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JUL 171979 <br />BOOK 41 FAUF 155 <br />CARROLL PALMER CAME BEFORE THE BOARD SPEAKING AS PRESIDENT <br />.I <br />OF THE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION. HE STATED THAT THE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION <br />HAS MADE A TOUR OF WABASSO, FELLSMERE, GIFFORD; AND ARE AWARE OF THE <br />CONDITIONS. —THEY ALSO HAVE TOURED FORT PIERCE AND ARE NOT OPERATING IN <br />THE DARK AS TO WHAT EXISTS. HE FELT THE BOARD HAS A GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY <br />AND MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN A HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NECESSARY FOR THE <br />COUNTY BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF A HOUSING <br />AUTHORITY AND IF THE BOARD DOES ACTIVATE ONE, EVERYONE OF THE PEOPLE <br />HERE TODAY WILL BE DEAD AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY STILL WILL BE GOING <br />ON. MR. PALMER FELT THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS INVOLVED. HE <br />FIRST ADDRESSED THE ELIMINATION OF SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, FOR WHICH IT <br />a IS NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE A HOUSING AUTHORITY SINCE THIS COMES UNDER <br />THE DIRECT AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD. MR. PALMER CONTENDED THAT THE BOARD <br />HAS BEEN LAX AND HAS NOT LIVED UP TO THIS RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE YEARS. <br />HE NOTED THAT THE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD IN <br />FEBRUARY A 5—YEAR PROGRAM, WHICH, IF PURSUED AGGRESSIVELY, COULD LEAD <br />TO THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL ELIMINATION OF THE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, AND IN <br />SO DOING WOULD CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT WOULD PROMOTE BUILDING BY THE <br />PRIVATE SECTOR. <br />MR. PALMERS SECOND POINT WAS THAT A HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL <br />JUST EXPAND SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE COUNTY. HE NOTED THAT FOUR OUT OF <br />FIVE ADJACENT COUNTIES, INCLUDING ST. LUCIE COUNTY, DO NOT HAVE A <br />PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND DID NOT SEE WHAT MAKES INDIAN RIVER COUNTY <br />SO DIFFERENT THAT WE NEED ONE.- FSE REITERATED THAT.THERE IS NO TURNING <br />BACK ONCE A HOUSING AUTHORITY IS CREATED AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DIS— <br />ADVANTAGES. HE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM OF IMMIGRANTS, WHICH HE DID NOT <br />FEEL THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD CAN CONTROL, BECAUSE THE GUIDELINES ARE <br />SET BY HUD WHO IS SUPPLYING THE MONEY. HE DISCUSSED THE ADMINISTRATIVE <br />COSTS INVOLVED AND FELT THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM FOR THE FIRST YEAR FUNDING <br />WOULD BE $50,000475,000. HE NOTED -THAT UNLESS THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO <br />GET THOSE FUNDS FROM THE TAXPAYERS.OF THE COUNTY, THEY WOULD PROBABLY <br />TRY TO OBTAIN THIS FROM FEDERAL FUNDS, HE REFERRED TO THIS AS "THE <br />SOMETHING FOR NOTHING" SYNDROME AND STATED IT IS DEFICIT SPENDING. MR. <br />PALMER NOTED THAT THE COUNTY IS FACED WITH MOMENTOUS PROBLEMS IN REGARD <br />