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build two homes on that property. Mr. Luethje then introduced the new Executive Director of the Association of Retarded Citizens, Tommy Thompson, and Attorney Paul Kanarek, a member of the Board of Directors of the ARC. Attorney Kanarek reviewed the history of the formation of the Association of Retarded Citizens which goes back to 1974 when a group formed the Sheltered Workshop for retarded children who needed assistance in learning daily skills. This workshop has beenlln operation for 13 years, and they never have had a problem with the neighbors. Later a group formed the Association for Retarded Citizens and then the two groups merged. The Association for Retarded Citizens now has an operating budget of about! $750,000, a staff of 40 employees, and operates a number of programs, including infant intervention. They are constructing a pre-school on the property just adjacent to the Sheltered Workshop. That and the Sheltered Workshop are operated during the daylight hours. The Workshop provides training to apprdximately 50 clients, and various organizations throughout the community provide work for them and help them become self- supporting. They have been supported by 31 groups and organiza- tion in the community, two of their main supporters being the Treasure Coast Kiwanis Club and Knights of Columbus Council. Attorney Kanarek informed the Board that when this house was purchased, it was being used as a licensed foster care facility; 14 children were living in the home along with the adults; and there were substantial problems with the septic tank, which was overflowing into the back yard. He stressed that their group homeA s a home and will be operated as a home, and it is no different than a family living next to you. At this point Chairman Scurlock wished it read into the record that we have received an additional 26 letters in support of the group home. Said letters are on file in the Office of the Cler SEP: I AIN 25 BOOK 69, ,PAGE 20 l `` 9,