Juneteenth is celebrated in Pompano Beach
From David Volz
People came together this past weekend to celebrate Juneteenth. There were many celebrations throughout South Florida and this Monday will be a national holiday to celebrate Juneteenth. The Friends of the Northwest Branch Library in Pompano Beach organized the Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival: a Juneteenth Celebration at Apollo Park. “We were glad to see people coming together to celebrate this holiday,” said Felicia Frazier, co-chair of the event.
There was a reenactment of life in the old south, a sweet potato pie contest, fun educational presentations, good food and the chance to learn about life in the old south and the period following the Civil War.
Christine Metcalf and Anita Mixon members of Southeastern Living History gave a presentation on daily life in the old south. They described some of the challenges that people faced on those times.
Juneteenth National Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Americans. The name combines June and nineteenth and celebrates the anniversary of the order by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday began in Galveston, Texas and has been observed in various part of the United States. It is often a celebration of African-American culture. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
Miami-Dade Internal Services Department receives recognition.
From David Volz
The Miami-Dade County Internal Services Department (ISD) has been awarded three 2023 achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). These awards recognize innovative county government programs that promote government efficiency and improved delivery of services.
“Fostering a spirit of collaboration and innovation in County government is a key component of my administration and ISD’s innovative programs demonstrate what interdepartmental teamwork looks like,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “I am so proud of the ISD team for these accomplishments and all they do every day for our residents.”
NACo recognized the following ISD award-winning projects:
“Schindler UV Lighting for the Escalator Handrail – Government Center” – County Administration and Management category: To further prevent the spread of COVID-19, the ISD Facilities and Infrastructure Management Division installed a UVC LED lighting technology on Miami-Dade County Government Center escalators that continuously disinfect handrails, helping to provide a safe working environment for staff and visitors.
“Vehicle Availability and Dashboard Reporting” – County Administration and Management category: The Fleet Management Division (FMD) developed the “Vehicle Availability and Dashboard Reporting” program in collaboration with the Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) and the Information Technology Department (ITD). Adapting software in new and creative ways, the project expanded access to information shared between FMD and DSWM to enhance operational efficiency and promote data-driven decision making.
“Subrogation Information Program” – Risk and Emergency Management category: The Risk Management Division developed the “Subrogation Information Program” in coordination with all departments to ensure recovery of monetary compensation for damages to County property.
Miami-Dade Fleet receives recognition
From David Volz
Miami-Dade County’s Internal Services Department (ISD) Fleet Management Division (FMD) has been ranked 11th among the 100 best public fleet operations across the Americas. Since 2018, FMD has been an active participant in the “100 Best Fleets in the Americas” contest, which recognizes peak-performing fleets based on industry best practices, demonstrated innovation, key performance indicators, bench marking, and other measures. FMD has consistently ranked in the top tier of the program, earning eighth place in 2018, first in 2019, and fourth in 2021.
“Congratulations to the ISD Fleet Management Division for this hard-earned recognition as a top fleet operation not just in the United States, but the Western Hemisphere,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “With public fleets following the world-class example set by ISD and becoming every day more sustainable as we grow our electric vehicle inventory, we once again see Miami-Dade County leading the way for communities throughout the Americas.”
Overseeing the 100 Best Fleets program is the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA), a large industry organization comprising fleet management professionals from across the public and private sectors. By holding the annual contest, which is open to any fleet operation in North, Central, or South America, NAFA’s states its goal is to advance “productivity and operational effectiveness” in the industry.
In addition to the 100 Best Fleets program, NAFA conducts an annual conference which hosts more than 2,000 fleet professionals. This year, FMD was one of a selected number of attendees whom NAFA invited to present at the conference, holding a discussion titled “Implementing Customer Reporting Dashboards” on April 17th, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Robert “Scott” Stephens, M5 and Fuel Manager over ISD’s FMD, and Yoamel Zequeira led the presentation, which related how FMD, along with the Miami-Dade County Information Technology Department and Department of Solid Waste Management, leveraged business intelligence technology to develop advanced operational reporting capabilities and an innovative customer interface. The session was warmly received, and FMD subsequently received an invitation to incorporate their presentation on another exposition, “Sustainable Fleet Technology,” presented by NAFA and the North Carolina Clean Energy Center.
