OKEECHOBEE — During the Feb. 3 meeting of the Okeechobee City Council, the council voted to change the pay grade of the General Services Director from Grade 106 to Grade 107. This position was held by Patty Burnette for many years, but she recently retired, and the council is searching for a suitable replacement. This position is Grade 106, while all other directors are Grades 109-111.

“It’s a big job,” said City Administrator Gary Ritter. “I even think 107 is too low.” Vice Mayor Monica Clark asked what grade Ritter thought it should be, and he said at least 108 and even 109 would not be too high. Clark asked Ritter if he thought the salary was a stumbling block to refilling Burnette’s position, and he said yes. Councilman Noel Chandler made a motion to amend the motion to 108, and Clark seconded. The council unanimously voted to change the paygrade to 108.

Also, during the meeting, Mayor Dowling Watford proclaimed the month of February 2026 as 211 Awareness month, recognized Code Enforcement Officers Christina Curl and Anthony Smith for five years of service to the city and recognized Lillie Bandi, Sophia Caves, Josh Larson, Lillie Larson and Kathryn Montes de Oca from Okeechobee High School for receiving a South Florida Fair scholarship.

In other business, the city council adopted a resolution supporting the Lake-to-Lake Regional Trail. The goal, said Ritter, is to connect the Northern Corridor with Lake Okeechobee.

The council awarded a paving project for Southeast Eighth Avenue south from State Road 70 to the recently completed stormwater project and a portion of Southeast Eighth Avenue south of the stormwater project to Southeast Ninth Street in the amount of $133,412, not to exceed $140,083. Ritter explained they have not been able to work on paving Southeast Eighth because they were working on the stormwater project. “Now that that’s finished, we are going to complete that section of Southeast Eighth and go a little bit farther south.” Between projects done last year and projects they are doing currently, they have spent a little more than $1.2 million.

A motion to approve B&B Site Development’s overage during the Stormwater Project due to a cost increase in repaving a portion of Southeast Eighth Avenue in the amount of $14,008.80, which is $2,485.66 more than the “not to exceed” contracted amount of $271,258.80.

Finally, they voted to approve additional funds for the city hall HVAC project. The funds will pay for additional duct drop replacements, thermostat relocations and a mechanical damper.

Ritter also told the council that Okeechobee County Fire Rescue Chief Earl Wooten is retiring soon.