BCC elects 2022 Commission Chair and Vice Chairman
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously elected Commissioner and Current Vice Chair Charlie Justice to serve as Chair in 2022.
“I am proud to be selected as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. There is a lot of important work for this Commission to get done. I look forward to serving and know we will have a successful year with our outstanding team,” said Justice.
The Board also unanimously voted on Commissioner Janet C. Long to serve as 2022 Vice Chair.
Commissioner Dave Eggers will continue to chair the Board through the end of 2021.
In other action:
Board recognizes Veterans
The Board marked the upcoming Veterans Day with a proclamation recognizing the courage and dedication of our nation’s veterans. Pinellas County Veterans Services Officers Jill Maxwell and Michael Swonger received the proclamation.
Economic Development bid awarded
The Board awarded Bandes Construction Company, Inc the bid for the Tampa Bay Innovation Center Incubator project in the amount of $14,706,448. The project consists of the construction a two-story 45,000 sq. ft. facility to house the Tampa Bay Innovation Center business incubator. This project will foster and create new high-tech innovations. The ARK Innovation Center will nurture early-stage entrepreneurs by providing a state-of-the-art facility and tailored programs to grow and support innovation, strategic execution and technology development.
Sustainable energy goals resolution adopted
The Board also adopted a resolution setting clean energy targets as a part of Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign.
The resolution sets goals to transition to renewable, zero-emission, clean energy consumption as follows:
- 50 percent of electricity for County government operations by 2030
- 100 percent of electricity for County government operations by 2040
- 100 percent countywide by 2050
Pinellas County joins nine states, 14 counties and 180 cities in the Ready for 100 movement, including Dunedin, Largo, Safety Harbor and St. Petersburg.
Sustainability and Resiliency Program Coordinator Hank Hodde said the resolution further solidifies the County’s commitment to a sustainable future.
“Climate change poses a great risk to our low-lying and densely populated county,” Hodde said. “This commitment to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions will help lower that risk and help ensure a brighter future for our communities.”
Pinellas County’s new clean energy targets will be incorporated into the County’s Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan, which is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2022.
The County is already enrolled in Duke Energy Florida’s Clean Energy Connection Program, which will allow the County to offset its energy consumption through solar power generation starting in 2022. By 2024, the program will offset 40 percent of the County’s energy usage.