Good morning and welcome to our February 10th, 2026 Board of County Commission meetings. We're delighted that you joined us this morning. We're going to call the meeting to order and first we're going to uh join me in the pledge of allegian or rather in the invocation which is by Pastor James Pendleton from
the Coastal Life Church followed by the uh pledge of allegiance. Morning. >> Good morning, commissioners. Would you join me in this moment of prayer? >> Heavenly Father God, we come to you today and in this moment first and foremost, God, I just want to acknowledge you and acknowledge just who
you are as mighty God. As God, you are you are gracious. God, you are faithful. You are truth. And uh God, you are good. And Lord, I just before anything want to thank you for that. Lord, I want to pray
today for uh just the people of our community. I pray for our community that we get to live in. I pray for the people of this community who um who are in seasons of hurting and whatever that looks like in their life. Lord, I do just pray for the people of our
community that are hurting. I pray God that you would walk with them. I pray God that you would show them your care and that you would uh just encourage and lift them up. Lord, I pray for the families of our community. Lord, I pray, God, that there would be strong family
units here. Lord, I think of homes all throughout our community. And I pray for marriages. I pray, God, that marriages would be strong and and healthy. Lord, I think for moms and dads that our homes would be filled with moms and dads who
are who are strong and and healthy. And Lord, I pray for our kids. Pray for this next generation, the younger generations that are filling our schools in this community and the parks. And God, I pray for those generations as they grow and are raised here, God, that there would
be strong morals and values instilled into them, Lord. And I pray, God, that we will look ahead and maybe generations from now, they can look back at this season of our life in this community and realize that there was a strong foundation laid for future generations.
So Lord, I just ask that your hand would be in all of those things. And God, we do just ask that your hands would be on the people of this community that we get to live in and do life with. Lord, today I pray for our our our commissioners. Lord, I um I pray that you would give
them wisdom and discernment, that you would give them understanding as they look at issues um in our county. And Lord, I pray that you would just guide them. God, I do pray that you'd protect them. I know as God, as anytime someone
sits in a role of leadership, that sometimes and often comes with criticism. And so, Lord, I just pray that you would help them as at times they face criticism, that you would keep their hearts and their minds encouraged in spite of those things. And Lord, I just pray that you would have your hands
over them today and give their minds clarity. And as I pray, Lord, give them wisdom and discernment that can come from you. Lord, I just pray these things in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. Michael Dross, would you lead us in the pledge?
>> We honor. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> I'll move approval of the agenda. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. We have one proclamation. Do we have
person who's to receive the proclamation for Black History Month here? Okay. We'll wait. Okay. Are you going to accept the Black History Month proclamation? >> I'm here to Yes. Sorry. We're waiting
for our person outside. Apologies. >> Well, we don't. >> Oh, you can still read it. >> Okay. >> Is that okay? >> Unfortunately, our recipient is not here yet, but we are the Martin County Board of County Commissioners uh is presenting a proclamation in honor of Black History
Day in Martin County. In 1926, historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson established what would become Black History Month to bring special acknowledgement and awareness of African-American accomplishments, contributions, and history, as well as their impact on
shaping America. The theme for 2026, a century of black history commemorations, marks a 100red years of celebrating black history and the role these commemorations have played in American culture and encourages exploration of how black history and life celebrations
have helped shape and transform the modern world. February 2026 is proclaimed Black History Month, and the board is proud to honor the history, contributions, and achievements of African-Americans throughout our community, state, and nation. >> Thank you. Thank you. And I have a
proclamation this morning, too. And that is the Martin County Board of County Commissioners would like to present Don Donaldson with the Outstanding Service Award. >> Wow. >> Y THIS IS this is no small feat. Don has
been an employee of Martin County for 30 years and we are are are pleased and proud of your loyal and dedicated service. And and this is this is wonderful, Don. I'm sure you didn't realize this. You are hereby awarded 24 hours of PTO.
That's that's no joke. So, thank you. >> 24 hours is pretty good. That's four days. >> And a new pin. and a new path. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Speech.
>> Speech. >> I'll be getting one of those one of these days. >> You will. Exactly. So, uh I I I tell this to many of our new employees. When I started here, I thought that I would be here maybe five years and go back to the private sector. I said, but what
what's always kept me here is uh really two things. And one, the most important is the the people I get to work with. I I like to work with people that are smarter than me, and there's a lot of those in our on our team. And the other was that the county has always
endeavored to do really innovative projects and and really cool things. And I'm always amazed at the the number of things that uh all of our county employees are doing. And that it is no uh there's is throughout the year I'm always uh uh
introduced to something that we've done that I had no part of, but it's a really cool thing that makes our community better, and that's that's what's kept me here. So, thank you. >> Thank you. We now have public comment. The first request to speak form I have is from
Robert Macken >> McKeen. Okay. Followed by Frank Mcrist. >> Good morning. >> Good morning everyone. My name is Robert McKeen, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure
Coast. Am I heard? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Um here like to be real quick. The Steuart Boat Show was uh in the middle of January um over on the north side of the uh the bridge. A record show in both
attendance. Lots of boats sold on the barrelhead, lots of contracts. Um weather was interesting, but uh turned out okay for the actual show. What's important to that show is parking because for most boat shows, parking is a problem. So, I'm here to thank you and
your staff, Mr. Stokus and Mr. McBine for the airport parking facility that we had over at the airport. It is vital to be able to get people in. We had six buses running 20 loops a day. Um, and we had over 20,000 people at the show. So,
I'm here to thank you for that. Um, we always appreciate the partnerships that we have with both the city and the county and that show can't happen without those partnerships and we appreciate that. The the industry is strong and it is growing. Uh also last week we had the economic
impact breakfast over at IRSC Chastain campus. Uh very well attended. What a mix of people that were there. Uh it was very interesting as a moderator to to watch what was happening out in the audience was ve was uh was interesting.
Lots of good feedback on it. We'll be doing that again and probably a legislative uh lunch sometime around Maya as we see what happens in Tallahassee. Um, so yeah, it was great feedback. We appreciate the support. We appreciate you guys coming and uh, thank
you very much. >> Thank you. >> You >> Frank Mcrist is next and that's the last request to speak form I have. >> Frank Mcrist, executive director of my house. >> Your wife might disagree.
Don Donaldson, stop being so humble. There's no doubt you are the sharpest tool in this shed. Thank you very much. All right, so the fire burn center at the airport, the
training building that's proposed, the same one that the people of Palm City said, not in my backyard. that one uh five or six years ago had the pleasure of sitting with the existing fire chief at the time for probably five
or six hours thanks to Mr. Campy making that happen. And we came up five, six years ago with a sort of like in my plea for mercy, he said, "Okay, we can we can fit all our
guys in and only burn 35 times a year and we'll use the cleanest material known to man." So, I'm here to ask you today recognizing that that burn proposed burn center is 800 ft from Vista Pines,
1,600 ft from the Barn Theater, but most importantly for me, 1,700 ft from neighborhoods neighborhoods to the east. A lot of old houses like mine that have awning windows still, and we'd like to at least this time of year open our windows. So, I'm here to ask for a few
things. Again, organize these burn dates into very organized large groups of firefighters because I also learned that the real reason for these burn buildings is to simply teach these guys how to put their
mask on properly. Okay? So, I'm asking that you train as many at a time as you can to reduce the number of days that you have to burn. And please never consider making this a regional training center to quote offset
the monstrous price that this thing is going to cost. Please never even consider that. Okay. But something new I thought of lately and and and it really is just be a good neighbor. if the fire chief could publish like a
monthly schedule of the burn times so people that do live in those neighborhoods around this new training center would at least know when to close their windows when they're leaving their homes. That would be wonderful.
Keep in mind the firefighter is is is is different than 25 years ago. The average fire lasts four minutes. So mostly their job is a is a mopup scenario. Thank you. >> Thank you. Would anyone else like to
address us? Then we will move to commissioner comments. Commissioner Vargas. >> Um yeah, at the state of the county, weren't we supposed to have a presentation about the county flag?
We've been working on it. Yes, we we did have the flag there and we can uh perhaps bring one before the end of the meeting and display. >> Anything else? >> No, not at this point.
>> Commissioner Caps, >> I wanted to mention a few things that I've been involved with since our last meeting. On Thursday, January 29, I attended the 70th anniversary of Ottabbond at
the Palm City Presbyterian Church. And Jackie Thurlo Lipish gave a fantastic key mo keynote address about environmental restoration in Martin County and the Everglades. The
photography and the artwork of waiting birds was just stunning. We we learned that the health of the waiting bird population is a key indicator of the health of the environment in Florida
because that means the water is at the right depth in the in the wetlands to produce food for waiting birds. So, I thought that was really cool. Then on uh Wednesday, February 4, I got to speak to the Martin
County CARES Group and that stands for Citizens Academy Resource Education Series and that was held at the Emergency Operations Center over by where the sheriff and the uh fire rescue and the
emergency operations folks have their offices. This class is a wonderful way to learn about our community and our county government. I I took the class many many years ago and uh I was told by Martha Anne that I
should take it again because it's even uh newer and more improved. But I would encourage all of our residents in Martin County to take this class. Uh it's just uh a great exposure to all of the county
government departments and many other cultural things in our county. And lastly, uh, on Thursday, February 5, I attended the Indiantown Kowanas Club meeting where I learned of the club's plans to
develop a youth sports program for the kids in Indian Town, which is greatly needed. Uh, and um, the kids in Indian Town don't have enough to do after
school. and um this this is a great effort. I applaud what they're doing and we look forward to helping in any way that we can. >> Thank you, Commissioner Caps. That's it's uh it's nice that you bring up this
uh the Ottabon meeting. The one of the charges of the Everglades Forever Act, which was passed in two in 2000 by Congress, was to recreate nesting healthy nesting habitat for the waiting birds in the Everglades. They were decimated by the plume hunters.
>> Uh so that was one of the charges of of Everglades restoration. And since 1970 in the United States alone, we've lost three billion birds. >> Birds are a real key indicator species. Uh I'm the this county's representative
on the county coalition for the responsible management of Lake Okachchobee and we had a meeting uh last Friday and uh presentations by uh the Army Corps, South Florida Water Management District, uh Florida Fish and
Wildlife and D and the Department of Environmental Protection is doing a really really cool new pilot project. They've contracted with five contractors uh AECOM,
Aquaculture, ED Waste to Water, Utrifix, Sea and Shoreline, and Solitude Lake Management to do a dredge project. Each one of them has selected a a discrete portion location inside Lake Okachchobee
to dredge. And they're going to to measure success by the amount mo mostly of of total phosphorus that they remove. And some of them are also going to be measuring the total nitrogen that they remove. But it's a competition. Whoever
removes the most phosphorus will be rewarded by getting a bigger portion of the contract. So, it's it's a initially it's a $20 million uh competition and it just sounds like it's a wonderful way. The the contractors are uh devising
their own methods. Um each one of them is using a different method. Um so, I will be very interested to see the results uh of this because it surely will point the direction for successful scaling up of muck removal in Lake Okachchobee. So, a very cool thing.
>> What's it called? America's Next Top Dredger. >> No, no, I don't think it has a name. >> Should be that. >> Yeah. Thank you, Commissioner Campy. >> I'm all set. Thank you. >> And Commissioner Catherington. Good. Well, firstly, I wanted to congratulate the the Martin County Arts Council on a
fantastic Artsfest downtown Stewart this weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect, and they had some new additions in uh the program with the food and wine. um festival ticket. So, I think
that it was a great show. They did a great job and I believe that component will only grow next year. So, congratulations. And then I did get to attend the Marine Industries of the Treasure Coast Economic Impact Breakfast and Rob, it was just fantastic. I
learned so much from some of the panelists and um it also reminded me of how important these marine businesses are to our local economy both large and small. And then the following evening I
was at the DDS for vets gala talking with Congressman Mass and it inspired some questions that I have for Mr. Connellson as in what is happening with the train bridge, who's applying for the grant, is it going to be fined or the
city of Stewart? And it really is such an impactful um bridge on our marine industries. So I want to make sure that we are doing whatever we can even though it's in the city of Stewart. So I would
love to know get an update on that. Uh certainly um commissioners the uh the rail bridge which goes over the St. Lucy which is single track has been a an issue for uh residents in Martin County and especially our marine industries for
some time. The city of Stewart uh and the Florida in the navigation district uh applied for uh and the city received a grant uh a little over a year ago. They're actually and they're they're resubmitting for some more funds to to get enough to do the project. Uh it is
my understanding still that the city of Stewart and the Florida in the Navigation District are working as a joint applicant. Um I've certainly made it known to the uh the Florida Inland Navigation District if they needed any guidance or help that we would we would
offer some administrative help should they need it. Um but um at this time uh it's my understanding that the city and the inland navigations district are still working jointly together on that application for funding the bridge
replacement. >> If you could work with the city and keep us updated on that to make sure that nothing slides through the cracks on that. And then the other conversation I had was um the congressman is very upset about uh the FEC hauling
through the Treasure Coast trash from Miami Dade County, offloading it in Fort Pierce and then apparently it goes to Okachobee. So my question is why would they not put that from Miami Dade on the CSX railroad directly out to Okachobee?
