Good morning and welcome to our October 21st, 2025 board of county commission meeting. We are delighted that you've joined us this morning. Please join us for a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance which is going to be led by Deputy Riss Heater.
Please join us for a moment of silence. Thank you. Is Deputy Heater with us this morning. >> Would you please come forward? [Music] Hello. >> Thank you for joining us this morning. >> Yes, ma'am.
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.
>> Would you tell us a bit about your career, sir? >> Sure. Um, my name is Reese Gater. It's an honor to be here. Um, I was uh scouting the army for a little over eight years. Um, I've got
26 roughly 26 months in combat between Iraq and Afghanistan. >> And uh, I'm actually in a documentary uh, on Amazon Prime. It's called The Hornets Nest. >> And I get interviewed and do some
missions with the camera guys. And so got out of the military, moved down here and been with Martin County Sheriff's Office for a little over nine years. Loving every minute of it. >> We're lucky to have you. Thank you very much.
[Applause] >> And now we have a special treat this morning. We're going to have a presentation by Radiant Voices. >> Yes. And by the way, that was That was the most enthusiastic pledge of allegiance I've ever experienced.
>> Me, too. >> These days, my heart always run. These days, the world's getting out of control. [Music] Oh, these days have furious feels like there
was a hell of us. Oh, [Music] sometimes it's hard to fear at home. But I believe that you and I in the right place at the right time.
[Music] I believe we want to shine bright. Don't have to be afraid. Maybe we were made for these days. [Applause] [Music]
Maybe these days [Music] a more destiny. Why part of another? Oh wo
you our father bring us home. >> I believe that you and I in the right place at the right time [Music] make mistakes.
I will shine light in a dark world to be afraid. Maybe we were made for these days [Applause]
[Music] in open arms. something to embrace. Maybe we are made for these days. [Music]
I believe that you and I know my name. I believe we're going to shine bright in the dark world. Don't have to be afraid. Maybe we are made for these days.
[Applause] >> Whatever our way [Music] for these days. [Applause] [Music]
[Applause] Connie, pull down the mic. Yeah. >> Good morning. My name is Kayla Pitt. >> What? My
name >> Chris applause. We >> no Christina we >> we >> work >> work >> at
I want >> and our >> jobs >> our >> our >> are two white menus
>> menus Use white tables, salt and pepper shakers, >> ketchup bottles, and other things on the table.
>> We >> roll say >> good job. We work be because we want to get a pay paycheck
>> we >> want >> want >> to >> be >> be >> able >> to >> buy Starbucks. We want to go grocery shopping for
things. We want >> Okay, now together. >> Thank you for hearing my voice. >> Voice. [Applause]
>> Good morning. My name is Katie Rodriguez. I work at the Olive Garden restaurant. My jobs are rolling silverware, getting the menus to the hostess, cleaning tables for the
customers to use, putting away the dishes, silverware, and napkins, taking all the trash and dishes from the tables so other customers can use them. I need to work so I can go out with friends, and I want to live on my own. Katie's an
enthusiastic singer, too. >> Hello, my name is Jesse Mad. I work at do it with my job is to organize and tax products
that go into the scene to be and where are the products on books which is home I make to work I to buy
for my girlfriend kissing friend. >> Nice job. >> You come down and do pictures now. >> Or do you or do you want to can you you want to file in here and we'll stand behind you? >> All right. Y'all go in there >> just like you are. The back in the back.
>> Crystal, come up front. You come to the front. The tall ones are going to go to the back >> cuz then y'all aren't going to scooch together. >> Come on. Watch me suit it. >> I'm a >> matches your outfit. >> Okay.
>> There's no sugar in that soda. >> Keep scooting. Keep coming in. >> Over, guys. >> There you go. Scoot. >> Amanda, move down a little bit. There you go. Matthew, move down. Katie, move down. There we go. Get out.
>> Tall guy in the back. >> Yeah. She's been quiet. Thank you. >> Here they are everybody. Yeah. [Applause] >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much.
>> Connie, don't go far. I have a proclamation for you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. You did a beautiful job. >> I remember that. We would also like to take this opportunity to present you with a
proclamation recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Martin County, Florida. Good morning everyone. That was wonderful. Um, October 2025 is the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and its purpose is to educate
about dis disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. The board urges all citizens to recognize this month by bringing together businesses and partners to break down the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities who are working or seeking employment
helping improve the quality of life for all. And obviously Connie is here to accept with all of her wonderful folks. >> Thank you. Connie, would you like to say a few words? >> Oh my goodness. You're gonna open the floor to me. >> I am. [Applause] >> Pleasure.
>> Okay. Well, my mouth will probably carry every um I'm a retired educator. Most of these guys were in my classroom when they were in high school. And my goal for every one of my students was work because that's quality of life. That's where your social life is. there just so
much revolves around going to work and it's important that all these guys learn how to work. So that's why I think this month is very important because I don't think the employers out there really recognize the talents and abilities that these guys have and they learn those
things through school and through their work environment and it's great you guys that have a job. Let's see your hands up. They didn't speak today. Okay, but at work now because work is more important than singing.
>> That paycheck is pretty important. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Thank y'all so much. >> You feeling great, guys. [Applause] >> Oh, maybe that's it.
>> Okay, then we can go. >> I'm going to go straight. >> Thank you. Very nice to meet you. >> I need a pocket knife or something. Oh, very nice. Nice singing. >> Thank you very much. Oh, great. >> Yeah. I don't want to see you pass. >> That sounds very cool. I think you should do that.
>> No, the regular. >> Hi. Thank you. You did such a nice job. Goodbye. >> I'm Daniela. >> Bye, Dandela. Goodbye. Goodbye. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Where's your paper? >> Byebye. >> You can have it. You're done though. You
don't need it anymore. >> Okay. >> Keep up the good work. >> Thank you. Very nice to see. >> Oh, really? In Martin County. Wonderful. terrific. Now,
>> you'll get a job soon. >> Okay, great. >> Awesome. This is it. [Laughter] >> There are lots of inspiring people in our midst. >> Absolutely. >> The next proclamation is a proclamation
declaring domestic violence awareness month in Martin County, Florida. Domestic violence is a serious widespread issue that affects individuals in every community regardless of age, race, income, or education level and leaves a lasting impact on survivors, families, and communities. With survivors always is
the theme for domestic violence awareness month 2025. Uniting communities nationwide and here on the Treasure Coast in standing with survivors. The board encourages all residents to join safe space in supporting survivors, honoring their courage, and committing to end domestic violence. And here to accept we have
Jennifer Fox, CEO. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, commissioners and com community members. Is this okay? >> Yes, absolutely. >> I'm Jennifer Fox, the CEO of Safe Space. And on behalf of Safe Space and everyone standing with me today and survivors of
domestic violence, I want to thank you for recognizing October as domestic violence awareness month. This proclamation sends a powerful message to survivors across our community that says you are not alone. Domestic abuse can be found in every neighborhood, workplace, and school. Yet
survivors feel very alone. Every statistic represents a person, a parent, a child, or a neighbor who deserves to be safe in their own home. Safe Space is the only certified domestic violence center serving St. Lucy, Indian River, and Martin counties. And just to give
you a little bit of an idea, our crisis hotline averages between 250 and 275 crisis calls every month. Last year, we provided a variety of services to 891 survivors of domestic
violence and 165 of those were children. 378 people stayed in our safe homes and we provided legal advocacy and representation in court to 359 survivors in our community. So, we're talking about almost 900
people last year. 900 people who found us and 900 people who are safer because of the support of this community. This year's domestic violence awareness thing, safety, support, and solidarity reminds us that everyone has a role to play. Safety means making sure survivors
have a place to turn 24 hours a day. Support means listening without judgment and connecting friends, family, or colleagues to resources. Solidarity means standing together, wearing purple, raising awareness, and making sure the survivors know this
community is with them. We do want to invite the community to get involved throughout the month of November. So, to learn more about our events, the services we provide, or ways to help, please visit our uh website, safespacefl.org, or follow us on social media. So, thank
you again today. Thank you for using your platform to shine a light on this issue and for standing with safe space and survivors of domestic violence. [Applause] >> Stand right here. [Applause]
>> Nancy, you be in that picture. Do it, Nancy. Come on, Nancy. >> Yeah. >> There it is. >> Thank you all. >> Those pictures will be on sale on the
county's website later today. For sale. You did a nice job. Uh, >> 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 oppose. That motion passes
unanimously. Uh, we'll now take public comments. Uh, if you would like to, uh, speak to us, please fill out a request to speak form, hand it to the baiff who will get it to us. You will have three minutes to speak. Um, Arthur Rink would
like to speak on public hearing number one. Is that true? >> Yes. >> Or now? >> Okay. Uh, Jesse Falton is next, followed by Christopher Corey. Please come forward.
>> Good morning. >> Good morning. Morning. >> Good morning. Hi. Proceed. Uh my name is Christopher Corey. I help run the nonprofit at 6155 Southwest Leighton Farm. A um I came here today actually I
was out of town two weeks ago when you guys uh voted on the gate on Leighton Farm. And I came down here just to say thank you actually um because it wasn't there. And uh I think that the decision you made um showed an incredible amount
of common sense. um that road uh is very safe for the kids being a deadend road and um you know with that gate um I I'm not an engineer or lawyer or anything but uh the trucks they just see the that
gate right and they and they keep going and they and God bless them they have a job to do and uh the problem is we already had one incident you know thankfully I mean it's not great but thankfully it was a dog and um if that gate opens uh it won't be if it'll be a
when it's a kid, right? U we've never had an incident with a kid. Um you know, knock on wood, God bless. Uh but it will um they it's just too dangerous to do that. Um and I just wanted to say thank you again. You know, the work we do out
there uh is is incredibly meaningful to me and I believe to the community. Um we have five or six of our members that live in that community. I think specifically so they could be closer to the to the facility and I just, you know, uh, again was touched by the
decision you made to help keep it safe and I wanted to come say thank you. So that's it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is Jesse Fulton here? >> Sir, you might want to stay for a little while longer. >> People who want to speak about it. >> Yeah, I'm gonna
>> And following Mr. Fulton is Justin Andre Lamo. Good morning. >> Thank you, Commissioners. So, uh, I'm here, as you know, uh, following Mr. Corey, with respect, we represent Jacob Community Center LLC, and thank you again for your decision last week. I'm
actually here because we kind of heard a rumor that there could potentially be some individuals from Meet Run showing up in order to address the determination that was made by the board last week. Um, first, I just want to raise a procedural matter. This was not dy noticed. Therefore, we did not really
have an opportunity um to prepare if there are going to be testimonials provided, things like that. We would just suggest to the board that this is just an improper. Not to mention, there are legal questions that could be raised and this just is not the proper vehicle
for that at this time. Um I don't need to reiterate what you already know concerning what was addressed the last week. Um, as you know, Commissioner or Chair Herd, uh, you had emphasized that this approved site plan already existed. You expressed concern as to whether uh
that Meadow Run was already using this gate, having full knowledge of these restrictions. Commissioner Heatherington, uh, you had cited the increased traffic and issues in the ongoing violations that they continued to violate that were not being addressed. Uh, you noted also rightfully uh, as to the magistrate creating this
exception which ended up being violated ultimately. Uh, Commissioner Caps, you had also recognized that the main entrance could be modified um to handle large vehicles and you questioned whether the north gate could serve instead. Both valid options available and Commissioner Campy, you had concluded Meadow Run should just
redesign the main the main entrance. Uh it's less expensive and all the owners purchased this with full knowledge as to the access restrictions when they got into this uh development. So again, we're just asking that you re you uh deny the rehearing request and stand by
your prior decision. We appreciate all that you've done and we look forward to continued uh cooperation with you both. Thank you. >> Thank you. Justin Andre Lamo is next, followed by Matthew Height. >> Good morning, commissioners. >> Mr. Chair and county attorney. My name
is Justin Andre Lamro. I reside in Port St. Lucy. I'm here today as the father of Daniel Hunter Lamro to place on the public record a written notice and demand for investigation and referral that I'm submitting to the clerk and the county attorney's office for inclusion in today's official minutes.
The notice concerns official misconduct and the continuing refusal to enforce a Georgia custody order, a valid judgment entitled to full faith and credit under article 4, section one of the US Constitution, and the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act. Over 5 years,
Martin County officials have declined to give effect to that Georgia decree, resulting in the ongoing interstate kidnapping, interfere interference with custody, and deprivation of my parental rights. So, the notice details conduct that appears in uh appears to violate
Florida statutes 838.022 on official misconduct 112.3173 on abuse of public office and related federal civil rights protections. I am not here to relitigate those ongoing matters today. I'm asking the board
through its county attorney to exercise its administrative authority oversight authority under chapter 125 Florida statutes to appoint an independent committee to review these allegations preserve all relevant county records and communications and refer the evidence to
appropriate state and federal investigators including the state attorney FDLE's public corruption unit and the FBI. The Supreme Court has made it clear in Monell versus Department of Social Services 1978 that a county can be held responsible under 42 USC 1983
when constitutional violations result from an official policy, practice, or deliberate indifference by its governing body. An action after formal notice can itself become a policy. My request is respectfully made in good faith, not as a threat of litigation, but to ensure that our local government stands on the
side of constitutional compliance, transparency, and protection of children and parents. I thank the board for receiving this filing and for acknowledging it in the public record. I remain available to provide documentation or testimony to any investigative authority the county designates. Thank you for your time and
service to citizens of Martin County. Can I uh leave a copy of this for the county attorney? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Matthew Height is next, followed by Bobby Moran. >> Good morning.
>> Hold the mic up. >> Is this good? Good morning. First of thank you for your time and my apologies for our wasting your time the last time we were here because we didn't
really understand the process of having to litigate our need for this back gate in Meadow Run. I know this isn't the time or place to do that. My purpose here today is to voice
our need to be able to give you the information so that you can make a decision. I don't think it's a lot to ask. Again, forgiveness for our ignorance the last time. Um, just to reconsider
and hear both sides of the story. Um, the GCC attorney spoke with you just now. I think it's inappropriate. Um, that is an unpermitted
place in that back gate that has been dominated by lawlessness. Truly, um, as far as the traffic that we're going to create, this is 91 lots. We have less than half occupied.
There are going to be a few cars coming and going. We have three, we average three homes being built a year, so construction traffic minimal at best compared to the hundreds of cars that transit that road now for
the soccer field. So, we don't want to own the road. We just want to share it. It's a public road and we just want to have the opportunity to present to you the need because we have grave safety concerns with our elderly drivers, with
our younger drivers, with our permitted drivers using Southwest Citrus on a regular basis. It has become a racetrack. There's limited visibility there. the overpass to 95.
People come down off of that at high rates of speed. There have been accidents. There have been near misses. So, the limited amount of use that we would have for that back gate from an EMS police emergency reasoning
for multiple reasons. We would just like the opportunity to show you because what we're asking isn't outrageous. We've done the steps. We've followed the rules. And we just want the opportunity to show
you. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. >> Bobby Moran is next, followed by John Moran. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> Morning. >> I would just like for to revisit the metal run thing. I don't think our facts
were delivered in the right way. I mean, our facts, you did not hear our side of the of the story. And I think some of the facts that you heard were not correct. I do have to address the dog. I'm sorry. I'm a dog lover. I know this isn't appropriate, but why was the dog
in the road? And I know that they say that road is a very busy road. However, I have gone down there and had to wait for their dogs to be move to get up out of the middle of the road and move off the road. Um, I'm sorry the dog got hit,
but anyway, that's my case. Thank you. >> Thank you. John Moran is next, followed by uh Vincent Dino. >> Okay, thanks.
