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26A )) Sunday, January 31, 2016 ))TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS,) IC Nil ci�� double down COLUMNIST The letter rekindled hope of derailing All Aboard Florida. It also opened another potential legal front in the fight to stop the train. And so it goes. Every time a crack seems to appear in the Miami' -to- Orlando pas- senger rail.project, which is scheduled to begin run- ning trains through our re- gion in late 2017, officials in Indian River and Martin counties rush in to pursue their legal options. And taxpayers get stuck with the mounting tab. On Tuesday, the Indian River County Commission will consider a proposal to hire an additional law firm for its fight against the rail cdmpany. The focus this time? The permits AI1.At oard Florida needs from the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- neers and St. Johns Water Management District to move ahead with the rail project in Indian River and Brevard counties. The proposed agree- ment would pay the law firm of Shubin & Bass $295 an hour to evaluate the propriety of the permitting process. The county als would be responsible fo associated legal costs, suc as filing fees, depositions travel expenses, et al. The proposal sets n caps on the -county's legal expenses. It also makes clear there is no guarantee of success. What fueled the county's new legal strategy? A Jan. 7 letter from the Corps to All Aboard Florida that stated the formet's -reluctance to approve permits for the northern section ofthe proj- ect before a federal environ- mental review is completed. The letter stated, in part: "You are cautioned that commencement of the pro- posed work in waters of the United States subject to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' jiirisdidion, prior to autho- rization, would constitute a violation of federal laws and subject you to possible enforcement action.!' , All Aboard Florida op- ponents hailed the rebuke as a sign the project may be in -trouble. That's one interpreta- tion. Here's. another: The correspondence is merely procedural. The Corps cannot authorize the proj- ect until it receives all nec- essary information. Reality check. I Googled . the Corps' statement above. It is common, boil- erplate language used in other correspondence from the federal agency. Nevertheless, Indian• River County officials are � � fix. x.. r •.,-�..� ®na'd - r dd�Qoa o ° the best place`for a station. li `§ ... sai& he .plans ' fo champion this;idea before," ' SHAPING, the Fort Pierce'Cify and'St. OUR FUTURE 1`ucie•CountyCoinmissions:' -•,-; Currentlyji6 trainstops are'slated fof the -Treasure preparing to'spend an in- Coast determinafeamotiiitoftax- payer money in the hope mentwithKite?Our elected-. they'll uncover something officials should quit spend=v amiss in All Aboard Flori- ing taxpayer money to fight ' da's permitting process. a project -that increasingly j Good luck with that. appears to be inevitable. ' - - Since 2013, Indian Riv- Iroriically,''Kife and I er County has. allocated have ariived at similar f about' $2:6 million; to the conclusions from opposite s All Aboard Florida'fight., starting points.• • ' f Not to be outdone, the 'Kite has been enthusias- ' 1 Martin County Commis= tic about All Aboard Florida 8 sion meets Feb. 9 to dis= since'the project was an - cuss funding, and possibly ngunced several years ago. - T hiring additional counsel, By:coritrast; Tve opposed ,. to fight the rail -project, •the train•froni the begin-., (� according to the commis- ning =and still do. g sign's meeting agenda.. ,'-however; if. -Treasure F` In February 2015, Mar- CoasCresidents are -going w Q tin County comrnissioners fo be burdened with2 daily B! earmarked. VA million to passenger train trips = and IR fight All Aboard.Florida: ; 'all the attendant headaches St Our elected officials are ;this, will bring -to oui re-' ,doubling down=on 'their gion•— I believe we should I k�' bad bets. `; at least get the benefit of ait Las Vegas ,would love .train stop. i- these folks. ' 1 The:'countiesl spending ylj "Our best bet now- is to ` to fight All Aboard Florida pa work with AI1,Aboard'Flor- has reached tliepoint of ab-, rril ida and get what we need 'surdity. And with little or an with respect to the train," no pushback from taxpay `' .' " said Keith Kite, an Indian ers, it is likely;to'cohtinue Ga up t River County resident and — right o the bitter, end. Se fourth-generation Florid- = 59 ian who is advocating for Rich Campbell is the Shaping c'ol a train stop in our region. Our Future columnist for Vea- I agree. sureCoast Newspapers. This —Y And I agree with Kite !column reflects his opinion. Dp that Fort Pierce, because 'Contact him at 772-221-4207 1 of its central location in or rich.campbellC?tcpalm.com: Br i our three=edtinty area;,is Twitter: @RCampbellmc58 Av11