I'm guessing someone has asked that question, but I would really love to know uh why they couldn't do that. See, haul it on CSX directly to Okachchobee. >> I I don't have the answer to that, but we will get that back to you and let everybody know. Um the what happened was
there was a waste energy plant in Dade County that had a fire. I think it was a little over a year ago. Um and so that is continues to not be operational. And I think they're still studying whether they're going to rebuild it there or wherever. In the meantime, the garbage
is being uh shipped to uh uh Okachobee uh in the waste management site and they're using currently using FC. But I had the similar question come up recently on CSX line. Why can't it be used? And um I've got staff uh looking
into that to see what what we can do to encourage uh that to happen. also uh to encourage the uh when it is happening that uh any debris that's uh results from that that it be cleaned up. >> Yeah. Thank you. That's all I have.
>> Mr. Donaldson, any further comments? >> Uh yes, I do have uh um uh just a question to the rest of the board. Commissioner Vargas is uh uh scheduled to go visit the Sedron site in uh
Seattle and just wanted to offer if any of you all wanted to attend as we're scheduling that um uh to make that available to to all of you should we uh should any of you all want to go see the operation of the waste uh the bioolids
facility that uh we're contracting to to build in in Indiantown. >> What's their timeline to be built in Indiantown? Do you know? >> Um I think it's going to take about a year and a half to get that constructed. Mhm. >> Thanks. >> Thanks,
>> Miss Elder. >> I'm all set. Thank you. >> In that case, we will take up the consent polls. Uh consent 8, which was a request for adoption of a resolution amending the parks and recreation advisory board meeting schedule and
attendance requirements. this has been changed and perhaps you can explain why. >> Uh good morning, Kevin Abbate, parks and recreation director. Um the board uh asked us to uh reass the parks and rec
recreation advisory board to look at the number of times that they would like to meet annually. uh they did vote uh 70 as uh unanimously to uh meet six times a year on the third Thursday of each month um probably beginning um in March or
February. We'll work on that date with them based on this outcome today. Um and that was really the basis of that meeting. >> Okay, any questions? >> Thank you. >> All right, thank you. >> We'll take up consent 12. We didn't vote
on the consent at all. >> We'll vote on on all of them at the end. I think >> consent 12 is an interlocal agreement for the South Souls Point force main extension project phase three.
Mr. Repeti. >> Uh good morning. >> Morning. Commissioner Vargas, you pulled this. >> I did. I did. Um, I've had numerous people from since Point approached me and I remember back in November, I think
I was the one opponent uh to this particular matter for good reasons. Um, I have >> We can't hear you. >> Turn your That's >> it on. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Um, back in November of last year,
I think I was the one that opposed passing this. >> We can hear you. >> Can you hear now? >> Okay, perfect. Back in November, I think I was the one commissioner that opposed this. And correct me if I'm wrong. There may have been another. Uh, but the
inconsistencies in the reports that have been continuous and the lack of transparency towards the residents uh have caused me great concern. Did at that time and continue to do so. Um at that time they had presented a survey of 336
recipients. Uh 86 homes wanted the sewers, 32 homes replied no and 218 homes did not reply at all, which at that time was considered uh a no vote by then Mayor
Kursman. Um again I've had people approach me recently uh to say that the documents were not prepared properly. They were not submitted properly. Uh they the town manager and actually the
engineering company scuttled up this work uh which was not due for quite a while and put a tremendous tremendous pressure on our um our directors who handle the water and sewer. And so I would like to have those that are here
at the meeting come up and make a presentation to our board. Um we we have to take into account our citizens. That's first and foremost and especially our taxpayers. Uh so I'd appreciate if somebody who is representative from Sul's Point could come up to speak
today. There is one request to speak form and that's from Mona Leonard. You'll have three minutes to speak to us. Miss Leonard, >> Mona Leonard, one Heritage Way, SS Point. Thank you so much, commissioners, for taking your time today. Everything
I'm about to tell you can be verified through documentation. The town of SS Point applied for a resiliency grant for a townwide septic to sewer project to improve water quality quality in the Indian River Lagoon. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection data shows the Indian River Lagoon is
not impaired around Sils Point. Compliment uh compliments to the BOCC for standing sorry compliments to the BOCC it's moving around on me for standing
your ground on required standards on subject to sewer but the town of SS point decided to move forward on obtaining their own grants anyway despite no need to convert at all according to D. So, the town's people requested a study by an independent
research company, Gibbles Webster, to to determine if and to what degree our septic tanks were damaging the Indian River Lagoon. To this day, that study has been denied for the residents to review in spite of the town paying $75,000 for it. For four years, we have
been requesting Freedom of Information Act results of the Geles Webster study. We were originally denied that the study even existed by our by our mayor and others. That was after the study itself was presented to our town commission in a meeting and then quickly withdrawn so
the town engineer Joe Capra could then alter the study and we'd never know the truth. So seeing we weren't getting anywhere, we decided to create our own door-to-door petition to see what people truly felt in SS Point and found that 78% of the residents did not want to
convert to sewer. When we presented the results to our town commission, we were told by commissioner Kaia Mayfield, "It doesn't matter how many signatures you get. We're going to vote how we want to vote." A foyer request for the study by Casey
Ingram produced only two pages of the thumb drive on the thumb drive given to her by the town. Why not the entire 300 plus pages of data displayed to us at a public meeting before being quickly taken down from the deis denying its existence at all until the pressure
became too much? Why spend money for no good environmental reason with illotten funds? The common denominator and it only takes one is Joe Capra, our town engineer. And he and he stands to benefit dearly. Joe Kapper's own survey of interest
showed 75% of residents don't want sewer. Yet, he lied and said 86% of residents do want sewers. We are a congregation of highly intelligent, compassionate people who believe in justice, not going along to get along.
The residents do not even realize that the special assessment will be mandatory, nor how much it's going to cost. this, even though residents were assured it would not be mandatory by our town government, lies on our grant applications, foyer denials, and huge debt. Please stop the corruption and do
not agree to give SS Point more sewer hookups. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Would anyone else like to address us? >> Mr. Repeti, any response? >> Oh boy. Um so uh yes there's a study by
GLS Webster uh that was uh that was discussed and u I'm not sure why the town has not made that available. They they engaged the town uh in in that endeavor. So I mean that that that report should be uh readily available. Uh and looking at the the number of
residents that are against the project generally on our side uh from the utility side uh we find the residents very open to this. We did the first big project on the north side of uh East Ocean Boulevard, North Souls Point. Uh today we've got a 50% connection rate.
Uh those are the people who've you know for a voluntary connection, not mandated. It's not an assessment. So um I'm quite happy to answer any other uh direct questions. So we we met with the board back in uh November and the board
approved uh the uh interlocal agreement. we've uh uh reviewed with uh uh county legal staff and uh it's been executed by the town of Souls Point and uh we're here today for uh the other side of uh what was discussed back in November.
>> Thank you, Mr. Campy. >> Let Don go first. >> Mr. Donaldson, >> I was just going to say that uh it's important to note that the county is not building the facility. the town is going to construct the force mains and once it's completed then it'll become part of
our utilities. But this is this is a SS point um project um and the agreement uh simply is about our them building it to our standards and then turning the force mains over to us once it's completed.
But it is essentially just making sure that it's clear that it is it is the it is the town's project. Commissioner Campy. >> Thank you. Mine's more of a procedural question. This was originally put on the consent agenda pulled by one of our
commissioners. Uh did anybody reach out to SS Points um town or to let them know that this was going to be discussed when it was an agenda item? Four of their five commissioners came and spoke for it, one opposed. Many residents
came. That's when it was advertised. That's when it was going to be an agenda item and a hearing. Uh I have no problem having it be vetted. Again, we've heard statistics and information from a a resident that lives there and one of our
commissioners who represents that area, but I'm not in a position to say yes or no based on this new information or the fact that no one is here. I'm sure that someone from Su's point, either their their administration, their elected
officials, residents that are absolutely in favor of it. We can't have an agenda item and then put it on consent, pull it from consent because we've done that in the past where when people hear that their item is on consent and they
understand the definition of what the consent agenda is, they assume it's going to be voted to a yes. So if this is going to turn into a situation, I think it's important that we invite the folks to come back and hear what these
numbers are. Is is this report been issued? And I agree with Mr. Repeti. I don't I can't imagine, and I'm not disagreeing with what Miss Leonard said, but I can't imagine that public funds were spent on a public report and then
it's kept secret. I >> Okay. Well, that's facts can be looked at in different ways by different people. We don't know until we hear from them that they say, "Yes, we've never shown the report for whatever the rationale is." My point is is that you're asking me to make a
determination, which I was in favor of it last time based on the presentation and the information that was presented by their elected officials. Now granted, I'm up here long enough to realize that sometimes you're on the right side, you know, on the your side of a a vote and
sometimes you're on the opposition of a vote and and people can be frustrated by that. So, I'll make an opinion. I'll make a decision based on what I've heard, but I've only heard one side of it today. And whether it was a SS point issue or any issue, most people when
they hear that their agenda item is on consent, it they assume it's a yes and they might not attend to hear what um when it's pulled might not hear u this other information that's come to light today. So as far as I'm concerned, I
think we need to wait. >> Commissioner Vargas. >> Okay. So I did state before and you can look up the video when I was running for office. met with your town manager. He gave me this report. Look kind of familiar. It says draft on the bottom of
it. Okay. To me, a draft is not a finality. However, he ponyied that up to me right away. I did read it cover to cover because I do read all reports. I think that this commission should be looking at all angles and if there's new
knowledge that we have been presented with then we should take the onus and say hold on just one moment here let's give them the opportunity and them being everybody in that community which is Sula's point not just because it's in my district either I would do this for any
district because that's how I operate that's the right thing to do and I am requesting that this commission postpone this particular item from today and then we can invite everybody to come and speak give them adequate information and
also for fornowledge of when it's going to be heard and that's the way to conduct a business meeting no matter what hour of the day or night it is and business meetings are conducted around the world which I've lived anytime it's important that's what I say
>> commissioner caps >> I have a concern with uh the timeline. The town of SS Point is under an enormous amount of pressure to get the project completely finished by a certain date. I think it's like July or
something like that. They are really pressed for time and they relied on our prior vote to allow these grinders. And this is I think it's probably true that this work is already underway. um like
to shut them down now would be devastating to their efforts. Um uh you know, so I I uh I'm very concerned about that. I I would suggest that we contact them now and ask them if they would like
to come in and speak sometime through the day. >> Good idea. before we before we uh cut them off uh at the knees uh without them even being here to explain themselves. Um so uh >> I agree >> that that I would make I would make a
motion that we uh allow them to come in today at any given time that they're able and we can take the issue up after we've heard from them. >> Second. >> Commissioner Heatherington. >> Yeah, I agree with that. And Leo, you
said the north section >> the north section of SS point >> was >> when was that completed? You said only 50 there was not a mandatory assessment and only 50% of people have connected. That seems low unless it was just
completed. was completed in June of 2020 and uh we we don't have a mandatory connection policy and uh if the systems available they'll no longer be able to get a septic repair permit and uh to date we've had 50% of that community
connect >> and so there was no assessment >> no assessment no ma'am >> and 50% was the connection rate that seems pretty low in five years to me a connection rate >> uh It's I it is what it is. We we
typically end up with about a third of the residents connecting within the first year. Uh they want to take advantage of the lower cost. They want to no longer deal with the uh septic system. They may have other uses on their property for that piece of their their land. And uh over time as septics
fail, as we also have a lot of uh residents when they move into a house and they find out it's available, uh they're anxious to connect as well. >> Okay. >> Commissioner Vargas. So um Mr. Repetti tell me um you've already started
digging or what's what's happening with this particular >> so >> item what what what is what have you started on or >> Okay, so this is a uh town of Souls Point project. Uh they bid out the project for uh there's two aspects of phase three. One is a gravity system.