>> Uh, good morning. My name's John Moran. I'm just a resident of Meadow Run. I'm here just to support uh the board from the HOA cuz I think there are some uh points that need to be made. I didn't realize it was this controversial, but I'm just here to support that and just to get a revisit. Thank you very much.
That's all. >> Vincent Diaino is next followed by Amarie Height. >> Good morning. >> Morning. I'm going to address the safety issues that were brought up before about this gate situation. I made some notes.
So, here's my point of view that I'd like everybody to consider and hopefully help us out here. Um, first responders, in my opinion, will have an advantage advantageous point of entry and exit to our community. A home base for police,
firefighters, and ambulances are all east of our community. Every second matters in a life and death situation. A mockup emergency at the back of the development. One respondering responder entering from the west side of our
community and one entering from the east side would prove to you the considerable time savings which can save a life. We have elderly people in the community that live with their caretak caretaker
children. In the event of an emergency, they would also be afforded the opportunity to exit the community from the east and not the west. The east side is where all the hospitals and again time savings. We have young drivers in
the community. My 16-year-old daughter Mia is one of them. The westbound community exit onto Citrus Boulevard, as you heard, whether heading northbound, southbound, is extremely dangerous for any driver. For an inexperienced young
driver, it is cringeworthy for parents like me to worry about their daughter. Vehicles and trucks are frequently observed driving 70 mph, plus reckless and distracted. I have witnessed multiple accidents just outside our
community on Citrus by our entrance. I would ask that the motor vehicle accident histories research to prove my point. Deaths and permanent disability will be discovered during some of these accidents. I know people that have died. I am a 5-year of resident that No, I
won't say that. But that's it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Ann Marie Height is next followed by Tom Pine. Morning commissioners. >> Thank you again for letting us come in front of you and we apologize for last
week not being prepared. We really um did assume I and I mean Marie height I'm the president of Meet Run. So when we went through the process of this gate um project started in 2021. Um up until that point we have had we've used the back gate um the community has used the
back gate since 20045 when the first roads were constructed and the stables which is now the soccer farm um was also constructed by the developer Martin County in 2004 is very different than it is today. Um in 2004 all the landover
owners got along. There were agreements, handshakes. We had landover owners that were using their lakes to fish in things like that. And granted, the the site plan stayed in place. There was never an issue or a complaint until 2025 when the
road was paved in 2022. We received an email from the county engineers office stating the road is open back up. You have access, but remember you you are limited by your P p. Um you need to amend that if you're
going to have an back gate. The infrastructure today is in place. The road is paved. The road is is qualified to be up to 3,000 cars a day, I think, is what the engineer said. Um, Meadow Run is 32 homes today with nine under
construction. We basically bring in today with the lots and the homes over $800,000 in property tax revenue. Every four homes is worth an additional $100,000. Now, we're only planning to have three to four homes go to CO per
year for the next four years. But the limited amount of traffic with three with construction traffic with three um homes going to CO is not the reason that we want a back entrance. We need a second secondary entrance. It's a safety matter. If there's a natural disaster,
we need a second way to get out of the neighborhood. The police responding from the Exxon at the bottom of Martin Highway at the bridge save five plus minutes just to get to my home from Leighton Farms Road. So, or Avenue. Um,
so all we're asking for is we came here not prepared. We didn't realize that when the county government growth management section goes through and you follow each checklist and each department approves it that there was more to it. We actually thought we were coming just to say thank you. We app we appreciate it. But we didn't get that
opportunity to be represented. And we didn't expect that a non-permitted, you know, group in the back that don't have business licenses on an agricultural unit would cause such distraction from the true thing that we are here to amend
a site plan to stay legal. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Tom Pine is next, followed by Jeff Cable. Good morning, commissioners. My name is Tom Pine. I've been a resident of Martin County for over 50 years. At our last county commission meeting, we got an
excellent presentation about two new wings, also known as pods, proposed for the county jail, paid for with a grant of $500,000 from the state of Florida. It went real smooth till the end when the cost was presented, $60 to $70
million. We can just add that to the rest of the project that we're going to be going to build on borrowed money. Three new needed fire stations in western Martin County, a new maintenance building at 80 to90 million that's been discussed for
multiple years with no action taken. Using the consent agenda to hide from the taxpayers of Martin County where you're spending our tax dollars is a major factor in this mess you have gotten us into. Spending tax dollars behind closed doors is wrong and
immoral. One of the county commissioners takes a position every time when selling county owned property that our county government should not be in the business of making a profit. Then why is our parks department operating multiple business on the
taxpayers's back? Because the hypocrisy in Martin County never ends. I went to the grand reopening of Fipps Park several years ago out by the locks. The head of the parks parks department gave his presentation and the only thing
that stood out to me was the cost. The county had already spent $800,000 and at least another $200,000 to finish it up. These are the types of expenditures that are hidden in the consent agenda, just like the county golf course.
Since this RV park is a business venture, maybe it's time to sell it on the open market and let it be operated like it should be, a private business. Martin County residents don't use it. What you permit, you promote. What you
allow, you encourage. What you condone, you own. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Jeff Cable is next and Mr. Cable is the last request to speak form that I have for public comment. If you would like to speak to us, please fill out a request to speak form and get it to the baiff. Thank you.
>> Good morning, commissioner. >> Good morning. >> My name is Jeff Cable and I'm the original applicant uh that requested an amended amendment to the master side plan for the community of Meadow Run. Uh I'm both a resident, a current member of the HOA board, and also served on the board in 2021 when the process to seek
this amendment first began. When I attended the October 7th meeting, I unfortunately misunderstood the procedure and made uh rather egregious error in assuming that the amendment uh after nearly two years of the detailed review uh and approval by the Martin
County staff uh would move forward as a formality. Uh, I take full responsibility for that misunderstanding and the consequences that followed. Um, I'm here today to respect just request a reconsideration of our application and to uh ask that the board allow us the
opportunity to return and fully present the reasons this amendment mass amended master site plan uh merits approval. Uh we believe these reasons are significant and directly tied to the safety and well-being of our community. Thank you for your time and understanding and your
consideration. Thank you. >> Any comments, commissioners? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I was not able to be here at the last meeting. However, I did review the video and um I have lived in an HOA
that had a front gated entrance, guarded gated entrance, and also a rear entrance. Um it definitely warranted a lot more traffic. Um it was by multiples the number of homes that
were there. I moved in when the construction was going on still by a developer. Um you have a very small HOA. Uh if you're constructing about three homes per year, that's really negligible. It's not a great amount.
Um the back gate uh my understanding in speaking with Mr. Donaldson who was the engineer at that time and growth management. I did question him about all particulars on this particular road. My understanding
is this was constructed by a private individual and please correct me Mr. Donaldson and then it was turned over to the county. Is that correct? >> Yeah. So the the late forms who's always been a public rideway, the end of it was
uh unimproved and therefore considered on the rolls uh not open road. Um it was paved as was stated earlier uh and opened uh then it was opened uh to the public and and all rights as an open
road. So, and that was done by a private individual to open the road for the benefit of their property to get permits >> to get permits and to construct. Martin County is not the Martin County that I grew up in way back. Um, it's not even
the Martin County when I was here in early 2000 and I've come back again. Um, the pleasure of serving on your board. Uh, it is a raceway. a lot of our roads, citrus, US1,
Caner, you can just go on and on. We have a sheriff here too, so he can attest to that also. I I think that if an individual um is driving appropriately, it lessens the accidents
providing that they are going about their business in a way that is not break neck speed. I'm a dog lover. I don't like to hear about animals being hurt, nor children, nor people. However, the issue is
whether or not the Meadowrun HOA and the adjacent property owners really had a chance to present their sides of the argument. It was stated that there were inaccuracies uh that the full picture wasn't
described. If you have trucks that are coming in, they can damage the front gate if they haven't already. possibly overhangs. That's an additional expense. I lived in an HOA, again I'll say that had the
trucks moving in on the back gate and those homeowners that were living there, me being one of them, had a barcode that they could leave through the back gate. We talked about the safety factor. That's critical. Also today,
traffic should be moving over. it doesn't soon enough when an emergency vehicle, whether it be fire or sheriff, is trying to get through to help one of our citizens. Um, I think that we have to in the spirit of getting along
neighborly, give the, and I'll talk to my board now, give the homeowners and those that are in the neighborhood another chance to present their case. I would like to uh make a request for a
quasi judicial hearing uh to be put on the agenda and Mr. Donaldson and his team will make a decision what date and I would really request respectfully that our board a seed to this
commissioner campy. >> Well, first off, let me thank my colleague for that. um stole a bit of what I was going to say, but I appreciate it very much uh teeing it up. There is procedural issues. There was a gentleman from the JCC that said this is
not properly noticed. I just want to be clear um first off, let me say that after the meeting, I did have an opportunity uh having been invited to go out to Meet Run and meet with some of the folks that spoke this morning uh to drive down the northern driveway to see if that was legitimately an option. I
personally am not an engineer, but I would tell you I don't see that as an option. I also drove down all the way down Leighton Farms to I have been down that way before, but not since this issue had come up. I also drove within the neighborhood. The roundabout, the
gate, the the width of the road is all done and paved. There is a gate there. It's chained over. Uh so it's not like a large construction project. some of the comments and the statistics that you heard today. Even at full buildout, it's less than a hundred homes they're
building. This is a very old already. Uh the HOA property has been around for decades and had a very slow start to the construction of the neighborhood itself. Uh as you heard, they build a couple of homes per year. So, it's not like a
massive construction project going coming and going. Um the citrus look most of us have driven on citrus. If you're if you're not familiar with me run the entrance is just a little bit north of the overpass
of 95 and similar to what happens on uh Palm City on the Palm City Bridge. You can imagine when you're coming over on a highway speed coming up and over that it sort of launches you down into the straightaway. It's dark there. I did it.
Uh I met with them during the day, but then I rode it again uh in the evening. It's pitch black at their entrance. And so beyond the construction, which will only last a little bit longer, we have to start looking at the safety issues. Now, instead of having this be an agenda
item today, which there is, uh to Commissioner Vargas' point, if that was a motion, I would second it. If it's not a motion, I would make one. So, whatever she prefers for the opportunity for our constituents to be able to come back and
present their side of the story differently. Now, I get it and I will tell you that prior to hearing Commissioner Vargas' points, this would have been the first time in my political career I have ever asked for a reconsideration.
not so much specifically on the item but on the procedure of how the item presented itself. The staff had given a recommendation of approval, confusing and creating confusion for the residents, our
constituents who are obviously not professional consultants and builders and developers to think that as we heard one of the speakers say that the approval here from the commissioners was merely a formality. had they thought that it was going to be
a much more of a back and forth which to the other side's uh uh benefit they were prepared. They were prepared with visitors and and people to speak out, members of the club to come and speak on behalf, but the residents assumed not to
come because they thought that once you had a staff's recommendation of approval, it's an approval. Having in in many circumstances an item like this would have been on the consent agenda, but it wasn't. And then all of a sudden
they and after spending thousands and thousands of dollars to get to that point. So my point today is that they should be afforded the opportunity to come both sides the other side can come again and make a presentation that is a little more balanced in my opinion uh to
hear the different sets of circumstances. It wasn't a matter of just purely having a construction entrance as a convenience for the trades. It literally is a permanent uh opportunity for residents to have it.
And also there's an added wrinkle of how the magistrate had basically said, "I'm going to give you conditional approval until it goes to the board for them to sort it out." So I think a lot has been put forward on a relatively simple item that warrants at least another
opportunity so that in the future we have a fully noticed agenda item for both sides to be able to come and present to us a more complete picture. So if Commissioner >> Vargas make a motion >> and I will second it. >> Thank you so much. I appreciate it. >> Well, that's two >> and we look forward to seeing our Meet
Run folks and those neighbors along Leighton Farms come out. Please talk. Let us know. We're trying to be fair, but we only have so much time. Also, okay, thank you so much. >> It might be procedurally more correct for the motion to come from Commissioner
Campi because he voted in favor of the item. Therefore, he has the ability to uh ask for a reconsideration vote at the next me uh noticed meeting. So, I think >> so that that could happen, but the rules do allow an absent commissioner to make
the motion as well. So, we're good either way. >> We have a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Now, we're going to take things slightly out of order, commissioners, because there's a preset and the sheriff is sitting here uh protecting us, doing a
fine job of protecting us, but probably can be more productive after he leaves this this uh building. So, let's take up uh department three, which is a discussion of the county attorney position.
>> Thank you, commissioners. Um Don Donald, your county administrator. So this uh is for consideration of selection of the county attorney's position. The one of two positions that you hire um being the county
administrator, myself, and the county attorney's uh position. This position was um advertised starting back in May uh uh 30th with the selection or the applicants uh submitting uh prior to
July 1st. There was a number of uh views and uh interest from this. Uh the board then um selected a committee to assist the board in reviewing the applicants. Um and that board consisted of uh our
clerk uh Carolyn Timman, our sheriff John Budseek, and Denise Ne Marie Neman who was a former Palm Beach County attorney and myself. >> County attorney. >> County attorney. Yes. Um uh
our job was to take the applicants and narrow it down for the board's consideration. We did narrow it down and to uh a selection of uh three applicants for interviews. Um we did eliminate some due to uh concerns to ethical concerns
and their background. The board then uh asked us to conduct those interviews. We did conduct interviews on January 12th. we had narrowed it down to three. Two of the applicants of such uh um taken other positions. Uh however, it's it's
important to note that the applicant uh uh that we have uh uh has done an excellent job for us. Uh we the committee has voted unanimously um to uh recommend to the board um Alise
Elder for consideration for the board to uh be our county attorney. We have with us in the audience uh again Miss uh Timman and uh Sheriff John Budensk. Mr. Den Neman could not attend, but she did
send a nice um uh recommendation uh in the board packet um essentially describing her experience in interview processes for public attorney positions and county attorney positions and and
noting that uh Miss Elder um met all of the qualifications. and in her interview it also did very well and uh would be ranked um highly for any interview around the state. Uh however having said that this is your
process um and ultimately the final decision rest on you on how to proceed. Um if you want to hear uh on any of the details of our uh reviews or interviews um Miss Timman and uh John Budenseek are
here to uh to assist me and in how that process went. Um but otherwise uh um we're here to answer any questions and to assist you in the furtherance of the process of you hiring your county attorney.
