Good morning and welcome to our --------- September 23rd border county commission meetings. We are delighted that you have joined us this morning. Please join us for the invocation by Pastor Eddie Rodriguez and following that will be the pledge of allegiance which is going to
be led by Lieutenant Joseph Kukua. Good morning. Good morning. I have a very small list, so I'll keep it really short and sweet. Good morning, Martin County Board of Commissioners. Thank you so much for having me here today. It's a great honor to open up in prayer. If we can, if we could bow our
heads and close our eyes, Lord, Father, we thank you for this wonderful morning. I thank you, Lord, for uh revealing to me five districts. For the number five in your word, Lord Father, represents grace, divine kindness, and provision. For it is written in God's word, Matthew
18:20, where two or more come together in his name, he will be in the midst of them all. So Lord, I thank you for preparing us today and uh guiding us in the right direction for your will to be done. I ask for your blessings upon our
first responders, our police force, our fire department, doctors and nurses that take care of each and every one of us on a daily basis. I ask for your blessings, Lord, Father, upon the residents and the business people of Martin County. I also ask you, Lord, Father, that you bless
the needy within this county and also within our state and our country, Lord, that those that have that we can help others that need. and always give us the strength to have you within our hearts and the fire burning within our eyes. Lord Father, I give you all the honor
and the glory as I magnify your name and lift you on high. I ask for all this to be done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Lieutenant Kaka. Good morning.
Good morning. Thank you for having me here today. 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. Lieutenant, please tell us about your career. So, in uh high school in 1989, I needed my parents to sign a permission slip so I could uh sign up and join the US Army. uh at which time in September of '89 I
went to basic training of Fort Benny, Georgia, joined the United States Infantry, was uh stationed in uh Germany in the third infantry division during which time I had the honor of serving on a combat deployment to Operation Desert
Shield and Desert Storm. uh where we were able to I was part of General Schwarzkov's seventh corps that uh we attacked right into Iraq and uh liberated Kuwait and then went back to my duty station, finished out, got out
and uh in 1994 I attended the police academy in Indian River and since then I've been had the honor and privilege of serving in local law enforcement here at the sheriff's office uh where I currently serve as the uh supervisor of
your school resource unit. You excellent. Thank you. Thank you for having us today. [Applause] Uh there's pardon me one additional item
today. That's consent number 17, which is adoption of a proclamation honoring Anna Mercedes Manero on her 100th birthday. Uh the approval of the the agenda will also include proclamations one, two, and three. Is there a motion to approve the
agenda? Move for approval. Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Let's start with proclamations. The first proclamation is a proclamation declaring the 96th Street
Artificial Reef Bulkhead Florida Inland Navigation District uh a check presentation. Good morning, commissioners. I'm Jessica Garland, the coastal program manager for Martin County Public Works. Um, so a few
years ago we applied for a grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District to build the 96th Street Artificial Reef bulkhead to um stabilize the shoreline underneath the Aundle Street Bridge out on 96th Street. So we would have a
stable shoreline to load our barges for artificial reef construction. As you can see, the shoreline was overgrown and had a steep cliff. But with the help of the Florida Inland Navigation District, we were able to build a million-dollar seaw wall so we could have barges pull right
up to the shoreline and load all of our reused and recycled concrete. The shoreline looks amazing and we are welcomed by Commissioner Michael Kennedy from the Florida Inlet Navigation District to receive our grant and he has a few words to say about the project.
Thank you very much. Uh good morning, Madam Chair. Good morning, commissioners. Mr. Donaldson. Um, I'm pleased to be here today to present this check. Uh, the Florida Inland Navigation District is a special taxing district. I realize you realize that, but hopefully
the folks in the audience don't. We're comprised of 12 counties along the Atlantic coast. uh we assess taxes on real property and I am proud to say at our last meeting last week we approved the roll break roll back rate for 2526
and have consistently over 30 years maintained the same millillage or rolled it back. Um we're the state sponsor for the Atlantic inter coastal waterway as well as the Okachobee waterway. Uh we provide uh lands for dredge material storage and placement uh which can later
be withdrawn and used by governmental entities. Uh we also provide for maintenance dashing and um in order to assure access to the water we uh actively provide grants that get our citizens out to the water. Uh to date
the district has provided $13.2 2 million in waterway assistant program funding to 97 projects in this county and we not operate on a very nominal budget. Uh some of the recipients obviously have been the county um the
sheriff's office, the city of Stewart and Jupiter Island. Uh these checks represent those grant payments for projects which have been successfully completed. Uh I also would like to point out that we have Charlie Leighton Park
in construction which we provide we will provide grant funding and as of um last week we also approved funding uh in the total amount of $919,000 for the Manatee Park seaw wall
restoration project, the Jensen Beach Causeway North Boat ramp and pier project and a partial payment for the fiddler crab access project. These are all projects who will get people down to the water. Projects we're very, very
proud of. Um, I want to compliment your team. Your team that comes to these presentations. We take two days up this year was in Cocoa Beach. Every county applies and consistently uh Martin County has placed very high in the ranking of its projects and because of
that we get our pretty much get all of our funding applied. And I'd like to thank Mr. Donaldson for the work that he's laid cuz he was on the board before I came on and he's been a he established a solid foundation. We keep plan to keep it ahead. So with that,
thank you. All right. How much is it for? How much is that check for? I can't say. Sarah, have your Do you have your pen for endorsing it? [Laughter]
[Music] I'll take it. I don't even know what he's holding. There it is. Oh, but wait, there's more. Did I get it? Good morning, commissioners. Jeff Dy with the building department. We have
round two of the find uh grants today which uh we have a double agenda item. One is for approval of the board to accept the grant and number two is a presentation of the check. The derelch vessel program is run through the building department and we're very happy
to have find as our partner to help us expedite the removal of derelch vessels throughout the county. Again uh derelch vessels is high on our agenda. Uh they're a smudge on our waters. They're an insult to boers like
me because we want to make sure our waterways are clean. Abandoned vessels, at risk vessels, um are just a huge problem environmentally, aesthetically, and for all other reasons. Your building department has been on this. Um we have a small check, maybe Jessica, did you
pick up two or one? Oh, there it is. We have a small check um because this is a small vessel uh program, $40,000, but we appreciate the hard work that the county's done. By my total, it's 106 derelic vessels removed to date. That's
phenomenal. Uh it makes the voters happy. And I also want to compliment you kind of on a sideline with the uh it's called the MS Poop. I don't know if you all know what that is, but it's a a wonderful service. And everybody who has a boat is very impressed by that service
and it's very good for the environment. And lastly, I just wanted to point out that our economic analysis shows that the waterway uh has a total economic impact to Martin County of $1 bill200 million. So, we appreciate your support
and and look forward to working with you in the future and your staff, which has done an excellent job. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] support you provide
that says 88,49. It's always nice starting the days with checks. Thank you. And spilling my Thank you very much. Daryl vessel. First time I've ever seen him on land.
The next proclamation is a proclamation recognizing the 25th annual Bible reading marathon in Martin County, Florida. Good morning, commissioners. The year 1990 was proclaimed by a joint congressional resolution and presidential proclamation as the international year of Bible reading and
Bible reading week has been celebrated annually thereafter. In recognition of Bible reading week, the 25th annual Bible reading marathon will be held October 2nd through 6th at the Banshell in Memorial Park and will feature a 90-hour continuous readthrough of the entire Bible. And here to accept we have
Pastor Eddie and Joanne Rodriguez along with Dr. Julie Bjornson. Um, step into grace and new life ministries. Here we go. Do we get to talk first? You do. You certainly do. No, please.
I'm waiting till you start the clock. You don't have to start the clock on a pro. I panic. Look at what I did. Start the clock. I retracted half of my speech. Okay. Uh good morning commissioners. Thank you so
much. 25 years of supporting the Bible reading marathon. It's amazing. Thank you so much. Uh this event is very special to me. The Bible marathon is my thank you to God for my healing and for our nation. Several years ago in Canada, I was hit head-on by a snowplow in a
white out snowstorm. I had one of those supernatural out-of body experiences. I don't know if I was dead, but I distinctly remember being pushed back in my body. God was alive. Through my healing journey, the Bible became alive. The Bible says, "Faith
without works is dead." So, I constantly challenged myself as I was learning to walk and talk again. I learned healing takes putting God first and belonging to a community. I think sometimes Americans take the blessings we have for granted. I know I did. I learned Canada's
socialism is not God-based. The people have no constitutional protection, no authority, and no rights. The Bible we read each year. God's authority on earth is the foundation for our freedoms, our constitution, and our rights.
Daily, we are in a seed war. The Bible says the seed is the word of God, showing us how to live with God. But Satan's deception is constantly around us, planting seeds of doubt and confusion.
Many Bibles are rewriting God's directions. For example, children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God. Sounds true, but what is left out? Listen again. Children, how hard it is for those that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God. There is a
difference. Do we enter by faith or by works? Many subtle changes are possibly heading us towards the one world religion. We need to be careful. Our constitution cannot arbitrarily be changed and neither should the foundation of the Bible. Reading was
important to Charlie Kirk. Charlie Kirk's chair time was sitting and reading his Bible with no distractions, no cell phone. Reading is a national problem. We are 40th in the world in world literacy. Reading is a Martin County problem. Over 50% third graders
cannot pass the reading test. Reading is a prison problem. Over 90% mostly males are non-readers. Reading is a health problem. autism one in 12 boys and a little higher for girls. The problem from my perspective I'm I work in
neurology is a delayed brain development. Coordinated focusing and eye movement is controlled by a healthy brain and necessary to learn to read and learn from reading which is comprehension. My solution is preschool ac preschool eye movement testing. I
call it academic testing because you got to learn to read in school before a child is formally taught to re read and establishing brainbased functional reading labs in prison which I'm working on now. Martin County
could establish 100% literacy goal and then figure out how to get there. Choosing to remove any and all obstacles to healthy brain development. I fought here for a long time against fluoride and Roundup because of reduced IQ. A reading brain
is a healthy brain. A literate nation is a healthy nation. Reading is important. Reading the Bible is important. Join us for the 25th Bible reading marathon. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Thank you.
[Applause] Good morning. And um first I want to start off by just thanking our chair and commissioners um once again for this um proclamation every year declaring it Bible reading week. Um this is our 25th
year and that is quite miraculous. Um I thank the county, the city, and all those that have supported it all these years. It is the longest running Bible reading marathon, continuous Bible reading marathon in our nation. And so we um we are so excited this year. Um
for those that don't know a little bit about it, it was founded by um by Pastor Donna and Jean Hilton. And they began it 25 years ago right after 911. And they began it because of a mandate from the Lord to read the Bible continuously
non-stop for five days over our nation for protection and for blessing. And so we have seen each year my husband and I had the blessing of being able to um they passed the baton to us eight years ago. Um they created such a strong and amazing foundation with reading the
Bible every year that we see it just bless the community. We see families come out um uh walks all walks of life. It's 365 15minute time slots that people come out and they volunteer to step up and read
the word of God over our nation out loud and to have such a privilege and a freedom to be able to do that. And we watch the joy and the peace and the love and the truth of God just o just overtake every family, every person in the community, those that have never
heard the word of God come by. So, everyone is welcome. We need everyone to do this. We are out there rain or shine um 24 hours. We begin reading on October 2nd at 6 PM and we will not stop reading until we finish. We start in Genesis. We
read all the way through continuously day and night until October 6. And October 6 when we finish in Revelation, it's usually in the afternoon. So we are out there rain or shine, night and day, 247. And it is a continuous reading. And it is beautiful to see all those the
community come together to achieve this every single year and the lives that are touched because the word of God in his word it says that it goes forth and it does not return void but it goes out to do as he pleases and for his good purpose. And so we see his good purpose,
his life and his truth and his hope and his joy which is so much needed in our communities go forth during this week. And I believe that um it continues to go forth all year long because God's word, it does not return void and it does not fade and it does not die. It continues
to do his good purpose. So we thank you. We invite everyone to come out. It's easy. You can call 561-670469. We'll have the flyers for you and you just um find out an available time slot and a date and you sign up and you just come on up and you read. And we have
families, we have little kids come up with their with their parents. Um we have all ages. We've had up to hundred years old come up to read. Um and everyone in between and all walks of life. So everyone is welcome. It's a beautiful week out there. Come out and um and be a part of it. And I just thank
you once again for being able the privilege and honor to be able to do this um in this county and in our nation. Thank you. God bless you all. Number one more time. It's 561-670469. And it's held in the band shell at Memorial Park um right um off of Ocean
Boulevard. 300. Yes. 300 Southeast Ocean Boulevard. So, thank you so much. God bless you all and thank you. Thank you. And I just want everyone to know that I am completely 100% in agreement with everything my wife just said.
