BELLE GLADE — The City Commission of Belle Glade meets Monday for its regular monthly session, and will consider several items that will help expedite the transformation of certain areas of the city.

On the consent agenda are two interlocal agreements with the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County relating to demolitions to clear the way for redevelopment. The first is to raze and remove 11 portable units at the former Gove Elementary School site ($120,465), the other for demolition of the water tower on Northwest Ninth Street ($90,500), which SWA grants will fund in part for the amounts indicated.

“The water tower was abandoned when the city’s water operations were assumed by the Glades Utility Authority in 2009,” the staff report states. “It is beyond repair and has become an eyesore as well as a public safety, health and liability issue for the city. Once demolished, site restoration will begin.”

There are several resolutions to be taken up that would:
• Amend the City of Belle Glade Employee Handbook and Civil Service Rules, by adding the Florida Department of Transportation’s drug/alcohol testing policy;

• Declare the Glades Central Community High School annual Homecoming Parade, Afro Arts Festival Parade, Black Gold Jubilee Parade and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Parade to be special events co-sponsored by the city; authorizing the city manager to execute parade permits for said events for calendar year 2021;
• Relate to Site Plan Approval, 200 S.W. Ave. B, 224 S.W. Ave. B, 201 S.W. Ave. C;
• Relate to Site Plan Approval, 333 S.E. Third Street.
• Grant Site Plan Approval for property located at 480 S. Main St.;
• Grant site plan approval for properties located at 600 S.W. 16th St.; and
• Grant site plan approval for property located at 865 S. Main St.
There are several proclamations: Mayor’s Proclamations — National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week; condolences regarding the late Berry Humphrey; and announcement that City Hall will be closed Dec. 24 & 25, in observance of Christmas holiday; Jan. 1, 2021, in observance of New Year’s Day; Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; and Feb. 15, in observance of Presidents Day.

Also, a special event permit application was submitted by Eddie Blackmon to conduct a “Fitness Boot Camp” at Airport Park, 1400 N. Main St., from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9. A crowd of 50 is expected, and Blackmon explained: “The workout will consist of various calisthenic exercises. I plan to put out cones that will be marked 6 feet apart to ensure that we practice social distancing. The boot camp is designed to get people in the community active and educate them on basic exercises to help with a healthy lifestyle.”