Thank you, Mr. Campy. >> Mr. Donathan, thank you for taking the lead. Um, couple of points that I think need to be brought up. We did also receive a letter of recommendation in the packet from our tax collector, Ruth Pietrovski,
uh, recommending that we permanently hire uh, or promote in this case, Miss Elder, also from Supervisor of Elections, Vicky Davis. Uh, I did, and I'm assuming my colleagues did as well, receive a couple of emails where people were frustrated with the fact that we
were only being given the choice of a single name. As Mr. Donaldson had just mentioned this has been a multi-monthl long process uh involving an opportunity as we would hire for any position putting it out on social media uh for or
the the social media hiring platforms for anyone to have the opportunity to throw their name into the hat. Uh with that in mind, there was a process. There were people that applied. There was a vetting process all the way to the point where uh not the commissioners where
sometimes it has been the case where we have filled at least I have been involved in opportunities where we went through a whole uh laundry uh you know parade of applicants to fill positions and some of us have hired people in the past some of us have not but that being
said I think it's from the applicant's point of view a very difficult process to go through five commissioners and others uh to to get to a position ition. Uh we were very fortunate in this particular case to have the folks that are involved in this, our sheriff, our clerk of the
court, and uh Denise Neman who was involved. I know she was also an officer of the Florida Association of County Attorneys. We had used her services in the past to, you know, I'm a strong believer in that the locals pick the locals, but Miss Neman coming from out
of the area gave an opportunity to give an unbiased kind of an objective uh perspective of, you know, whether or not we're getting the right person. As many of you know, the county commissioners only hire two people. They're sitting over here to our right, the
administrator and the attorney. Both are very, very important positions. I have had the honor of working with Mr. Steven Fry who was a legend uh and then had the opportunity to help uh as we're hopefully going to do today promote
commissioner uh commissioner uh attorney Sarah Woods to uh her permanent position and obviously that worked out very well. Uh I'm a strong believer and I I would hope most of you would be in um bench strength and hiring from within. you
don't have to uh pay someone a year's worth of a salary to find out that there wasn't a proper mix or a fit. Uh not only is Florida a very unique state to be an attorney in, Martin County is a unique county to be an attorney in,
especially on our behalf. I think the position uh although it seems like up on the fourth floor we have a small little um law firm if you will. I think the position of um county attorney is more of a managerial position. So you need to
have that managerial expertise beyond having obviously an excellent legal background. Uh in the agenda packet I steered clear of the process because I was very comfortable with the people that were running it for us. But in this uh agenda packet was Miss Elders's uh
resume and it's exactly what you would want to see in a resume from an applicant. It had all of her professional and educational experience that is perfect. It also that spoke very highly to me. It had a tremendous amount of community involvement not uh
volunteer involvement leadership involvement in the community and not in the last couple of years for decades. Um, and I would say and and I don't think Miss Elder would mind, I had concerns in the beginning. We had uh some uh I had some questions and we had
an opportunity to sit down and have a very frank conversation and that really uh swayed me. I thought that she uh presented uh not only what she has been doing, which obviously if you know we talk about like a number two or a number
one. If you're number two, you're not number one. Your job is to assist and help the person that's in the leadership position, but not necessarily to push or to steal some of the spotlight. So, with that in mind, I am proud to make the
motion that we permanently hire uh Miss Elise Elder to be our county attorney. I think she will fit very nicely into our long history of excellent representation and I look forward to working with her. >> Commissioner Vargas.
>> Yeah, I I Commissioner Campy already addressed that. I was getting a lot of calls and questions. Why is there only one viable candidate? As I stated before, we had narrowed it down to uh seven and then to uh three for interviews. And as we went through
the interview process, the two that we were going to interview um dropped out as they were hired to other county attorney positions uh or city attorney positions. Um and so we we uh continued with the interview of Miss Elder and
treated her as a as as a candidate um and gave her very tough questions so that we could be ensured that um that uh that she knew the full depth of of the process. Um but ultimately that is um
that's why we have uh today just one candidate from the original mix of candidates. Anything else? No. >> Commissioner Heatherington, >> I think Commissioner Campy summarized it very well and um I was going to just
clarify that we had received the emails um stating that there was only one candidate, but actually there were it was properly advertised um with plenty of opportunity around the state and the nation. I think it was advertised. We had um applicants and I believe I want
to thank the committee for the job and the due diligence. We had it was a very thorough and transparent process and I'd be glad to second Commissioner Campby's motion. >> Commissioner Caps, >> I'd like to begin by thanking all of the
candidates who applied for the position. Uh there were seven originally and there were many very compelling applications. And then I'd like to thank the selection committee, which I thought was a very
stellar and impressive group of people that deal with the county attorney a lot. And of course, they were clerk of court Carolyn Timman, Sheriff John Budeny, county administrator Don Donaldson,
and particularly noteworthy, the former Palm Beach County Attorney Denise Marie Nyman, or is it Neiman? >> Neman. Neman. Yes. And I I thought that was uh very good that she was on there as someone who
has held the ver that very position in a county much larger than ours, Palm Beach County. I think Palm Beach County is about nine times as big, >> 10 times >> 10 times as big as our county. So I uh I have not actually met her but I u just
the weight of her office that she held and the role that she played uh seems to uh be very relevant to me. You know we could be in a situation where we would need to make a decision based on
resumeumés and reference letters and job interviews. Sometimes you're in that spot where you have to you have to make a decision as best you can with limited tools and those are valuable tools but they
only tell you so much. In our case we have the opportunity to hire someone who we have seen in action for many years right on this very dis. We know a lot about former deputy county
attorney and now acting county attorney Elise Elder. We know that she knows our comp plan LDRs and ordinances very well. And uh the county attorney basically has a tough job where she has to have an
incredible recall u of our laws and ordinances because she has to basically practice law and in a public setting without the opportunity to go research things like most attorneys have that opportunity.
uh we know that she gets along well with and has credibility with the legal department and with staff and we know that she has in-depth knowledge of our community since she's lived here for many years. Uh I would note that the
selection committee made a unanimous recommendation to approve Miss Elder as our next county attorney. I think that's very noteworthy and and impressive. And I put a lot of weight on former Palm Beach County
Attorney Denise Marie Neman's letter uh of reference for Miss Elder, which ends with this statement, and I thought I would read a paragraph from that letter. Fortunately for Martin County, there was a very strong candidate in the application mix. Even
if hundreds of others applied, it's highly unlikely any could come close to what our deputy county, your deputy county attorney, Elise Elder, can offer. It's not unusual to find someone who has
vast private and public sector experience, is actively involved in their community, and who has not only the intellectual capacity, but excellent leadership skills, as evidenced by responses to questions asked during her
interview. Ms. Elder clearly cares about rendering the best legal counsel to the board, administration, and the county's various departments, divisions, and constitutional officers, as well as fully supporting the county attorney
team. Her humility is also to be lauded. On top of all of this, she has a proven track record working in Martin Countyy's legal office in different positions since 2018, including the very role she is seeking.
Miss Elder is the complete package. I strongly join in recommendation that Deputy County Attorney Elise Elder be appointed the county attorney for Martin County. that was uh at the end of her
letter and light of the above I don't think we need to look any further in my judgment to make the best decision and uh would be in support of Elise Elder being our next county attorney.
>> Miss Timu, would you like to address us? >> Are you the chair of the selection committee? I think we were all equal participants. Thank you. >> Tough group to get in front of. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll just keep my comments brief. I am here um first to
answer questions if anyone had any questions about the process. I know one of the greatest questions was why did we end up with one candidate. Hopefully, you're comfortable with that response. It was a national search. um and continuing to narrow down the
applicants, we ended up with three, four interviewing and one final interview. We did feel that it was critically important to the whole process that we conducted that interview as if there were 10 candidates. It didn't matter. It
was still a very important process. We all wanted to hear the responses. We all wanted to have the opportunity to ask questions. I will tell you selfishly, I care a lot about this position. There's a lot of questions that come up in my office. Part of my role is to help
protect the county from different risk um and identify kind of, you know, hot topics that we may need a little assistance with. And those are very diverse issues. There's criminal issues, there are civil issues, um there are certainly financial issues, ordinance
issues, all of those things. We need a diverse base and u Miss Elder brings that to us. So I felt very good about all of the interactions that I've had over the years and look forward to continuing those. I think the only thing
I probably haven't brought forward would be anything from my domestic relations department, but uh that can always come up too. I really appreciate the diversity and I appreciate that the board is really considering how important this job is to the whole
county but also to all the individuals in here. I think we hear that when people come before the board on public comment and again it's really those diverse issues. There's litigation, there's land use, all of those things and your county attorney's office brings
that to you. And I hope that we have um a favorable vote to support Miss Elder. And again, I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Any questions? Sheriff Budenick, would you like to address us?
Morning, commission, commissioners, madam chair, thank you for just giving me a few minutes. When I when I was looking at this position and I think about attorneys because we deal with them >> every day. We kind of live and die by them. I I think of three things. Somebody smart enough to see the problem
or figure out a problem. Somebody brave enough to look at you in the eyes. I mean, you guys and gals can be intimidating or I can be intimidating, they say. And just tell you the truth, whether you like it or not, they just tell you the truth. and then somebody forward-thinking enough to actually figure out how to navigate the scenario,
whatever that might be, and and move the organization forward. And we clearly saw that in Miss Elder as uh we were going through the process. Uh to your question, uh Commissioner Vargas, good question. By the way, local attorneys uh when we were looking for applicants,
local attorneys stood solidly behind Miss Elder. In fact, some of them are here in the room today to support her. So, the local uh community supports her and our and our attorney community. But then I'll tell myself real quick because I think it uh it tells you what you're
dealing with here with Miss Elder uh in the application process between her application being submitted and our oral board that we conducted with her. Your sheriff made a mistake, a misstep, not enough to get me in any real trouble, but enough for Miss Elder to call over to the Mark County Sheriff's Office and
say, "Hey, sheriff, you absolutely uh messed something up there." and this is the legal grounds with which I'm making my argument and this is what I did to rectify that. And I I sat back and and thought prior to the or we did she already passed the oral board with
me because she identified the problem. She had the courage to call over and tell us that we're wrong and then she fixed it moving forward. And that's exactly what you're looking for at hiring an attorney. That's what I need. Somebody that tells me the truth and figures out how to keep me out of trouble and keep the county out of trouble. So, I'm proud to support you,
Miss Elder. I'm I'm proud to be here to answer any questions. Happy to answer any questions if you might have any of me. >> Commissioner Vargas, >> what was your misstep? >> My misstep. You want me to confess? Yeah, I'll tell you what it was. >> So, one of our we we talked about our
mental health pod this morning earlier, and one of our inmates that has a severe mental health issue came to court and spit on Judge Roby, and I released the video to the media. Well, we have been pretty careful, unbeknownst to me, um, your county attorneys, even prior to
Miss Elder, they've been very careful with releasing the whereabouts of those cameras and me releasing that video showed where that camera was in the courtroom. So, not a real violation, but certainly an operational uh problem because moving forward, if we started a pattern of releasing videos, if somebody
came in and did a public records request, then any and all cameras in the courtrooms could be brought forward. Great point. So, uh, we won't be doing that again, but she was able to go in there and move those cameras elsewhere. And I think we're still able to protect our cameras under 119, the exemption of
it being a surveillance piece of equipment. So, those little nuances matter greatly in our business. And again, I appreciate her coming forward and and just telling us what the problem was, but she also fixed the problem, which was impressive to me. >> So, that means she has AV skills as
well. >> Moving the cameras around in the courtroom. I'm good for you. >> All right, I'm done confessing if you all. >> Any questions? Any other questions? >> It doesn't appear so. Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Would anyone from the public like to address us on this?
>> In that case, we are going to close out and I will make my final comments, which I am not going to be supporting, Miss Elder for this position. Um, there was a trial in circuit court here 7 years ago. The defendant was and is a Martin County
employee. Miss Elder was and is a Martin County employee. She should have been impartial. She was anything but. During this trial, the trial lasted for 3 days. And for 3 days, she stomped loudly, deliberately
in and out of the courtroom over and over and over, slamming the door each time that she came through the door. She was trying to uh rattle the defense attorneys. She was trying to influence
the outcome of the trial. I thought that on several occasions I thought that the judge was going to to prohibit her from remaining in the courtroom. He perhaps should have kept her out of the courtroom. She was that disruptive, that unprofessional, that
disrespectful. And for those reasons, among others, I'm not going to support her. I think that we should uh re advert revertise for uh uh the position again. Commissioner Campy,
>> so as to end on a different note, uh there's five of us for a reason. If it was a simple decision on yes or no, there'd be one person sitting up here. Ideally, it would be me. But other than that, I think that uh
the legal profession in more so than in many other professions uh with all respect to my colleague engenders this level of emotion. uh if you are in the legal system for whatever the reason uh there is sides and
sometimes it's very uh obvious what the sides are and sometimes it's more innuendo and uh sort of feels like there are sides but beyond that very personal uh experience that we just heard I think that that should not overshadow decades
of experience uh the fact that the community is endorsing her and supporting her in large measure the fact that her her uh staff within the department thinks that obviously we will be making the right decision. The legal
community as was mentioned uh the brightest and the best of our group here. You know, we're kidding about the sheriff and the clerk of the court and Mr. Donaldelsson and Miss Neman being the board that you'd have to interview. That's a that's a serious uh board to
sit down in front of and uh everyone was unanimous. So with all respect to my colleague and having a very specific and personal opinion of a set of circumstances, I think that will not necessarily and I get it. I get that that's how she feels. But I don't see that that would be >> facts.
>> Okay, that's how you feel. Uh facts I I don't know. I'm just hearing about this for the first time ever and and I'm giving you full respect for that. I just don't want that to be the final uh word on what I personally would consider uh an excellent opportunity for us to have
Miss Elder represent us. Thank you. And to my colleagues across town, this is how you do employment issues. >> Commissioner Vargas. Okay. Uh so I I've understood what you said uh Chairwoman uh Herd. Um, how was this handled with
legal department at that time and also our HR department? Was that something that crossed? Was that something that had to be handled diff differently? >> I I I don't >> Was there a lawsuit brought up by this
employee? I mean, >> I I don't think the particulars of this would be appropriate to have any discussion on it other than I think um um the chair explained her her concerns about during uh the trial uh which uh uh
was a personal and difficult time. Um, so I would, um, anyway, there was an acquitt um, and, uh, we're fortunate to have, uh, uh, that all fully resolved. Um, and so I think any details of that matter that
if you're truly interested, it should be discussed in in private. Thank you. >> Any further discussion? There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Opposed. That motion passes 4
to one with Commissioner Herd desenting. >> Uh now we will go. [Applause] Thank you both. Uh we will now continue with uh Commissioner comments. Uh
Commissioner Heatherington, any comments this morning? >> No, I'm all set this morning. Thank you. >> Commissioner Campy, >> I'm also set. >> I'm set. Commissioner Caps. >> Well, we just came from the legislative delegation meeting that occurred in the Blake
Library at 9:00. And I would just like to say that I appreciate uh Chair Herd and County Comm or County Commissioner County Administrator Don Donaldson for representing our interests very well.
And also I would just like to say that I really appreciated the vocal number that we heard from the radiant voices. What a beautiful performance and song with such a beautiful message. Maybe we
were made for these days. We don't have to be afraid. Uh really enjoyed that. >> Commissioner Vargas. um some of the uh ladies who were with
Radiant Voices do go to my church and they were so enthused about coming here and I was delighted to see them of course as my colleagues and those that were in attendance also. Um I think you did a spectacular job uh chairwoman
very authoritative of course Mr. Donaldson always, you know, picks through the spaghetti and people understand it when you explain it in lay terms. So, we appreciate that all. So, it was it was a good presentation, but we all got up in mass and left before the other municipalities
had a chance to, you know, present um their their um notes. Uh but anyway, um no, I think that's about it for right now for me. Thank you, >> Mr. Donaldson. >> I I do have one item and it's uh we've done this once before. or it's regarding
brownfields. And so this is simply a public notice as required by law. There's no action to be taken. And so this is requested by Oasis Development LLC. So I will read the following. There will be a community meeting for
the request by Oasis Development LLC and the Palms of Hope Sound LLC to designate property located at Southeast Gomez Avenue in Hopetown, Florida as a brownfield under Florida statute section
376.80. The meeting will be held at 11720 Southeast Shell Avenue, unit 1- Hopeound, Florida on November 4th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting
is to provide the public input on the size of the area, the objectives of rehabilitation, job opportunities and economic developments anticipated, neighborhood residents considerations,
and other relevant local concerns. And that concludes my public statement on the fire pursuant the request of Oasis development in accordance with Florida statutes. Thank you. Thank you. >> That's all I have, >> Miss Elder. >> Nothing for me. Thank you.