The other one is for small uh diameter force mains for grinders. Uh they've uh put the word uh put the work out on the street. They've bid it out. uh they've awarded contracts and uh I know that they've already started on the work for
the uh gravity system for the 76 gravity uh residents and I believe they're getting ready to start on the the grinder work. >> I understand. However, they have not given the information that's been requested and this report is is not of
late. I mean, this has been going on for a number of years and there has been no forthcoming of information. So, I'm not looking at you about this because you're doing your job. However, people have taken their time this morning. And if
the town manager wants to come right now and uh Mr. uh Captech wants to come now also to defend themselves, they have people here and give an explanation. So, you know, if things aren't done right initially, it's not correct. It's just
not correct, and I feel very strongly about this. I've had a number of people come to me about this. And that's why I I was opposed to this at the beginning when the vote was taken. And you know what? It's they want us to hurry up and do something that they should have done
a while ago. Do you know what I'm saying? They're making it our emergency. And it's not because we have a process and procedure. I was told that as soon as I came aboard here, a process and a procedure and the process just kind of skimmed right in front right to the head of the line. So again, you're doing your
job, but this is something that does not feel right to me at all. And I would request this commission postpone this. >> We're talking about another two weeks when we have another meeting. We're not talking about two years from now. >> Mr. Donaldson,
>> just letting I see Joe Kappa >> just letting you know that um um Mr. Graham is reaching out to Bob Daniels and we're still reaching out to the town manager. >> Well, we'll wait for Mr. Daniels, too. >> Yeah. I I uh also voted against this
back in in November. Um, our utility department recommended denial because it was changing our longstanding policy >> and it was long-standing policy for a reason. Su's point had three years to uh
give their residents the opportunity to advertise the uh cost of >> correct >> these installations and didn't take any action. Um there are some some irregularities and some allegations of
misrepresentations and so we there's a motion in a second to have uh the SS point town manager and the uh engineer to come and explain uh their position. All those in favor I
>> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. We will hear from them uh later on. Meanwhile, can we have a motion to um approve the remainder of the consent agenda? >> I'll move approval of the consent agenda.
>> A second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. We will take a public hearing quasi judicial one which is a public hearing to request approval of the major final
site plan for the bridge road cart club. This is quasi judicial. Any exparte disclosures? Commissioner Vargas, >> if I have any, they've been filed. >> Commissioner Caps, >> if I have any, they have been filed. >> I have them and they've been filed. Commissioner Campy, >> I have them and they've been filed. And
>> Commissioner Heatherington, >> I have them and they've been filed. And anyone who's going to be providing sworn testimony, please stand, raise your right hand, and be sworn in. Do you swear or affirm the evidence you're about to give will be the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> You don't have any idea what we're >> Mr. Sinnot, have you provided all your necessary materials to the clerk? >> Yes. I'm turning in a copy of my work history and the agenda item to be filed as exhibit one and the applicant's proof
of public notice mailers was turned in at the LPA hearing this past Thursday. >> Excellent. Please proceed. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning, commissioners. I'm John Senate, principal planner with Growth Management. I'm presenting the Bridge Road Car Club major final site plan
application. There are no interveners for this application. This is a request by HJA Design Studio on behalf of MCFL Properties for major final site plan approval to construct three one-story vehicular self- storage buildings and associated infrastructure.
The buildings consist of 36 storage units totaling approximately 55,823 square ft. The subject 32.27 27 acre site is currently undeveloped and is located at 7550 Southeast Bridge Road, approximately 32 miles northeast of the
intersection of Southeast Powerline Avenue and Southeast Bridge Road in Hope Sound. Included is a request for a certificate of public facilities reservation. The site's located on the south side of Bridge Road. It is west of the Hobound
Commerce Park development along Suzanne Drive. The property to the south is the coastal waste and recycling PUD. Aside from an existing excavated lake, the subject property is currently undeveloped and contains 14.9 acres of
wetlands. The existing zoning of the property is GI General Industrial. In the yellow, to the south of the property, you can see the coastal waste and recycling PUB. To the east in the uh pink and cream colors, you can see the M1 Industrial
District as well as the LI Limited Industrial District and the B3 district in blue. To the north of the property across Bridge Road is the RE2A zoning district. The future land use of the subject
property and the surrounding sites to the west, south, and east is industrial. Across Bridge Road to the north, you can see the rural density future land use designation. The scope of work includes the construction of three one-story vehicular self-s storage buildings
totaling approximately 55,823 square ft. Access will be provided via driveway from Southeast Bridge Road. Water and wastewater will be provided by South Martin Regional Utility. As part of this application, the owner will dedicate 42 feet of rideway along
Southeast Bridge Road during post approval. The owner will also pay $53,120 in lie of sidewalk construction along Southeast Bridge Road. The owner has applied for environmental waiver for access to the upland portion
of their property. Staff reviewed the waiver and found it met the criteria of section 4.3B LDR. The waiver has been approved by the growth management director. The waiver authorizes 0.16 acres of wetland impacts and 0.36 acres
of wetland buffer impacts to allow for driveway to allow for a driveway for access to the upland portion of the site. The on-site mitigation will consist of the creation of 0.16 acres of wetlands to offset the impacts.
This is the proposed major final site plan. As you can see, the buildings are situated in the southern portion of the site along Bridge Road. You can see the 42 foot wide rofway dedication that results in a total right-of-way
dedication of 1.23 acres. This site plan will preserve 14.9 acres of wetland as well as 8.99 acres of wetland buffer. The total developed area that's the vehicular use areas, buildings, dry
retention and landscaped areas that will be 5.13 acres. Here I've highlighted the proposed areas of wetland and wetland buffer impacts in red. As you can see the driveway near this curve from Bridge Road, it leaprogs
between wetland buffer areas to minimize impacts to the wetland itself. And then as it proceeds south and east, there are some marginal impacts to wetland buffers as well. Again, the wetland impact is 0.16 acres. The
wetland buffer impact is 0.36 acres. And in blue, adjacent to the existing excavated lake is the.16 acre wetland creation area. This matter was heard before the local planning agency on February 5th. The LPA
voted four to zero recommending approval with one member being absent. Development review staff have found the MCFL properties application to comply with all applicable regulations and the comprehensive growth management plan as detailed in the staff report.
Staff recommendation is to move that the board receive and file the agenda item and its attachments, including the staff report as exhibit one, and move that the board adopt the resolution approving the Bridge Road Car Club final site plan, including the preserve area management plan. That concludes my presentation.
>> Questions for Mr. Sinnot. Mr. Sinn, is this within the primary urban service boundary? >> Yes, it is. >> Thank you, Commissioner Caps. Yes. Uh the the full acreage on the site is 32.27 acres. >> Correct.
>> And and how many acres will be used for development purposes for like the buildings? >> 5.13 acres that includes their their driveway, landscape areas, retention areas, as well as the building footprint. And again, the uh the area of the right-of-way dedication is 1.23
acres. >> Thank you. Any further questions? Applicant, would you like to One more question. Commissioner Vargas, it's >> not a question. It's really a comment. Um, when I saw wetlands being impacted,
that's exactly my response initially and I understand about the mitigation what have you. Um I I did ask quite a few questions in our meeting uh both with the growth management and with the applicant and the representatives also
um about the fact that there would be no oil changes. There'll be no runoff. This is our precious land here and we have to be exceedingly careful uh with this. Um my understanding is that your department
had tried different ways in order to have an ingress egress. This is recessed from the road, the main road from Bridge Road. This this entrance way uh and it is a locked entrance way. Those that you know belong
to this club have access of course. Is there any other way in order to work this so that we're not infringing? Uh good morning commissioners. Paul Schilling, growth management director for the record and and to address your question, commissioner, and thank you
for that question. Uh the the result that we see today in today's hearing, uh there there were other um entrances proposed over the last year and a half or so. And this what you're looking at
today results in the least amount of impact. Uh so all those variables were taken into account that as well as the uh public safety. Um but first and foremost is there is there any other alternative. This is the least
impactful. I understand that they're going to have turning lanes both east and west into this property for a safety feature because I did ask about a you know a light of course a traffic light and they felt it wasn't necessary because it
wouldn't be a lot a lot of traffic flowing through here just those that have purchased and these are condominiums so these are owners and they do have to um they do have to abide by covenants and bylaws and rules and um
there'll be supervisory management there continuously. Um and I know you're pretty strict your department about this. That's why I said I >> kind of grimaced you when I heard this was wetlands. Um
any other comments about this? >> No, just to reiterate um the fact you you you summed it up pretty well. Um the what we're looking at today is the least impactful. Uh there is no net loss to wetlands in Martin County. So those are being rec recreated on site. Uh and then
the operation the applicant can certainly speak. I believe they have a presentation but the operation is uh very low impact as far as trips. There will be improvements done in the rightway. There is a 42 foot rightway
dedication. So all of those variables um are uh came together and that's the result of this plan today. >> Okay. I'd like to hear from the applicant, please. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, commissioners. Uh can we I
always have a problem here with uh my height. Um my name is Erica Bitler for the record. I'm with HA Design Studio and I'm the applicant for the uh Have >> you been sworn in? Pardon? >> She was You been sworn in? >> Oh, yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. I have been sworn in. Um, I knew I was forgetting
something. Um, uh, as John said, this is a request for a major final site plan of Bridge Car Club and our project team is here for any answer or questions that you may have. Um, this slide uh, the location is in Hope Sound and it's
access off of Bridge Road just west of the Suzanne um, the Commerce Park and east of Powerline Road. It has a general industrial zoning as well as an industrial uh land use and as as well as
in the urban service boundary. You um sorry I got I got lost. Um this this is consist this is the zoning um is consistent with the county and the
county standards. Oops. Hi, I'm Can I restart? I'm sorry. I just got it. So, public is >> That's okay. You're doing great. >> Um, we are, let me just go back. So, the we are in um consistent with the zoning
in the land use designation as well as the county standards. This is an undeveloped site along the bridge road corridor and the existing industrial commerce park is to the um east. And this aerial highlights the surrounding natural areas and
illustrates why a compact development approach is suitable for this site. This is our site plan in a little better in color. Um the proposal is for a low inensity private vehicular self storage consisting of three one-story buildings
totaling 55,800 square ft with 36 individual condominium units. The buildings are compact and contained in the south and resulting in 91% open space uh and 100% native landscaping as you can see along the
west and and south buffer as well as in the retention areas. Um, appropriate on-site stacking and gate entrance will prevent backup onto Bridge Road. And the uh gate is in between the second and
third blue ar um arrows, which those blue arrows on this plan um represent hydraulic flow that's being maintained. Yes. So here the entrance drive utilizes a
retaining stem wall uh to reduce grading and limit wetland disturbance. The stem wall is located all along the wetland and upland interface as shown in this yellow line and the hydraulic connectivity on the on-site wetlands will be maintained.
storm water runoff um will be treated through the Dry retention systems and achieves the 95% reduction of the nitrogen and phosphorus in consistent with the new statewide storm water rules that were adopted in December of 25.
The project is dedicating 42 feet which is 1.23 23 of this site for future corridor improvements and constructs west and eastbound turn lanes uh to help safety without distributing tra
disturbing traffic along bridge road. Additionally, the applicant is contributing 53,000 in in lie of a sidewalk along bridge to the county sidewalk fund. S this is a South Martin re regional utilities area is serviced
and there will be extension to the uh western property line of a 12in water man and a 6-in force man. This is a detail of those improvements along bridge. You can see the two deceleration
lanes um going into the site. From an environmental standpoint, this project results in significant permanent preservation. Access to Upland development requires the waiver under the Martin County LDR section 4.3B.
