Water

Canal Point benefits from the new water plant and appreciates the improved water quality. We support creation of the Glades Utility Authority, and would like to have a representative from Canal Point on GUA board. Majority of water lines are relatively new, safe and in good repair. Approximately last mile (north of downtown) is still very old asbestos pipe which we would like to see replaced.

Roads

• 441 was repaved summer 2009
• State Road 700 under construction
• Renaming of former US 98 – working with Planning and Zoning and Fire Rescue to rename as Conner’s Highway.

Sewer

After almost a decade of persistence by several residents and business owners, with assistance from Economic Development and OCR, the first phase of the sewer is finally nearing groundbreaking.

Public Safety

• Have low crime rate compared to neighboring cities. Good relationship with PBSO overall. Have had issues with security for the 24 hour store and drug related incidents in the Lake Shore drive area are of concern. Evaluating potential for the OCR Neighborhood Street Lighting Program to benefit Lake Shore Drive.
• Residents miss the consistency of having officers who are familiar with the area and the residents. Hopeful that the PBSO restructuring will address some of these concerns. So far we have one resident participating in the Citizens on Patrol (COP) program.
• Lost multiple structures to fire over last year. Not pleased with proposed relocation of Pahokee fire station to even further away from Canal Point.
• Locating the source of emergency 911 calls has been a problem in the area. Fire Rescue is undertaking a major project to correct any misaddressed properties and update the 911 system. Captain Pruansky has been a pleasure to work with. He also understands the importance of consistency in getting people to use the correct address. Therefore, he is working with the Post Office, UPS, FedEx, and utilities to update their databases and use consistent addressing. This consistency is long overdue and should save a lot of resident frustration in dealing with service providers, giving directions to visitors, etc. Next issue is making sure all addresses are properly displayed.
• In the event of a disaster, we do have a local CERT team. It would benefit from additional trained volunteers.

Zoning

Aspects of current zoning laws, especially set-back requirements, make it difficult to build and rebuild on lots in Canal Point. We wish to maintain the small town feel and have a downtown that is pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Working on getting written property owner support, then will work with Planning and Zoning.

Property Lines/Plats

In short, due to a bad survey about 155 years ago the property lines in Canal Point are askew and essentially cannot be properly surveyed. We seek to begin with Long View and Lakeview Colonies where there are fewer landowners involved and agreement and desire to resolve the situation is high. Why resolve the discrepancies now?

• Now we have the two surveyors with the requisite knowledge of the land, titles, and history to properly fix the property boundaries.
• At present most of the landowners have owned the land for many years, much of it passed down from generation to generation. Neighbors tend to accept lines of occupation. Property is changing hands more frequently than before and new landowners are coming into the mix.
• Local lawyers are willing to work on the project for a reduced fee.
• The primary barrier is cost. However, proposed project cost is significantly less than the county has sunk into previous failed attempts to “resurvey” the area.

Recreation and Green Spaces

• Residents and visitors alike enjoy the Canal Point Community Building and park. It is well maintained, landscaped, and has a playground for children. We utilize the building for our community meetings and other county meetings such as GTAC, project meetings, etc. Because the key is kept in Belle Glade CPCD is regularly asked to get the key for any meetings. We are seeking to hold a copy of the key so we don’t have to devote so many volunteer hours to escorting a key back and forth to Belle Glade.
• Triangle Park is regularly used for birthday parties and BBQs.
• Lake Okeechobee is one of our major assets and we seek to improve the facilities at the park area to make it more inviting and user friendly for both residents and visitors. Landscaping, small boat access, fishing g pier or jetty, an observation deck, shoreline accessibility, and eco-islands are among the requests and recommendations made by residents and business owners. The challenge is coordination between funding sources, the county, and Army Corps. I have spoken with the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) and confirmed that such a project would be eligible for finding from their programs. CPCD is also working on a NPG grant proposal for these purposes.
• Fishing around the locks and along the canal is a favorite past time of many visitors. There are concerns about the safety of those participating in these activities as well as resident safety concerns with nighttime fishing. We support reinforcement and proper maintenance of the canal banks, especially the installation of a boardwalk for fishing purposes. SFWMD has been approached by Economic Development, OCR, and the Health Department on behalf of the community but solid plans have not yet materialized.

Maintenance, Aesthetics, and Pride

• New signage is intended to encourage a greater sense of community and build recognition among visitors.
• Many homes, buildings, trees, etc. were damaged in hurricanes Frances, Jean, and Wilma. Cleanup and repairs continue. Several properties have been totally and noticeably overhauled in the last year or two. PBSO repainted one house for a resident. Other property owners need resources to make improvements and some will probably need other incentives to do so. Many of our “problem” properties are not owned by residents. We seek to continue to improve the appearance of our community and will work with OCR and their Neighborhood Beautification Program, educate residents about code violations, and if necessary work with code enforcement to effect change. Ability to develop along the south side of the canal will soon be a possibility, which brings opportunity for both economic and visual enhancement.
• Proper and regular maintenance of grass and weeds on canal banks, along the railroad and on the dike is an almost constant problem. In some instances they block drivers’ ability to see, harbor mosquitoes and pest, and are generally unsightly and make the community look unkempt.
• Most of the large drainage ditches and canals have been cleaned out, due in large part to the efforts of Roswell Harrington. Residents of the neighborhood north of the canal have reported several issues with drainage within the neighborhood, at least some due to potential code violations.

Organizations & Businesses

• K. E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary serves students from both Canal Point and Pahokee. We are very proud to have a “B” school. CPCD has enjoyed cooperation with the school and seeks to incorporate them in our activities and assist in financially supporting one of their programs.
• We have two very active churches (Baptist and United Methodist). Many of their members are not even residents of Canal Point. Both sponsor outreach activities for the community.
• CPCD is entering our second year.
• Canal Point is proud to have our own Post Office which offers a great deal of convenience to residents and local businesses.
• There are a number of businesses in the area that provide employment including Pelican Pump, Jones Fish House, Stop n’ Shop, Tierra Turf, and Erickson Farm. The community would like to see additional independently owned businesses that provide a few more conveniences for residents and attractions for tourists.