>> In that case, let's move on to the consent agenda. Uh can we take up the pulled consent uh number 14? >> Would you >> Can I Can I begin just I'm the one who pulled this item
and Mr. Gorton, I'm sure, will do a marvelous job presenting as he always does. And and I would note that the issue at hand is a resolution to authorize execution of a maintenance memorandum of agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for a
multi-use trail along US1 and Hope Sound. And uh so that that is the subject matter before us. But the reason I pulled the item and wanted Mr. Gorton uh to explain a little bit to us. I think
there's a lot of confusion about where the sunrail is proposed. You know, at the MO meetings and other places, uh they're just reams of documents and and I asked uh Mr. Gorton
to put the the sun trail on a on a one-page document so it's real simple to understand to explain to us where it's going to be uh as it goes into JD Park. Well, first of all, let me let me just
mention, you know, the goal here is to connect the wide sidewalk that is down by the entrance of JD Park and to run that wide sidewalk all the way up to Osprey uh street in Northern Hope Sound and to
make it part of the Sun Trail. and it has a lot of zigzags and turns and part of it is going to be on the east side of US1 and part of it is going to be on the west side of US1. And also there's some
very interesting twists and turns on the Sun Trail as it goes through the park itself that I don't think many people understand. So I look forward to uh to uh Mr. Gorton explaining it in detail
and ma make a particular note on which side of US1 we're talking about and why it's done that way. Thank you. Jim Gordon, public works director. So this agenda item is uh uh we're asking
the board to authorize the county administrator to execute a maintenance memorandum of agreement or MMOA with the uh Florida Department of Transportation for a proposed multi-use trail along US1 and Hope Sound. So this is a sunrail
which is sunrail is the funding mechanism that's used to uh construct this trail and um it's also part of the east coast greenway trail which is a trail network that extends from Maine down to Key West. So this is one of the
pieces through Martin County. So on this map that I've got pulled up, we've got green on the north and south ends of the the map. Those portions are already existing. Those portions have been built. Um on the south end that's on the west side of US1 and it runs from the
park entrance all the way to the county line on the north end that's the piece of trail that um starts at Cove Road runs through Cab Branch Park and then to the north end of Gomez. So those are the two existing pieces. This maintenance uh
this MMO is for the piece that's shown in orange um through Hobound from Bridge Road north to Osprey Street. Um that piece is designed by DOT and it's going to be constructed with the um
resurfacing project that's going to occur in 2026. Uh the next piece that is also uh referenced in the MMO is is the red piece that's south of Bridge Road. So, that's going to be um it's going to start on the west side of US1 at Bridge
Road and at JV Reed Park at Olympus Street. It's going to cross over to the east side of US1 and then run down US the east side of US1 to the National Wildlife Preserve. Uh there there's going to be a crossing, a signalized
crossing where um users of the trail can cross over and then get into Jonathan Dickinson Park. Um the next piece is in design. So this is the current concept piece uh which is the red part that's actually inside the park. But generally
the concept is going to be uh for the trail to be along the old Dixie Highway which is the paved road that's adjacent to the FEC train tracks and then that'll carry over to the park road where the train tracks cross the park road and then it'll follow the park road out to
the entrance of JD Park. Once those um four projects are constructed, there'll be continuous um trail, multi-use trail from Cove Road all the way south to the county line. Um so that's the piece that we have done now. There's also a um
concept that's being developed for the next piece which is from Cove Road all the way up to um Baker and uh so that that's a little trickier because you have to go through the developed part of the county. So, um, we're working on that piece right now through our MO. And
then the, um, the piece north of Baker is already constructed. So, we already have the the section of trail that runs along Green River Parkway all the way up to the county line, um, that's already built and St. Lucy County is getting really close to finishing their piece, which goes through the, um, the park up
there. So, there's going to be quite a network of trails available to our residents um, once this is all constructed. I'd like to just uh thank you Jim. That was excellent. Um just a couple of comments for our JD
Park enthusiasts. I'm one of and I'm one of them and Mr. Gordon is too, I do believe. Uh he's also in the park a good bit. But as you go in and you pass the guard gate there and you just imagine yourself winding
around to the railroad tracks, that's where the road turns north right there. There's like a little dirt road that runs right along the east side of the railroad tracks and and then you would go north quite a
ways along that little road. And where it pops back out again, that's uh the state parks entrance right there by where the Laurent Tower used to be. That's where it pops back out of the park.
And then it crosses US1 to the east side of US Run and one and runs for maybe a mile or so over the overpass and on up to the fire station uh by Reed Park. And the reason that
portion of it is on the east side of the highway, which is the only portion that's on the east side of the highway, is because we can get federal funding for that part. Is that kind of the concept where we're pursuing federal funding because that is hopes on
national wildlife refuge land. Is that the thinking? >> That is correct. So the funding that the state is using it requires it to make a connection to the federal facility. >> Right. Some people have questions. Why do we have a segment of it on the east side with most of it being on the west
side of US1? Well, anyway, up there by the fire station, that's where it pops back across the highway and starts running on the west side all the way up to Osprey Street. I just felt like there are a lot of folks uh who didn't really
understand that. So, I really appreciate the presentation. Thank you, >> Commissioner Heatherington. I just could you just summarize what is our responsibility for maintaining it and what the DOT because I only see just drainage very generally. So, um, the DOT
is required to maintain the structural integrity of the trail, but we're any of the amenities that might go along with the trail should we choose to add benches, landscaping, um, even the ADA surfaces, the detectable warning surfaces are ours,
drop offs for for safety of the public, things like that are are to the county that the structural integrity of the trail itself is still a responsibility of DOT. Um, we I can tell you that uh our staff that worked on this negotiated
pretty hard with DOT uh our neighbors to the north that um just that are working on their trail section now um just signed the agreement outright and we uh spent quite a bit of time negotiating to make sure that we have a fair agreement um and and limits our liability.
>> Thank you for that. >> Is this the one Miss Wixer pointed out the state's error? Yes, that's the one where our our chief engineer um pointed out to the state that there was a >> concern with um with the agreement. So, it didn't match how this the funding came down from the state.
>> Right. >> Any further questions? >> I would move approval of consent 14. Is that the next thing we need to do? >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I oppose. That motion passes unanimously. Now I will I would like to
see a motion to uh uh approve the remainder of the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. We will now move on to public hearing number one, which is a
public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance amending chapter 83 general ordinances Martin County code relating to fish and wildlife and Lake Okachchobee Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council. Mr. Fox. >> Good morning, commissioners. Sebastian
Fox, senior assistant county attorney for the record. I'm here before before you this morning on a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance amending chapter 83 general ordinances Martin County code related to fish and wildlife and the lake Oachchobee Fish
and Wildlife Advisory Committee. In 1974, Martin County adopted a variety of ordinances in chapter 83 to regulate various methods of saltwater fishing and to address the protection of bald eagles, sea turtles, and alligators.
Subsequent to the adoption of chapter 83, both the Florida Constitution and the Florida statutes were amended to grant the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or FWC exclusive authority to regulate wild animal life, freshwater
aquatic life, and marine life. This authority includes the power to adopt rules tantamount to legislative acts for the management, restoration, conservation, and regulation of fish and wildlife in the state. Um, the regulation of bald eagles and
sea turtles in the state of Florida involves both federal and state entities with primary oversight provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service at the federal level and FWC at the state level. These agencies work under the framework of the Endangered Species Act,
the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Florida State Law to protect these species and provide a legal framework for enforcement. With this historical context in mind, this agenda item concerns an approval of an ordinance that will address the
constitutional and statutory preeemption of local government's regulation of saltwater fish and wildlife and the effective elimination of any consistencies between Martin County and the re relevant provisions of the Florida Constitution, Florida statutes,
and title 68 of the Florida Administrative Code. County staff has worked collaboratively with FWC to ensure that the proposed ordinance aligns with FWC's constitutionally established authority and that violations of state law will be
enforced appropriately in Martin County. Um included in this agenda item is a letter of support from FWC which I would like to share um before I conclude my presentation. Uh finally, the proposed ordinance updates article 3 of chapter 83 to remove all reference to the now
defunct Lake Okachchobee Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council, which was replaced in the year 2000 by the county coalition for responsible management of Lake Okachchobee and the St. Lucy and Kousa Hatchee estuaries and the Lakew Worth Lagoon. This county coalition is a
multiple countybased advisory group organized primarily for the purpose of providing the general public, the South Florida Water Management District, the US Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Legislature, and various groups and committees with a body which
will represent and present a variety of issues dealing with the health and welfare of these bodies of water. According to its bylaws, the county coalition shall whenever possible initially consist of one representative from nine counties. Each county nominates one representative from their
board of county commissioners to serve until which time they are replaced. Commissioner Herd currently represents Martin County at the quarterly meetings of the county coalition which are held in Okachobee. Since the county coalition was legally established pursuance to its own governing documents, it does not need to
be incorporated in the Martin County code. So, this public hearing was advertised in the Steuart News on October 10th. Um, and if I may, I'd like to read the letter of support we received from FWC for this ordinance change. Um, this is from Regional Director Dr. Thomas Reiner. Dear Madame
Chair and commissioners of Martin County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC, has reviewed the draft resolution of Martin County's efforts to streamline and modernize county codes and outdated special acts and statute. We support the
county's efforts aimed at repealing the fish and wildlife ordinances codified in Martin County Code section 83.31 and in turn recognize the FWC's constitutional rulemaking authority and the state's preeemption of the power to regulate the taking or possession of
fish and wildlife as established in article 4 section 9 of the Florida Constitution. The county commissioners and citizens of Martin County can rest assured that the repealed ordinances will not jeopardize fish and wildlife resources. Federal and state law and FWC
rules cover most, if not all, of the issues addressed in the county ordinances. Using a science-based approach, the FWC is committed to managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefits of people. Sincerely, Thomas
Reiner. Uh, that concludes my presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Questions for Mr. Fox. We have one request to speak form and that's from Mr. Arthur Rink. Please join us and you'll have three
minutes to address us this morning. >> You stole all my funders. >> I agree with you 100% that this should be approved. Thank you at least for whatever help you gave me during the course of this deal. Uh thanks to the commission. I'm sorry. >> I thank you guys for like listening to
me. I brought this to you on May 6th, okay? Mr. Caps said, "Let's put it on the agenda." Well, here we're here today, okay? Going to solve a big problem for myself and all the other commercial and recreational fishermen that we have. However, there is one
issue down there at the National Wildlife Refuge. And uh they still want to do the two rod limit, which is against FWC rules and everything. Um, and if you look at their
title 50 3228, they enforce local ordinances. Okay, in this particular case, it won't exist. That that code won't exist anymore. So hopefully, I just want to make sure they know what's going on. And other than
that, I'm so happy you got this accomplished. If if it's I don't even know when does if it happens. When does it happen? >> We're set to approve it today. >> Now. >> Yes. going fishing tomorrow. >> Yeah. >> Well, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
>> That actually worked out for you, sir. From from May to now, that's pretty good. >> Well, got anything else on your Christmas list? >> Well, I got a couple other things, but >> you come back. >> Too early for that. I got to deal with FWC their opinion. But, um, yeah, it's
it's fantastic to see that it can actually work. Anybody can come up here and say what they have to say, and it works. All right. >> So, thank you all. I appreciate >> Thank you, Mr. Rink. Thank you for bringing it to our attention to begin with.
>> Didn't want to go to jail. >> Sheriff has left. >> Is there a motion to approve? >> Blake did >> move approval. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, >> Mr. Fox. Thank you, sir. >> We'll take We'll take up let's see department quasi judicial number one shall we take up that's a request for approval of the highpoint planned unit development phase 2 revised final site
plan this is quasi judicial any exparte disclosures >> I have any they've been filed >> if I have any they have been filed >> if I have any they've been filed >> I don't have any And that's been filed. >> If any, they've been filed. >> Excellent. And have all your materials
been sent to the clerk? >> A copy of my work history and the agenda item. >> 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? >> Presentation, Mr. Lamb. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioners, >> uh, this is a request by Cutotler and hearing on behalf of PY Home Company LLC
for revised final site plan approval for phase two of the Highp Point planned unit development consistent with the approved revised master site plan, which added six lots to phase two. The site is located along southwest Pratt Whitney Road on the northwest
corner of Pratt Whitney and Bulldog Way with the secondary urban services district or within the secondary urban services district in Stewart. The current zoning on the property is the High Point PUD zoning agreement and the future land use is a state density
one unit per acre which allows a maximum density of one unit per acre. The aerial image on the left uh shows the High Point PUD phase 2 area inside the red line and the phase 2 platted lots. The image on the right is an
excerpt of the proposed phase 2 revised final site plan showing the lot lines for the six new lots which is consistent with the PUD revised master site plan approved on November 12th, 2024. So this is the area
u and this is where the six lots were added and approved for the master site plan. Development review staff have found that the PY home company application to comply with all applicable regulations in the comprehensive growth management plan as detailed in the staff report and staff
recommends approval of the PY home company application to revise the phase 2 final site plan for the highpoint PUD. We move that the board receive and file the agenda item and its attachments including the staff report as exhibit one. And we move that the board adopt the resolution approving the revised
phase 2 final site plan for the High Point PUD. And that concludes my presentation. >> Questions for Mr. Elam. Applicant, would you like to make a presentation? >> Good morning. >> Good morning. George Messmer with Cotler Hearing for the Record and I have been
sworn in. I do have a brief presentation that I prepared. It's the same information that uh Brian presented. I don't have anything new to offer. So if you'd have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Any questions, Commissioner Vargas? >> Okay. So, this is just an additional six
lots so that you can sell them. >> Yeah. So, the Yeah, the master plan was approved for the addition of the six lots and this amends the final site plan and the construction plans for those lots so they could be sold. Correct. Okay.
>> This is a public hearing. Would anyone from the public like to address us? I will close the public hearing and Commissioner Campy >> make a motion to accept staff's recommendation. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes
unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next item is department one office of management and budget items which require board approval. >> Good morning, Miss Merley. [Applause] Good morning. Stephanie Merley, director
of OMB, here to present four items on the OMB item today. Our first item is a permission to accept the Florida Department of Transportation local agency program or lap grant for the Southeast Washington Street sidewalk project. Um, our public works department
is requesting the acceptance of a grant in the amount of $554,073 to um construct a 6' wide concrete sidewalk, crosswalk, drainage improvements, and pavement markings for ADA compliant pedestrian route. Um,
there is a grant match required in 1.2 million that is programmed within the roads capital improvement plan. Our second item is a permission to accept the clean water state revolving fund or
SRF loan. Um amendment number one. Our utilities department is requesting the acceptance of $4,593,523 to be applied to Martin Countyy's Coral Gardens vacuum septic to sewer project. Um there is no cash match required but
the principal interest in any additional cost of these loans will be paid from the assessments for those folks that are in Coral Gardens. >> Item number three is a permission to accept the FDOT public transportation grant agreement for runway 1230 um PAPI
I don't know what that's for uh replacement at the airport. Our Martin County Airport is requesting the acceptance of $15,000 from FDOT for the replacement of those items with LED units. Um there is a match of 2 and a.5%
or $15,000 that will be pride be provided by the airport capital improvement plan and the remainder is going to be covered by the FAA. And item number four is a mosquito control annual certified budget. Um, our mosquito control division is requesting
um the acceptance of an increase of $6,1856 um to provide funding for our arthropod control programs and we are just requesting a budget resolution and detailed work plan to accept these funds. And that is all I have today.
