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Vice Chairman Davis wanted to know if this historically significant item had been <br />presented to any committees or to the Historical Resources Advisory Council for their input, and <br />learned from Administrator Baird that no feedback had been sought from those sources. <br />The Chairman opened the public hearing. <br />Fred Mensing, 7580 129"' Street, was opposed to changing the Seal and noted the <br />importance of maintaining some tradition in the County. <br />There were no additional speakers and the Chairman closed the public hearing. <br />Chairman Bowden conveyed that the County's historical records show that <br />periodically the question of why an elk was at the center of the Seal has come up. Apparently, <br />Indian River County had been part of Saint Lucie County, whose official seal had been an elk, <br />and it is believed that when it branched off in 1925, Indian River County took with it the Seal. It <br />was believed that the elk had been purchased as a generic stamp, with no particular thought put <br />into it, as elk do not inhabit this region. <br />Chairman Bowden informed the Board that on August 22, 2006, a former <br />Commission, on which she, Vice Chairman Davis, and Commissioner Wheeler had served, had <br />voted 4-1 to change the Seal from the elk to the grapefruit. She asked the Commissioners if it <br />was appropriate to keep the elk, or to make the change to something more appropriate. <br />Vice Chairman Davis understood the need for an updated electric stamp, but <br />voiced his opposition to changing the center of the Seal from the elk to the grapefruit. He felt <br />that since the symbol of the elk has served us well since 1925, that was enough to give it historic <br />significance. <br />January 22, 2008 16 <br />