This waiver is permissible by rights for access when no other reasonable alternative to the uplands exist. So staff and applicable state agencies have reviewed and certified this these standards and we meet or exceed and
there so there's no preclusion of use here. The wetland impact shown in red in this graphic uh the darker hatch is 16 acres of wetland mitigation and in the blue to the east is on-site mitigation
for that area. as well as the upland buffer impact is the the less dark hatch in red and that's 0.36 acres. So of this 32 acre site, 5.13
is Uplands and that's about 16% of the site. The property total is 31 acres less of the ride ofway and of that 23.89 89 acres or 77% will be permanently preserved under a recorded conservation
easement. This includes the 14.9 acre wetlands and 8.99 acre wetland buffer. And this will all be managed in accordance with the approved PAMP. And here's just a detail of what the the development would look like in the midst
of the overall site. Um, and then operationally, as Commissioner Vargas mentioned, there will be strict HOA restrictions in place. No overnight stays, no businesses, no auto repair operations,
no outdoor storage or excessive noise. Uh, the HOA will be responsible for preservation area management, storm water maintenance, private infrastructure such as roads and lift station. This is a graphic illustration um
looking northeast of the south most south building and the buildings are approximately 35 ft in height which the code here with general institutional is 40 ft height max which includes a for 14t clearance for a rollup door and a
mezzanine in each condominium of the unit and there'll be eight different unit types. It's just another view. The the width between these buildings is significantly uh wider than the typical 24 ft that is
standard for a drive aisle. It's 40 ft for appropriate turn uh auto turn and and all that necess necessary for fire trucks and deliveries what have you. So in summary, this is a low inensity
project with substantial public benefit including rightway dedication, infrastructure improvements, extensive exotic removal which is very important on the wetlands, permanent conservation and and of the majority of the property.
And I I do want to note that typically we just have a PAMP approved on these wetland areas, but we're having additional covering of a conservation easement. So no matter what May, which probably never would in Martin County with wetland mitigation or anything, but
the conservation easement will maintain this area to never be disturbed. The design complies with county code, Florida statues, and applicable environmental regulations. We respectfully request approval of this plan, and our team is here to answer any
of your questions. Great job on the presentation both of you. >> Thank you. >> And staff, >> can you all hear me? There we go. Is that better? >> Yes. >> But great job on the presentations. As I asked earlier about the acreage,
it's 32.27 acres total and only 5.13 acres are being used for the development of the buildings. And I think there's another 1 point something acres that's used for the the driveway into the >> the the right of way dedication total
area is 1.23 acres that will be deed to the county as part of post approval. >> Right. Can we pull up that first picture? The one with all the >> the Yeah. Let's see now. Not >> right here. This one? >> Yeah, that one will do. Um, you know,
the one thing that's really good about this project, I think, is that you won't even see the buildings from Bridge Road. They're they're they're deep into the forest, so to speak. And you know, it would seem to me that, you know, I hate to see anything built right right on
Bridge Road, but if if something's going to be built, it would seem to me that this is one of the most environmentally friendly projects that I've seen thus far as as a commissioner. Um, and uh there's very little impact to the
natural environment here. And uh I applaud the way you put it together. you know, there's a huge amount of preservation here. Um, so I'm I'm quite satisfied uh with what I'm seeing here. So, I would move approval.
>> Second, >> Mr. Bargas. >> Yeah. Uh, the other thing that I liked and and help me out here, the uh stem wall construction. I like that because it's elevated. But the other thing that I like even better is that the water flows
through. It's not it's not impeded at all to maintain continuity with the natural wildlife. Is that correct? Yes. Uh Paul Sherling for the record. So the hydra hydraology will be maintained with
the use of the the covert system uh and that you're and also the roadway and the elements around the buildings are on stem wall construction. So that um eliminates the need for any additional grading. um and uh preserves as much as
possible with the understanding that these are buildings that will um be utili be utilized for um as the applicant said for a pretty low intense use. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? Would anyone from the
public like to address us? Seeing none, I'll close the public. >> Commissioner, can we just put on the record that the notice to surrounding properties was turned in? Yes. For the record, I've turned in the LPA last t Thursday. >> Okay. Excellent. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah, this this uh project did an excellent job of of uh protecting the ecosystem. I particularly like the conservation easement. Thank you. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you all for your consideration and
time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, commissioners. >> Will take up. >> Excellent. DPQJ1, which is a request a request to approve the third amendment to the coastal waste
and recycling planned unit development zoning agreement, including a revised master and final site plan. This is quasi judicial. Any exparte disclosures? Commissioner Bargas, >> I have any, they >> commissioner caps, >> if I have any, they have been filed.
Hey, can I mention one other thing? >> Sure, >> Madam Chair. Uh Joe Capra. Uh >> oh, Don's gonna Don, >> I was wonder Oh, Don, you're apprising him of what transpired on the consent. Oh, good. Good. All right, great. If I
If I have any, they have been filed. >> I do have some and they've been filed. Commissioner Campy, >> I have some and they've been filed. >> And Commissioner Heatherington, >> I have them and they've been filed. Anyone who's going to be providing sworn testimony in this public hearing, please
stand up, raise your right hand, and be sworn in. >> Do you swear or affirm the evidence you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Mr. Sinat, have you uh prepared your information and sent it to the clerk?
>> Yes. I'm turning in a copy of my work history and a copy of the agenda item to be filed as exhibit one. >> Thank you. Please proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning, commissioners. I'm John Sennet, principal planner with Growth Management. I am presenting the coastal waste and recycling planned unit
development third amendment, including a revised master final site plan. This is a request by HJA Design Studio on behalf of Coastal Waste and Recycling of Martin County for approval of the third amendment to the Coastal Waste and Recycling PUB zoning agreement, including a revised master final site
plan to construct an approximately 7,800 square foot vehicular maintenance building, a 4,000T office building, and associated infrastructure. The 22.7 acre site is located at 12967 Southeast Suzanne Drive, approximately 0.25 25
miles southeast of the intersection of Southeast Suzanne Drive and Southeast Bridge Road in Hope Sound. Included is a request for a certificate of public facilities reservation. There are no intervenors for this application. Site is accessed via an access easement
from Southeast Suzanne Drive. It's approximately 22.7 acres in size. The Bridge Road Car Club site which we just spoke about is uh located to the northwest of the subject property. This is a closer look at the area of
proposed improvements for this application. It's located in the southwest portion of the existing site. It's currently used for rolloff container storage as well as uh mulch piles, vegetative processing debris.
This is a PUB. As you can see, the properties surrounding the coastal waste site generally consist of the GI general industrial district as well as the M1 industrial district in the light pink and the LI limited industrial district
in the cream colors. To the south, you can see the A1 district in orange. the future land use designation of the subject site and the surrounding areas to the east, north and west is industrial and to the south you can see
the rural density future land use designation. The coastal waste and recycling PUD is formerly known as the new way recycling court PUD. The PUD zoning agreement and master site plan were originally approved in December 2004. The first PUD
amendment was approved in July 2022. The second PUD amendment was approved in March of 2023. The existing building at the site was initially constructed in 2006 and has been and was expanded after the
the first PUD amendment. The application before you is for the third PUD amendment with revised master final site plan. The scope of work consists of the construction of a 7,800 square foot vehicular maintenance building, 4,000qt office building, as
well as associated infrastructure and parking areas. The existing site is a stabilized area currently used for rolloff container storage and mulch piles. As part of this application, the applicant is proposing a PUD public benefit of $25,000 to be paid to Martin
County Public Works for the maintenance of Southeast Suzanne Drive. This is the proposed revised master final site plan showing the overall boundaries of the site as well as the site data. Here we see a closer look at the area of proposed improvements in the southwest
portion of the site. You can see the 4,000 ft² office building is adjacent to an existing dry detention area. There are minor adjustments proposed to that dry detention area as part of this application. can see the
uh parking areas that includes uh parking for their own trucks as well as the landscaped islands. And in the southwest corner, you can see the 7,800 square foot one-story vehicular service
building. Behind that building, there will still be some uh a stabilized surface for rolloff container storage and and mulch piles. And as part of this application, there are no proposed changes to the existing preserve areas. Those will continue to
be managed in accordance with the existing preserve area management plan. Pursuant to article 10, table 10.5 F9, Martin County land development regulations. Review of this application is not required by the local planning agency. Development review staff have
found the coastal waste and recycling of Martin County application to comply with all applicable regulations and the comprehensive growth management plan as detailed in the staff report. Staff recommendation is to move that the board receive and file the agenda item and its attachments including the staff
report as exhibit one and move the board approve the third amendment to the coastal waste and recycling PUB zoning agreement including the revised master final site plan. That concludes my presentation. >> Questions for Mr. Sinnat. Seeing none, applicant, would you like to make a
presentation? >> Good morning, commissioners. I'm Kristen Spunster Law Firm. On behalf of the applicant, um, I just want to point out to you all before I let the real experts talk to you that we did submit our consultants resumes in advance of the hearing. We'd like to move those into
evidence. Um, we reviewed the staff's report and heard their presentation. We appreciate their recommendation of approval. We agree with it, of course. And um we'll have Erica Bitler come and give you this um application presentation. >> Thanks. >> Thanks.
>> Miss Bitler, please proceed. >> It's just coincidence that it's on the same day in the same spot. So, good good morning again, commissioners and chair. My name is Erikica Bitler for the record. I am the agent for the applicant um with HJA
design studio and this is a request for the third amendment to coastal waste and recycling revised master final site plan and our team is here if you have any additional questions we're happy to answer them. So this project is also located in Hope Sound just south of the
Commerce Park uh in Suzanne Drive and we're existing PUB industrial as well as industrial land use. The site is existing operation and the amendment isn't to expand the approved use of the
site but allows for modifications of the previously approved and development portion of the property to support and improve existing operations. the oh I I had a picture slide that had ro
of what it was before the second amendment uh I'll just talk about it uh in a way of background the site uh has undergone prior amendments as mentioned the second amendment most recent was approved March 2023 and it was the expansion of the collection hauling
material recovery facility and separates construction debl demo debris um as well as yard debris. The operation which was primarily outside is now 90% inside with that second amendment for the site plan
uh and and that area is located on the east of the site in that existing uh transfer building with the concrete around it. The current request builds upon those approvals and is limited in scope. The improvements are intended to support current operations of the
existing transfer building and their existing employees. The amendment area totals four acres of this 22.7 acre site and located in the existing stabilized development area that is located on the west which is currently used for the
roll out uh roll out um and mulch piles. Uh there will be no impacts to the existing preserve and wetlands as you see colored uh and and and it's in the approved PL pamp all perimeter buffers
that you see here. Access points and site layout remain the same. The proposal is for two singlestory buildings. To the west is the 7,800 square foot vehicular uh maintenance shop to support existing service of the
current operation vehicles. And the the building to the east is the onestory 4,000t office for break room, restrooms, and training space for existing employees. Pavement improvements associated with this include 39 employee
parking and 42 truck storage spaces uh which is currently located in that rolloff container storage multip piles that we see there are the PUD benefit uh which would be a sum of 25,000 for the maintenance
of Suzanne Drive a continued uh commitment from our client. This is a view of the office building. It's just a it fits right into this site as well as the vehicular maintenance
area and just an overview in the context. This is a gra illustrative graphic, but but for the most part, this is what we intend the goal to be. Um the proposed updates reflect on the master plan
intend to improve operational efficiency, functionality of the business and its current employees. There's no expansion to service area, no change in the nature of the use, no increase in overall entitlement and this proposal is not asking for any relief from the code and it rem this site
remains consistent with zoning designations, land use um classifications and the previously approved PED framework. In summary, this request represents a limited operational amendment to the existing facility. As as mentioned, no
no changes of the use and and and no additional impacts to surrounding properties and remains consistent with with our approvals. Um, we respectfully request uh approval for this third amendment and we are here for any
questions that you may have and further elaborate on. Commissioner Caps >> again. Good job. >> Thank you, sir. >> Um, so what are you currently allowed to use the property for? What what is its current status?