>> Questions for Miss Merley? Commissioner Caps. Um, on the first one, item number one on page 510. It's interesting to me how in most cases the county government puts
forth a little bit of money and the state government puts forth a bunch of money. And it's interesting how this one is kind of flipped, >> where the state is paying about a half million dollars and we're paying $1.2 million.
and uh wondered can you explain that a little bit? >> Yeah. So, uh Jim Gorton, public works director, the um the reason that this DOT is only paying a percentage of it is because they can only fund the portions that are directly related to the
sidewalk itself. So, in this instance, we have to do some drainage modifications and pipe some swailes and and do some stuff to allow for the sidewalk to be in the location that it is. And um those are non-eligible expenses related to the grant. So the county has to incorporate those into our
project. So those are local expenses. >> Thank you. >> But we still have about a third of the project paid for by the state. >> That's good. >> Good. Thanks. And then on the second item on page 511, um wondered for those who might not
understand what the state revolving loan fund is if it could just be explained a little bit. Um and why we have to use it uh I think it's like a financing mechanism. But >> good afternoon. Uh Sam Emerson,
utilities and solid waste department director. Uh, that's a good question, Commissioner. It's the state revolving fund loan, and it's just what it says. It's a revolving fund. Um, and so we apply for low interest loans. This money comes from the federal government through the states, and the states
allocate those funds when we make application to assist in, in this case, clean water or wastewater project, septic to sewer or coral gardens, and they're low interest loans. Um, and so those are available each
year. um the the committee um at FD this is within the department of environmental protection and they meet uh four times per year uh and we've been able to get financing through them pretty successfully over the last 5 years and so we use that mechanism as
opposed to a bank loan which is typically a higher interest rate. These loans can go out to 20 years typically they are a 20-year loan. bank loans. If we're going to borrow uh 20 million or $15 million for a project, um banks are a little uneasy extending loans beyond
15 years. And so we prefer the state revolving fund loan. >> So we would be borrowing from the state revolving loan fund for the portion that the county uh is adding into our project. Is that >> Yes. Typically, we'll have local funds.
There are some uh revenue sharing funds that the county provides to the utility to reduce the cost of these large vacuum sewer projects. The board's policy was a goal of a cap of $12,000 on these projects. In order to do that, the
general fund has assisted. There's um FPNL franchise fees that are utilized as well as local match local funds to buy down the cost. And typically the loan is generally the same value as the assessment to those properties in the
MSBU. And so um that is our repayment. That's the revenue stream to repay the loan is the assessment. Commissioner, if I could add to it, is um >> we get grants and we have local funds that are paying for a portion of the project and then we have the assessment
which the homeowner pays and the homeowner can pay cash upfront or we can put it on their assessment over time. The the county still has to pay the contractor the total value of the
project when they build it. So, if we're going to allow a property owner to pay it over 20 years at $800 a year on their tax bill or something like that, we don't have the funds internally to upfront those funds. So, this SRF fund
is really the borrowing is on behalf of the property owner who's going to receive an assessment. So, it's uh the repayment is from the um through the special M the MSBU is what's paying it back. Um, and so again, the property
owner has a choice and to keep the cost as low as property possible to the property owner. Obviously, the cheapest mechanism for us to write a check all at once with no interest at all, but the SRF is a lower rate than we can get from from a bank. Uh, and then the repayment
is managed by um uh outside consultants essentially working with the tax collector. So once it's done, actually we don't we don't see it again. and th and those um uh um that debt, if you will, is really occurred by our
residents who receive the benefit um as opposed to like a utility project that's at our plant. >> Good. Thank you, >> Commissioner Campy. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Donaldson, to your point, I remember several months
ago or maybe in the last election cycle, folks were the amount of money that is borrowed for the construction of those massive projects that is going to be repaid by individual residents, the the amount of the debt looks as though it's
county debt. Correct? When you hear people saying, "Oh, the county has $und00 million worth of debt." That number includes this. It's listed as it, but it the revenues pledged are by those special assessments borne by those folks in the MSBU.
>> Correct. But if someone was just, you know, casually reviewing our overall financial circumstances of the county, it looks as though we have a massive debt except it's it's working debt based on these projects. >> Correct. >> Thank you. Bears repeating.
>> Commissioner Vargas. >> Yes. Um, where did he go? There he is. Uh, yes. the uh the interest rate is rather attractive for the homeowner, is it not? >> 1.83%. >> Yeah, it's it's like the old days of a couple of
years ago, the fake money. But anyway, uh it's quite attractive. So, you know, if they're earning more on an investment, they may want to stretch it out, but we make it convenient for them, too. >> That's a good point. That's that's exactly right. We've been able to uh the
loans to date have been less than 2%. Mhm. This one point, this one's 1.83%. >> And they have up to 20 years to pay. >> That's correct. >> A good deal. >> One more question for Mr. Emerson, Matt. >> Um, are there caps on how much we can
borrow at a time? Like, are there limits? Because we had a meeting last night. Can we just borrow what we need and get the uh Palm City old Palm City project going with more money? Right now, >> that's probably a different loan. Um, these are typically for clean water,
which is waste water, uh, or drinking water. And we're capped at $20 million. Each entity is capped at $20 million >> total or yearly. >> Yearly, >> Leo, get some money. >> You have >> any further questions? And real quick,
and that that's why we're doing this amendment here because we hit our cap and we got about half the funding we had requested um last year and this is the second half of that funding. So that's the reason for the amendment because we had hit our cap already.
>> For which year? >> It was for I think last year. >> Okay. >> So we have another year to reach our cap starting October one. >> Right. And I think going forward we're going to probably we we had these grouped um some of these were grouped
into multiple projects because we wanted to get approved for the total 20 million cap and so that's why we've bundled several of the projects. >> Thanks Commissioner Heatherington. >> I'm just curious the $20 million cap we've reached that in the past and what
does the state put into that fund statewide? I'm just curious. It varies uh based on the federal budget and the state budget as well. Um it's tens of millions. >> I'll have to look that up. >> I don't have that number >> off hand.
>> Thank you. >> Is there a motion >> for the whole state? Tens of millions. >> Yes, that's correct. I'll make a motion as long as a lot of the money goes to Palm City. >> Don't forget about Jensen Beach and Rio. >> They're all done up there. >> I'll second it. >> There's a motion in a second. All those
in favor? I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Department two doesn't have anything. Department four. [Applause]
Department four is solicitation for public private partnership for a public facility. Commissioners, before we take up this matter, um you want to motor through or you want to make a break? >> Motor through. In that case, do we need to take Well, let's You want to take a five 10 minute break for this closed
captioner >> and then motor through? >> Yes. >> All right, let's do that. 10 minutes. Well, look at your watches, commissioners. I know that none of you can tell time. You're on. Excellent. Thank you. We are now taking up department 4, which is
solicitation for a public private partnership. We call it a P3 for a public facility. Take it away. >> Yes. Good afternoon, commissioners. Uh MRAM, assistant county administrator. Joining me is Sean Donghue, our general services director. And today we're here
for a uh request for approval to do a solicitation for a public private partnership or P3 for a public facility. So this um proposal and or this public facility would include uh basically
three things. one, it would include a um either a backup dispatch center or a public use for one of our other departments or constitutional offices. The second thing would be medical offices that we could potentially lease out or the builder could lease out. And
then the third thing is our um ultimately our wellness clinic. So, we're asking for a two-step process for the solicitation. The first step would be the request for qualifications where we would receive the qualifications from the biders. We would evaluate those with
our selection committee and then the final two or three top two or three uh biders would then be um invited to participate in the request for proposal. And once we get those proposals from the top two or three biders, the selection
committee will evaluate them and then bring them back to the board for recommendation. Um there is one other item on this uh prop uh this agenda item that I have and that's to um ask that we change the land
the current land use on there. It's designated as general institutional and in order for us to have medical on this property we need to change that to uh commercial office residential. So um ultimately
we have three recommendations. One, move that the board approve the issuance of the solicitation of the public private partnership proposals for the construction and financing of a county facility. Two, move that the board direct staff to return with evaluation results and re recommendations following
the review of the proposals. And three, move that the board adopt a resol resolution to initiate a future land use map amendment to the comprehensive growth management plan to change a portion of the county property from institutional general to commercial
office residential for the purpose of accommodating a revenue generating public private partnership project. Um so that concludes my presentation. We'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. I for one am very excited to be taking this next step.
>> Commissioner Heatherington. >> Um yes, I agree. I just thought of this question. If for some reason I know that they likely will never sell this property, we have, you know, big plans, but if it were to this particular
property to revert or be be used for something else, could we take the core could we take the zoning back to its original zoning? If we were to sell it for unforeseen reason, Elise Elder, so prior to selling it, we can come back to the board to
reszone it or change the land use the core off of it. >> Whatever the board wanted to do. >> Thank you. I'll move approval. >> Commissioner Caps. >> Yes. U this is a request for the board to consider approval of a solicitation
for priv private partnership and uh P3s can also be unsolicited. >> That's correct. >> As well, right? >> Yes. Yes, sir. That's correct. And that that's a very interesting concept like where maybe maybe the local government
wouldn't necessarily feel the need to do something but some private interest could come in and say hey we want to build a a building on a public private partnership basis. Here's our unsolicited bid.
Is that is that the kind of thing that was done with the golf courses and JD Park? I think I think that's kind of what happened up in Tallahassee, wasn't it? >> Yeah, that was my understanding of how those came about. Yes, sir. >> Yeah. Yeah, that that was interesting.
>> And then how long have P3's been around? This whole concept, is this a new thing? >> It's newer. I believe there was some change to the legislation in the past few years, but um it was probably what 2008 or so I think is when the >> 15 years >> 15 years.
>> Mhm. So with a P3, the county owns the land and then the private partner is going to own the building. >> That's correct. >> And at the end of a term of years, probably 20 or 30 years or something,
the title to the building itself reverts over to the county eventually. >> Yes, that's correct. So ultimately, we'll own the land. We'll have say in the design and the development of this project, but we're going to be working with a builder to construct it uh
utilize their expertise in building a medical facility and realize their cost efficiencies uh while building this. M and when you mention utilizing their expertise, that's one of the advantages of the P3 where there are these people that go
around the state and they have a niche in construction of various unique types. You know, perhaps they're good at building hospitals or libraries or or certain types of facilities. They uh and
you have a lot less problems when you have this sort of specialty contractor. >> Correct. Sean Donghue, general services director. Yeah, exactly right. Uh county could build it. We're not experts. We've never built a medical facility before.
We've never designed one. Uh we could >> we could make several mistakes along the way. Uh we get the specialty guys to come in and build it. They'll be much faster. So time is money. uh and they'll be much more efficient in uh in how they construct it specific for that use.
>> Good. Thank you, >> Commissioner Vargas. >> What is the typical, if that's the right word, or most beneficial to the county length of an agreement with a P3 partnership?
Would it be 15 years, 20 years? Is that doable? >> So, we're we're working with Coachman Wakefield. are going to help us evaluate the proposals. Also, uh will involve the budget office, but once we get those proposals, we'll bring them back to you and we'll be able to evaluate the
financing um when when those proposals are submitted. >> I don't think there's an exact answer. It depends on the project. Um I because some P3s um the the challenge with the the the state
language in the P3 is it's it's it allows a lot of different types of projects. So um there are sometimes we might use one like in where transportation where tolls and the P3 is building the facility and getting a percentage of the toll revenues and the
toll revenues they may be for so many years um or it might be through a utilities projects where there's a sir tax or something on top of your utility bill that you're that you're using it. So, um that diversity makes it hard to
say, but typically the uh it's going to be the benefit of um um if if it's a and I think the school boards have used it where sometimes um the P3 entity has actually found the
property and developed the land and the building uh for the entire project and then that facility got turned over at the end of this lease. purchase, if you will, project concept where you're you're paying the the entity owns the land and the building until the end. The
all the projects that we've contemplated, we don't need that type of service. We're just looking for the expertise in the building construction. But I think you would typically see a 15 or 20 year uh certainly no more than 30 year life. Giving our typical process,
if you ask Miss Merly, she likes loans that are short-term that we could pay off in the eventuality. So, we're usually um we don't like to the total interest cost over the life of the project. We like to keep to a minimum. >> Any further questions, comments?
Is there any public comment? Seeing none, back to the board for a motion to approve. >> Um I offered a motion to approve. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Next up is department five, which is consideration to adopt an official Martin County flag. >> Where's Gail? >> Morning, Madam Chair. George Stokus, assistant county administrator. Uh before on April 8th of 2025, this body
directed staff to prepare an item outlining the process as well as the creation of an official Martin County flag. Um before you today will be two options. I'll scroll down to that, but uh staff wants to bring your attention that under Florida law um local government
flag designs are public records and therefore are classified as public domain. Local governments including counties generally cannot copyright their flags unlike the county seal which is afforded a statutory protection under section 165. Um
we also would uh as staff if once you select a flag we will create a flag display policy uh that would only affect or govern county direction and before you so we met uh behind but here are the two options for the flag. Um
>> can you rotate? >> I'm gonna >> You're fabulous. >> Do my best. No, I do not get to have access to do that. So uh Donna, do you get access to rotate it? While we're doing that, option A was inspired by the Martin County Seal. The
design features the county sailfish emblem uh prominently at the center and the sun in the upper right corner of the uh uh flag and the words Martin County displayed along the lower portion. All colors incorporated in this
design are drawn directly from the existing county seal. option B which we'll scroll down is a similar design. Uh it's uh it newly rec it is uh highlights Martin County's newly
recognized champion black mangrove tree. The design places the tree against the outline of the sun with four horizontal lines representing the three counties three rivers in Lake Okachchobee. The words Martin County are displayed along the bottom or lower portion of the flag. Again, all colors are consistent with
those found in the county seal with the exception of the additional green uh in the leaves. As far as initial capital and ongoing maintenance costs, uh in order to have a flag of this manner uh displayed outside of this building, uh general services has instruct informed
me that the cost to do so would be $15,000. for indoor display with staff purchasing approximately 10 double-sided 4x6 flags approximately $70 each with two 8-ft flag poles with bases at approximately
$60 per set. Uh staff estimates the indoor display cost to be approximately $1,000. And of course, there'll be ongoing maintenance costs which will consist primarily of replacing the above components at the as they reach the end of their useful life. Uh, and with that, and I apologize, but I guess we cannot
flip the item. I can put this if I can go very old school and put this up on the doc cam. >> You know, in my entire 15 year, I've never used the doc cam, so I don't even know how to turn it on. >> See?
>> Oh, it's perfect. George, >> see that? You're like an expert. That's a little >> That's right. >> That's option A. >> That is option A. And then this, I apologize, is option B. >> I like the fish.
>> And with And with that, I'll take any comments, questions, concerns, and look forward to your decision. Commissioner Heatherington. >> Yes, I like option A and B. I think option B would be greatly used um in
some of our tourism development council. Um, I prefer option A except for option A's. Um, is a marlin and we just would I would want it we would need to change it to a sailfish. >> Thank you. Thank you for all of the
fishermen out there that >> recognize that. >> We we'll make that change. I was not aware of the difference. >> Can you tell? >> George, switch it back to the other one, please. It should look like that fish back there. >> Yes, >> that fish.