You have a check. our sign up board. We have collection [Applause] is a proclamation declaring suicide prevention awareness. month in Martin County, Florida. It's recognized that suicide deaths have been on the increase
in communities across the nation and throughout Florida. Lingering health and economic challenges and the continuing housing crisis have taken their toll on mental health with increases in suicidal ideation and death, substance use, household violence, food insecurity, and more. September is recognized as suicide
prevention awareness month with local organizations such as 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast helping those in need who are in mental health or suicide crisis. And here from 211 we have Chad Adcock. Uh thank you very much commission and staff. Um
uh we continue to thank you for your continued support. Normally I am not one to be uh short- winded at all. No one has ever accused me of that. But I just had surgery and it hurts my face to talk still. So I'm going to keep this brief by telling you a story about and and you
know I know it's not an easy topic to talk about but suicide is very important. And this is a story about a resident in Martin County in Stewart, Florida that called into our uh suicide distress line helpline earlier this year. Um I'll change the name. We'll
call her Casey. She was a resident in distress and was very suicidal at the moment. She was struggling because she was coping with memories of um traumatic childhood experiences that had happened to her in her past. She had never
discussed it with anyone previously, including her family or friends or even a therapist. Um, and she was feeling very isolated and overwhelmed and was actively suicidal. So, she reached out to our helpline. Uh, the specialist
answered the call and listened and provided emotional support uh that was needed. Casey was uh led to believe that she was heard, she was heard, and that her feelings were validated. And after several minutes of being on the phone with her, the crisis had been
deescalated and Casey was now calm and safe. At that point, the specialist on the phone referred uh Casey to victim services and offered to follow up with her the next day to make sure that she was doing okay. Um by the time she the specialist spoke to her the next day,
she had already connected up with victim services and had made an appointment with a therapist to discuss her problems even further. and Casey was quoted uh on the phone at that time saying, "This has been a really, really tough time for me and I
appreciate you being there for me." So, again, I want to thank the commission and the staff and everyone for drawing attention to this. Suicide is a difficult topic, but it's a topic that we all need to talk about. Um, and for anybody that is struggling that hears my voice, realize that you are not alone
and that 211 and 988 is here and has been here and will continue to be here for you. So thank you. Thank you. Very few people left to duck for the TV. Duck. Thank you so much. Feel better. Now, we're going to take public comment.
Uh the first uh request to speak form is from Doug Farley, followed by Tom Pine. Hello. Good morning. A few months ago, I think it was April maybe, uh, this commission voted against
quiet zones at railroad intersections in Martin County. Since that meeting, our neighbors to the north in St. Lucy County and to the south in Jupiter have voted four quiet zones. Boca Raton and other places have done it for years. Their elected
officials understand that the infrastructure upgrades, mainly double gates for a total of four gates, satisfy the Federal Rail Commission's guidelines for quiet zones. Their elected officials understand that quality of life improvements like quiet zones can be
made without compromise to public safety. I feel this commission does not fully consider how the physical barriers of double gates are safer and render horns as useless noise pollution. To help illustrate this point, I want to
revisit comments made at the last meeting. Mr. Caps, in your comments at that meeting, you stated that you live east of the tracks in Hope Sound and you have a business on the west side. uh you and your family cross those tracks frequently and you're concerned about
safety. Let's walk through that commute or drive through it. Uh in this scenario, however, let's pretend that you guys did enact quiet zones, so there's no train horn in your commute to work. Um you're driving your car on Bridge Road
and you see that the gates have come down. What do you do? We don't engage. Bring your car to a stop. You bring your car to a stop. You wait for the train to pass. The gates go up and you continue safely to work. Let's say you have a meeting with a very
important client and you do not want to be late. You think, "I'll just go around the gate and beat the train." But now there are four gates. There are four gates and you are trapped behind those gates. You are relegated safely trapped until the train passes.
These are physical barriers keeping you from crossing the tracks. Much safer than a horn. Okay. Um, Miss Vargas, sir, keep your commit comments to just the board in general. Be pardon. Okay. I was referencing what she actually said though, if you don't mind. Um, in your comments, you mentioned how
you and a friend or it might have been a family member uh were crossing an intersection when the light started flashing and the gates started to come down. You commented on how this alarmed you and you removed yourself from that dangerous situation immediately. Prudent. By your own admission, it shows
that the gates worked. The gates alerted you to that danger and not the horn. Let's follow suit with our neighbors and do the right thing by implementing quiet zones. This can be done without jeopardizing public safety. Thank you.
Thank you. Tom Pine is next, followed by Megan Shy. Good morning, commissioners. My name is Tom Pine. have been a resident of Martin County for over 50 years. Today in the consent agenda, this commission will approve 16,743,865.32 which was spent between August 25th and
September 7th of 2025 without identifying the payes or the purpose of the payment. If in fact our commissioners are not using the consent agenda to hide questionable spending or special deals for the friends of the Martin County Chamber of Commerce, then
they should at a minimum print all the costs and deals in the agenda for the Board of County Commissioners latest meeting available. As it is now, we no longer have open government in Martin County. Democracy dies in darkness. The
speech our Palm City commissioner gave a couple meetings ago was very insightful as he got his supporters riled up. It showed loud and clear why we are in the new guilded age. As the weather as the wealthier among us seemed to never have quite enough. This past weekend I
participated in the fifth annual run outrun hunger supporting the Treasure Coast Food Bank where there were over 400 participants. We will spend whatever it takes to save the last standing house of refuge in the state of Florida. More than 250 people
rely on the Treasure Coast Food Bank every week. That number is only rising. A letter to the editor from Abigail Disney talking about her grandfather Roy and her great uncle Walt Disney back when the parks were created were
deliberately affordable. Both Roy and Walt believe that magic should should and could and should be accessible. That joy shouldn't come with a luxury price tag. Accessibility and affordability aren't minor concerns. They should be
guiding principles in a country that claims to be free or equal. Id like to thank our commissioner from Jensen Beach for asking the question our last meeting about how much money the development known as the ranch was putting in towards a Martin Martin County Fire
Rescue. The silence was deafening as county staff and lawyers representing the ranch or caught off guard. Then a Martin County staff spoke and spoke up and said the new development will not push the local firehouse past its intended capacity. Over the past year or
so, we have been told on many occasions that Martin County needs three new firehouses in western Martin County with one of them in is a relocation. So, we have a developer who spread around $800,000 around town to get
support from community leaders with for his projects which violated our comp plan. But he doesn't have to put in a single dollar towards fire rescue. Just amazing. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Megan Shy is next, followed by Gail
Bird. Morning. Good morning, commissioners. I am Megan Shy, the director of special events and government affairs for your Boys and Girls Club in Martin County. I'd like to extend a special thank you to Commissioner Vargas for taking the time to personally reach out to me to inquire
about one of our young members stories. Upon receiving this call, I reached out to his grandmother and she wanted me to share just how grateful she is with the boys and of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Martin County and the support that this commission continues to provide. It is
pos because of this partnership, stories like Shiloh's are possible. When Shiloh first came to our club, he was quiet, withdrawn, and kept to himself. No matter how hard staff or his peers tried to engage him, it was clear his heart and his mind were elsewhere. And he was
facing challenges that made it difficult for him to connect. But over time, with a consistent encouragement, mentorship, and support, Shiloh began to open up. Today, he is not just a participant. He's a leader. He has stepped into programs like culinary and skilled
trades and basketball with confidence, setting the tone for others. He has taken on leadership roles in our community outreach efforts, planning beach cleanups, helping organize local parades, and inspiring his peers to give back. The growth we've seen in him is
nothing short of transformational. What began as a quiet, introverted young man has blossomed into a strong, dependable leader with a bright future. His story is proof that when we invest in our youth, when we create safe spaces filled with opportunity, the sky is truly the
limit. On behalf of our staff, our families, and especially our members, I want to thank you for believing in and supporting the mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Martin County. Your continued investment allows us to change lives every single day, and Shiloh's
story is just one shining example of that impact. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Gail Bird is next, followed by Peter Schwind. Good morning. Morning. Um
I I'm call I'm here to talk about item the last item on the agenda. Okay. Whatever number that is, but it's about Martin County acquiring property along Serno Road, the south side of Salerno Road. Uh that's existing uh vacant. Um,
I lived in Fort Lauderdale and we came here for fishing on weekends for a couple years. Uh, of course because the attractiveness of our waterways and the fishing. Um, so I support Martin County buying a couple lots and more if
possible to develop a public land for use for the public. It could be a park hopefully. And um, there's a drainage ditch along there um that that opens to the manatee pocket. Um, so it would be quite attractive and peaceful to have
that for county and the public use. Thank you very much. Thank you. Peter Schwin is next, followed by Mary Beth Con. Do you want to speak uh at public comment or on department 4? Um, the same as the the former
Excellent. Uh, my name is Peter Schwend. I've lived in Port Salerno for 20 years now. Um, I fully support the proposed purchase of land along Serno Road. I've walked that
site and have seen that the future park in that location would benefit all citizens. I encourage your support. Thank you. Public comments. Mary Beth Cones is followed by Gail
Goldie. Morning. Hi, good morning everybody. Mary Beth K. Um, my family has been here since the early 80s. I physically have been a permanent res resident for almost 25 years. Uh, living right in Port Serno in the historic part near the water. Um,
and speaking on the acquisition of the property there, um, at southeast Solerno Road, I have walked the creek that's back there. It's secret. Nobody knows about it, but you guys, we own it. I mean, that the public owns it. Port Serno is
on the manatee pocket which has sort of lost a lot of access and I'll talk about that in a minute um to the public. If we could create if we can get access to that creek, you guys can take your part on either side, we could possibly create a public gathering area. The beauty of
that is it might not be on the on the pocket, but it still has water and it's shaded and it's nature. And when I walked that creek, it was like I was somewhere else. I wasn't in even Martin County. It was so gorgeous, especially,
you know, the the the historic area where people are. I wasn't out on a ranch um or out at Jonathan Dickinson Park. Um I'd really like to open that up if possible. So, if we buy those parcels, that'll h help. What I'd like to talk about now is the waterfront and
our our um our fisherman area, our historic port is not as accessible as it used to be. We have huge trucks, multiple, when I say multiple, three minimum almost 24 hours a day. They are
parking on the new sidewalks that are being put in, which I don't understand why the new sidewalks are being put in. that whole area and the problem we're having down there started 10 or 15 years ago because of trucks parking on the sidewalk and people have to walk in the streets. So, we now have big platforms
for those trucks. I'm sure they will still be on top of that new sidewalk. And on top of that, those trucks are blocking the multiple acwalk. It's really not welcoming. The trucks don't welcome you. When the fishermen are busy, it's not welcoming. And when
the fishermen aren't there, I'll tell you there's some people there that holler at me that I can't park there. And I believe it's it's public parking, you know. So, I just I'd like to bring that to your attention. As beautiful as the manatee pocket is, Port Solerno has
has it in its pocket in its literally in its pocket. Um, we we can't really use it. Um, so I'd really love to be able to open up. We need to start developing on the west side of of A1A and that is a great way to have a connection to the
waterfront and get people over. It's a mixeduse area. It's historic. Let's create a little bit of nature and uh a gathering place. Oh, one last thing. We did lose our our one little tiny park we did have on Manatee Pocket. We lost it
because of the Moringfield uh building, which wasn't very nice. Um, so it's really created even less access to our manity pocket. So please consider purchasing those parcels and let's start
moving Port Soleno a little bit west. Thank you. Thank you. Gail Goldie is next and Miss Goldie is the last request to speak form. If you'd like to address us, please fill out a request to speak form and get it to the baiff. Good morning.
