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JAIL 1. 1988 <br />BOOK 70 FACE 636 <br />1. that all discharging of water off-site was to cease immedi- <br />ately; <br />2. that a major violation of the approved mining application had <br />occurred; <br />3. that pursuant to Section 25(r)(11) of the County zoning code, <br />the posted $10,000.00 bond was forfeited due to the vio- <br />lation; and <br />4. that the mining operation was suspended until such time that: <br />a) it came into conformance with the approved mining <br />application, and <br />b. a new $10,000.00 bond was posted to replace the for- <br />feited bond. <br />. Applicant's Response <br />Since receiving the cease and desist order, Dennis L. Smith, Inc. <br />has: <br />1. ceased all discharge off-site, <br />2. submitted and received approval of an administrative approval <br />to bring into conformance the minor discrepancies regarding <br />retention areas; <br />3. submitted $10,000.00 into County escrow to "replace" the <br />$10,000.00 forfeited bond, and <br />4. has appealed the forfeiture of the full $10,000.00 bond. <br />By virtue of the first three responses listed, the suspension of <br />the mining operation has been lifted. The appeal of the <br />$10,000.00 forfeiture is now to be considered by the Board of <br />County Commissioners. <br />ANALYSIS AND ALTERNATIVES: <br />. Forfeiture Regulations <br />Section 25(r)(11) of the zoning ordinance establishes requirements <br />regarding the posting and forfeiture of the $10,000.00 mining <br />bond. The section states that: <br />"In the event of failure to comply with the site plan <br />and this ordinance, this shall result in forfeiture of <br />the bond to the Board of County Commissioners of Indian <br />River County, Florida. The bond shall be one thousand <br />dollars ($1,000.00) per acre, with a minimum of five <br />thousand dollars ($5,000.00), not to exceed ten thousand <br />dollars ($10,000.00)". <br />Thus, the ordinance specifies that failure to comply with the <br />mining ordinance site plan will result in forfeiture of the bond <br />to the Board of County Commissioners. Since there has been an <br />admitted failure to comply with the approved site plan, th forfei- <br />ture is required and "automatic". <br />The purpose of the bond is to guarantee compliance. Unlike <br />"built" development projects, with mining operations the County <br />has no "points of control" such as building permit or certificate <br />of occupancy issuance. Thus, the bond is the County's only mecha- <br />nism by which zoning and site plan compliance can be guaranteed. <br />The forfeiture regulation is the operator's incentive to comply. <br />Dennis L. Smith, contends that forfeiture of the entire $10,000.00 <br />bond is too punitive, and goes beyond any negative impact the <br />violation has had. Mr. Smith also contends that there is no <br />"corrective measures" to which the money can be applied. <br />76 <br />