The Osceola Board of County Commissioners met on Monday at Osceola Heritage Park — with commissioners and other county staff sitting at least six feet apart — to take care of procedural items, like extending the county’s current state of emergency as part of its response to the Coronavirus. That provides easier access to State and Federal resources and to needed emergency supplies and support community needs to deal with the ongoing health crisis.

They will meet again next Monday, April 13, and it will look a little more normal, at least the most normal it has in over a month, when meeting traditionally in chambers became unfeasible for social distancing measures. Aside from likely extending the emergency order an additional seven days as allowed by state mandates,  the Board will also hold its first regular meeting for April (virtually) that day to deal with essential items of business. Word is it will contain a lengthy consent agenda.

The meeting will be streamed with public participation allowed electronically, as required. The Board discussed how that would be handled, whether the public will send in comments, or will sign up to give comment and will be contacted as the meeting begins to do that over the phone; the Board would like to avoid having the public need to come in person and risk public safety or go against the “stay at home” declaration.

Information on the virtual participation will be available later this week, no later than Wednesday. Commissioners like Fred Hawkins and Brandon Arrington asked that development and zoning projects not come up and be continued, as, basically, this isn’t the time for that; Hawkins said he’d vote to continue projects like that in district 5.

Check back with Positively Osceola later this week for details on next week’s meeting.

Here’s a recap of current events and announcements regarding COVID-19:

  • A curfew from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. for all of Osceola County remains in effect for members of the general public. The curfew does not apply to first responders, medical personnel or those traveling to and from work who “are providing essential commodities and services.” 
  • Osceola County has created a COVID-19 resource page (www.osceola.org/covid19) with links to various resources including business assistance and non-profits. 
  • The School District’s Nutrition Services Department continues to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to children 18 years and under 23 through April 15, 2020. More information at www.osceolaschools.net.
  • COVID-19 testing continues at the Orange County Convention Center for those meeting requirements. Anyone needing a test should contact their healthcare provider or the Florida Department of Health. For questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1 (866) 779-6121. 
  • The Bass Road yard waste operations site will only accept payment in the form of a credit/debit card effective Monday. 
  • The Osceola Tax Collector’s Office is providing services for Commercial Driver Licensure at the Main Office. Services will be provided by prescheduled appointment only with precautions taken based on requirements from the Health Department and CDC guidelines. We are only able to assist those who have gone through a prescreening process and have secured an appointment via phone with a Tax Collector representative at 407-742-4000
  • Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order AOSC20-23:  All grand jury and jury trials are suspended through May 29. Summonses are mailed 5 weeks before a juror’s report date, so if you have received a summons to report for duty between now and May 29, your service is complete