Good morning, commissioners. I first I want to thank you all for the wonderful job that you do. I know it's not easy sitting up there on many days. So, thank you. Um, the reason I'm here is several months ago, I guess it may have been back in April, I requested that um the commission look at having a flag
designed for the city of Stu for S, not the city, but for for Martin County and um it was brought up by the commissioners and I believe everyone seemed to be in favor of that. And I was recently told maybe two months ago that
um that was placed in uh Mr. Cir Stokus. Yeah, Mr. Stokus' uh agenda there to do. So I'm just looking for an update. It was I wanted it to be for the 100th anniversary and uh I wanted to
know if I could find out exactly where we are on that. If you intend to still go through with that, I think it would be wonderful. And uh who do I need to speak to or who can who can speak to me about it? I I I can speak to you about it. Okay.
Yes, we are working on the design actively and actually Mr. Stokas has spoken I believe with most of if not all of the commissioners about the design which is something that we're looking at very closely. So it's identifiable unique to Martin County
just as late as yesterday. So we hope to birth this within the next couple of months. Great. Not sooner. Thank you. Just wanted to let you know it wasn't lost somewhere. No, I didn't think it was lost. I just wanted to know where it was in the process because I'd really like to see it happen. So, thank you very much.
Thanks. Thank you. Yes. I'm sorry. Just really quick, I wanted to clarify. I have quite a few people that will speak on the agenda item, but I don't want to bring them up and have them speak and take time unless that
item is pulled. So, uh, I'm going to hold their comments unless it is pulled. Is that okay? Or would you prefer them now? Uh, first of all, identify yourself. Sorry. And then identify the, uh, agenda item that you're referring to. Of course. My name is Audrey Cree. I'm a land use and zoning attorney with
McCarthy Summers. I'm here as consent agenda item 13. Uh, it's not pulled. No, it's not pulled yet, but you did suggest that all public speaking should be brought up now. So, I'm just clarifying. Sure. Please. Yeah. Uh, please
wait until it is pulled. It's not going to be pulled. Okay, good. Fantastic. So, if you would like to if they would like to speak, then they should fill out a request to speak form and speak now. But if it's not going to be pulled, they don't need to speak. Exactly. So, we're just here to see if it's going to be pulled or not.
It hasn't been approved yet, but it's going to be shortly. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. I would like to speak on D3. I put in a card, but I may not have marked the public comment. Okay. I I I put it with department three. I thought you wanted to speak on
that item. Yeah. If I can speak now, I'd approve. Sure. Sorry about that. Yep. Identify yourself. Yes. Linda Smith, Jupiter, Sierra Club, Lockxahhatchee Group representing members in Martin County, St. Lucy, Palm
Beach, and Okachobee counties. Thank you for allowing me to speak today on D3. I have a letter I would like to disseminate to all of you folks. Um, DP3 is the discussion on Senate Bill 180. Please
join the over 20 municipalities and cities who have signed and the 41 organizations who have signed the letter that I am distributing now. This letter highlights the dangerous sections 18 and 28 of Senate Bill 180, such as a
three-year freeze on community planning that could be extended indefinitely due to future unknown weather conditions. This is unconstitutional and illconceived. Senate Bill 180 restricts the progress Martin County is making on
cleaning up our waterways by updating storm water and septic to sewer plans and even beautifification efforts. All of these efforts would be frozen. I believe the bill leaves the door open to frivolous lawsuits by people who
aren't even harmed by actions. To be clear, parts of the bill does actually enhance emergency response, hence the title, but we need to keep those parts of the bill. Developers in Tallahassee heavily
lobbyed to insert the sections that take away home rule. We need and deserve a bill that protects our lives, property from flooding, and ensure public services and infrastructure to protect valuable natural and agricultural lands.
Local governments like you folks are best to do this. Senate Bill 180 ties your hands, ties your constituents hands on key land use decisions, on storm water decisions, on flood plane decisions, on sewer and
water infrastructure, and even landscaping and community design standards. Please sign the resolution to participate in a lawsuit. SB80 is unconstitutional. And please continue your work to protect our natural and agricultural lands,
holding the line on development in those areas. Development is more cost-effective for local government in urban areas and cost more to taxpayers in suburban and outwest areas. Thank you for your time and letting me speak now.
Thank you. Would anyone else like to address us? It's time for public comment. Commissioner Vargas. No, I'll I'll reserve my comments as we have the agenda items come up. Okay. Commissioner Caps, a couple of Saturdays ago, I had the
privilege of taking a tour of the C44 Reservoir and storm water treatment area on Citrus Boulevard in Indian Town. Many people don't even know that place exists. It's a very vast
uh environmental project that was done several years ago. And if you're on Citrus and you're going into Indian Town, there's a a yellow gate there on the right hand side. And not too far into the future, we're going
to have some public access to that large area back in there. And that's going to be very exciting. But this tour was sponsored by the Autobond Society and it was like a line of cars and we drove all around
the dirt roads in the storm water treatment area uh part of it looking for wildlife and we saw lots of uh uh waiting birds like uh pink spoon
bills, great igits, cattle rits, snail snail kites. Uh I learned a lot about the snail kite and that that's the coolest bird. They have like this big a hooked beak and they pull these uh big snails out of the waterways that are
quite large and they have that curly beak that where they can curl their beak down in there and get the snail out. And we saw uh some of the big uh snail shells uh on the shorelines uh which I thought was pretty cool. We also saw
deer and alligator. So, it's going to be an awesome wildlife sanctuary for us all to enjoy. Uh the highlight of the trip for me was I got to ride in the car with a couple of
really special uh individuals who educated me a lot. One was the president of Martin County Autobond and wildlife photographer extraordinaire John Nelson. And if any of you would
like to see his incredible photography of uh of birds in Florida, just look on his Facebook page. The other guy was our own environmental uh resource administrator, John Mail. He was in the
car with us, too. and I learned an awful lot about our environment and I look forward to all of you being able to see the C44 and the storm water treatment area and
uh in the coming days when we get that public access. The second thing I will ad mention is I want to congratulate the Apollo school and Hope Sound. Uh they're coming up on their 100th anniversary as well as our 100th
anniversary for our county. Um they are going to have a celebration on October 19th there at the Apollo school uh celebrating their centennial and the Apollo school continues to make
an impact on the residents of Hopetown and Martin County by having a speaker series. I think that starts in the fall if I remember right. And I've been to some of these in the past. You might want to consider going to them. They're
really informative and and uh entertaining and they also do a lot of other programming for our community as well. They're a major part of the spirit and life of Hope Sound. So, congratulations to the Apollo School.
Thank you, Commissioner Campy. I'm almost set this morning. Thank you, Commissioner Heatherington. I'm going to yield my time this morning. Mr. Donaldson, all good. Miss Elder, we are ready to move on. In that case, uh the first thing that we need to
approve is approve the consent agenda. Madame Chair, I would uh move that we approve the consent agenda uh including consent agenda item number 13, which all of our friends from the Grace Place came to uh rally for. So, good news for you
this morning. Thank you for being with us. I would second that. Thank you for being here. Any further discussion? There's a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you for joining us.
[Applause] You don't have to leave. You can stay. Please stay with us. Thank you. Thank you. Excellent. Scott, risk, you could stay.
Maybe that item could get, you know, we'll now take up uh board and committee appointments. Number one, I heard there's like an issue. I know, Miss Patrick. Yeah, I there was a video. I saw it.
Good morning. Morning. Um I'm here with on behalf of the TDC appointment. I just wanted to um clarify one of the matters that's on the agenda today and it's regarding a uh waiver that we're requesting from the board before you vote on a um person to sit on
the board. You have two applicants before you. Um so one of those people that have submitted their name is Adam Gee. He is a member of the US Sailing Center. Um the US Sailing Center is located at Indian Riverside Park as you're aware. Um we're asking for a
waiver on his behalf. The tourism development um taxes that come in which are bed taxes. Um part of that funds the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, the Treasure Coast Sports Commission in turn at times funds the US
Sailing Center. So if Mr. Gee were to be elected and appointed on this board, Mr. Gee is prohibited from voting on matters that come before him regarding the sports commission. He could not vote on behalf of that contract. But before we get to
that level, I'm here to present to you that conflict that is there that the US Sailing Center, which Mr. GE would be sitting on the TDC as a member of does have that one conflict that is there that the T that the sailing center essentially receives bed tax through the
sports commission to benefit the sailing center. So I'm presenting that to you today. Um and I would be asking for the waiver so that his application could be considered. Um it requires a twothirds vote. So that means all four I need four
of you to vote in favor of waving that uh waiver on his behalf. He has filled out the appropriate forms. Um and that is and then once we do the waiver then I believe Donna will present to you either the one or two applicants then that are before you.
Commissioner Campy. Does the tourist development council give any money to the children's museum? No. Thank you. So, is there a motion to approve the waiver? So, moved. Second.
There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Now, would you like to pass your sheets down or take them? I'll be career. You need me? I'll sit with you.
Hello. Did you pass yours in or I did these were uh Okay. Thank you, sir. Tourists Development Council, Mrs. Colleen Holmes received five votes.
Is there a motion to approve Colleen Holmes? Move approval of Colleen Holmes. Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Our next appointment is for the uh
Industrial Development Authority appointment. Missing one. Oh, I didn't give you that one. And it's the tiebreaker. Interesting. Mr. Sha Williams received three votes.
Mrs. Jody Miller received two votes. I'll move approval of Mr. Sha Williams. Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you, Commissioner Campy.
