal court processing of eligible cases by providing access to education, mental health services, and rehabilitation programs.
Commissioners recognized Film Tampa Bay on its decade of enriching Hillsborough County’s film industry, and helping the county earning it a place among the top film destinations in Florida.
Commissioners received an update on the County’s response to Hurricane Helene. Emergency leaders told the Board that the County sustained the worst damage in over a century with record levels of flooding and storm surge.
As the storm was impacting the area, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue received 256 calls for service and rescued over 500 victims.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office aided in the efforts, rescuing several hundred people from floodwaters and other emergency events.
The hardest hit areas include Davis Islands, Palmetto and Apollo Beach, Ruskin and Town ‘N Country.
The County has opened six comfort stations to help residents by offering showers, restrooms, washers and dryers for laundry, and charging stations for phones, laptops, and other communications devices.
Hillsborough County is working closely with FEMA and other partners to assist residents with storm- related damage, and debris cleanup efforts are ongoing.
If you need assistance, you can find information on the County’s storm resources by visiting HCFL.gov/StormRecovery or by calling (833) HC STORM, or (833) 427-8676, the County's storm information and help line.
A majority of commissioners approved a concept to offer the use of a 13-acre portion of County-owned property in Progress Village for a stormwater and floodplain management easement. The County has received a proposal to use the land for stormwater, development of a park, and other community improvements and amenities.
The Board approved the first modification to the construction management at-risk for construction associated with the Gibsonton Septic to Sewer Conversion Project. The work will include construction of a new vacuum sewer pump station, sewer force main, booster pump station, vacuum sewer main, asbestos removal, and roadway restoration throughout the project area in southeast of Gibsonton.
The next BOCC regular meeting is at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. You can watch the meeting live on YouTube on the Hillsborough County Meetings channel.
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