Most Palmetto Bay Parks Damaged By Hurricane Irma

PALMETTO BAY, FL — Nearly half of the village still remained without power as of Thursday. Village officials said that work crews had finished clearing all municipality-owned roads since Hurricane Irma struck the area on Sunday. But the village suffered extensive damage to public parks.

"FPL has put out a statement that power will be restored to the area no later than Sunday, and we are hopeful that it will be done sooner," according to village officials. "Once again we thank you for your patience, especially those who are still without power. We understand how frustrating it is to sit at home without air conditioning especially in this hot weather. (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Palmetto Bay Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Village officials also distributed ice bags to residents on Thursday.

Officials said that some roads still had debris stacked up onto one side as a result of downed power lines, but that the roads were passable.

Watch: Hurricane Irma's Destructive Journey By The Numbers

"We are working with county officials to get the county roads cleared ASAP," officials said, advising residents to report any fully-blocked streets to 305-259-1234.

Village police reported no major incidents related to the hurricane in Palmetto Bay. Police have been operating on 12-hour shifts since the storm.

Clean-up crews have cleared out most of Palmetto Bay Park and officials were readying the playground, recreation building and basketball courts for the weekend.

"Unfortunately, all other parks remain closed until further notice," village officials said.

Village officials also released the following update:

BULKY TRASH PICK-UP: As previously mentioned, county crews will be picking up bulky landscape debris throughout the village starting next week. We have asked residents to put their landscape pile separately from other trash pile to ensure that the county will pick up the debris. The Tuesday deadline previously announced was given since the county has not indicated to the village where they will be picking up starting next Wednesday. If you are unable to put the debris out in your swale area by Tuesday, the county has informed us that they will return for a second round of pick up as soon as they are able to do so. You do not need to contact the county and create a ticket for the landscape debris pick-up.

VILLAGE HALL: power was restored to Village Hall late yesterday. Village Hall is open to the public as of today, however, internet service is extremely limited. Please bear with us until we can be fully operational.
During operating hours (M-F 8:30 am – 5 pm) we are opening Village Hall to our residents who are without power. Please come by and relax in our Chambers. We do not have supplies, but at least can offer some air conditioning! Bring your mobile devices (and chargers) and power them up too!

BUILDING PERMITS: The building department is open for their regular operating hours. Due to the large volume of fences damaged in the storm the Village has enacted the following post storm permitting procedures for fence repairs & replacements. No permit required for minor repairs to existing fences involving 5 or less new fence posts. Repairs involving 6 or more new posts will require a fence permit.

Fence permits will require:

• Two copies of the property survey with the marked location(s) of the proposed fence (copies do not need to be recent.) If you cannot produce a survey in a timely manner, we will temporally allow an affidavit in lieu of survey.
• Please have your Sunshine locations ticket # ready as proof that you have requested the location of underground utilities. More information available at this site ###a href="http://www.sunshine811.com/homeowner">http://www.sunshine811.com/homeowner or by calling 8-1-1
• State Statute 713 requires that projects with a job value of over $2,500 must have a Notice of Commencement or NOC. The NOC needs to be recorded with the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts. This recording can be done online and licensed contractors are typically familiar with the process. The recorded NOC must be onsite at the first inspection. The County’s online filing link is: http://www.miami-dadeclerk.com/eFiling.asp
• Officials have temporarily reduced the fence permit fee to $48.00.
• Every attempt will be made to issue your permit while you wait in one visit. If need be, the owner or your contractor can pick it up the following day.
• Chain link fences require only a final zoning and final building inspection. Wood and all other fence types require a foundation (hole) inspection before posts are set in concrete. And once the fence is completed a final zoning and final building inspection.

If anyone is aware of elderly residents or special needs residents who are without power and in need of assistance, please call Village Hall at 305-259-1234.

Photo courtesy Village of Palmetto Bay