I would just like to reiterate this is and I I assume my colleagues might feel the same way. These appointments to these committees are some of the most difficult votes that we have to take. Having read the applications and the
resumes for the people that apply, I am so thankful that so many members of our community would want to participate and volunteer their time and talents. So, the two folks that did not get on today, they had exceptional resumes. There's a lot of different uh factors, at least
for me, that go into like deciding who it would be or not. So, I would really strongly encourage the two that uh applied today but did not get a position to apply for something else in the future and not take this uh today's vote as some kind of um a point that we're
trying to make to them. I thought they were highly qualified and I'd like to see them apply for something else in the future. Thank you. Thank you. Uh our next item is public hearing number one which is approval of the state housing initiatives partnership program annual report and
transmitt to the state. Morning madam chair commissioners Michelle Miller human services director. This is a request for review and approval for submitt of the ship 2022 23 annual report. Upon your approval the report will be submitted to the Florida
Housing Finance Corporation. Just a few items of note on the annual report. Uh 76% of these funds were used to help those residents who are below 80% of our average median income in Martin County. 53% of these funds assisted a resident
with special needs. And of the 22 projects completed, 12 were for emergency repairs and we assisted 27 families with rental assistance. Commissioner Vargas. Yes. U Miss Miller, uh could you explain the unforeseen delays? I did read the
report in the back information also. Yes. So that is um since it's a 2223 uh annual report, often times the delays in submission of it are due to things like contractor delays, labor supplies, things like that. So when we have a
project that we're doing for ship, we usually target it for a 90day completion, but sometimes that has to be extended just based on those unforeseen delays that we get from contractors. Okay. Is that something that can be remedied or have you found contractors more reliable now?
Well, we have tried to uh solicit more contractors. We have a limited poll right now. So, we've been doing a communication plan to try to get more contractors and we would love for any contractor in Martin County that wants to work with us to call our office and we would if they're in good standing put them on our list.
Right. So, you're able to broadcast this out now. We have been, but yes, we continue to do so. I think that's important so we can speed up dispersement. Yes, we really want to do that really for the homeowners uh benefit mostly because they want these projects to be done very quickly. Sometimes we've seen
delays really for the past five years in supplies as well. So like when people uh want new windows, sometimes they could be waiting for months for those windows to come in. Okay. Well, keep broadcasting. We'll do. Thank you. And this is a public hearing.
Is there any public comment? Any further commission comments? There's no public comment. I'll move staff's recommendation for approval. 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 one, which is office of management and budget items which require board approval. Good morning. Good morning, commissioners. Stephanie Merley, director of OM here to present
six items on uh the OM item today. So, our first item is uh permission to apply for the Florida Department of State um library information services annual state aid libraries grant for 2026. The library is requesting a grant award in the amount of $85,05
um for funding a full-time library specialist position. Um this grant's awarded annually to provide funding for managing and coordinating free library services to Martin County residents. And there's no grant match required. The second item is a permission to apply
for the FY2526 Florida Department of Environmental Protection FT water quality improvement grant for Martin County septic to sewer program. Our utilities and solid waste department is requesting a grant award in the amount of $2 million for lowering costs for about 2,000 properties to
connect to vacuum or grinder sewer systems. Um, for our connect to protect program, a $1 million grant match is is required to reduce on-site residential connection costs and is already budgeted within the utilities and solid waste CIP.
And where's the location of this project? Sam Emerson's here, okay, for questions. Good morning, commissioners. For the record, Sam Emerson, Utilities and Solid Waste Department. Uh, there'd be multiple locations. We didn't specifically identify a particular
project. So this will apply to any sewer systems that are available for connection. Okay. So we didn't spec specify a particular project or community multiple locations. Thank you. Item number three I think was presented earlier this morning, but it's
permission to accept funding from the Florida Inland Navigation District or fine for the derelict vessel removal funds. Um this is for acceptance of $88,492.50 50 cents for the reimbursement of removal and destruction of derelic vessels from our waterways. There is a
25% match that was already expended within the um building funds and we're just using a bud budget resolution to accept those funds into the budget. We already deposited that check. Yeah, it's deposited. Already went right to the bank with it
with the big one. Yes, take those. The bigger the better. Item number four is a permission to accept the Martin County Transit 10% local match to the Transportation Disadvantage Innovative Service Development or ISD grant. Um the purpose
of this is to supply the local match of 10% for our transportation disadvantage program. Um there is a $75,000 cost to Martin County which is already budgeted within the MO operating budget. Item number five is a permission to
accept the uh contract between Martin County Transit to provide the 10% local match plus the current approved overmatch to the transportation disadvantage trip and equipment grant. Um this is for the local match for the transportation equipment. Um and it
costs 42,000 for the county which is already budgeted within the no's operating budget. And last but not least is the budget resolution to allocate the contribution from the High Point Plan unit development. Um Martin County has received a contribution in the amount of
155,42.50 to be used towards the construction of a sidewalk that will connect High Point neighborhood to South Fork High School providing a safe route to walk to school and OMB is just requesting the adoption of a budget resolution to allocate the contribution.
questions. Commissioner Caps. Yes. On on number six, I wonder if our county engineer could tell us a little more about the Highpoint plan unit development and the sidewalk issue. Um,
and my my curiosity is about the timetable of the sidewalk construction and how the neighbors are doing because I know that some of the neighbors had some concerns about the timetable of that. Yes, sir. Uh, for the record, I'm
Michael Gilk, county engineer. Um, we have uh JW Cheetum under contract to perform the work. They have ordered the specialty gate that that's been ordered. They've ordered all the specialty um rectangular rapid flashing beacon
signals that will assist with the the safe crossing of the kids across Bulldog Way. So they heard the other day that the lead time on the gate was 6 weeks and the lead time on the other stuff is between six and 8 weeks. They were all
ordered last week. Good. Thank you. Is there a motion to approve the OM items? I'll move approval. Second. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes
unanimously. Uh now we take up department two, which is contracts that meet the threshold for board approval of a million dollars or greater. Miss Brotherton. Good morning. Steve Brotherton, chief procurement
officer. I have two items for your consideration today. The first item is a continuing services agreement. Uh this is for our lift station rehabilitation and this contract has a maximum not to exceed value of $5 million with a
maximum not to exceed term of 5 years. and staff is recommending that the board award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, which is Felix Civil Construction LLC, and move that the board authorize the county administrator or designate to
execute all documents related to this request. And last, we have another continuing services agreement for underground utility construction. And this contract has a maximum not to exceed value of $12,500,000
and a maximum not to exceed term of five years. And staff is recommending that the board award the contract to the five lowest responsive and responsible biders which are Jamie Underground, Coastal Land Development of Martin County, Underground Construction Management,
Eastern Pipeline Construction, and Felix Civil Construction. and move that the board authorize the county administrator or designate to execute all documents related to this request. And that concludes this item. Questions for Miss Brotherton? Commissioner Caps?
Yes. Um point of clarification, you know, the the continuing services agreements that many of your items are. Um the the contract amount often times seems very very large and just for the
public's benefit um maybe we could clarify what a continuing services agreement is. Sure. Um so for these two contracts in particular um and most of them a continuing services agreement is a term
contract. So there's a three-year term with two optional one-year renewals. You'll also see the um not to exceed value a lot of times as in the millions. That dollar amount is kind of the cap. I know that we talked about this at previous meetings. Um it's not necessarily the budget. It's just if we
reach the not to exceed value between the five-year term, we have to go out to bid. Sometimes we never see that amount, but when staff is putting together their solicitations, they try to guesstimate to the best of their ability. Um, how
much they would spend over a 5-year period. Um, these two contracts, specifically the underground, there's a lot of emergency work that that happens. So, we never truly know, you know, water main breaks, force main breaks, things of that nature. Um, Florida statute
defines, as I stated in this um, agenda, that work orders cannot exceed $300,000 each. So, if there's a project that exceeds $300,000, that project has to be formally bid separately as its own project. So, continuing services contracts are
usually um, even with our task order, our engineering type contracts, those also have statutory limits. So, does that answer your question? Yes. Yes. And then yeah, Commissioner, I was also just going to interject. You would find the budget where these come from will most
likely be in either your capital improvement budget under a a sheet that would address maintenance of like fire hydrants or other things or you might find it in uh one of your operational budgets for uh for contracted services for for repairs. So these are those
items are tracked by our budget office and those are part of the things that we review annually on the budget to see if um how those monies are being spent. But just to let you know there is a you appropriate the funds in your budget through uh either your CIP or in your
operations budget and this is the contracting method that allows them to get the work done using private sector um companies. And I suppose uh the reason you're giving this contract to five different
contracting firms is because it's emergency work and you need more options. Like perhaps if one company's tied up and they can't come tend to something, you you have other ones. Is that is that one of the main reasons? Yeah. So, one of the changes that um the utilities department made this year with
these contracts is we required um an emergency response plan to ensure that any contractor that's awarded a contract can actually perform in that capacity because we do have breaks that happen outside of normal business hours on weekends, holidays. So, um you'll also
see um more contracts awarded for the contracts that are utilized more frequently. So when there's a lot of work out there, we try to have a good pool of contractors to make sure that the work can be done in a timely manner. So thank you. Yep.
Is there a motion to approve department two? Move approval. There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you. Uh we'll now take up department three which is discussion on
Senate Bill 180. I mean I can commissioners. Uh we're here's an we have an agenda item to discuss Senate Bill uh 180 um in the in in regards to a proposed uh uh joining a uh a lawsuit on
the state of Florida. um regarding the uh implementation of that bill. Um staff has reviewed various sections of it. Our there are some concerns regarding its implement uh implications for FEMA projects in the future and how we do
substantial damage. Um our ultimate recommendation was that we would work with our legislators uh on a glitch bill uh moving forward. Uh we do believe uh as other commenters have said that there there are good parts of the bill that
needs to stay in place regarding emergency response. Um Miss Elder here is to assist me too on any of the language you'd like to discuss. But uh in the for brevity the the ultimate recommendation is that we would work
with our legislators and our make it a a priority. Um the session comes early this year. Um and uh so it won't be long before they start session in uh in this winter. So I think that ultimately uh we can go into more discussion regarding
the various sections of it, but ultimately staff is uh uh recommending that we work with our legislative delegation on making amendments to the bill that are palatable to um our operations. Miss Eller, you have anything you wish
to add? Um I can give the uh board an update on the lawsuit that Weiss Serota is formulating. Um so Rice Serota is a local government lawyers in in through the state of Florida. They are gathering cities and counties to participate in a
lawsuit to sue the the state of Florida um over some of the provisions in Senate Bill 180 specifically. the part that this board I think is aware of that if you adopt anything more burdensome for your comprehensive plan, your land development regulations, um you would
violate the bill. So there's a lawsuit challenging that provision in Senate Bill 180 as being unconstitutional. I spoke to Susan Travarian at the end of the last week. She is spearheading it for Serotaa. Right now there are 22
counties and municipalities that are participating. She didn't have a complete list. She believes the only counties participating are Manatee County and Orange County. The rest are cities. They anticipate filing the lawsuit in state court this week or next week um challenging the state on 180.