>> Um, yes, sir. It is a private collection of uh the collection it's it's classified as collection hauling material recovery facility. So, it's a private um builders or um and I don't know the they can
speak on this as well. um the clients here uh representing um and they just take the that yard debris and that demolition trash and they put it in the new transfer building that's on site has a conveyor belt and it it shifts out the
trash from the recyclables and then it takes the trash to the landfill and keeps the recyclables out of the landfill to help prolong the life of the landfill that we currently have. So, >> so the the the site is currently cleared and it's being used for in industrial
purposes now. >> Yes, sir. >> Um and it would appear to me that it's it's very compatible with what's going on in the HubSpan Industrial Park. And uh and I would also note the um
the public benefit of $25,000 for the maintenance of Suzanne Drive. I think that's adequate as well. In light of all of that, I'll move approval. >> Second. >> Commissioner Vars. >> Yes. Um, I did have a number of
questions when I met with the attorney, you the planner, >> uh, and of course our staff and about Suzanne Road. Um, my understanding is that it's swept three times a day, including with a metal gravitational
machine type thing. uh you know for nails and and that type of thing that could puncture tires. So that will continue >> and that would be part of the agreement >> if this were to pass. Is that correct, Mr. Shill? >> That's correct, Commissioner. >> Okay. Um
yeah, I'm I'm familiar with with this area. Um and I asked a lot of questions. I know you're not asking for any change in zoning. It's just to expand. Excuse me. as you have said here uh for the uh business to you know
conduct I think their their particular uh entity in a more efficient manner and of course with their employees too with the new office building um I was speaking with a gentleman introduced himself Mr. Bo Milton who's sitting right there. And I asked him,
"What about what about wildlife out there? Have you seen what what did you tell me? >> Have a couple." >> He went to the same spot a couple of days. And have you have deer down there, >> but we have sharks, sea rays, we have fresh fish. We have bobcats and coyotes.
And we also have some rabbits and raccoons in Jensen Beach. We do, but you have the deer. >> So, I'm a little bit jealous there. But anyway, um you know, I see nothing that is um changing the makeup of the area and I
would I would move for approval of this project. >> Thank you. >> I think you've done a great job, too. I congratulate you. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Would anyone from the public like to address us? >> Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That
motion passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you all. I really appreciate your >> Mr. Milton. Please send me those deer. I want to see them. Nice. I'll send it to him. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you so much. >> All right. >> We'll take up department one, which is
Office of Management and Budget items, which require board approval. >> Good morning, Miss Merly. >> Good morning. Stephanie Marie, director of the office of management budget, here to present five items on OM today. Um,
our first item is permission to apply for the FY26 local road safety program through FDOT for the county road 708 Southeast Bridge at Southwest Caroline Avenue project. Our public works department is
requesting a million dollars um for the construction of a proposed west lane. Sorry guys. Um, for the proposal of a left turn lane for westbound traffic on Southeast Bridge Road on the Southeast
Power Avenue, there will be a match of $252,745 to be planted with the FY30 roads capital improvement plan. Item number two is permission to accept the local agency program supplemental
agreement number one um for the State Road 714 Southeast Monterey Road and County Road A1A multimmoal pathway project. This is an amendment to the agreement to reduce the grant award and corresponding sorry
match requirement to reconcile to the bid. Um there is no additional funds required and this will just um assist with the construction of the the sidewalk on Southeast Monterey Road. And because every dollar counts in
Martin County, um item number three is a budget resolution to amend the Surfing Evolution Preservation Foundation grant in the amount of $24.9 um to assist with the Ocean Rescue Equipment based on grant revenues we
received in FY25. Item number four is a budget resolution to amend the Florida EMS trust fund grant to allocate carryover dollars from the previous year. Um, we're requesting a budget resolution to allocate $5,41321
of remaining grant funds into the new fiscal year for the FY25 Florida Department of Health EMS trust fund grant for our fire rescue department that we get annually. And item number five is a request from the sheriff's office. Um they are
requesting the amount of $41,69526 from the um law enforcement trust funds which are earmarked for law enforcement purposes. Um for the payment of property taxes on a forfeited real property that was part of a court order. Um and per
our fiscal policy um the sheriff's office just has to request these from you and we will remit those to them. And that is all I have today. >> Questions for Miss Merley? Commissioner Caps. >> Yes. I'd like to just highlight the very
first grant application, which is permission to apply for a turn lane at Bridge Road and Power Line Avenue. And I just wanted to mention that uh this is wonderful news
>> for the people who live on Power Line and on 138th Street and Kitchen Creek Road, those areas back in there. Uh this is really a hazardous condition that we those folks have had to endure all of
these years. And we uh want to give a good shout out to our highly skilled uh grant application staff members uh who just do a great job in finding
grants for us. Uh I'm always amazed at what you guys can >> dig up for uh for our county's benefit. So we really look forward to this and and hopefully we'll be successful in getting that grant. Commissioner Vargas.
>> Yes. Uh, a couple of questions, Mr. Smurley. Sure. On number two, um, I had a question. Um, you eliminated 285,585. Why did you do you received extra funds? Is that what I'm saying? >> So, the bid came in less than the
original estimate. So, when um FDOT reconciles their grant award with the bid, they reduce their grant award and the corresponding match that we're required to give. >> Okay. So, those funds go back to >> to the roads capital program. So that stays with us. Okay. The other thing is
um the surfing's evolution. >> Yes. >> What what is that? >> Um if you recall a couple meetings ago, it was Ian is I think his name. Um that was for the purchase of the mannequins for the ocean rescue division, >> right?
>> So we had left over $249 that I have to allocate so they can spend it. >> So you're giving it back for a mannequin or something. Piece of >> g towards the mannequin. fingers. Okay, I get it. All right, thank you so much. >> No problem. >> Any further questions? Is there a motion
to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. >> Let's take up department two, contracts that meet the threshold for board approval of $1 million or more.
Miss Brotherton. Good morning. >> Good morning. So I have two items for your consideration today. Again, Christy Brotherton, chief procurement officer. Uh the first contract is a continuing services agreement for specialized geospatial and coastal surveying
services. This contract has a maximum not to exceed value of $1,500,000 and a maximum not to exceed term of five years. and staff is recommending contract award to the three highest scoring firms which
are Gahhagen and Bryant Associates, Morgan and Ecklund and WGI and move that the board authorize the county administrator or designate to execute all documents related to this request. Next up, we have a cons or I'm sorry, a
contract change order for our fire rescue facility design public safety training complex. Uh this particular amendment um is for additional services and associated fees for the bidding and permitting phase and the construction administration phase of the training
tower project. Uh the construction contract for this was recently awarded by the board on January 6th. Um, these services include coordination with design consultants regarding submitts and requests for information, bi-weekly site visits during construction, and
other miscellaneous items related to the training tower. And staff is recommending approval of amendment two to Reg Architects in the amount of $12,850 and move that the board authorize the
county administrator or designate to execute all documents related to this request. And that concludes this item. >> Questions from Miss Brother? >> Yeah, I have questions about this. It looks like the total
budget for this project is $18,214,000. This is just design. So, we're spending $1.137 million to design the project. Uh this was a three-part design contract, but this particular amendment
is just for to add construction administration services on for the construction to support the training tower. >> Why? >> Um I'm supposed to have staff here. I apologize. Mark
>> Commissioner, it'd be for the um uh it is a specialized u um construction building and so the architect to be on site to um follow through construction to ensure that we're getting um the facility that we're paying for. Uh so it
does require additional inspection services and we typically contract for >> we typically contract for um uh construction management uh for for these larger projects.
>> It just seems exorbitant and I'm wondering why we're getting an additional uh over 10% increase in the cost of design and administration at this point. Uh, Chair Herd, uh, county commissioners, uh, Mark Cavaney, deputy public works director, and my
understanding, this predated me, but my understanding as as, uh, Mr. Donaldson stated, was originally um, the scope of this project did not include, uh, the burn building and some other things, and so that was added at a later date, and so that necessitated, um, the contract and the construction administration. My
understanding is the original belief was that it could save money by not adding it unless we needed to. So they decided, staff decided to add it at a later date when the complexity and the scope changed. >> Okay. As I recall, this was initially proposed to be somewhere between four
and $6 million and it's now 18. I mean, I I recognize that there's been inflation, but that's that's uh yeah, too much. Commissioner Vargas, >> I have the same concern also. Is there any ceiling on this?
>> No. >> Because these costs will spiral, you know. Good management is able to stay within budget and cut the budget, too. That's good management. Anybody could spend money. And I know this predates you, so I'm I'm not pinning it on you, but you're aware of this. And everybody
else who was here on this commission also, I mean, this is your job to do this. Um, we can't just keep spending because we didn't put something in there. Where's the cap? Where where are the parameters? Where are the boundaries for this? We're spending other people's
money. I keep saying this. We're spending other people's money. And this is this is reckless. This is reckless. And I I agree with Chair Herd about her deep concerns. And I have the same concerns also.
So where where's the where's the boundary here? What what's what's the top? Or is it just sky's is a limit? We just keep going. Again, I know it predates you. So, >> Miss Miss Brotherington, do you have
>> Commissioner, this would conclude the project. This is this is the final piece of that uh training facility. Um and all improvements were were consistent with what was approved in the capital improvement plan. >> Yeah, I understand. But it's a very expensive building.
Very expensive. >> Let's separate these two items. Let's Is there a motion to approve uh contract A1? >> I'll move approval of contract A1. >> Second. >> There's a motion in a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That PO motion
passes unanimously. And is there a motion to approve contract B1? >> I'll move approval of contract B1. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> opposed. Opposed. That motion passes. 32 two with commissioners Vargas and Herd
desenting. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We will now take a break. We'll come back and take up department three and the discussion on the uh SS point uh septic to sewer conversion. Have Have we
reached Mr. Daniels? Do you know? >> Yes, Commissioner. And uh Mr. Daniels is trying to loc the mayor to see if he can come over. I don't have an update on the time, but I'll do that during the break. >> Okay. Well, Mr. Kapper is still here, right? >> Yes. >> So, he can he can at least provide us
with some information. >> Yeah. If he's been given authorization to do so, he will. >> Okay. All right. Thanks. could mess that up. >> We are back taking up >> department three which is a presentation
on household hazardous waste and hazmobile services. Take it away. >> Thank you. Good morning, commissioners. It's always a pleasure to be here and present. Um, >> we wanted to give you an update. We're a little bit late. Uh, Commissioner Caps asked me about an update or presentation
on household hazardous waste quite a few months back and I apologize, but you know, sometimes we get sidetracked on other things just come up. But regardless, we got here today. We wanted to present you uh where we're at and what we're providing as far as household hazardous waste services. I have with us
one of our other rising stars, Michael Carroll. Mike's our lead has waste technician. We call it Hasways for short. And we all all know what that's about. And I think many of you have visited the facility and used the facility and we've had comments, positive comments over the years. And so
I'm going to turn it over to Mike and let him present uh his PowerPoint. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Hope all is well. >> Make sure that your mics are on. There should be a light that's on. >> There we go. >> There. Good.
>> Good morning, commissioners. Hope all is well. Uh my goal here today is to give a little bit of insight on our program and what we do, not only to you all, but also to the residents of Martin County. To start off, we're located at 9155
Southwest Bush Street, Palm City. We're open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00. We're also open on Saturdays from 8 to 12. We presently have three technicians trained in hazardous waste operations and emergency response. It's a 40-hour class and with a eight hour
refresher every single year. Between all three of us, we all can assist residents in handling offloading materials as well as providing information and answering questions that they may have. Residents may dispose of up to 100 pounds of hazardous materials
per day. >> That's a lot of hazardous materials. >> That's right. >> Just so any hazardous materials are classified in four different categories. Some materials can have only one one characteristic. Others can have
multiple. So those four characteristics is they can be ignitable paint thinners and solvents. Corrosive acids, rust removers, concrete etchers, stuff like that. Reactive uh chemicals. Some chemicals cannot be
mixed with each other. Uh that's you don't want to do that. And then the last charact characteristic is going to be toxic. So that would be stuff like pesticides, aldocicides, stuff like that. Items we do not accept is any business
waste, medications, sharps, needles, compressed gas cylinders, hazardous wastes in any type of drums, tires, and appliances. Those are all the main ones that we get asked the most questions about. Why have the hazardous waste collection?
