4/25/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Scurlock, SECONDED by Commissioner Bowman, that the Board authorize Commissioner Bowman to work with administrative personnel, using county resources, to pursue this and make the necessary contacts and bring back all the facts. Under discussion, Commissioner Eggert noted that McKee Jungle Gardens has been a special place to her as it was a place where she and her late husband spent a good deal of time. While she is very supportive of doing something with it, she would like to see a referendum held, or least a straw vote, to make sure that we really have the community's support behind us in this acquisition. Commissioner Bowman felt we need to consider acquisition of additional wetland areas and perhaps float a big bond issue for a whole package of environmental acquisitions. She felt we should acquire these wetlands now if we can possibly do it. Commissioner Scurlock pointed out that this community just passed the 1 -cent optional sales tax, and did so with the promise that each 5 years we would put together a capital projects program and go through the public hearing process, not a referendum, to determine the use of those funds. In fact, we will be using some of those funds as seed money for acquisition of property for the South County Park near Oslo Road and 20th Avenue where we plan on doing something similar to Memorial Island. He would be supportive of a referendum if that was the only way we could get it, but he was not sure that we need to have a referendum on every item that comes before this Board. He also pointed out that it costs money to hold a referendum. Commissioner Bird asked about public access to the wetlands along the river, and Mr. Fletcher advised that the Indian River Farms Water Control District ties together the two wetlands via a APR 2 6 1989 17 BUGK 76 F-687