They're going to seek injunctive relief primarily to stop the enforcement of 180. As the lawsuit progresses and the delegation um meets for the next session, um that's a summary. It cost $10,000 for the board to participate if
they chose to participate um for the initial lawsuit, 5,000 for each appeal. They proposed a resolution which we attached to the agenda item. If the board wants to participate that you you would um adopt the resolution, mirroring the one attached to the agenda item. Um
so that's a summary from Susan Travar. Then Commissioner Vargas. Okay. what I'm really confused about as many of my peers. I just returned from a Florida Association of Counties conference. Um, and there was nobody
there that I spoke with. I spoke with quite a few and I've I have become better acquaintances with a lot of them that say, "Wait a minute, our legislators were the ones that enforced this, that put this into an act. Emergencies are fine. However, when we
are our hands are tied and we cannot do what is best for those that chose to live in Martin County, then that's a problem. I mean, when they pass bills, aren't they supposed to read them and see what is inserted in them? Do you
know what I'm saying? It's it it doesn't it doesn't compute. And again, I spoke with quite a few people. So, if we're, you know, we're going to take the soft stance as opposed to joining the lawsuit, I'd like to know why. I think there was something mentioned about FEMA. Is is
that correct, Mr. Donaldson? Yeah. And talking to staff, there are some issues regarding concerns that uh we have uh regulations that need to be amended from time to time regarding our participation in the flood plane um the
uh CRS program, community rating system. And uh we believe that there needs to be some modifications of the bill so that uh those provisions can be enacted which are uh ensuring that we're compliance with the uh um flood plane and uh uh CRS
program. So that was one area that we that we looked at. We know there's concerns about the other significant items regarding our ability to make any changes to our comp plan or regulations that are considered more burdome after the designation of the storm uh and the
time frame uh that those are imposed. Um so uh again our thought is that we should um you know uh we have identified various sections that we'd like to have amended and we would like we believe that um um you know lawsuits do take
time to go through the process. Um the legislature is going to be meeting here um in really just a few months. Uh and it is an opportunity for us to try to get those amendments in place uh this next session that would um uh enable us
to support the bill in its in its entirety as opposed to just pieces. Commissioner Vargas. Okay. So, you spoke with the legislators who passed this bill and so now they're going to go back and say, "Well, we
didn't mean to pass this portion of the bill or these portions of the bill." I'm not saying that they have a agreed to make any changes at this point. I'm saying that we are requesting uh that uh before the staff approach them on these changes that if the board desires to
make this a legislative priority um we will make that a priority in working with the legislators to get the bill amended. Um, and it is not uncommon for the legislature to pass a bill that has a significant impact to then have
whether they call it a blit glitch bill or an amendment process to to tweak the the language of the bill the following um session. And that's uh that's simply our recommendation. The board wants to move forward with a lawsuit, we'll certainly take that tact as well.
Commissioner Heatherington. Yeah, thank thank you for that. And um I did have an opportunity over the last few days to speak to some of our legislators and um and express too that you know we we want to retain our home
rule and local government that's closest to the people understands um what our residents need and um we work hard for them. There was anticipation that there will be a glitch bill session starts in January of this
year. committees are preceding that. So I anticipate um that there will be a glitch bill. But that's why SB80 is so concerning is because it does attack at home rule. Now so while I oppose that
kind of legislation, I also oppose and don't support taking our tax dollars and suing the state who will then use our tax dollars to defend that suit. So, I think we can get this
glitch bill. Um, I think we should highly prioritize in our legislative priorities is your home rule. Um, probably at the at the top of our list and quite frankly, if we're thinking of suing over SB 180, I think SB 102
merited some serious concern as well. So, um, I think that we go all in on home rule in general. Um, we advocate for a glitch bill for SB80 with our legislators. That's our job, I think, is
to get out of these seats, go to Tallahassee, and um I think we can make it happen by organizing, lobbying, and passing corrective legislation versus um suing. And I think it it will be
remedied far quicker. Commissioner Campy, thank you very much. Is this uh do you have when it passed? Is this the one that passed with unanimously except for one person? That's correct. Yes. In both the Democrats and the Republicans in both the House and the
Senate, one person in both houses, I believe. So, I don't have that number, but I think I think that's what I read. Absolutely. Take that in for a second. in a in a in a climate where Republicans and Democrats really are at odds at every level, state, federal level. This
legislation passed nearly unanimously in both houses. All the Republicans and all the Democrats except for one person decided not to vote for it. That rarely happens. So then we get into the lawsuit and I know
that the lawsuit has been coming has been a topic of conversation for several weeks. Am I not mistaken? Yes. Several weeks at least. Yeah. Couple months. I know that the city of Stewart has had given their strategy uh publicly. But what you've said after speaking to the
woman from the firm that's going to be bringing the suit, when did you speak to her? Friday. Friday. 20 municipalities and two counties approximately. Yes. Yeah. All right. If it was more, she
would have told you. She's going to not going to downplay the number. She's going to she's going to put it forward. So, 20 municipalities. There are 411 municipalities in Florida. 20 have agreed to sue. There are 67 counties in
Florida. Two have agreed to get on board. I'm certainly not going to be the third county to get on board. Um, if it was such a great idea, then way more communities would have gotten involved. Uh, I get the concept that there are
portions of SB 180 that that scare people, but it passed at a level in Tallahassee that I don't even think lobbying is going to change. I have had a chance to speak to our local representatives. There's a lot of things at play in
Tallahassee just like every other state capital where you can participate and there's things that you like and there's things that you don't like. But uh to put our money and our efforts and to the other sort of thing to remember that no
one likes to talk about is suing the state government uh and the legislature and then in the same day asking for grant opportunities and favors and things to go our way. I
mean that's just doesn't make any sense to me. So, I appreciate the communities that want to go and fight because I'm pretty sure if magically and and I wish them the best. If magically they win, I'm pretty sure all of us win. Whether you're participating or not, I would not
roll the dice and gamble um disrupting and jeopardizing our strong relationships uh in Tallahassee for something that nearly no one has gotten involved in on our side. and everyone has gotten involved with in Tallahassee. Thank you,
Miss Elder. I was just going to tell the board that um so usually lawsuits last several years. So, if the legislative session happens and there is no glitch bill, you might be able to you will likely be able to join the lawsuit at a later date. You wouldn't be cut off. So, I just wanted
to let the board know that there's an option probably to join later if you want to let the glitch bill try to work its way. Okay. And if it doesn't, you can re-evaluate it at a later time. Any further discussion? We will move on then to department.
You need action. Yeah. Okay. And department four is acceptance and approval of a final purchase contract, adoption of two resolutions. One for a special warranty deed acquiring a parcel along Serno Road. And the second is to
initiate a future land use map amendment. Good morning. Good morning, Miss John's. Uh Mandy Johns, Real Property Professional Public Works. This is a request for a final approval of a residential contract for sale and purchase. the adoption of a resolution approving and accepting a special
warranty deed for the acquisition of the property on the south side of Soleno Road and the adoption of a resolution to initiate a future land use map amendment to the comprehensive growth management plan.
Let's see. Staff identified the need to acquire the property located at 4070 Southeast Solerno Road in Port Serno as additional green space for the community. The property abuts the Serno Creek which leads to the Serno Creek retrofit STA.
The property consists of just under 1 acre and currently contains a 914 square foot structure along with the detached garage and storage area. staff entered into a conditional contract in the amount of 604375,000
with Christina Waldron Foron, a single woman for the purchase of the property. Staff has has obtained two appraisals pursuant to Florida statutes. The average of the two appraisals was 622500,000. Funding for the project will come from
the district 4 MSTU funds. Staff is recommending that subsequent to the closing on the property, the board initiate a future land use map amendment to change the land use from CRA center to general institutional as we do with
most of our county owned properties. So, we would like to move that the board authorize the final approval and execution of a residential contract for sale and purchase. Adopt a resolution approving and accepting the warranty deed for the acquisition of the property
located at 4070 Southeast Solerno Road. Adopt a resolution initiating a future land use map amendment to the comprehensive growth management plan. Authorize the use of district 4 funds for the purchase and closing cost associated with this parcel and
authorize the chair to execute any and all documents necessary. Commissioner Caps, I think this will be a wonderful addition to the green spaces in the Port Solerno area. Glad to support it. Move approval.
Commissioner Vargas. Yes. So, the zoning will change to institutional. Yes. All right. And this will then be a there's there's an old structure here, I think, built in the 1940s. So, what what happens to that structure? I believe the
plan is to eventually remove the structure. Remove it and then what will be in its place? What will develop in its place? At this time, commissioners, the plan is to uh leave it at an open space. Um and uh we will work with our district
commissioner and the community on um how it would be um uh either it'd be very passive or may have some other minor improvements. But the goal is to keep it as a as a green space as part of that uh uh um the the waterfront there as was
eloquently described earlier by some of the residents of the area. Commissioner Campy. Thank you very much. Um, you know, the market is interesting. Uh, 604,000, but it's in town. Uh, we have had
similar opportunities in Palm City. Uh and even when we were discussing back uh when we were talking about the half a cent sales tax referendum, one of the things I know that we tried and
successfully narrowed the scope of what could and could not be purchased uh with those dollars. I think that was one of the reasons it passed as highly as it did. people wanted to keep it very specific, but I remember um discussing at the time it didn't work. But I
thought that some of those funds w should be used for purchasing situations just like this because once the properties that are not been developed previously are gone to development, let's say, it's nearly impossible to
ever get them back. or if you do like we tried to do in Palm City, they're expensive. Um so for Commissioner Herd to use district funds specifically recycling them directly back into the district as is the is the requirement.
But in that that list of how that money could be spent is is vast. and for her to use it to purchase property that we did hear folks this morning say uh really has the potential to be remarkable. Um I'm in favor of
supporting it as long as it becomes a remarkable piece of the community. uh and that if there are I had had the advantage of speaking to a couple of property owners, right, that are uh uh affected by it and they were very
pleased with the strategy of purchasing something before it gets purchased to be developed into a parking lot or a restaurant or an office building or residential. Um so I commend Commissioner Herd for doing that. Uh, I
strongly recommend it to my colleagues that when the monies are available, especially, you know, it's hard to tell people in Palm City, hey, you should buy something in Hope Sound or Jensen, just like it was hard to tell the folks in those communities that we needed to buy pieces in Palm City. Uh, so I have used
my MSTU funds and NAC funds to do that. Um, I hope this starts to become a trend where we can grab up these few remaining pieces throughout the county because when they're gone, they're gone. Uh, and then the appraisal came in at at about
where it should be, you know, um 622 out of the two appraisals for a 604 purchase price. I know that we had this conversation a couple of months ago and there was a conflict at the time uh that has obviously been resolved. So, um I'm
happy to second uh the motion. Yeah, this is is uh I initiated this and and I think I'm very excited about the the future prospects for this. Um this is going to be the start of a
blueprint for open space in Port Serno. Um, this is in the the most uh the busiest commercial core of Port Serno and this area is unique in that there are a handful of investors who control
all the property and and it's an area that's about the size that's slightly slightly bigger than downtown um uh Stewart and it's going to be redeveloped and I want it to be redeveloped in a manner that is consistent with the
historic uh uses in Port Solerno. Um so what we're going to do is we're going to to Martin County owns or controls um a lot of property in this district. Um some of them are isolated, some of them
are connected. And I think it's very important for us to start planning the connections how we can integrate the publiclyowned property with the privatelyowned properties to create a consistent predictable integrated linked
plan. And that's exactly what we're going to do. Um we the uh when the the private interests uh start applying to Martin County, I don't want their open spaces to be done in a silo. I want them
to be connected to the public lands so that it's a an integrated plan and in fact the uh comprehensive plan requires this. uh chapter 18 is the uh CRA chapter and
objective 18.4A says to facilitate attainment of a coordinated system of open civic open space and recreation within the CRAAS policy 18.4A1 4A1
says an open space plan that indicates the general location of desired open space and pedestrian and cyclist connectivity through the community shall be prepared for each CRA. We've begun the creation of that plan for Port
Solerno. So, we will know where we plan to put trails in, where we need to put where we plan to put um open space, where we plan to put landscaping, and then all the private developers can look at that and say, "Okay, this is the plan that the government has for this
property. Let's link to it in a logical fashion so that uh form follows function." So, Commissioner Cam, no, I'll go second. Thanks, Commissioner Vargas. Yes. Um, wasn't there a conflict of interest uh in a previous meeting on
this property purchasing from this owner? No, there was Elise Elder. There was a conflict of interest. She was on the NAC when the owner, but she resigned months ago, so there's no conflict anymore. Commissioner Campy.