>> I I like option A because I believe it it kind of is our brand that we have on our seal and is very consistent with that. Um, so that's why I prefer that option. Again, I think B is is beautiful
and I I'm hoping that we can find um some usage out of that for many other things. >> I would I like option B. I think that the mangrove is should be the symbol of Martin County. I think that it's it's a
it's an environmental message that we want to send that our residents send to us, I think, every day. Commissioner Campy. >> Thank you. Um I like a um I get the concept of the
mangrove should be our our image. However, it's not. This is historically not this particular fish, but historically it's a sailfish. It speaks to the water. We're on the coast. I like the sun. I know that this is just a
color copy of and then put on the doc cam. So the colors are not accurate, but I think would be important is if you're using or whoever designed this if they had panone the little panone squares that we can actually see because we
obviously want the sky. I like the light blue color of the sky, but whatever color this is for the water. I mean, it's probably accurate, but we would hope that in a flag it would be bluer than that. This is brackish or whatever this Yeah. this is, you know, and that's
why the fish is mostly out of it, I guess. So, all kidding aside, I think this is a nice idea. I know that we had a member of the public come forward and sort of ask us to initiate this. I think it's something that we have thought about for a while. It is more of a, you
know, a nicity than a necessity, but there's no reason that if we kept it simple. I also like the fact that um we wouldn't necessarily copyright it and make residents participate in it. I think letting it be open source where
we've created this is sort of our flag, but if people wanted to, you know, have pride in their community, it can be a flag, but it could also be a bumper sticker or a cling or let the members t-shirts uh let the members of our
public utilize it. uh as long as they don't well they can do whatever they want I guess in terms of doctoring it but if this is going to become our official emblematic flag then let residents participate in in using it but I think
this this is the right version for us it makes not to that I agree with what commissioner said that and it's actually a very nice logo the the man uh the u mangrove tree and the way it looks but this is more if you were thinking What's
Martin County? It's this >> selfish capital of the world >> on the selfish. >> Is there a motion? >> Yes, there is. I make a motion that this uh option A become our uh official Martin County flag with the uh
enhancement of the blue of the water and correcting the fish silhouette to be a sailfish. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. opposed. That motion passes four to one with Commissioner Herd to send. Thank you.
>> Madam Chair, I just for just for clarification, am I to move forward with an outdoor display as well or do you want to limited just indoor? >> Did you say that the outdoor display would cost how much? >> $15,000. >> I think we could wait.
>> Yeah, I I think so, too. >> For a little bit. Let's start with the indoor. We can put it right up here behind us. >> That's right. >> Okay. Thank you very much, Tina. Great. Department six is request approval of services agreement. >> George, excellent job. >> Prop logics
uh orange data systems and adopt a resolution establishing a fee schedule. >> Mr. Dhy. >> Good morning, commissioners. For the record, Jeff Dy with the building department. this morning before you you have a uh request for consideration and
approval of a contract with Orange Data as well as the adoption of a resolution uh setting fees, some associated with Orange Data and some with the building department fees. The building department regularly performs searches for outstanding permits, expired permits
through the permit division within the building department as well as outstanding code enforcement actions associated with the code enforcement division. These are all done at the quest of title companies when they perform real estate transactions provide
title insurance. It's a very large demand on staff to do this and uh we have found a company orange data that provides this service. They integrate into our software and able to do it remote. We surveyed 16 other jurisdictions in the state of Florida
that actually use orange data as well as the fees charged. Fees range from $50 to $150 with the average being approximately $96. staff is recommending a fee of $75, which is approximately 30% just under
30% lower than the average. So, it's a competitive number. Orange Data will do all the work, collect the money, and then refund back to the county $50. That money would go half 25 to the building uh search for the permits and unexpired
and 25 would go to offset cost and code enforcement for their code enforcements. This would be a way to keep staffing to a minimum and to generate revenue to offset cost. Um, additionally with that is a agenda item that sets the fee of
$75 because the board is responsible to set that as well as what the building department does every year is review our workload, our revenue, and anticipated volume for next year. We've done that again and we found that uh it'd be consistent to reduce some of our fees
for the higherend projects um and maintain our financial viability and be able to pay our overhead as well as the overhead contribution back to the county. Uh on a very simple uh explanation, I would say that if you went next door to Walgreens and bought a
soda, you would pay $2.50 for that bottle. But if you bought a case, you would not pay $60 for that case. you expect a discount and it's the same as the scale economy uh with a larger higherend uh building. So those in the
higher end got a reduction um because of the scale economy we have to under statute 553 uh financially independent use our funds we're not supposed to make profit and at the same time look at the entity as a whole but look at the individual services each received as
well. Um we've been able to maintain $89.50 50 cents for the very small items and that's been going for over 20 years and so we're keeping that very friendly and then keeping it consistent with the scale economy. So with that I would uh
request approval of the orange data contract and adopter adoption of the resolution uh for the fees as established and be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Mr. Caps. >> Yeah. How about the timing for the searches? I would imagine something like
this is really timesensitive and people are when they when they call and say, "Hey, uh, I need a search done because my I have a real estate transaction in play here and what do you know? There are open permits
um for construction activity in the past and it's holding up my closing. I need this really fast. Can I get it today?" I mean like uh do these people have a good track record for producing results quickly? >> Typically the requests come from the
title insurance company not necessarily from the individual and it depends how quickly the title insurance company was given the contract to settle. Obviously if you have a 60 90day settlement there's a lot more time if that time is much shorter for whatever reason. Um if
it's a very clean and there's no open ones it's quick. If there is open or expired ones, we have to look at what the individual case is and how do we remedi remedy it. If it's a code enforcement action, did the code enforcement resolve? Was the grass cut?
Was the boat moved or whatever it be appropriate. So, they they can vary all over the place, but we do get the emergency, please rush this quick, and we do get the um better timing on them uh to clean up. So, it's it's across the board,
>> right? like our our in-house people, you know, can respond quickly to things, but, you know, that's always a concern when you're dealing with a third-party contractor. You know, are they going to be able to service people quickly enough? But if you if you think we're
good there, we uh specifically use this this company because they integrate in with the seller our software, which is hugely important. and we re referenced the 16 entities we reached out to to check not only their service and the fees and it was very positive.
>> Good. Thank you. >> Further questions? >> I would make a motion to accept staff's recommendation. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously.
>> Thank you very much. We will now go on to department seven which is permission to use construction management at risk. We call it Seymar delivery method for the Hobound beach ocean rescue building. Welcome back Mr. Donahghue. >> Thank you. Good afternoon. Sean
Donahghue, general services director. U this is a request to use Seymar for the construction delivery method for the Hopetown Beach Ocean Rescue Project. uh the reasons why we want to use this and and I think we have a uh a presentation
uh Donna to uh we we have a presentation to show uh just the site plan and where we've been with this project. So, this is a request to um replace uh the two existing facilities, the restroom facility and the pavilion
facility, as well as build a uound ocean rescue facility on the south end of the of the parcel here. Uh we would replace basically both of these the older facilities in the same general location. Uh making room a little bit for the for some handicap parking. Uh and then
adding the the 850 foot ocean rescue facility on the south end. uh fire rescues here if you have any questions about the design or the use of that facility. Uh but you can see some of the concepts uh that we've uh walked through the town uh commissioners with and uh
received some very good comments back uh in direction. We've had twotory versions. We've had various versions of one story and they kind of keyed in on this one. Uh it's a little bit more low-key. Uh it does enhance uh some of the architecture of the pavilion just a little bit and and kind of gives them mostly what they're looking for. We
still have to work through the commission uh and the town's process and site development process. So, we're just at the early stages of that. Uh the reason for this request though is to have our contractor on board so we can hit the ground running. Uh because the town has an ordinance that says we can only do construction up to November 1st
and not and not after November 1st until uh I think it's April 30th. So, there's a limited uh construction window. We want to try to hit the ground running as soon as we can in the first of the year uh and get as much done as possible by November. Uh it's a little bit of a constricted site. It's between the
parking lot and the dune. Uh so we think we think a construction manager could help us with this. >> Mr. Caps. >> Yeah, I I I know this stuff will come later, but I wanted to mention a couple of things.
um on the pavilion roof in the middle. That one to me is the most important. Um uh my preference would be to make it to look exactly like the one we've got. Uh very simple roof structure just up and
over. The reason is because >> what do you know about roofs? I mean, come on. >> Simple roofs are better, less problems. But but that pavilion roof is in
>> the artwork of numerous art paintings. It's a part of the history of Hope Sound. It's part of the the mystique of our town. I mean like when you think of iconic things in Hopes Sound, there's the JD Tower and then there's the the
Fusree Road and that pavilion roof at the end. and and I would really strongly prefer that it be it look just like the one we got and and at the same size as well. I think that's really important. I mean if
people feel like it's smaller um and they don't have as large of a sitting area, they're going to be upset about it. And like I don't even really like the double column poles that hold it up. Just those round ones just like just like what we got.
Uh, I I I think that would really be the best way to go. And uh, it's not controversial. It's not a change. It's just new. And it does need to be new, by the way, because if you sit under that canopy and you look up at the tongue and
groove ceiling, uh when salt hair um blows against that raw wood over the years, it gets kind of like a hairy surface on it. And it has a name, doesn't it? >> Fuzzy wood.
>> Fuzzy wood. and it's like deterioration and it's all over it in numerous places and I think the fascia boards are bad and uh so it it definitely needs to be replaced but I hope it'll be exactly like as
closely as possible to what we have because it's in all the artwork. And then um on page 662 we have a picture of a twostory structure but um this rendering that you have on the
screen right now appears to be one story for all three buildings and >> you're you're looking at the CIP sheet for the project and that's a representative structure. I believe that's the >> okay >> Jensen Beach structure >> but that's not necessarily what we're
doing. No, sir. Go ahead. Okay. >> No, Commissioner, we uh reviewed all of these, if you remember, with the the the Jupiter Island Commission. >> Um and um uh >> Right. >> So, uh we'll we'll work with you.
>> We want it to be functional and and what the what the firefighters need and ocean rescue needs, of course. And if they really needed something bigger, that'd be one thing. But, you know, low-key is good for our style done in district 3. >> I agree. I agree. And also any changes
that are made need to go back to the town. >> Commissioner Caps should go with you to the town. >> He should seems like >> No, we're done. >> Commissioner Vargas. >> Okay. Um on 662 page 662 it says that
the >> have a water stricken for that >> facility is on a septic waste disposal system. So what changes >> it currently is on septic tank. Uh we're working with the town to repurpose an IQ main uh 6-in main that's in the ground
already adding lift stations and other structures to uh make uh to give that town and give this facility the start of a sanitary sewer system. Okay. Yeah, but that's super important there. Exactly. >> in in Well, this is Jensen Beach. >> Uh it's a very simple roof. I just want
to point it out. Is that correct, Commissioner Caps? >> Simple roof. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's pretty simple. That's pretty simple. But that that other picture is probably more in keeping with our style which is like a one-story >> smaller structure if if it's functional
and if it's you know meets the needs of uh ocean rescue. >> Yes sir. >> Commissioner Heatherington. >> Yes. So I defer to the of course the district to um for the design but as far as the delivery method the construction
management at risk I think is a powerful tool. I've been an advocate of it because I think it offers efficiencies, cost savings for the taxpayers and I'm glad to see that we're using um that kind of delivery model and I think that will work very well on this project. I
would be glad to uh move approval for the delivery method of the Seymar for this project. >> Commissioner Vargas. >> Yeah. The delivery method, the Seymar, uh, means that the contractor has an amount that cannot be exceeded. Any
change orders are on their dime. Is that correct, not the taxpayers? >> We will come back to the board with a contract for a guaranteed maximum price uh, based on the design and the time frame to get it constructed. Uh, change orders can be applied, but they will be
ownerdriven. So if the if the if we wanted to change something in mid design or mid construction, then it would be on us and we and we would issue a change order if that's what we wanted to go. But they were supposed to give us a guaranteed maximum price and it's not to exceed. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay.
>> Second. I'll second. >> Any further questions, comments? There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Uh, next up is permission is department 8, which is permission to use
construction management at risk semar delivery method for the Martin County Sheriff's Office firearms training facility. >> Correct. Same same request. Uh, this is the CIP project to enhance the the current facility uh current property to
include a shoot house facility and as as well as uh a lot of safety improvements. uh since we uh we looked at moving this facility or moving this property out west a while back uh that was very cost prohibitive. It was according to my calculations it was going to be in the
14 to 17 million range just to get back to where we are today with our current facility. So uh we elected to stay at the current facility and and enhance it. Uh and this is one of the enhancements is uh to provide a chute house facility for the sheriff's office training. Uh
this would be a pole barn uh with a training facility underneath it so they can do live exercises. Uh it's basically a mock uh building that we could do several different things with. We could have twotory sections of it, mezzanines, uh hidden hallways, hidden rooms where
they have to breach and and rescue uh as needed. So, and then the other uh enhancements would be a uh warehouse facility so they can store their outdoor apparatus and some other other things inside inside that warehouse. Uh it would have the gun cleaning station, the
restrooms. Uh this this project also includes connecting to the water and wastewater systems that were just recently finished on 84th and Bush. Uh so that's a good improvement for the overall site. Um and that's that the Seymar could help us out. It's a it's going to have to be constructed um in an
active shooting range for you know property. Uh so I think we can get their expertise and and how we can keep the facility open while we're doing some major construction on it. So I think there's benefits there. >> Mr. Donahghue, as I recall over the past several years, we've spent millions of
dollars upgrading this facility and now we're proposing to dump another $7.4 million. How on earth do we get to these figures? the seven the the CIP sheet needs to be adjusted and I think when we come back with the >> you can adjust it up or down.
>> I think it's going to go down a little bit. It currently shows an outyear uh improvement of uh replacing um the the new modular trailers that we just put in with a formal um training facility, a classroom and and office training facility. Uh we can we can kick that can
down the road because we just spent some money on on uh adding a couple different trailers there uh that that'll you know suffice for the sheriff's office for at least the next 10-15 years. >> What are we going to do with those trailers? >> They're current they're going to be used as a classroom uh facility and a office
facility. >> Well, it says here that we're going to build a permanent 12,000 square foot classroom, >> right? >> In addition to the two temporary ones. >> No, no, ma'am. that the future project would be to replace the unintelligs when their end of life comes and put a
permanent facility there. But we had to ramp that up because the existing classroom or existing modular, it was actually one of the old um courthouse from way back. Uh that fell apart on us. We had to replace them quicker than we thought. Uh we had a great deal with mobile modular to bring in a couple
brand new for new modulars. So, we've been able to bring those in, get the sheriff what he needs, uh, and and kick that future improvement down the road a little bit. >> So, we'll adjust the CIP sheet when we come back in with a a guaranteed maximum
price for this project. >> Commissioner Vargas. >> So, um, if we're not building a permanent structure, what we have there now, plus if you need another modular, that would suffice. That would work. we can wait another 10 or 15 years. Is that
what I'm understanding? >> Let me let me let me reexplain the project a little bit. Uh again, um the current request is to build a shoot house facility and a warehouse. That's in addition to the currently
replaced classroom modular and office modular. There was uh last year a cla a joint classroom and office modell uh that was very old is way way beyond its useful life. We just replaced that facility with the two new modulars. So we are not
asking to build a new classroom or uh training or or office uh building at this time. So we will adjust the CIP sheet when we come back in with the budget for this shootute house and warehouse facility to push that way beyond the outy years
>> 10 or 15 years or more down the road. Uh and we'll just concentrate on the shootute house and warehouse facility. >> Any further questions? >> Move approval. >> Second. >> Commissioner Heatherington. >> I'll move.
>> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. >> All righty. >> Uh next is another department 9 which is permission to use construction
management at risk semar delivery method for the supervisor of elections expansion. >> This is a another great candidate for Seymar. It's going to be on a very tight uh occupied site with an occupied building. It has a limited window of construction. Uh I think the uh
construction manager can help us navigate through uh a lot of those constrictions and get this project built much more efficiently than we could if we did design bid build. So that's the request. >> Commissioner Heatherington, >> I think this project is another good example of how I think Seymar will
provide efficiencies and cost savings and I will move approval of that delivery method for this project. >> Commissioner Caps. >> Yes. Well, the the Semar method instead of the P3 method that we talked about earlier, in both of those
cases, you're dealing with a specialty contractor, right? Somebody who's kind of used to building or no, that's more of the P3 thing, right? Specialty contractor. >> Yes. >> Yeah. They're they're they're not so similar. Uh the the semar is a process that allows us to bring in the contractor and this could be a general
building contractor. >> Uh but they we can bring them in upfront instead of waiting for the design to be done and the permitting to be done and then advertise for a contractor and get a bid on low bid. Uh we can bring in the contractor up front to help us with the design, help us navigate uh the some of
the issues with building projects on cons, you know, occupied sites, uh very tight sites. uh and we can get that guaranteed maximum price uh at the end of at the end of that process versus using a low bid which may have uh issues in it that come back with change orders
and uh multiple issues down the line. So we kind of fared out some of those problems up front with the Seymar process versus waiting for change orders to come at us later. And the seamar is particularly useful when you have a tight time schedule like at Hope Beach
and also with the supervisor elections. Um this this work has to be done before the next election season, right? >> So that that's what puts the time crunch on this one. >> If it's a tight site, if it's a tight schedule, yes, those are great opportunities. I think it's a I think
Semar is is wonderful for all vertical construction personally. uh you know we can get rid of some of the problems uh as we design it using a contractor to have that input along the way uh and I think we can reduce the amount of change orders as we move forward and get projects done uh in a in a quicker
fashion much more efficient fashion >> and cheaper >> and I have one more observation about this project and and the the few other ones that we've just talked about earlier the uh the wellness clinic the sheriff's firearms
and the supervisor elections expansion. These are all capital projects and these are some examples of the kinds of things that could really take a hit if we have sort
of um radical tax reform from Tallahassee. if hopefully they will tone some of their ideas down, the ones that we're hearing about are so draconian that these are
the kinds of things that would have to be take the hit first and um if we had massive cutbacks in our budget that are forced upon us. Um so uh that's uh something we ought to all keep in mind
and in our lobbying to our state delegation and writing letters to state representatives and state senators. >> Commissioner Bragus. >> Okay. I see here on page 672 staff is exploring exploring various grant
options. Can you do that for these other projects also? And are you doing it for this when this is the elections? >> We've worked with the the supervisor. I I don't think there's any option any grant available for us on this
particular project. Um they did received in the past some uh hardening grants uh to fix up that facility. Uh but on this one with the speed of how fast we need to get this done for her election cycle and everything uh I think we're past the grant stages. Now, now I know that they
are redesigning the interior so there's an easier flow when folks are going into >> cast ballot and exiting the building. So, it would be sufficient to handle this next cycle of election
if some of the other variables came into place rather than having to run and construct this facility. Is that correct? where they're currently doing the canvasing and the early voting. Um, we're we're adding on a a a separate
canvasing area so we can expand early voting into the current canvasing. So, we have to we have to build it so we can expand the other areas and do uh be more efficient with the >> right. I understand that. I was there. I looked at it. You explained thoroughly as the supervisor of elections. What
we're talking about here is construction of half of the parking lot, but where she is and your your redesign would be sufficient for the next election should that be necessary.
>> When we get the contractor on board and we we can work through the schedule of it. Yes, we're going to work around it. >> Contractor interior. >> Well, the exterior and interior, it's going to be the same contractor. I know, but this is construction of a new building that we're talking about in
addition to the existing. But you were redesigning modifying the inside as I recollect. >> Yes, ma'am. A portion of this project is redesigning the inside of the facility as well as building onto it to expand the facility. >> We we may have to to wait and see. As
Commissioner Caps had concern, I've always had concerns about this about changes in funding we're going to receive. So >> it would carry us through the next election. >> No, >> we the CIP project is is fully funded at this point.
>> Uh that we could move forward with it >> if we can come in within this budget. >> We may have to cut back though >> as he mentioned too. So >> as directed, >> we have to take that into account. We can't be oblivious. We can't be blind to it. So >> Commissioner Caps.
>> Yeah. I remember taking a tour and and our uh supervisor of elections, Vicky Davis, seemed to suggest that she has a real problem with early voting. The popularity of early voting is what caused this surge of sort of a mob scene
in that small area there. So, and she expressed that it was quite urgent and uh so >> Mr. Kippy, >> I would echo Commissioner Caps's con uh comments having served just recently on
the canvasing board. Uh I know that Miss Davis and her staff have uh really over several years in such a small footprint have maximized what has happened uh in
results in in terms of voting, especially as Commissioner Cap said, early voting is much more popular than it used to be. but also for us as a county in Florida to make sure that she has everything that she needs for the uh
consistency and the and that people feel confident in the accuracy and the legitimacy of the votes. So, I know that this is something that she has been working on very carefully for a long time. I think this one out of the three
that we've discussed thus far, although all three are important, is the most important. So, I would make a motion to accept. Commissioner Heatherington, >> second that motion, echo those comments. Having served on the canvasing board a number of times and very much enjoyed
it. Um, we are fortunate to have a supervisor of elections who has one of the best reputations in the state for election integrity and security. And if you've served and you've got those ballots stacked up in every tiny little
space in that canvasing room um used and maximized to the the hilt, I think it's definitely an an urgent necessity. Um it should it needs to be done between elections. So I would gladly second the the motion. >> There's a motion in a second. All those
in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. We will take up our last item which is department 10 environmental lands acquisition program approval of properties recommended by the environmental lands oversight committee ELOC
uh as the 20 24 sales tax program acquisitions. Mr. Houston, good morning. Afternoon. >> Good morning everyone. I'm Michael Houston. Oh, I guess good afternoon. Yeah. Uh, senior project manager in the Martin County Environmental Resource
Division to talk about our land acquisition program and where we're at. So, as we're all aware, in 2024, we uh passed a referendum here in Martin County that author authorizes sales tax to help acquire environmentally
sensitive lands. And as a part of that referendum, it required us to establish an environmental lands oversight committee or ELOC whose purpose was to review and rank proposals uh to then be brought before you. And our oversight
committee met on September 5th, 2025 and recommended the acquisition of 16 properties. So staff is here today to seek your approval to authorize the use of sales tax funds for these acquisitions. So this just this map is meant to give
you an idea of what properties were looked at by the oversight committee where they are and how many acres. So in total we looked at 16 properties containing over 9,000 acres of land for conservation and these properties were
represented in all the four acquisition zones that we had previously established which as you might recall included the Indian River Lagoon South Palmar Locki and the Blueways and the acreage of those properties vary quite a bit from
as much as 3500 acres in the Palm Beach Heights or Palmar area to a single acre out in our beach areas at Perry Beach Edition. Uh this is just meant to outline the process that we use for properties that come in as potential acquisitions. So
they have to be sub they have to be nominated and submitted to staff. We then review those uh proposals and see if they are concurrent with our ordinance and also that we have a willingness to sell from the landowner. We then if we have enough information we
then take those proposals with supporting information and provide it to our oversight committee who then review and rank the meeting and once that happens we bring it before you to review and vote on whether to proceed with acquisition and that's the step where we're at now. Now it's important for me
to say that this isn't the final step in terms of acquiring any particular property. This really will then just give us the do the go ahead to do due diligence, to do negotiations, to do all the things that we need to do to then bring those properties back as final acquisitions to you at some point in the
future. And that's what's outlined on the bottom of this flowchart. So once again, these ranking meetings are for our oversight committee to review information on our nominated parcels and to fill in a project ranking
form. They then make recommendations to you, the board of county commissioners, on whether to proceed with acquisition of those properties. And I also need to highlight that we are working with the Florida Natural Areas Inventory or FNA, which is a part of the
Florida State University. And their job is to uh conduct environmental assessments. They also work with the state to do their assessments for the Florida Forever program. They help us to evaluate properties that have been nominated for acquisition under our
program and they provide us all different kinds of data including habitat quality, greenways and wildlife quarters, management needs of any of these proposed acquisitions and shoreline protection areas. And then this is a this is what their
form looks like that each member has for each property. So there are 10 different criteria that we look at. those different criteria are are weighted according to certain metrics. So for instance, if something is within a cert project footprint, that gets our highest
weighted score out of any of our different criteria or rare enlisted habitats. So it just provides some weights for us to then use to help uh come up with our final scores.
And once they have provided that, we uh put them all together so we can come up for a total score for each property. >> Mr. Hafter's name is spelled wrong. >> Oops. >> Yes, thank you for that. So, um I also
want to at this point call out the rural and family lands program. It's a state program that was founded in 2001 and they uh do perpetual agricultural conservation easements. It's important to note that these are conservation easements. So they uh prevent
development on any of the properties that these easements are used for. Uh however, the primary purpose of these types of easements is to protect working agricultural lands while also conserving natural resources. The land remains in
private ownership and in production. And these easements are purchased by the state and approved by the governor and cabinet. And there's no public access requirements for any of these properties. And I wanted to do a little comparison because of, as you might
recall, the Barbie Ranch property, we used a conservation easement, but it was with the Florida Forever program. And the difference is that the Florida Forever program's primary mission is to protect natural resources, water, habitat, scenic values, and recreation.
While the rural and family lands program is primarily designed to keep working agricultural lands working in agriculture while also protecting natural resource values. So with that, I we wanted to briefly go through each of the different properties
just to give you a little sneak peek into what these areas are, how big they are, and where they are. So the first one I'm bringing up is the Palmer acquisition zone. And we have five nominated properties that fell within the Palmer acquisition zone which
includes SS Farms, the Thall family property, Palm Beach Heights which is also Palmar Elise J and Jr. Steuart lands and I know you are well familiar with the Palmar area as we've brought this up
many many times but uh the green area that you show in the area that's also been circled in red represents the properties that we have acquired including with the recent settlement agreement. However, areas without
polygons are privately owned and these are the ones that we would be looking to acquire through the sales tax program. And overall, there's roughly 3500 acres of unacquired private lands that could be potential acquisitions in this zone.
The second one is the thaw family partnership. Uh this is one of our larger contiguous pieces that was brought forward. It's a 1499 999 acre property that has a large cypress and slooh wetland systems. It is
a part of this very large connected system of greenway that extends all the way from Lake Okachchobee to the Atlantic Ocean and it includes um it is adjacent to Hungryland and it would be the missing link between Hungerland
Wildlife and Environmental Area and Corbett which is just south of this property. Is any portion of Thall already in conservation? >> No. >> The the next one is a little bit different. This is the J.R. Stewart land property. Uh so this property is
adjacent to Hungryland. It is next to the area the Palm Beach Heights area or Palmar and just to the northwest is the trailside development. Uh the property is actually currently under a conservation easement as a private
mitigation bank. although the owner has taken up very few of the mitigation credits on that property and the reason why we brought it forward is because it's in the middle of everything and it could provide recreational opportunities. It could become a part of hungry land. So there is some value in
the property even though it's currently even though it has a conservation easement on it at this time. >> Is it the entire >> Go ahead. >> entire property that has the conservation easement or just portions of it? >> Correct. the entire property.
The next one that was brought forward is a lease J and this one is to the north of that uh JR Stand property. Uh the unique thing is that to the north of that is Harmony Ranch, which has already been acquired and is being protected. So
with the acquisition of Elise J, we could have a contiguous conservation network that extends from Harmony Ranch down into Hungryland. And it could be a part of Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area. Our next property is SS Farms. This one
is 53 acres. It is primarily pasture and is actively being ranched. It is just north of the area that's uh our Palm Beach Heights Palmar complex. And this is the first property that we're bringing forward that is a part of that rural and family lands program that we mentioned. So this was submitted to
rural and family lands for a conservation easement and they've asked the county rural and family lands has asked the county to review it as a potential partnership with them. Uh so we will partner with them to provide a agricultural easement on this property.
And also of note and of importance is that the Jupiter Indian Town grade actually bisects this property. So, acquiring an easement could potentially be used to help to uh create trail access through this property, which has
been a long-term goal of of the board of county commission. Next up, we have the Indian River Lagoon South Acquisition Zone. And the only nominated property we had in this cycle is Turnpike Dairy. However, I will say that Barbie Ranch, which is in the
process of being acquired as a conservation easement, is also in IRL South. So, we've already approved one project in the zone, and this is the next one. So, it's a 488 acre property. It's primarily pasture on 84% of the program. It's another one that's been
submitted to the rural and family lands program and has asked the county to participate as a partner in acquisition of the conservation easement. Uh it is adjacent and next to Alapata Flats which has significant and I would say the development potential of this property
is maybe higher than some of the other ones on our list just because of its location. Next up we have our Lockxaluci acquisition zone. And we had six potential proposed acquisitions in this zone uh pretty much around the entire
area of the Lock of Locks Lucy. The first of which is Witworth Farms. This is a 2262 acre property that's a mixture of pastures, highquality pine flatwoods,
hydra hammock. It's it would also help to provide a protected land corridor that would extend all the way from Cove Road all the way down to county line. So south of um a bridge road, all that property has been protected as
agricultural easements. So that area can't be uh you can't have constructed in that area. But in addition, this would then secure areas north of Bridge Road extending all the way up if you include Hal Patio to Cove Road. So may it's a unique opportunity and in
addition and also of utmost importance is it is actually bisected by the south fork of the St. Lucy River and it would help to create an ecological corridor and it would help create an optimal boundary for Atlantic Ridge State Park.
Next up we have Santa Gardens. Uh that is an area. It's 225 acres in size. Uh there are individual lots that have been subdivided in that area and it's a mixture of government and privately owned lots. It includes Pine Flatwoods,
depression marshes and a large slle system. The importance of this area is it helps to buffer Atlantic Ridge State Park and it could potentially have hundreds of different uh hundreds of homes could be constructed in this area since it's already been subdivided.
>> What are the shaded lots? The shaded lots are ones that we have acquired actually. Next up, we have the Leonard parcel and this is the final of the three that we're we have been asked to review as a part of the rural and family lands program. It's a 229 acre property that's
a mixture of pastures and large cypress sloohs. Uh there is a uh actually that's a mistake. There is not. We're requesting an agricultural easement and with active cattle ranching on the property and it's not contiguous to any public lands, but
it could create a greenway to Jonathan Dickinson State Park. We have Rogers Atlantic Ridge parcel. It's a 3 acre property that's dominated by wetland systems. It is directly adjacent to the metalist property which
is a part of Atlantic Ridge and it's primarily disturbed wetlands with a very small area of scrubby flatwoods. We have another property on the south of Bridge Road. It's the Rogers Conservation Fund parcel. It's 4.5 acres and it could help link Jonathan
Dickinson and Atlantic Ridge State Parks. It has been acquired by the conservation fund, a private uh nonprofit whose goal is to protect and conserve lands and uh it could be used to support the restoration of Kitchen
Creek. Uh we could potentially look at providing some kind of flowway feature through the property that would help to capture some of the water that goes into the lockache system. We then have the Petway property. It's a 20 acre property that is in the western
eastern flowway of Kitchen Creek. It could help be helped to restore wetlands in a portion of Jonathan Dickinson State Park and support the restoration of the northwest Fork of the Lock Lockachi River which is a comprehensive Everglades restoration project.