It prevents environmental contamination in the water, air, and soil. protects human health. If it gets in the water, air, and soil, it's going to get into our bodies. It conserves resources through recycling of materials. It prevents accidents and fires, and it keeps sanitation workers
safe. Here's our Hazmobile. The Hazmobile will provide residents with a safe and convenient way to dispose of their hazardous materials at specified locations throughout Martin County. In addition to the household hazardous waste disposal center,
here is our schedule for the Hazmobile. We have Hope Sound is the first Wednesday of each month. Stewart is the second. Jensen Beach is the third. Serno is the fourth. Then Tquesta is the second Friday of every month. Indiantown is the fourth
Friday of every month. And for Su's point since only a few times out of the year there's five Wednesdays in each month. So when this happens we use Town Commons Park South Su's point for that Hazmobile stop.
Hazardous waste collected in 2025. We had about 10 more tons than we did last year total. Uh with motor oil being our most at 100 tons. We have household chemicals and pesticides. We got 25
tons, almost 20 tons of electronics, 26.2 tons of aerosol cans and light bulbs, 15.75 for batteries. >> Thank you. >> And 1.8 tons of used cooking oil. This
gives us a total of 189.25 total tons collected for 2025. Uh to put that into perspective, that's about a fully loaded Boeing 757 aircraft worth of hazardous materials >> flying out of here.
>> So, you don't want that going into our ground, water, or air. >> All right, any questions? >> So, let me uh jump in real quick. Thanks, Michael. That was a great presentation. Appreciate you. um talk about some improvements you've made over the last year, a couple of
years. I know regarding um fluorescent bulbs, how we process those long tube, the 4ft and 8ft fluorescent bulbs. Um we've improved that process and also um on fire extinguishers, how we handle fire extinguishers, if you would. >> Yeah. So, um for our fluorescent light
bulbs, we have a it's called a bulb crusher 3.0 I don't know. And it's basically a long tube where you slide the tubes of light bulbs down into it. And inside there's a chain that spins and it breaks and crushes up that light bulb. All the materials will fall into a
drum and then the gases those they contain mercury. Uh they get filtered out through three different filters on the machine. So then once that is filled up, we seal the drum off and it gets sent off to a vendor. And then for our fire extinguishers,
um, we did have a company that no longer wanted to take them. So, we ended up finding a company that made a machine that can take the dry chemical out of the fire extinguisher with a filter. So, we now decompress those ourselves.
>> We're recycling those empty. >> Yes. And we take we also take the metal from that fire extinguisher and we're able to recycle it in the metal. Yeah, previously they were just taking away the entire fire extinguisher and now we empty it, we um decant it, remove all the the material and then we can recycle
the um the steel. >> Martin County is such an innovator, aren't we? Commissioner Heatherington. >> Yes. >> So, there was a presentation recently on the lithium batteries and how dangerous uh they are as far as starting fires.
You take those and then the lithium batteries. >> Absolutely. things that are in the EV bikes and the the chargers, the scooters, and how are those processed? >> So, whenever we get these lithium batteries, uh we're getting they're getting a lot more popular with all the
new electronic transportation and scooters, stuff like that. Uh but what we do with them is we tape off the connectors and we store them in boxes. And then once we have enough to send out, we have a vendor. They're certified in handling them. They come out, they
pick them up. Um, we don't get many damaged batteries, thankfully. Uh, and we are trained to handle them if something was to ever occur, but I doubt it. We're very safe with the batteries. >> So, along those lines with the lithium batteries, they're um they are a fire
hazard as we know. I've seen even the small ones like the double A's. If you take that apart, you cut the casing off, you peel off the aluminum. It's like aluminum foil. Then it'll roll out into a flat piece of like foil. You lay that in a dish of water. It'll start
sparking. >> You're giving You're giving instructions on how to do >> I'm giving you instructions on what not to do with the B lithium battery. But anyway, it just starts sparking. Then all of a sudden, it's a it's just a catastrophic explosion of fire. It's just really incredible. See it just on
that level. You have to say don't try this at home. >> Right. Right. >> We should have a a whole presentation just on lithium batteries cuz talking to the fire chief yesterday, he was saying they're seeing more and more garage fires from these lithium batteries being
stored and the more prevalence of them on this on the scooters and the bikes. So, it'd be nice to educate. I didn't realize how much of a fire hazard they were until at the state of county we had that presentation. >> Yeah. One of my understandings on that as far as a recharger, if you have to
replace a recharger, you need to buy original equipment manufacturer or you know when you buy a cheap out or a knockoff or something, I've heard there are some issues with some of those lower cost that could be fire hazards as well. But yeah, once the two if two lithium batteries if a lithium battery comes in
contact with metal and you kind of and that it it bridges that the two electrodes on there, it's going to cause a fire. Um, and we've we've had we we couldn't determine the cause, but the last couple years we've had two fires, one in the recycling section and one in
the trash outdoor our side of CND, just, you know, regular trash. Um, and cause some damage. So, um, it is it is a it is a a hazard for sure, but we can do that. >> Thank you, Commissioner Caps.
>> Wonder if you could span expand just a little bit. First of all, great presentation and I was so impressed with my visit to your facility there at the landfill with with Sam Emerson who took me there when I was a commissioner elect
before I was actually sworn in. And it was a great great tour. Um, and I I uh I was amazed at how many different kinds of things you collect there and dispose of there. And but I was wondering first
of all if you could explain a little more about what lithium batteries are, how the small they are and like give me give some more examples of the kinds of things that people should not be just throwing in the trash.
>> Uh first that's much appreciated. Thank you. And um a lot of people don't realize that there's lithium batteries in just about anything now. I mean all of our phones have lithium batteries in it. Uh the moment that you throw that away or you put it in a trash can or
sometimes they end up in recycle bins, um they can get damage and damage to lithium batteries will potentially cause a fire. Um hearing aid batteries, power tool batteries, all the way up to
now cars have lithium batteries in it. So, uh, they make them in all shapes, all sizes, and excuse me, >> now we're starting to see a lot more of the bigger ones. >> Yeah. Typ typically any battery that's rechargeable is you can consider it
hazardous. It's lithium. And with water, when it drops in water, it's you may have heard of some electric the EVs and some areas are in flooding situations in streets where a car and EV goes into water. it's submerged or partially submerged underneath it. It's a very
catastrophic fire explosion and of course fire rescue can probably report more detail on those situations, but >> good. Um I remember talking to some people at the Solid
Waste Authority in Palm Beach County um when we toured this solid waste facility with Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. uh several months ago and they were talking about the the trash trucks. When they're picking up trash, if
there's a fire in one of those, they have to immediately eject everything out of the trash truck right on the highway uh because it'll burn up the truck. If uh I thought that was interesting >> to you know kind of illustrate the
severity of the problem when there is one of these uh fires. What about the volume of residents that you have circulating through your uh place there at the landfill? >> Um it's picked up a lot within the last
few years. Um, I would say anywhere from 30 to 60 people a day will show up to our main facility throughout the week. >> Um, and then our Hazmobile is very popular. We usually get at least 50 people a day coming out to the
Hasmobile. >> Wow, that's fantastic. >> Good. Well, good job. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Campy. >> Thank you very much. I have been a big fan of your operation. I think um like
Commissioner Herd said, we're very fortunate to have it in our community because a lot of counties don't have this and then it leaves people to collect tons of cans and pesticides and halfused bottles of paint and things that they keep in the corner of their
garage because they don't know what to do with it or worse they throw them away into the regular trash. And I remember many years ago um a u garbage man sanitation worker was killed because as
they were compacting the truck he was standing there and he compressed a thing of acid or some kind of costic chemical and it burned him and he was killed. So it's beyond like oh it's an inconvenience I'll put it in a black garbage bag and I'll tuck it into my
garbage and magically it'll disappear. Uh, so the more that we have an opportunity to present what you're doing, what the county is doing, the housemobile is excellent because a lot of people don't have the ability to come to beautiful Palm City uh to to drop it
off. But I think it's also important, like you said, a lot of uh computer monitors uh that that no longer work, uh flat screen TVs that no longer work, they can't just be stacked next to the garbage pail out on the curb. So, we do
have an option. Um, I think if we didn't, it would be a different set of circumstances. But that being said, um, the lithium battery thing, I remember speaking to the chief, uh, you mentioned it about tools. If you're a woodworker
or you do any kind of contracting, even with my set, I have probably four or five battery chargers in the garage because I'm constantly charging the batteries so that they're ready to go when I need them. and the chief had said, "Oh, you don't want that in the garage." Well, I don't know what the
other option is. You know, if you're going to be charging your batteries, um, so it's something that people need to take into consideration, but even with the smallest things, um, cell phones have been, um, can start catastrophic fires. Just a little tiny cell phone,
and you figure most of it's the phone, very little of it's the battery. Uh, so I really appreciate it, and you know, as I agree with what Mr. Emerson said, "Um, you're a young new employee, but I thought you did an excellent job. You felt very comfortable speaking to us.
Some people get nervous. Uh, you did a terrific presentation and um we're glad to have you on the team. >> Thank you so much. >> My pleasure. Thank you." >> Yeah. Thank you. That's an excellent presentation and I look forward to my field trip to visit the hazmat
operation. So, thank you. Keep up the good work. Good. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. Now we'll take up our last item which is a presentation on septic to sewer in SS point. >> The consent poll.