Question for Mr. Gordon. Do you have any uh intention of going to the property today knowing that it's your birthday? Happy birthday, Sebastian. Thank you. Oh, it's also Sebastian Fox. Maybe you guys can grab lunch and go to our new uh
hopefully our most recent uh green open space purchase. Two of you sitting next to each other and it's your birthdays. You're the same age, I bet, right? Jim Gordon will indeed be spending time at this property. You you two look literally like twins. It's hard to tell you two apart.
both very handsome. That's all that was just I I had to throw it in somewhere and I know we're running out of agenda items. So, happy birthday to the both of you. Would anyone from the public like to address this on Jim or Sebastian's birthday or on the item?
Any any of the above? Any further discussion? Is there a there's a motion and a second, right? Yes, there is. Uh all those in favor? I opposed. That motion passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Uh we've come to the end of
our agenda. Uh so we will start with commissioner comments. Commissioner Vargas. No, not just yet. We have our meeting this this afternoon, correct? At 5:05. Yep. On the budget. Yep.
Commissioner Caps, I'm good. I'm good. Commissioner Campy. Commissioner Heatherington. All set. Mr. Donaldson, just one real quick comment. Scott Risk, our fire rescue was here this morning, but uh just wanted to mention he did a
really outstanding job as a presentation at the 911 memorial out at Palm City u uh last week. So that was a nice uh just wanted to recognize him for doing a great job. Thanks, Miss Elder. So we are our journey. Part: 2
Welcome to our final budget hearing for uh FY 2026. Um we are resuming our meeting and we will shall we start out with public comment. I don't really have an agenda. I have one request to speak form. Uh if you
would like to address us, please fill out a request to speak form and get it to our baiff. But I the only request to speak form I have is from uh Mr. Derek Powell. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Um yeah, again I think everyone knows me
by this point. My name is Derek Powell. I live over on Cove Road and um just discussing about the surrounding areas, you know, the the impact that's being uh being taken on the surrounding areas due to the development um the the new
development going on right now. Um, I've got to say it plain. There's no accountability when it comes to these developers and the damage they're causing to my property and the surrounding area. Things are happening. Things that are happening aren't aren't fair to the folks who live here and yet
nobody seems responsible for stepping in. And here's the other thing. Why does it feel like the only way I can communicate with this board is standing right here at this podium? I've sent maybe three or four emails. And again, no disrespect, but misheard. I've sent three or four emails directly
to you and not a single reply. Is that fair? If I treated my customers that way, I'd be out of business. The truth is, the developer is not being neighborly. They're not treating the homeowners with any respect, and the impacts we're dealing with are very real. The water
that's coming down right now, if I mean, it'd be a great opportunity for someone to drive over there. Um the truth is not being they're not treating the homeowners with any respect and the impacts we're dealing with are very real. You are the commissioners approved this development. That means
you share the responsibility to make sure it doesn't wreck the lives of people living here. And I know Lenar wants to build more homes in this area. Well, if that's the case, then you need to stand up for us or we ask that you would. the residents, the voters, the ones who put you in those seats. All
we're asking for is fairness, accountability, and for someone to have our backs. Thanks again, guys. >> Mr. Powell, I'm going to respond. Um, you have contacted my office and we have responded. You explained on three or four occasions through via email and
phone calls the uh impacts to your uh property, and we asked if we could help. and you said, "No, no, we just I just want you to be apprised of what's happening here." We offered to help three or four times and you repeatedly told us no, that you didn't want us to
intervene, that you just wanted to us to be apprised of what's going on there. I would be would have been happy to help in any way that I could, as I would with any resident. And also, Mr. Gazelka, can you respond? >> Yeah, please. Good evening, commissioners. For the
record, I'm Michael Gresilka, the county engineer, and and yes, Mr. You and I have met out there on site, and I did respond. I actually wrote the responses from your email that you had directed to Commissioner Herd. I wrote those responses and and and went forward them
back to you. >> Is that okay? So, um I emailed you, Missurd, not Mr. G. first off. Um secondly, he provided me a survey of 2018 prior to my home being developed. If you take a look at that, there's a
pole barn in the place where you're stating that that uh water ran. And about 10 to 15 ft prior to that is where the water actually runs off. You could physically see it. My 11-year-old could go out there right now and point that out. I wouldn't be coming back here every month or every week whenever these
are here if I didn't want something done. I am I don't believe I only ask to be heard. I'm not coming up here asking for extravagant, you know, solutions. I'm just asking come to the place, take a look at it, get some boots on the ground. It
wouldn't hurt, especially today. >> You haven't you haven't invited me to join to to inspect your property and I'm not an engineer. I rely upon my >> The engineers aren't doing very well either right now, ma'am. We also there the the developer is not allowed to
impact you negatively. I promise you that we will do everything that we can to make sure that the developer is compliant with all of our regulations and that means not impacting you in a negative manner and I give you my my word on that >> and you've done that before and I
appreciate that but actions speak louder than words. >> So commissioners you know there's always a lot of details of this. Mr. Griselulka has been working uh reviewing that there was an incident with the uh developer where they did clear um and and were
required to remove some materials. There's also alterations in that area that have caused problems in the past. So um I think Mr. Gilkco has been working with uh the property owner to try to resolve that. they will continue to do so. Hopefully that they can do it
uh uh to everybody's satisfaction, but we can't always guarantee that uh um within the law we're able to um mitigate all problems that have happened. So, we'll continue to work with you, sir, with but um our county engineer is the
responsible party for providing the technical solutions both for you and the adjacent property owners and what they have or haven't done. They will report back to the board. Um certainly uh myself or any other commissioner can go and view the site but in the end we're
going to rely on our technical experts to uh to resolve it. So I implore you to do your best if there is something that they have pointed out that you completely disagree with. Those are things we can look at. Otherwise we're going to rely on our um engineering
county engineer to um uh to satisfy you if at all possible. >> Commissioner Campy. Thank you, Mr. Powell. When you were here last time, I thought you made a compelling argument. I think I told you that. And afterwards, I had an opportunity to speak to Mr.
Griselka, our county engineer, the expert who's in charge of all of the other departments that would be involved in your circumstances. And he had said that he had written a a full response to your questions to Commissioner Herd. And it's not uncommon
that if any of us would get a technical type of email asking for very specific types of answers, Commissioner Herd, myself, and probably any of us wouldn't have the ability to give you those technical answers. I visit plenty of sites, but I just visit sites because
and I'm looking like you're looking. But when I had a conversation with Mr. Graasilka and he went through those and I said, "Well, we didn't hear the responses." He said, "I sent them to the commissioner," which I said in this particular case, especially since you've been here a couple of times. and I thought you made a very compelling argument. I said, "Well, in this kind of
a case, you got to send them to all of us. Even if it's not our district, we'd still need to know." And then he ran through basically a list of what the site looked like and what the circumstances were uh at the site, not just on the construction side, but on
your side. And there were a couple of things that he explained, and I don't know if you want to get into the details now, but he did explain to me a couple of the things that were benefiting you that had been done in the past and were done currently that worked out to your
advantage. And so I was comfortable with the response that Mr. Griselka had given uh based on what we hear because you know obviously we represent you and I appreciate that you come because that means it's really serious but when we
have had other issues in Palm City you know someone's building developers building 12 or 13 homes we're very particular about who live there first and how does it affect when you say water is running on from a site onto your property that rings a bell for us
that's like that really speaks speaks to us because that's the issue that everyone's afraid that would happen. And if it is happening, we would expect our people to supervise and if necessary, punish, if that's the right word, a developer that's damaging, you know, a
situation that you had, but he and I don't know if you two want to get into it now, but he had explained to me several things that started to sound like it was not exactly what you said. And I'm not saying that you didn't tell the truth. I'm saying there were some things that were benefiting you that
might not benefit other people that you had to your advantage. And I figured, all right, we'll leave it alone. And then when I saw you here again today, I said, I guess it's not working to your level of expectation, but it's not because we're not paying attention. You in particular are probably getting more
attention from the five of us and our senior staff because you earned it and you deserve it because you come, >> you know, people that come, you look, you you're you're doing it. you come and ask us, but we don't even normally respond to a public comment, but we are all interested in you and making sure
that your situation is resolved. And if it's not, you know, then you there might not be a resolution for you if and I don't know you personally. Maybe you're one of these guys that's like, I don't care. I'm never going to be happy, but you don't seem that way. So, if if we can help you, if any of the five of us
and our staff can help you, we're going to try more so than I think most people have gotten. And so it might be an ongoing situation. And you know, my brother's a contractor and he says this expression since I'm a little kid, you got to break a couple eggs if you're going to make an
omelette. >> You know, and if you're the existing neighbor, you're our primary responsibility. I got no allegiance to I didn't even know I don't remember the developer's name who was next door to you. I just know if it's adversely affecting you, I would expect we would
expect our staff to protect you. And from what I heard, it wasn't exactly like no one's paying attention and no one's done anything. When you said you never heard back from Commissioner Herd, well, you have through our staff because she doesn't know what to do for you. So,
>> understood. And there was another I won't even get into that. Um, one other comment. If it was your homes, the situation wouldn't be going the same. I assure you that. Well, even if it's your home, I want it to go the way it is. I want you
to come back here one day and say it worked out. >> And I'd love to be able to do that. >> But I there's no communic I got one email from Mr. G and I'm not throwing you under the bus, you know, weeks ago and I've been in here since then and I've received no communication. A phone
call, a spam email at this point would be great. I have no um no further comments for today and thank you for your time, guys. >> Commissioner Heatherington would like to make the comment. >> Yes. Uh, Mr. Powell, I I did come visit you at your house and I um and I
understand your concerns because I had run into you in Indiantown at the Indian Town uh Chamber of Commerce event and you said, you know, please come see it. I came and what I see is and I believe that the board had given direction to
resolve some of those issues in the previous meeting. But what I see um most concerning and and you expressed is the the pathway that has no buffer, no um separation, no fence. I think had any of us seen that they would have been a
condition um of the PUD. And as recently as yesterday, I spoke to a staff member about what do we have any solutions that we can come up with. So I think I think many of us are working on trying to come up with a solution. And I know it's not um immediate, but I think we're all
working on coming up with something. >> Thank you again. And Miss Herd, I mean no disrespect. >> Thank you. >> Uh Jen Parker would like to speak to us. If you would like to address us, please fill out a request to speak form and hand it to the baiff. Thank you. >> Hi. Good evening.
