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Chuck Mechling, 1999 Pointe West Drive, in 1999 informed the Board that Pointe West had many employees out there and if this is passed today that will shut the project down. He does not believe interest free loans are a good concept and was not good for the County either. He feared that if the link goes away then funding would go away. He felt putting a “focus committee” to work on this would be a venue of a pro-action that we could all embrace and at the same time be able to work with our State Representatives to see if there is a better way to handle this. Commissioner Wheeler recalled talking with Representative Poppell who told him that thnd regardless of what the Board decided they would be starting construction on the 66 Avenue to 82 Avenue segment in 2009; so the State is going to move ahead with that link within two (2) years whether or not we put this money out for it. Mr. Mechling felt the economic vitality of our County would have a toppling effect if they stopped the process, and urged the Board to keep this alive. Commissioner Wheeler commented that if the State was going to do this in two (2) years why should we front the money now. Mr. Mechling interjected that it would be to keep our local economy alive so that we can keep ourselves moving forward. thnd Commissioners and staff discussed whether the 66 Avenue to 82 Avenue segment would still be in the five-year plan if they did not fund this project now. They also discussed the State’s 3-year versus the 5-year plan, proportionate share concept and interest involved. Joseph Schulke, Civil Engineers of Schulke, Bittle & Stoddard, LLC, Vero Beach, addressed Commissioner Wheeler’s Motion for voting for the project today. He said that he felt like Commissioner Wheeler had given up and/or did not believe that staff or the local community could find a October 3, 2006 52