Author: Dave Berman, Florida Today

County commissioners will again be with speakers giving public comment after separated for social distancing

County Commission took no action on proposal to provide grants of up to $10,000 apiece for small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19

Instead, commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of non-binding proclamation to “strongly encourage” businesses to post their mask policies at entrances.

Instead, county commissioners OK nonbinding proclamation to “strongly encourage” businesses to post their face mask policies at their businesses.

Task force is recommending that up to $30M of federal aid be designated to help small businesses recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19

Order applies to employees in jobs that involve face-to-face interactions with the public or other employees, when unable to social distance
       

County Commission chair says ‘governmental response to this virus must not be contorted into a partisan political issue’

Initiative comes as County Commission will consider proposal by Chairman Bryan Lober to require individuals to wear face coverings while in businesses

Many county, city officials feel it is important that residents wear face masks to help protect themselves and others during coronavirus pandemic.

County officials plan to ask the Florida Commission on Ethics to help sort things out on when tourism panel members must abstain from voting
       

The port’s revised budget shows cruise revenue cut in half for the current budget year — decreasing from $89.79 million to $44.11 million.
       

Cruise industry shutdown will put Port Canaveral $17 million in red for budget year

Both the Seaside and Divina will offer three-, four- and seven-night cruises out of Port Canaveral to destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean

Council members upset Fine insinuated they were not patriotic for turning down Fine’s offer to spend $20,000 to pay for a July 4 fireworks show.
I

Event is designed to allow voters to interact directly with candidates, and to give candidates opportunity to communicate their message and platform
       

Ivey’s proposed spending plan for 2020-21 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 is $140.62 million, up 0.39 percent (or $552,650) from his current budget

Scott says she made the change so as not to ask supporters for campaign donations ‘in midst of a global pandemic’ for her uncontested race.

Candidate qualifying period ends with incumbent property appraiser, supervisor of elections, tax collector unopposed, winning four-year terms

Campaign encourages Space Coast residents to provide revenue to local hotels, restaurants, attractions and retailers struggling form coronavirus slump

John Tobia already faces a challenge in an Aug. 18 Republican primary from Melbourne Mayor Kathy Meehan, plus write-in candidate Austin O’Brien.