>> Good evening. >> Evening. >> Thank you, commissioners, for letting me speak today. Um, I'm I'm representing the other neighborhood that's right on the border of what's happening to Derek's property as well. We're the Fern Creek Property Association. We have like
24 homes in our neighborhood. And it's definitely been an interesting, I'd say, last eight months of seeing how it's all been developing. Um mainly I'm here just to speak that we do have a backside that is going to be looking at the property
that truly has been affected um very harshly with um an incident that happened where they pushed a lot of the dirt um that was actually mud and water and all that and went past the silk fencing and actually pushed it into three neighbors yards that are bordering
right there where it's happening. And um it was truly a a a a big mess, probably an EPA violation. There was just lots lots going on there. And I do know that somebody lost their job that day because of what happened. Um we I was hoping that some of our neighbors would come
and speak today as well. Um Danny and I happen to live on the side that isn't affected, but we do have a pond that is being affected by all the water runoff that's coming off of that land that's right there coming right down into the culvert that is then running into the
pond that's right next to our house. And the level of course is higher, getting higher and higher and we may have to look into flood insurance because of it. But I don't know. I'm just like very concerned about also how we are seeing a lot of things happening but not being
informed about it in terms of maybe it's the developer. Like today we had so many trucks in there that were putting in the new um electricity poles and all that I think that they're going to be using and like our whole street was just cut off in half. But like we had no knowledge
that that was going to happen that day. All of a sudden, a sign went up saying people road work and that was it. But it's also causing a lot of um even more with the road divots that are happening off of Pepperwood because it's Pepperwood and Buttonwood that are being affected by the high traffic that's
happening with the large trucks that are coming in. Um, and not to mention that we've also are having people out there at 5 in the morning, like with their lights on with these trucks running that we can even hear at our house with impact windows. So, I I don't know if
there's rules that they have to follow, like they're not supposed to do noise until 7:00, you know, just like lawn maintenance people that we have come in that aren't allowed to work until after 7:00. But it is happening at 5 in the morning. And I do feel bad for our back neighbors there that are getting those lights that are right in their windows
that early in. So, but I don't know. I just wanted to express some of those concerns that we're seeing. Um Oh, and that's my time, but thank you guys so much. I appreciate it. >> We will address them. Thank you very much for coming in and informing us. Commissioner Campy, >> Mr. Griselica, you know, we I would say
to the public comments, we only know what we are informed by. I was not aware of those situations, especially the three that you ticked off. If uh the silt fence, if that's the whole concept of a silt fence is everything stays on
that side and um 5:00 in the morning is completely inappropriate. Uh trucks, you know, you're talking about trucks that are working on that project from your residential streets. If you can tighten it up for us, unless there's something we're missing, but it sounded pretty cut
and dry to me. Now, again, for the record, the Michael Griselka, the county engineer. Yes, we we got notification that there was a a uh a spill out there where it got sucker pushed off the road. We immediately sent people out there, got a hold of the contractor, got a hold of the the
developer. Um got it under control. We It did take two or three days to get it completely cleaned up. Um there was also some issues out there with the um some the side of the roads being rudded up and things like that which we were
addressed. At the same time we had some complaints or some concerns come in from the residents about some of the drainage. We had our field ops people out there to look at the system. Um the roadside swailes are ours to maintain
the pond and the outfall out of the pond which is completely overgrown. Um which needs maintenance on it is the maintenance responsible of the HOA. So, we informed them of that that that, you know, we would take care of any of the roadside swale stuff, but the HOA need
to take care of the actual outfall and the the ditch leaving their pond and their their stuff, which heads back up to uh to um Plano Road. This is the first I've heard about 5:00 a.m. I will have that addressed tomorrow
morning because unless we get told about it. >> Who's the developer? It's uh LAR. >> They're going to, like the gentleman said, they're going to want to work elsewhere in the county, even if it's not in the PUD. I I personally, and I'm sure my colleagues agree, I don't want this. I don't want to hear from the
neighbors. They're supposed to be a good neighbor. Uh otherwise, when they come back looking for another project, I will remember. We all will. >> Thank you. I just want to let you know that, you know, we are, like I said, the the first I heard about 5:00 a.m. We we will jump on that tomorrow morning. the
drainage stuff we we keep working with on this and and trust me commissioners, my in-laws live in this neighborhood. I get all kinds of phone calls >> and I'm not personally blaming you or our staff, but if they got they asked us to build there, I expect them to work at
a very high level. And it's one after the other after the other after the other. And some of that sounds very legitimate and not that hard to it's like, well, maybe it's one way or the other. It sounds pretty cut and dry. I expect them to work better and it's not your fault but if you know let them know
let them send them this 10 minutes of this meeting. >> Yes sir. >> Thank you. We will now proceed with Miss Merley. >> Good afternoon commissioners. Stephanie Merley, director of OM here to present to you our um fiscal year 2026 final
budget public hearing. As part of the truth and millillage process, the board is statutoily required to hold a second public hearing on the final budget in mill rates between September 20th and October 8th, which is where we're at right now.
Also, if this sounds familiar, it is. It's exactly the same except for a couple slides. Um, the millage rates proposed today have been advertised in the Steuart News on Friday, September 19th. The board is required to adopt a final budget via approval of resolutions
for each taxing authority's millage rate and the corresponding budgets. As part of the trim process, the adoption of the budget requires the contemplation of the rolled back rate which is the mill rate that would generate the same amount as the prior year's advorum tax revenues less any
allowances for new construction and additions to the valuation. Pursuant to trim guidelines, the county is permitted to have a millage rate cap of a total of 10 mills for the countywide taxing authority as well as 10 mills for the cumulative municipal
services taxing units or MSTUs. The proposed rates for fiscal year 2026 are all within the maximum allowable per per Florida state statutes. The following are the millage rates that were tenatively approved at the first public hearing on September 10th. Each
specific millage rate roll back rate and corresponding increase or decrease over the rolled back rate will be recited with each resolution adoption and per Florida state statutes. I'm required to go over all of the advorum impact drivers. The total new advor
generated if the millage remained constant would have equated to approximately $40.2 million. But the county's actual advorum need based on the budgeted expenditures amounted to 38.1 million which resulted in a reduction of the total millage rate from
last fiscal year. The advorm impacts are as follows. All constitutional officers and the 19th judicial circus office account for 30% of the new advalorum at 11.5 million. The capital improvement plan which was tenatively approved on
April 22nd is included and accounted for 5.1 million of the new advalorum. The CIP added funding for um public buildings, roads and storm water management needs and then various reserves were allocated in the FY26 budget. The general fund restricted
reserves were fully replenished based on the county's fiscal policy reserve requirement of 10%. And additionally, the FY26 budget builds strategic additional reserves to support a strong long-term fiscal strategy. These include reserves for future capital projects
identified in our CIP. Additional funds are being set aside to establish recurring revenues for anticipated public private partnership projects such as our Martin County public operations public works operations facility. And finally, the budget includes reserves dedicated to debt repayment, helping to
further improve the county's already strong long-term debt ratio and reinforce its strong standing with credit rating agencies. Overall, the county's millage rate decreased by.246% for countywide and 1.611% 611% for
unincorporated Martin County with a total combined millage rate reduction of 713%. This marks the second consecutive budget cycle that the Martin County BOCC has reduced both the countywide and unincorporated overall millet rates.
The following is a summary highlighting the changes from fiscal year 25 to fiscal year 26. The county's taxable base increased overall by 12.88% 88% and the greatest drivers for the overall budget increase are mostly non-advelor
including the halfsent conservation land sales tax that were approved by Martin County voters as well as enterprise funded operations such as our utilities and airport. This budget includes 11 additional positions for the BOCC and 11.5 positions cumulatively for all of
the constitutional officers. And then finally, the total total millage rate reflects a reduction from 9.9897 to 9.9185. And as part of the hearing requirement, the board must adopt resolutions for tenative for final budget adoption. The
resolutions are not required to be read in full, but must state the taxing authority, the rolled back rate, the percentage increase or decrease over the rolled back rate, and the millage to be levied for fiscal year 26. The board must also call for public public comment which we have done
already to comply with public hearing requirements. And with this uh budget adoption, the adoption of the FY26 budget represents a critical step in aligning our financial resources with the county strategic plan. This ensures that every dollar
supports our highest priorities, allowing for more for more focused, efficient, and impactful implementation of the county's goals. Driven by the strategic priorities identified by the board back in February, the team developed strategic
goals and objectives that align financial planning with the county's key focus areas, which we have dubbed quality of governance, quality of place, and quality of life. This ensures that budgetary resources are allocated responsibly and effectively to deliver
public value to the county's citizens, taxpayers, businesses, and visitors. And just a shout out to the team who helped the strategic um plan is we have Shelby Baker with OM, Andrew McBine with the airport, Richard Riley with library,
Britney Basset, utilities and solid waste, and George Zama public works before he left. And with that, my presentation is complete. And if you have any comments or questions, I'm happy to take those. If not, we may begin.
>> Any comments or questions? Okay. The uh comments are is this the final vote? >> I mean, right now, >> we're going to go >> or we could go through all of these things. Okay. >> So, do you have comments? >> No, I'll wait till after we go through
all of this. Yes. >> Put my spectacles on. Okay. Our first one is move to adopt a final millillage for taxing authority board of county commissioners countywide rolled back rate 5.9159 percentage of increase over roll back
rate 10.91 with a final millage rate of 6.5614 >> second >> there's a motion and a second any objections oppose >> that motion passes 4 to one with commissioner Vargas Presenting
>> move to adopt final budget board of county commissioners countywide fund total 318,825,362. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? >> Opposed? >> That motion passes 4 to one with Commissioner Vargas dissenting.
>> Move to adopt final millage for district 1 MSTU roll back rate 0.06. 0671 percentage of increase over rolled back rate negative0.75 final millage 0.0666 0666.
>> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt final budget taxing authority district 1 MSTU fund total $372,99. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any
objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt final millage for district 2 MSTU roll back rate 0.076. 0762 percentage of increase over roll back rate -2.62
final millage rate 0.0742 0742. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt final budget for district 2 MSTU fund total $215,000.
>> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt final millage for district 3 MSTU roll back rate 0.0297 0297 percentage of increase over rolled back
rate 36.03 final millage rate of 0.044 04044 >> second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? >> Opposed. >> That motion passes 4 to one with Commissioner Vargas desenting. >> Move to adopt a final budget for
district 3 MSTU fund total $324,881. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? >> Opposed. >> That motion passes 4 to1 with Commissioner Vargas dissenting. Move to adopt a final millillage for district 4 MSTU roll back rate 0.0485
percentage of increase over roll back rate negative 1.44 with a final millage rate of 0.0478. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. Move to adopt a final
budget for taxing authority district 4 MSTU fund total $214,390. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt final millage for district
5 MSTU roll back rate 0.0686 percentage of increase over rolled back rate negative -2.19 with a final millage rate of 0.0. 0671. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes
unanimously. >> Move to adopt final budget for district 5 MSTU final fund $370,000. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt final millillage for
special district A61 Hutchinson Island MSTU. Roll back rate 0.1682 percentage of increase over roll back rate 6.96 with a final millage rate of 0.1799.
>> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? >> Opposed. >> That motion passes 4 to one with Commissioner Vargas dissenting. >> Move to adopt final budget for special district A61 Hutchinson Island MSTU. Fund total $422,100.
>> Second. There's a motion and a second. Any objections? >> Post. >> That motion passes 4 to one with Commissioner Vargas desenting. >> Move to adopt final millage for fire rescue MSTU unincorporated roll back rate of 2.3732.
Percentage of increase over roll back rate 11.14. Final millage rate 2.6376. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? >> Opposed. That motion passes four to one with Commissioner Vargas dissenting. How
you doing? >> Move to adopt final budget for Fire Rescue MSTU uninccorporated fund total $85,521,74. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? >> Opposed. >> That motion passes 4 to one with Commissioner Vargas this ending. Move to
adopt a final millillage for MSTU Parks and Recreation. Roll back rate 0.1397. Percentage of increase over roll back rate 5.51. Final millage rate 0.1474. >> Second.
>> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? >> Opposed. >> That motion passes 4 to one with Commissioner Vargas dissenting. Move to adopt a final budget for MSTU parks and recreation fund total $4,365,644. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any
objections? >> Post. >> That motion passes 4 to1 with Commissioner Vargas desenting. >> Move to adopt a final millage for countywide MSTU uninorporated storm water and m road maintenance roll back rate 0.511. Percentage of increase over roll back
rate 11.80. 80 final millage rate 0.5722 >> second >> there's a motion and a second any objections >> opposed >> that motion passes 4 to1 with commissioner Vargas dissenting >> move to adopt final budget for countywide MSTU uninccorporated storm
water and road maintenance fund total 15,34,114 >> second >> there's a motion and a second any objections >> oppose >> that motion passes 4 to one with commissioner Vargas dissenting. >> Move to adopt a final budget for general
unincorporated fund fund total 8 million $131,820. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for building and permitting fund total
11,400,751. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for impact fees. Fund total 4,963,984. >> Second.
>> There's a motion and a second. Any objections. That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for special revenue fund total 32,26,49. >> Second. There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes
unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for grants. Fund total $2,396,33. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections. That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for other
debt service fund total 8,324,667. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for other capital projects. Fund total 34,21,127.
>> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for utilities enterprise. Fund total 124,46,350. Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any
objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for Solid Waste Enterprise. Fund total 48,72,621. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously.
>> Move to adopt a final budget for Airport Enterprise Fund total 3,32,863. >> Second. There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt final budget for Golf
Course Enterprise Fund total $3,798,000. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt the final budget for internal service funds. Fund total 46,428,736.
>> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for trust fund total $80,000. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes
unanimously. >> Move to adopt a final budget for community redevelopment area trust fund total 9,93,972. Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any objections? That motion passes unanimously.
>> That brings us to the conclusion of our public hearing, our final public hearing. >> Um, >> Commissioner Vargas. >> Yeah. Will we be making more comments after this or this is the final? >> This is it. >> Okay. Um, so I would like to make a statement. You know, it's not that I
don't support projects and programs, but we should be less liberal and more prudent with our spending. I think our constituents would appreciate more effort on our part to employ efficiencies within Martin County. And
for this reason and the reasons that I stated at the September 10th budget hearing, I cannot support this budget in its entirety. And I I do oppose it. Anything further, Commissioner Campy? I appreciate those
comments and I understand that's why there's five of us that can give a different perspective and they vote based on where their hearts and minds and their education and their research tells them to do. But in regards to how the staff has worked individually,
department by department, I think there is definitely a um a policy if not a sense where every one of our employees uh whatever they're doing, they're thinking of how can they do it more efficiently, how can they do it uh more
financially uh effectively. I think even when new employees come in, I think it's not long before they realize that the ethos of our organization is one of conservativeness. It is easy obviously to find spots here and there where we
can find efficiencies. I think having had the opportunity to be through a couple of different administrative leadership uh department head leadership in the main departments the more you know all of the departments are important but some of them obviously have tremendous budgets with lots and
you know hundreds of employees I think from Mr. Donaldson through his uh deputy administrators through our department heads have always had that in mind to work as financially conservative and as effectively as
possible. Our budget department wouldn't allow too many kind of loopholes whether it was Mrs. Manning when she was here for 35 years are now under the sharp toutelage of Miss Merley. Uh we have won
a nationwide award for decades that they don't hand out hand out willy-nilly. Uh I appreciate you know a newer perspective and there's a sense that maybe we could sharpen and we can there's always but the overall sense of the budget is a is a process that is
mandated by the state and then very carefully thought through where we've all had the opportunity to meet with our administration to discuss things. I've had issues with certain portions of the budget that I pushed back on and sometimes they have worked to uh where
it came to the situation that I thought would work and sometimes there was an explanation I would encourage new commissioners and old that if there is a concern there is a long process it's a five or six month seven-monthl long process specifically designed for each
of us not only to hear comments during the workshops and these adoption hearings sometimes there's a crowd sometimes there's is not. But I have had constituents ask me questions um about very specific things that I have had the opportunity to either ask of Miss Merley
or ask of Mr. Donaldson or department heads and say, "Hey, what about this and hey, what about that?" And I had a con constituent that saw something happening and and they thought that there might be a better way. And quite often if it was a valid concern, appropriate actions
were taken. and sometimes it was just merely a matter of opinion on how a certain process would be done. So I have the utmost respect for my colleagues but the concept that there might be a possibility that the budget is put together in somewhat of a
slipshot or that the departments are working where a little too liberal financially. I I I think as the years progress and people have an opportunity to be involved in how this works, that's what gives us the some of us senior, you
know, longerving commissioners have developed a comfort level because some of those initial concerns and questions have been answered year after year after year. and our bond ratings and our other
outside rating agencies have always looked upon Martin County as as an example of how it can be done. So, yes, I don't say that there's nothing that could be found in different um procedures and strategy that could maybe
save some money here and there, but our staff is experts at taking a dollar and turning it into five and saving money. And so I appreciate everyone's individual opinions, but I want the public to hear
that um I believe every one of the elected officials will come to a comfort level that our staff in every department uh is doing exactly what you would do it with your own bank account. And then if they weren't, it's hard to get it past
Miss Merly and her team. And it's certainly harder to get it past Mr. Donaldelsson. He's an engineer by trade. He's a cruncher and an and really digs deep into things, probably annoyingly so. But that being said, um we run a
very tight fiscal ship and our residents can rest assured. And then of course it comes to the five of us and Commissioner Herd, it really warms my heart to see um she was the one we battled. And I think that after years of pushing the the
organization in the right direction, she has obviously developed a level of trust in the folks that are responsible to the point where she's participating at this kind of interesting level. And I'm very pleased and happy to have that because
eventually that's where you come and if not we would be beating people over the heads before this meeting. But by the time it shows up here, the numbers are pretty tight. And that was much less than 12 minutes. I yield back the remainder of my time. >> Yeah, Commissioner Vargas, I certainly understand and and respect the position
that you've taken. I have voted against numerous budgets myself. I have voted against numerous department budgets myself. I have voted against the sheriff's budgets. I have voted against the fire rescue budgets. I voted against a lot of elements of the budget. Um but
I feel that uh in this case that well the office of management and budget does a wonderful job and they create the budget that the majority board wants them to create. Uh they don't have complete autonomy. They are creating
what they think three commissioners will support. Um and and they do a fabulous job. I I want to thank you. This was a this was a very difficult budget. This isn't the budget that I wanted. Uh I was was hoping for one that was much more
generous than this one was in order to prepare us for next year. Um but that wasn't uh an inevitability. So, and now we have to today and tomorrow uh Representative Oberdorf's committee is
meeting in order to uh consider uh constitutional amendments that's going to uh reform advalorum taxation that's going to uh lessen the amount of advorum taxes that we collect even though our
budget our advorum budget supports 44% of our budget and Representative Oberdorf has not he has signaled his intent that he is not looking to replace the uh advalorum budgets that he
subtracts. So pay attention in the upcoming days uh when we receive the results of the uh uh subcommittee meetings today and tomorrow. Commissioner Camps,
>> I would like to uh turn our attention to page 325. If we could put that on the screen. This is a strategic plan that was put together by a group of people. And Miss
Merly, if you could let us know who those folks were once again, if you haven't already, but I think these people need to be recognized for a great job. I uh I I uh think it's really interesting these these catchy bullet
points here. Quality of governance, quality of place, and quality of life. I just was very impressed with the uh the good thought put behind this. Good job. >> I see that uh Richard, you question Miss
Merley. >> Um I will say it is not an easy task combining five different um views into one document, but I'm so thankful of everybody here that really um put their heads together to really make it a document we feel that you would be proud
of and also to just make I'm proud to work at the county. I live in the county. I I keep saying this and to me this is just one of our launching points for really even more greatness that we already have. Um and so with that I would also ask that you move recommendation.
>> So moved recommendation to >> second on that unless you What size is that neck brace? Yeah. >> And I'm looking for direction. Was this advertised? So can we vote on this? >> Yes. It's actually included in your
recommendation at the end of this agenda item. >> Yes. >> Yes. It was included in the in the agenda item as a recommendation to approve and it was included in the packet. It was advertised. So, it's just to update your strategic plan. Um, and this only last thing I would say it
largely embodies all of the things you've already been doing. So, it was an update to many of the strategic objectives that we're already doing. And I think that's really what it symbolizes most is all the things you've asked us to do. Uh um but putting reflected in a
modern uh uh form. So >> nicely done. >> I heard it was so difficult. I'm surprised you guys are even standing next to each other. >> Most of the time you had to be separated. >> Yes. >> There's a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. That motion passes unanimously.
Thank you very much, John. Very well done. Very well done. I had a couple other comments as well if I could. >> Sure. >> Um, I'd just like to thank County Administrator Don Donaldson and OBM Director Stephanie Merley for putting a great budget together. I uh I'm amazed
at all of the data, very well written data that supported the budget and made it uh easy to understand. As a new commissioner, I really appreciated that. So, thank you very much. and also like we said before for developing the strategic plan that was
so well done. You know, when I think about a few of the bullet points uh characteristics of this budget and our finances as a whole in the county, I'm really impressed with how solid the finances are. And
wanted to emphasize just two or three bullet points. Um we're lowering the millillage. uh we're not raising the millage, we're lowering the millillage this year. And then another couple of little things that come to mind to me is we have strong reserves. Um
they were enumerated on one of the charts. There were four different categories of reserves that were strengthened substantially this year. We have strong reserves. We have low debts uh in our county government. Um I think
it can be said that we have more money in reserves than we have in total debts. I remember that in my prior study of uh the documents and that we have strong bond ratings. Um and they don't give
those out unless you have really solid finances. And this year we have an easier road because we had some extra money that came in from elevated property values.
Um and so I think it's a year to get some things done. Um because property values go up and down. Everybody thinks that that they're just going to keep going up. But I always try to remember the
great recession in 2008 when property values were chopped in half and there was a slow climb out of that hole that lasted several years. That could happen again. And uh I think this is a year to get
some things done without raising the millage rate because tougher years could be coming. You know, when you think about recession cycles, we're kind of due for one. When's the last time we had a really bad recession? I hate to be a
doomsdayer, but but think about how many years it's been since we've had a really deep recession. It could happen, you know. Um hopefully it won't. Maybe it'll be several years, maybe it'll just be a couple of years, but somewhere down the road,
uh, we're going to have to really get tough, you know, and tighten the belts just like they did in 2008, 2009, 2010. I've heard the, uh, horror stories of how uh, we were uh, really uh,
struggling in those years. So, in those years, you don't have a choice to get anything done. You're not getting anything done. you're you're just keeping the wheels barely turning. So, uh you better grab the opportunity to
get some things done uh when you can without raising the millage rates and without being too burdensome on the taxpayers. And I think that's what this budget does. So, I am in support. >> Thank you. Any further observations? Any
public comments? >> Good. >> Mr. Donaldson, anything further? Miss Merly, anything further? >> Just thank you for the board for indulging and Don and Elise for their support and of course all the department directors that I put through some stuff
and also my staff. I am very thankful. >> When do you start working on the next budget? >> Uh like in a month. It It's more of a 9 to 10 month process for our office. Yes. >> Like a baby. >> Yes. >> And this is it. >> And the department heads enjoy the
brownies. >> Yes. >> Thank you all. We we are adjourned. >> Nicely done. >> 51 minutes.