Our Primary Responsibility

Our Purpose

The Buckhead Ridge MCD, established in 1977, is to keep canals navigable and nuisance free for the residents of the largest boating district in Glades County, maintain drainage conduits into the canals, maintain the horticulture in the area, and strive to keep mosquito populations and other noxious insects low to avoid disease transmission. Unlike other independent mosquito control districts, the maintenance of navigable canals comprises the majority of Buckhead Ridge MCD’s operational effort.

Independent Special Destrict

Buckhead Ridge MCD is an Independent Special District of the State of Florida and as such, has a Board of three Commissioners who are elected for non-partisan seats to serve four-year terms. Monthly public meetings are conducted by the Board of Commissioners at the District headquarters located at 30082 East Hwy 78, Okeechobee, FL 34974 in Buckhead Ridge.

The operations of Buckhead Ridge MCD are divided between the management of aquatic plants in the waterways of the community and the mitigation of mosquito populations, in accordance with its unique mission. The district’s millage has been capped at 1.0 mil since 1977, but can be raised with a majority vote up to 10 mil.

Our History

On May 24, 1976, the Glades County Board of County Commissioners accepted the recommendation of the Supervisor of Elections to place the creating of a MCD on the ballot for the September 28, 1976, Second Primary.

On September 13, 1976, the Glades County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 76-23 to publicly notice a proposed ordinance establishing the Buckhead Ridge Municipal Taxing and Benefit Unit.

On October 25, 1976, the same board approved the submission of a new petition requesting the board to place the creation of a taxing district for mosquito control and horticultural control of the Buckhead Ridge internal canals to a referendum vote along with a one-mill cap, to be changed only by another referendum. The stated purpose of the proposed taxing district would be to provide the following services within said district or unit:

• To maintain canals as navigable channels from Buckhead Ridge to Lake Okeechobee; including all canals within said unit.
• To maintain drainage conduits into the canals.
• To maintain horticultural maintenance of all dedicated public lands.
• To control mosquitoes and other noxious insects and to clean up unsightly or other growth in public or private places, which are likely to harbor or become breeding places for mosquitoes or other noxious insects, and to assess the costs therefore against said property, and to render such other services as are incidental, proper or supplemental thereto….”