HIGHLANDS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
April, 2007 PACE EH Progress Report

Date: April 25, 2007

To: Daniel Parker, MSP
Assistant Division Director, Division of Environmental Health

From: Emerita Denefield
PACE-EH Coordinator

Through: Frank Kruppa
Environmental Health Director

Subject: Highway Park PACE EH Project

1. Project Summary

Last April 17, we had the second general meeting of volunteers, where three significant tasks were completed:

1. Discussion, acceptance by the body and the individual signing of the Highway Park Volunteer Commitment Form (Copy in the Share Point File).

2. Formation of six small teams following the priority groupings of issues and concerns as follows:

Housing
Roads & Sidewalk
Health Insurance, Education & Job Skills
Recreation
Sewage and Water
Alcohol & Substance Abuse

3. Discussion of the County Comprehensive Plan for Highway Park, results of the discussion (recommended changes and clarifications needed) will be given to the County Planning office for reference and consideration.

The following support requirements were given to Highway Park this period:

1. from the Highlands County Engineering Department:

1.1. Run education campaign on Water Quality & Safety for Highway Park by Mid May

.2. Fund to drill well needed for the irrigation of plants (beautification project being done by the District Council

2. from Parks & Recreation:

2.1. 2 Porta Johns for use at the Ball Park

2.2. Re-establish the base lines of the softball field

2.3. Home plate for the softball field

2. Work Plan and Process Update

EH Tasks	Action	Outcome	Target Date
Task 1: Determine Community Capacity	1. Continuing effort to invite residents and organized groups to become PACE-EH volunteers. NOTE: This month we have the 7th church: Bethel AME Methodist Church	Five new individual volunteers joined this month, total volunteers now at 53	On-going
Task 1: Determine Community Capacity	2. Continue to attend meetings of various organizations like the Highway Park Enhancement and Preservation Council, to have an update on what is going on in the community, what specific organizations do.	The Highway Park Comprehensive Plan was presented during the meeting. Issues came out during the discussion prompting PACE EH Frank Kruppa to offer the PACE EH Meeting time for discussion of proposal details.	On-going Completed the community discussion of proposal
Task 2: Define and Characterize the Community	1. Do an inventory of programs available being sponsored by the different organizations in Highway Park	April target moved due to change of 2nd general meeting schedule	May, 2007
Task 2: Define and Characterize the Community	2. Training of volunteers on basic skills/processes like brainstorming, problem analysis, leading, organizing, planning and monitoring	Teaser information given to volunteers for motivation. Copy in the Sharepoint file.	May 2007 onwards - this will be hands on training
Task 3: Assemble a Community-based environmental health assessment team	1. Discussion of PACE-EH Volunteer Commitments	Content of the commitment form okayed by the volunteers during the 2nd General Meeting	Completed
	2. Sub-Grouping of the Volunteers into smaller work teams based on their personal interest	Six work teams form each assigned the six priority areas	Completed, but still working on team membership
	3. Identify external resources needed and establish working relations and formal representation	Helping relationship with 2 agencies formed with immediate results (see summary above). Agencies are: The Highlands County Engineering Dept. and the Highlands County Parks & Recreation Dept.	Ongoing
Task 4: Define the Goals, Objectives and Scope of the Assessment	1. Facilitate the visioning process for different work teams		May 2007
	2. Definition of Goals, objectives and Scope of the different work team		June 2007

3. Outstanding Issues/Concerns

It is a challenge to finalize a schedule that will not run in conflict with existing schedules of the different organizations and churches within Highway Park. Getting a schedule fixed when all days of the week seem taken is an accomplishment. Plan of action: When all the work teams have had their first meeting, each team will have to set regular meeting days.

Miscellaneous

3.1. The Highway Park Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement District Council received $1000 grant from the Keep Highlands County Beautiful. They are spending this grant to buy flowering plants and trees for Highway Park. The Council has decided to have most of the trees and plants along community perimeter area fronting Highway 27. Vince Hill, the Council President called up one Friday noon and asked if I wanted to plant flowers with them. I cannot pass an absolutely pleasant and fun opportunity. I personally felt that I have started to belong. Some pictures:

This is one of their priority areas one of the 3 main entrances to Highway Park from Hwy 27(Crestmore corner Cloverland St.)	Leslie Portee together with Omar Goldsmith digging the hard dry soil
The little plants and trees in place	The little plants and trees in place

Previous Reports

March, 2007

February, 2007

January, 2007

Privacy Statement * Disclaimer
Accessibility Information * Email Advisory

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.