And our final area is our Blueways acquisition zone and we have four properties that were nominated, three of which are in the same area uh for acquisition and the first one to discuss is the Jame Wild parcel. So this is in kind of a
unique location because it sits between the south fork of the St. Lucy River and the St. Lucy waterway. So that one is highlighted in red and it would help to protect St. Lucy River shorelines. The second is the Bernsteeen property
which is the one that's highlighted in blue. That one is three acres in size and also would you all of these properties would be part of a contiguous county system of conservation lands. It would fit in with lands that we've previously acquired within the blue ways
corridor. And the final is the creser property which is adjacent to Oxbow Preserve. It's 3 acres in size and it's primarily mangrove swamp. uh the owner of that property actually has an easement that could allow them to
construct a roadway through a existing county preserve land which is our oxbow preserve. So they could have the right to build a road directly through an area that we already am are managing as a part of our conservation network. And finally we have the Perry Beach
edition property that's our smallest. That's 1 acres in in size and it includes beach habitats and mangroves and it's unique in that it extends all the way across Hutchinson Island and that is adjacent to an existing county
preserve which is Clifton Esperry Beach. So moving on just highlighting some of the state plans that come into play with this. First, we have the uh SER plan, comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. And in particular in this area, we have the Indian River Lagoon South that
is designed to help capture runoff that is impairing and negatively affecting our St. Lucy River estuary. Uh the purpose of the SER Natural Lands program is to help offset lands that have been impacted by SER by acquiring other lands
and conserving those areas. The properties in question were approved as acquisition priorities by the federal government in the 2007 word bill and any acquisitions in this zone can be used by the state as a match for their cost
share with the federal government. So that money goes even further in that the federal government would then spend that amount of money on one of their C projects that they're working on. Uh we have two Elise J and Whitworth farms that are directly in IRL South and the
Turnpike Dairy Pro project is adjacent adjacent to a SER project. So it could actually potentially be added to their ledger as well. Next up we have the Florida Wildlife Quarter which is a system of state
conservation land that creates wildlife quarters and areas for wildlife to move without the throughout the state. And this would be a part of the Florida wildlife quarter segment that runs from West Palm Beach to segment to central Florida and it is listed as a priority 2
according to Florida wildlife quarter program. And finally, we have the uh for our Florida Forever program and within the Palmar Florida Forever project boundary, we have four properties that fall within that that area including J.R. Steuart Land, SS Farms, Palm Beach
Heights or Palmar and the Thal Family Partnership. And it is important to note that the Thal Family Partnership is actually listed as an essential acquisition according to their program. In our Lockx Lucy footprint, we have three properties that fall within the
Atlantic Ridge Florida Forever program, including Witworth Farms, the Rogers Treasure Coast, uh sorry, the Conservation Fund property, and the Petway property. So, with that being said, we can get to the rankings. So, the our our
environmental lands oversight committee went and ranked all these properties based on the metrics that we have provided. And here is the scores that they came up with starting all the way at the top with W with Witworth Farms being the top priority according to them and the Rogers uh conservation fund
property being the lowest ranked. However, it is important to note that the oversight committee recommended that all of these properties be approved as potential acquisitions. So, at this point, once we get uh commissioner approval to move these
projects forward, we're going to look at different things in terms of determining what properties we acquire and when. And that can include things like the threat of development or and whether or not the property could be sold to another entity. its status and potential for
funding partners like the uh FDAX, Florida Forever Water Management District, Land Trust or NOS's. We have to look at whether the cost to acquire those properties outstrip the amount of money that we've already collected. And we have to look at the
size of the properties because some of the properties that are smaller would be easier acquired than some of these larger scale projects that would require more funding partners and more effort on our part to secure. And that is the end of my presentation.
>> Nicely done. >> You've been busy. I just want to say that I uh I have great confidence in the process for these acquisitions uh and the people involved. Um I just think our staff and
our uh ELOC committee is incredibly impressive. the the depth of thought that you all have put into this, the scoring criteria, uh all the data and analysis, it's it's really impressive and we appreciate your your work.
And um you know, when I think of the Martin County difference, the word conservation is what it's all about, right? That's what that's what we're about in Martin County. And I I think about some of the founding
fathers and mothers of our county and the people who who made the largest impact in setting the course for what Martin County has remained all of these years. You know, I think of people like Nathaniel Reid,
um, who was the assistant secretary of the interior, uh, back in the 70s, I think, and a very famous environmentalist, Jupiter Island resident, and I think of Maggie Herella, uh, a very powerful figure in our
community. And I and I think about how they're probably looking down right now, and they're very pleased. So, uh, good work to all. And I would go ahead and and move approval of whatever we're asking for here. What is what is the
actual motion? Um, and we there's one addition that we need to make as well that will be uh provided by Sebastian in regards to something to consider as we uh as as a step moving forward. So Sebastian.
>> Sure. If I may, u, Madam Chair, uh, one tool that staff would like to employ as part of the initial, um, due diligence process is a non-binding letter of interest that would come from the county to a prospective seller or funding
partner. Um, and the purpose of this letter is to just show the county's interest in the property obviously and indicate that it has received um approval both from the ELOC and initial approval from the board of county commissioners. Um, this letter of
interest will fall short of a typical letter of intent that you may be familiar with in uh it's typically used in commercial real estate in that we will not be providing a sale price uh because that is dependent on the appraisals that we don't yet have in
hand. Uh but this will allow us to satisfy at least one seller and one funding partner um indicating the county's desire to move forward. So, um, we would appreciate guidance on, uh, your preference for that letter being
signed either by the board, uh, or the county administrator >> from the board. Send it from the board. >> Sure. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Send it from the board. >> Yeah, I will admit amend my motion that it be sent from the board as well. And
now the motion is to approve. What is it? How was it phrased? >> Include it's on the screen. >> Oh, there it is. There we go. Uh the recommendation there uh with the uh additional non-binding letter of
interest signed by the board. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Vargas. >> No, I mean that was my question. I I didn't I didn't want to be roped into something that was not going to be beneficial to Martin County and of course our taxpayers. So, um, we're just
doing a look, see if it works, it does. If not, shake hands and go different direction with the property owner. And, and I see the two types how you're you put here u either being a fee simple or land conservation easement. One of
the two would take title to that. So, >> and Mr. Houston, you make this look very, very easy. It's a it's a very polished presentation and it makes it look like it was effortless. And I know that you were looking over an entire county to determine eligibility for
lands. Um, and it's a it's a wonderful summation of um all the properties that you had to evaluate over the last several months. And something that we have not utilized in the past is FDAX.
and John Male and I went to uh Tallahassee a couple weeks ago and met with the rural and family lands conservation people and boy are they eager to provide uh funding for uh
arm easements. So it's this is this is a relatively new partnership for us and they're extremely enthusiastic. Um, we know John uh proposed three projects and they were very receptive and that was their first look at them
too. Um, so we have we have now have new enthusiastic partners and I'm sure that we will um work closely with them in the future to acquire additional easements, additional uh farming easements, which are terrific too because we certainly support uh
productive farming in in Martin County. Commissioner Campy, >> thank you. I agree with our chair, Mr. Houston, while you were speaking, you have like you'd be an excellent real estate agent because you really were hitting the points. I was writing things
down. Uh your first off, you and Mr. Male are leading our incredible staff with with legal and and everyone else that's involved. uh especially then with the ELOC um and the individuals you went past it
pretty quickly but the individuals that are on that committee are really rock stars and passionate the four words that I wrote down were knowledge uh preparation professionalism and it's obvious of your passion for this I think our internal staff and the organization
you know the committee brings an incredible uh level of legitimacy to the process that could potentially go off the rails uh in certain circumstances. And I don't see that being a situation here. I know
that when we originally even talked about the sales tax uh option that there was always going to be people that are concerned, but I think it has the process of getting it now an award-winning process of getting the
folks to agree. But now once it's been agreed, I think the residents can feel comfortable knowing that the process is remarkably great. And I think that we'll all benefit from the the possibility of acquiring some of these. Um, you know,
the the push and pull of development verse not development uh is always a challenge because we talk about property rights and when people own properties, they're allowed to do uh what they, you know, are allowed to do. The real only
legitimate way to uh stop that is what we're doing here. And I think again, Martin County will lead the state in how it's done. Not just the fact that we're doing it, but how we're doing it. So, thank you very much, >> Commissioner Heatherington. >> Green. Thank you very much. You made
that look very effortless, and I know that you and John have put in many, many, many hours. So, congratulations. I think the voters would be very uh proud and impressed between you two, your staff and your department, and the ELOC, the way the transparent process is
working. So, thank you. also about the composition of the the uh ELOC. It's a really really fun group, really engaged. I know that they had u a lot of fun evaluating the properties and we all think of Vicky Dabs as being our
super competent supervisor of elections. She's also a native daughter. She's, you know, her family is from Western Martin County. She's she's intimate with with the owners and the properties and she was, you know, she's we think of her as
our supervisor and she's way more. >> Their chairman's great, too. >> You know, I was talking to Vicky Davis a while back and her family is the one that started uh providing oranges and
orange juice at the Turnpike Plazas. >> That's sort of their family's claim to fame. That was very interesting. >> So we have a motion and a second. >> All those in favor? I oppose. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you
very much. Thank you. >> Is there anyone who would like from the public who would like to address us at the end of our meeting? Commissioner comments. Commissioner Vargas. >> No, I think I'm set for today. >> How about Commissioner Caps?
>> I'm good. Thank you. >> Commissioner Campy, >> I'm set. and Heatherington. >> All set. >> Mr. Donaldson, >> I I just wanted to announce I know that our um uh we we had some um uh recent awards and I'll bring them back uh uh at
next meeting, but uh just wanted to thank our staff. Susan Coror has uh certainly got a uh an award too for American Planners Association, second place for great for great places in Florida's choice award, Palm City uh
place and patio. Uh and uh very proud of that. Uh you've got the uh Susan, maybe you can say a few comments on your great achievements and want to thank you for all your hard work. Yes. Uhhuh.
Good afternoon everyone. Um we did receive a certifi certificate for finalist of greatest places in Florida for uh the patio and Palm City Place. And then we went to the Florida Redevelopment Association conference and um came home with three awards. They all
look like that. So we didn't bring all three, although they say something different. Um each year the uh FRA presents what they call the Roy F. Kenzie Awards and that honors excellence across various categories.
Um, and they give those to communities and organizations uh across the state of Florida and they celebrate a diverse array of all different kinds of innovative projects and initiatives. And for us this year, oh important to note
that they separate the awards into large and small. So large cities and counties, small cities and counties because of our population, which is how they base it, we are in with large cities and counties. So we're competing I know like
probably by 2,000 people. Um so we're competing with Miami and Tampa and Orlando and Lauderdale and and all of the places that have uh really superb programs and lots of lots of funding. So we brought home three. one for our annual report which was called live from
Martin County. It's FY24 and that was a sort of digital platform that we used and had videos and lots of media and was a lot of fun I think for people. Um we won capital projects and infrastructure category large city for the patio at
Palm City Place. And the biggest surprise was the president's award uh which we also won this year and that was also for the patio at Palm City Place. Yeah. Um that award is really the highest recognition that you can get in
this millia and um it's really what they say is the best project across all categories in the state for this past year. So that was very exciting. But as we know, none of these things happen in a vacuum. So we'd like to thank a few
people. Many sincere thanks and gratitude to all of those involved. The patio was designed by Gian Grande Engineering and it was built by Depo Pompio Construction and it really would not have happened
without county departments, public works, parks and wreck, OM were the three big ones uh that really supported us all the way and then tons of support from the old Palm City neighborhood advisory committee, the CRA board, uh the board of county
commissioners and the Palm City community as Well, uh they really were a driving force behind a lot of this. The amazing CRA staff up on the fourth floor. All of them were crucial to the success uh of this particular project.
But I'd like to call out two people which I think were the key ingredients to make all of this really successful. One is Commissioner Campy. Thank you. >> One um he got us started with a matching matching our D grant with his commission
funds. Uh and that really got the project rolling. And I will say that he was out there all the time. You say that like it's a bad thing. >> 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. weekends walking the site with us. Um and really very
involved with the planning and the development of the project really throughout its life. Um, and the second person is Jordan Pastorius, who was just immersed in the project from the very beginning. And if none of you know the genesis, it's a little bit of an
interesting story. We had an NAC member who basically sketched it on a napkin. And that is what you see out there today, which is pretty amazing. Like his idea, Jordan took it and ran with it. Um, he knows every inch of it. And I
think that uh his talent and perseverance really is unbelievable. He has taken projects from inception to awards, not this time, this once, but three times. This is his third project
that uh he's done that with. So, thank you all very much for letting me go on and on. >> Thank you. I have one other item. Um uh Mr. Stokus received a letter from um uh Bob Daniels
from the uh uh SS Point um wanting to ask um uh the commission to have a joint meeting. However, there's no agenda or or schedule to to talk about. So my um suggestion is for me to respond back or
have George respond back to Mr. Daniels that we would need more information on what a joint meeting would be referencing. And I I would suggest that if the joint meeting is specifically about items that the board has already made a decision on, then uh there's no
reason to have a joint meeting. But that would be my communication through to the town manager. Uh if that's acceptable to the board, >> Mr. Campy. Um I feel similarly but not exactly the
same. I think that if a municipality is requesting an opportunity for us to meet jointly, their members can't meet uh separate of their own meetings. We can't uh I think most of us have received phone calls or lobbying from
professionals and our colleagues that are elected. Um I am absolutely in favor of meeting with them even if it's on an issue that we might feel that is uh resolved. However, if they want to meet and they don't think it's resolved, then
I think it would in my opinion be still appropriate to meet because those are our friends and colleagues that are uh and our own constituents that live there. and I'd like to have be given the opportunity to hear what they have to
say to all of us collectively. I personally think that a lot of what they were asking for was reasonable. I know that it is, you know, multiple ways that we can look at this, but to I'm not in favor of telling them we wouldn't meet.
>> Mr. Vargas. >> Yeah, I um I have to agree with um Commissioner Campy. I think it's important that um that we resolve to sit down, have a chat with them, and see what's on their mind. And I I think definitely
send the letter and see what it is you want to talk about, but I don't want to close the door. >> Yeah, >> Commissioner Caps. Yeah, I think we should hear them out and u that's my I'd rather air on the side of that than uh
closing the uh channels of communication. So, I'm I'm into that as well. >> Okay, let's meet. >> Anything else? >> I think that's about it. >> No, I have nothing else. Thank you, >> Miss Elder. >> I just want to thank the board again for the privilege of being county attorney
and Commissioner Herd from the bottom of my heart. I want to apologize if I did anything to you in the past or anything to any employee in the past to make it think I'm biased or would try to ever make a stressful situation more stressful. I am truly sorry if I ever gave that impression. So, I just wanted
to clear the air for that. But I I'm looking forward to being county attorney and I'm going to do a really good job for you guys. >> We're looking forward to having you be county attorney. >> Thank you. Would anyone from the public like to address us? We are adjourned. I tip them.