OKEECHOBEE – Speaking to a packed meeting room in the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse at their April 23 meeting, Okeechobee County Commissioners had a request of the public: If you have a question or a problem, pick up a phone and call them.

“We listen to you when you come and see us and when you call us. It makes a big difference when you pick the phone up and you talk to us,” said Commissioner Terry Burroughs.

“I appreciate everyone involved,” said Commissioner Michael Sumner, who noted there were a lot of comments about a proposed change to the county’s comprehensive plan on social media prior to the meeting. Instead of posting on social media, “it is better for you and for us to pick up the phone and call.

“All this stuff you see on the internet about ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ and ‘behind closed doors’ – those doors are open,” said Sumner.

“I live here too. I raised my family here … I love this county too. So maybe go easy on all the hateful stuff out there.”

“All of us live here,” said Commissioner Brad Goodbread. “We have our history here. We’re not wanting to fundamentally change Okeechobee. We do know that Okeechobee has to grow to survive. We hope to guide that growth.”

Goodbread said the first time he heard about the proposed change in the comprehensive plan to create a Special Technology Opportunity Center in Southern Okeechobee County was Saturday night (April 19). "I watched a video of the Planning and Zoning meeting. We did not direct the Planning and Zoning Department to enact that overlay or discuss it. We never thought about it,” he added.

“Anybody can call me, message me on Facebook.  I will discuss anything at length with you,” Goodbread continued. He said commissioners cannot answer questions on social media about an issue that will be coming up for a vote at a county meeting due to Government in the Sunshine Laws, which prohibit commissioners from communicating with each other about such issues outside a public meeting.

“We cannot put on social media how we are going to vote on something,” he explained. “We can go to prison, and they don’t serve the food I like there.

“We have to be very careful about what we say on social media,” he said. “I cannot put on social media how I plan to vote, because other commissioners can see it and I will violate the law.

“If we don’t interact on social media, it’s not because we’re detached or we don’t care,” Goodbread said. “But you can call us and talk to us one-on-one, we can be a little more forthcoming. All of us live in a town of 40,000 people. Call us on the phone.”

“Give me a call if you have a question,” said Commissioner Frank DeCarlo. “I’ve been here 45 years. I am one of you guys. I want the same things you guys want.”

At their April 23 meeting, the commissioners unanimously rejected the proposed Comprehensive Plan change which would have created the Special Technology Opportunity Center.

 Contact information:

District 1

David Hazellief: 863-763-6441 or 863-610-1553

Email:  dhazellief@okeechobeecountyfl.gov

District 2

Frank DeCarlo: 863-763-6441 or 863-532-9374

Email:  fdecarlo@okeechobeecountyfl.gov

District 3

 Brad Goodbread: Phone: 863-763-6441 

Email:  bgoodbread@okeechobeecountyfl.gov 

District 4

Terry Burroughs: 863-763-6441 or 863-532-6036

Email: tburroughs@okeechobeecountyfl.gov

District 5

Michael Sumner: 863-763-6441 or 863-532-9006

Email:  msumner@okeechobeecountyfl.gov

Not sure which district you live in? Check the map on the  Okeechobee County website.

Note: While Okeechobee County Commissioners must live in the district they represent, voting is district-wide.