>> Good morning. Mr. Daniels, we had a consent agenda item this morning that was pulled because there were questions about the um conversion from septic to sewer on S's point that was approved by this
board majority uh back in November. There were some uh allegations of misrepresentations and also uh refusal to provide public records and reports. So, can you please illuminate some of
those uh questions for us? >> Okay. I I apologize. I didn't know that was on the agenda today, otherwise I would have been here in the audience. But uh also uh uh my mayor Vinnie Barila is here and of course you know Joe Capra he's been here uh he's our town engineer
but anyhow before I started almost four years ago uh there was a study that was conducted on uh the feasibility for sewer system and what's the best system for the town's use. Uh so there there was a study that was conducted and uh we
didn't uh I didn't have all of the uh backup reports that came from the county and came from GIFs Webster. Uh but we got those uh probably about the same time in November and uh shared them with
everyone. So uh I know there was you know some concerns but the actual report was studied. we paid for it and uh the taxpayers paid for it obviously of S's point. Uh the other thing that's kind of important to know is uh because this
gets battered around even within our own meetings sometimes there's no mandatory connection. I was charged with the responsibility of coming up with a program that had no mandatory connection, no mandatory assessment and uh an interlocal agreement with the
county. And so far we've been through two phases. Uh phase two is just finishing up and we came back as as you mentioned in November. We were looking we did a survey upon the 355
uh individuals that we felt could still needed to be serviced by uh by sewer. And uh out of that uh 355 the respondents were uh 75% they'd connect within 3 years and I have copies
of this if you need it but uh and uh 25% said that they wouldn't connect. So we thought that was a pretty good representation. It was good enough for our commission to approve it and to come in front of you and and uh do that presentation we did back in November. So
I think the key thing is we were up against the time frame and and you know I know we mentioned this back in November but our grant funding runs out in June. So we had to be able to be you know moving ahead. We moved ahead in good faith. We went ahead and went ahead
and uh did all the bidding process that we're supposed to do under the federal guidelines and then we went ahead and awarded the contracts and starting in January they started construction and they're down there now. We have seven different contractors that are there
doing the job so we can get this up and running uh by June 1st and that's our deadline. Um I you know I don't want to belabor the issue. If there's other specific questions that I can answer for you I'm more than happy to answer them
>> there. So there is a GIF Webster engineering report. >> Yes. That was >> and it's a public record and it has been released as a public record. >> Yes. And what what were the conclusions of the Gibles Webster engineering report? >> Uh it was just backup material that uh
uh Captech used in doing their report. I guess my understanding and I don't you know I wasn't here when this was done but I I think they did some work for the county so they had more up-to-date pricing and that information was utilized in the Captech report. So, it was just basically a reference material
that Captech Engineering utilized. >> And And what's the cost per unit for connecting? >> Uh the cost per unit right now has been what the county has been charging. And I believe it's 7 to 8,000. I think it's
7,000. If it's the first 365 days and after that, because I I believe you all have a grant. Uh and I don't know what the new charges are going to be in the future. And I know the my commission would like to spread out the cost factor of the connections between all of the
remaining connections that are there. >> And and what mechanism do you use to spread those out? >> Well, we we don't know as yet. That's one of the things that I have to bring back to the commission uh and vote on. >> Mr. Campy,
>> thank you. Thank you for coming over with short notice and I apologize. I had made the the comment this morning that most often when people hear that their item is on the consent agenda, they figure it's on the consent agenda. Uh and then when items are pulled, even
amongst ourselves, we are notified, the five of us, if one or more pulls the consent agenda, normally we'll get an email that says, "Oh, by the way, one of the consent agenda items has been pulled." I might then use that as an opportunity to do additional research,
reach out to staff for uh extra information. Um, we had a situation in Palm City not that long ago where an HOA assumed because it was the staff's recommendation was approval. It was on
the consent agenda, they thought it would just walk right through, but it didn't. And the people that were opposed to it were there that day, but the people that were for it weren't. And I felt this morning was starting to seem like a deja vu of that. So the first part is and then Commissioner Caps
brought up a good point that you had mentioned that there is a a time clock running on this. So for you to be able to come over today versus having it in two weeks is fine. Uh there was a public speaker this morning and one of my colleagues that had uh serious concerns
about the process from my perspective and I was obviously one of the people as you know that voted in favor of it. And the reason I did is because four of your five commissioners agreed. There was a u a sampling of residents. That was the agenda item. That was the notified
public advertised meeting for folks for and against to come. One of the commissioners was opposed. I thought he did a articulate um presentation of his opposition, but you know, and it's interesting from my perspective that we're basically talking
about an agenda item from another municipality. So, as far as I'm concerned, one, the municipalities duly elected officials, um, they came forward and I don't want to get into I got enough of my own political ups and downs to not get into
how the commission races and the politics of S's point are. Uh, and then actually several residents I thought made very compelling arguments about what they were personally dealing with. Uh and then a couple that weren't able to attend that had reached out and
shared very very uh harrowing in my opinion. If your lawn fills up with a black slick sludge during certain uh weather incidences and then it it it ebs away and you got a black slick on your lawn. And I get if you're on the high points of uh Su's point that maybe it
doesn't affect you that much, but I also thought that what the request was was not that um out of out of question for what I thought we could do. Um Mr. Donaldson and I had a brief conversation today that maybe, you know, we might be
under the mis uh understanding of what today's consent agenda item actually was. Do you want me to reiterate it or do you want to explain what you had said to me, Mr. Donaldson? >> Just simply that the board already
approved the SS point to uh to use grinders as a method of serving Suls Point for our utility operations. Today's agenda item is a contract just so that when they're complete, how the infrastructure will be transferred to
the county. So that's really what is on today's agenda, which is um our acceptance of the infrastructure into our system once it's complete. >> So what that means to me is that in November, three of us agreed to let you move
forward and you have. >> Yes. >> Today is not a matter of yes, you can move forward or no, you can't. It's just a matter of once your project's done, who will be responsible for taking care of it? and that's going to be us, which I'm perfectly comfortable with that. And
I look over at our uh solid waste utilities folks and they're both shaking their head that they are okay with that as well. So, as far as I'm concerned, there's a lot going on in SS Point uh with the ups and downs and who said what and who showed what and what hasn't
happened there. But I have not wavered from my opinion to allow you for two reasons. one, um I think it's very important that as a community, including the municipalities within our county, that we all continue to move away from
sewer system, excuse me, from septic systems to sewer. Uh you don't have to be an environmental engineer to realize, especially in your location with water on both sides, but anywhere in the county, probably anywhere in the state, you don't have to be a environmental engineer to realize that getting away
from septic systems. I currently where I live uh we have one and uh and so does everybody else in the neighborhood and they're only as good as the worst one. Uh so with that in mind, I would make a motion to accept
um staff's recommendation for this consent agenda item. I appreciate the two of you coming forward. And if there's politics that need to go up and down and frustration within your municipality, that's worked out in your village hall and in your ballot boxes,
not here. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Vargas. >> Yeah. You know, I I have grave concerns and I told you that. Now, you met with me before I was even elected to office. Do you remember meeting with me and giving me this report? This is a draft report. This is not a final report.
There's a lot of inconsistencies. We have people here that do have facts and figures here. Actually, um there were not 86% or 75% of the homes that wanted to have the connection and it's not forced and and and there's there's no
monetary um retribution if they don't. So all this about well everybody has to connect and you know this is where we're going or whatever. No, no, it's not like that. You just told us that. >> So I don't quite understand what the argument is for this then. I mean, we
have some people if you'd like to come up and address again, please do, and I invite you to because you live in that area. You know these folks here. You know what's been done or hasn't been done properly. So, please address. >> If I may, can I address your comments
that you just made? Okay. We surveyed >> 355 people that were not going to get serviced out of the original amount that the county had authorized us. Now, we just didn't take a survey. We went ahead and mailed a a survey form to each one
of those residents. That's what I'm showing you here. And we've got all the facts and figures back in town hall. We've showed them. We've also I have maps here showing exactly the green ones, the red ones
that that weren't going to connect. But the bottom line is it's a problem with the environment. Nobody can differ from that. And the other issue is we've already moved forward in good faith. You know, we
we've trusted this commission and this is more in my mind this is more of a housekeeping situation on what we're going to do, how we turn it over, what we have to give a bill of sale, those type of things that are in there by a document that was created by your
county attorney's office. So, I don't feel that we need to sit here and rehash this whole thing. I know this is your ballpark and you can do what you'd like to do, but I'm just trying to keep this on a positive note. We have a great relationship and I just don't want to
see anything tarnish because we get into a situation where we have contractors out there that I can't pay because we can't do the system and we don't have the grant money, it it's going to have a big financial impact on our residents.
All right, but let me say something else. And I said this before and I wish my colleagues would listen. Your emergency Well, you can laugh, but this is not a laughing situation. >> We're listening to everything. >> All due respect yourself. You don't listen because you don't People call me
People call me because nobody is listening. >> That's why. And you've been here a long time. So take it for that. The thing is that residents cannot get accurate reports. Their change, it doesn't exist. you know, duh, this sort of thing. I get the phone calls. I feel I need to meet
with these folks. That's what our job is here. If somebody else differs, then that's that they have to deal with that. But your emergency was not our emergency. And you say, "Well, the grant's going to expire." D. No, that wasn't our
emergency. And this was pushed way up to the top of the list. This was way down. And we've had this discussion. we had in the last meeting. I was one of those that was opposed. You still haven't convinced me. Mr. Copra, you haven't produced the reports that were requested
and it's been really squirly. So, we have somebody here who took her time to come out and speak and does have facts also. >> May I the truth is not here. >> Webster, he applied that it was >> ma'am, you cannot speak unless called to by the >> and also Miss Leonard, I'm sorry, but we
only allow you to speak once on an agenda item. Twist your campy. >> Yes. Um, >> with all due see it's I'm not going to sink down. The only comment I had, the
only reason I said anything is when one of my colleagues says, "I wish my colleagues would listen, assuming that we're not listening." Now, we can disagree and have differences of opinions, but of course, we are listening to each other. That was my only my only point. The other thing, the
reason that there is five of us and an odd number is because in November a presentation was made and with all due respect to all of my colleagues, you guys presented your information. It was a the mics. This is the last day with the
mics by the way. Um you your experts, your elected officials and you sir and your residents made a presentation. It passed three to two. Commissioner Herd had her own reasons for denying. Vote for denial.
Commissioner Vargas, obviously we've heard her. She is not interested. She voted no. Three of us voted yes. You took that because that's the way the system works. Now, even the two nos can be passionate about their their uh
objections and opposition, but three said yes. That's how the system works. Whether it's your first day or your 20th year, that's how the system works. Three of us said yes. Our staff agreed and you moved forward in good faith like you
mentioned. So what we're discussing today is not a rehash of the November agenda item. It's specifically who will manage the project when it's done. I read through this entire thing, Miss
Leonard. Very well done. I literally read during the break and during the meeting, I read through it. Very well done. I don't have time to review and necessarily prove if you said, she said, someone else said, but this is very well done. That being said, that's not the
item that we're discussing today. It's once the project's done, that was approved by three commissioners, a majority, who's going to take care of it? And that's the motion that I made. We can beat the drum. I don't mind. It's early. It's only 11:30. We can beat the
drum if you'd want. We can ask for more people to come up. But your dulyeleed majority said, "Let's move forward." Our duly elected majority said, "We agree." And that's where we are. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Caps.
>> Uh thank you, Town Manager Daniels, and and welcome to uh the county chambers, Mayor Vinnie Burrell. Good to see you. Appreciate you all coming on such short notice. I would like to second Commissioner Campy's motion.
>> Yeah. So, this also was a a uh the uh approval of this was a a de a deviation from a longtime utility policy and that's of concern to me. Uh which the
policy it was not it was uh not subjective. There was a reason why we uh didn't allow grinder systems and in some places and why we didn't allow vacuum systems in some places and this
deviated from that and and our utility department did not recommend approval of that deviation. Um Mr. Capra, there's a there's a claim that there were uh a survey was sent to 336
residents of South Su's Point asking them what interest they had in converting. And the allegation is that you said that 86% wanted sewers, but only 118 people responded and only 86
residents wanted sewers, not 86% because those 86 residents would comprise only 25% of the 336 surveyed. Can you respond to that? So, let me just uh first of all, Joe
Kapper for the record. Okay. Um, and I'm just going to say a couple things. Uh, trying to keep this as civil as I can because I've been their engineer since 1980 since 19 >> Speak right into the mic. >> 1988. Um, and I've worked through many
commissioners and every time those commissioners and this commissioner have always got along, okay? And for some reason there seems to be this opinion now that they're not getting along. But I just want to make sure everybody's clear. And I'm sorry, Miss Vargas, but I've been here a long time. And you
don't become stay an engineer or a manager for some place for that many years without doing telling the truth. Okay? And that's what I I'm I'm an honorable person. I'm a Christian and I do I do say things that are accurate.
So, first of all, as far as percentages, we did say when I when I talked in the last meeting, okay, and I just want to make sure we've had two surveys, okay? One we did um a couple years ago and that we were trying to figure out what
did was there an interest in in hooking up to sewers and we had the majority of people in that survey. So when you ask about a specific survey, I will get mixed up between the two of them today because I don't have both surveys in front of me. What Mr. Daniels presented
to you today is the second survey we did which was in the last year. Okay? And that survey had a percentage of people. Okay? So I just want you to know we've always had the majority of the people wanted to survey. Have all 355 or 200 or
706 residents uh signed up or or or looked at the survey and and said they were for it? No, we did not have that. But the majority of the people that did turn in their survey wanted sewers. Okay. And we went forward with that. Okay. Now, we went forward with we've
had two programs out there so far, just so you know. 169 grinders we put out there first. And we had at the time I came in here in November 22% of those have hooked up. Just so you know, the number today is closer to I think it was about 40 something%.
only because you're keeping track of these percentages. You need to look at 69 out of 171 have hooked up or or hooking up. That's 40%. Okay, that's today's numbers. Okay. And on top of that, since you approved this in November, we have had numerous people
that that that have have wanted sewers call us up and want hook on how faster they're going going to get them. So therefore, we move forward. And so at the time you approved it in November, we had to design the project. We had to we had to permit the project. We had to bid the project. Everything that's required
for any project just like this. And we bid the project. We've had numerous bids. There's again seven contracts out there underway right now by five different contractors. If you've been to S's point, you know that's kind of a miracle. We've never had that much infrastructure underway at one time. We
have about $10 million worth of work that has to be done between between January and June. Okay? And a majority of that is sewers. Okay? The majority of sewers. The other part of that and 50% of that maybe less than 50% is to
install a resiliency retrofit for for storm water which raises the road. And the last time we were here we showed you a picture of the the slime that that Commissioner Campy was talking about in the area of the um I think that was the
uh let's see that we've had river >> river >> river. I just want to make sure I get the right numbers for you. Okay. Of the Riverview subdivision. Okay. And that's it happens all the time. And we have that. So that's being fixed also while
we're talking about this in the next phase of of the resiliency thing. So we have again multiple contractors working to get all this stuff installed so we can utilize the grant funds we have. Okay. Um we we've made a huge impact on
raising roads, correcting flooding, and getting sewers in the town. Okay, we did the study. So I you keep complaining about the study. I'm just going to be honest with you. I did a study. I hired Gifles. Let me to be honest with you. GLS is a great engineering firm. They have worked for the county numerous
times on vacuum systems. They were experts in it. Okay? They gave me a study. They talked about how we could do how we could do vacuum and grinders and gravity in multiple combinations. Okay? Unfortunately, my board, okay, they were
specific. No mandatory hookup, no ma mandatory assessment. Okay, those are what my board wanted. Okay, you could not do that with a vacuum system. Okay, it would not work and we didn't have the money for that. Okay, so therefore that's why we have this the the study.
So I produced a study on top of their study. I utilized majority majority of their items in my study. It is an appendix to my study. Okay, it has been given to the board. It has been given to the residents. It was provided to them. It's clearly shown and I can tell you
the dates and times of that. It was clearly shown in the in the report that I sent to you on the 18th, okay, that we did that and it was clearly shown when we gave you that. Okay? And it was October of 2025 2025. Okay? So, we've had the study, their
study is is an appendices to my study. Okay? It's clearly stated what we're doing, why we're doing what we are. We didn't not use items. We used items because it was a very good good information. But you got to remember I have to do the work for my board just like your your staff does it for your
board. Okay. The point is we had specific criteria we had to follow and that's what we've done. I'm not trying to hide anything. I I can tell you we have uneename number of meetings on septic to sewer. I've been working on septic to sewer in SS point for over 20 years. Okay. and and and quite frankly,
when I see an opportunity that we're going to get this thing put put in place, I'm going to take it. And guess what that was? No mandatory hookup, no mandatory assessment. And guess what? We also went after a grant to get that all done. So, I I'm I'm sorry that you don't believe that we were we were upfront
with our residents. We were more than upfront. We have two we've had two surveys. We basically we've had people come in all the time asking us to hook up and when can they hook up and and again we're when you told us in November to go forward. I mean just to get all those things put in place before
November before January for construction. It's it's going to be a miracle to to finish this. But we're getting it done. We have multiple contractors and they're working every day on this project. So this is not the time to stop the project to be honest with you. And all we're asking you for
today is okay. We went through a permitting process. Your staff reviewed everything. We're just saying when we're done with this, we we built this project per your criteria and your requirements and now we just want you to be able to maintain it. And I don't there's we've always done that on every project we work for out there. You provide our
utility service. That's what we've been doing. >> So none of the none of these schools point residents have been assessed. The way it works, okay, the way our grant works is we have we do have a man we we do have a match requirement. Okay,
but basically the construction of the lines out there, the constru the design and construction of those lines get paid for by the grant. Okay, we they our residents when when the lines are built and certified as complete, your staff
puts out a letter says the sewers are available for s for use now. Okay, that means the residents go out that go into into your your office at Martin County Utilities and they basically ask for service. What they then do is give you a
check for that number. That number, as we've stated in all the reports, is between 8 and $12,000 a connection. Okay? So, they're either paying you they may be paying you seven because you have a grant that allows an incentive to hook up, okay, which is $1,000, or basically
they pay $8,000. And some people have two sewers sewers. Okay, so they pay more. Okay, but the idea is they are that their assess their their assessment is really a connection fee. It's not an assessment. It's a connection fee that they pay to Martin County Utilities to
hook up. You guys go out there, you lay out where the where the grinder is going to be placed, where the lines will be placed on their property, and they pay you to go do it. It's a great program. It's it's it's great for our residents. It's great for all the county residents the way that Sam and his team have set it up. Okay. And that's what they're
what they're doing. They're going to they they pay and they and you guys go hook them up. And that's that's a connection fee is what it technically is. There is no assessment. It's a connection fee. And you've asked us to go to Gravity. Uh we've been talking about grinders. We we made one
subdivision which is in the number the projects we're working on, one of the seven contracts to line the gravity sewer lines. And the second part of that is to put in a lift station. We are doing that at the same time. That'll be ready at the same time in June like all the rest of the projects are.
>> Any further questions? >> Nope. I've said what I've had to say. >> Would anyone from the public who hasn't addressed us like to address us on this matter? Seeing none, there is a motion and a second on the floor. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Opposed. That motion passes 32
with commissioners Vargas and Herd descenting. Thank you. >> We've now reached the end of our meeting. There's one 505 request to speak form and that's from Frank Mcrist. >> Good morning. Y'all got not a long day today for you
guys. Uh I won't pile on. I'll save my uh dirty details on Withermfield for another 3 minutes. I'm here today to appeal to
your emotions and maybe your heart. Uh there will always be an insatiable market for new jet hanger space at WHM and I'm asking you
to work for all the people not just the finest of people. Please do what you can in the future to maintain I guess it's still 32% of
airport proper property that does not facilitate putting jets in the sky. Please make sure everyone knows you feel the same as I do that we should preserve that manufacturing
and county operations and other things that don't put jets in the sky at Witherm Field. specifically and most importantly, the buffer of trees and vegetation that
is directly northwest of runway 725 that buffers the entire neighborhood on that side and the uh YMCA from the airport. So throw us a bone and do what you can
to stop the bleeding and and and stop the the the negative effects of Womfield upon the community around it. Appreciate it. On another note,
I would hope that you would join me in my thoughts on the subject of data centers in Martin County. And my first thought is over my dead body.
Thank you. >> Commissioner comments. Commissioner Heatherington. >> I'm all set for today. Thank you. >> Commissioner Campy. >> I have a couple. One, I appreciate the fact that we've come up with these new microphone systems. However, the on
andoff part, I watched the LPA meeting the other day. Uh, and for the folks that are watching at home, when you hear it on TV, if the microphone is not on, it's very difficult to hear. Um, the last system I I guess it needed an update, but that the concept of having
them on and off and to have someone have to stop what they're doing in the control room to come in here and say by the time they've done that, we could be someone anyone could be well into the comments. I think we need to uh I like the new mic, but maybe they have to be
hot mics during the meetings because the on andoff for whatever level of convenience that could potentially be, I think, is more frustration for residents that are taking the time to watch the meeting when they can't hear staff or commissioners or the public uh making
comments. Secondly, I'd like to uh formally request that we form a committee to discuss bringing forward uh criteria and guidelines for commissioner expenses. I think that that
should be the administrator. Uh someone uh if not Miss Timmons herself, someone that she um picks from the clerk of the court controllers's office and someone from the OM department to um set parameters. I know there's been a lot of
conversation recently in some uh social media post going around on who's spending what. There was a taxpayers association >> white paper, who's spending what. And part of it is is that if there is not criteria and guidelines, then anything is possible and no one would know what
they can and cannot do. I think that makes uh perfectly great sense. I think every resident would agree that that should be a thing. And finally, I'd also like to have um for I guess all five of us to do a
review of our participation in NO, the National Association of Counties. I know that Commissioner Smith had gotten involved in that in the last couple of years. Uh held some leadership positions on subcommittees and committees and that was sort of his thing. He was also a
former president of the Florida Association of Counties and he had pitched that to us. Uh I'm not sure what the financial impact to taxpayers is on that. I'm not sure of the value uh for Martin County residents of us having
representation on that. I know it's expensive to travel. They meet either in Washington DC or throughout the United States uh during different uh points of the year. So, I'm interested in finding out if
that's something that's necessary for us to continue to participate in. I think it's probably just a lot of money for for us to be represented and not necessarily any more effectively than if we were just hearing about it. I I agree how important Florida Association of
Counties organization is and other organizations but no for to have a commissioner any one of us traveling all over the country to go to those meetings to sit in the meetings u is probably in my opinion not necessary. So, I'd like to see a financial recap of what that
costs. Thank you. >> Any agreement or objection to Commissioner Campy's suggestions? >> Yes, I I have an objection to that because Commissioner Campy is never in the office, so he's not working the position. Uh I'm a voting delegate for
National Association of Counties is extremely critical right now that we are involved. if you're not in the office and other commissioners may may choose not to be in the office at all except showing up for the two meetings every month and that's pretty much the way it is. Uh so you know he's got his opinion,
she's got her opinion but again if we are not involved we have no say in anything. So you know you have to make your own decision. You want to work this position and earn your salary work it. But don't be critical of others that are doing that from the
get-go. >> But that's what a real business woman does, too. >> Commissioner Caps, any opinion? >> Um, the motion, I believe, is just for us to do a study of costs and things at
this point, right? U so I'll I'll just wait to comment after we hear what is presented to us at a later date. Right. I I I think that's perfectly reasonable. >> Commissioner Heatherington. >> Yep. I agree. I'm hearing the
information. >> Okay. Commissioner Campy, just as a very brief followup, I never mentioned any commissioners names. I only asked our staff to create guidelines for commissioner expenses. Um because I hear
repeatedly that we are stewards of the commissioner tax dollars and if there is nothing to worry about and nothing to be concerned with, let's put it out there. The transparency and and uh protecting taxpayer dollars is important. These
were two separate issues. One is that no matter what the expenses are of commissioners, it never really was an issue until recently that there seems to be some runaway expenses. So, I'm not I didn't disparrage anyone. I didn't
mention anyone. I specifically asked our staff to create guidelines through an a committee of the people that are involved in our finances. That's it. the Niko situation which the only commissioner I mentioned was Commissioner Smith and why we ended up
that it's a relatively new thing and um and I only asked for a review of what that cost. If we look and we see that it doesn't add up to be a lot of money then so be it. Then we can continue to do that and then to get into you know who's in the office versus not in the office.
I've been elected four times and been here a long time. And the people will decide if they think I'm doing the right job. And sitting in the office doesn't necessarily mean you're doing the job because it's a big county and there's lots of people to meet and I would put
my calendar up against anyone's calendar. This is obviously something that I hold very important and the majority of the people in each of my four elections felt the same way. I welcome you, Commissioner Vargas, here.
I have respect for your uh election victory. Uh I am interested in hearing about your worldly experiences and your life experience and your professional experience. I think you I think you bring a very interesting perspective to the five of us and and you've heard me
say many times, there's a reason there's five of us so that all of us can bring our opinions. Commissioner Herd and I have disagreed and agreed on numerous occasions over the years. Uh same with my friend Commissioner Heatherington and
and with Commissioner Caps here now as well. I'm happy that you're here. I appreciate the job that you're doing. We're focusing on finances which you beat the drum for the hardest. And then we all have difference of opinions. I
will try very very hard not to disrespect you. Uh, but we're all humans and so I've been up here long enough to know how to get along with my colleagues. Thank you, >> Commissioner Vargas. >> Yeah, I'm not one of those that goes
along to get along, okay, and repays favors. I don't do that. I don't sit in the office. I'm working my position and I don't appreciate the lectures. You need to stop it. No, >> they're not lectures. >> They're lectures. you don't have the criteria or the experience or the
knowhow to be asserting your opinion and talking on and on and on. I've heard complaints about that. The disrespect you have shown me is abhorrent. Important. I know you're still grieving over the results of the election of 24,
but it's time to move on. >> Not grieving. >> And I mean, you know, do what you have to do to pacify whatever your fury is inside. By the way, our health insurance has a mental health component. You might want to look into it. I'm very, very disappointed in you, Mr. Campy. I really
am. And you know what? My expenses are in line, sir. Yours may not be. So, it'd be interesting. >> We'll find out. >> Yes, we will. >> Commissioner Camps, >> nothing to say here. >> I'm good. >> Say, >> Mr. Donaldson, >> I have a flag.
>> Thank you. >> Oh, excellent. Finally. >> Yes. So we can >> Yeah, there we go. >> We got it. >> Yeah. >> So, here's our flag. >> Or our centennial flag. >> Put it in front of the chair a little
bit. >> Yes. >> And I'm sure we get an image that we can post on our in front of our meeting so we can show what what the centennial flag looks like so we can >> we should put a flag behind it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yep.
>> We'll find an appropriate place for it. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I'm not sure I agree with that, but that's okay. >> Miss, the one more thing was that um um we have a few uh of our Centennial Books
and the class of our um Martin Car's class. If it's all right with you, um uh we could hand out a few to those that are in the current class. We can't give it to every class, but since they're here, part of that that their timing, uh, if it's all right with you, we'll give some out to them.
>> That's good that you bring that up. They We did produce a book celebrating the centennial, and it's excellent. It's really, really good. So, residents who are interested in Martin County's history, please make sure that you find a copy and and uh you will be very glad
that you did. Yeah, the uh historical society is selling them and uh and so is our arts council. >> Yeah, >> Miss Elder, >> we are adjourned. >> Thank you.