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with the understanding that there would be some passive recreation <br />on some of these lands. <br />Commissioner Tippin shared the concern about the amount of <br />public lands coming off the tax rolls, but he wasn't sure that we <br />should be against all grants or matching funds. <br />Commissioner Macht felt that Mr. Palmer makes a very valid <br />point, but he didn't want to be in a position of knowing what the <br />public had in mind when they voted for the $26 million. The Board <br />can only refer to the question that was on the ballot. He felt the <br />only mandate we have is the mandate of the Comprehensive Plan for <br />requiring environmentally sensitive land, and we can do that with <br />any amount of easements, grants, etc. With regard to passive <br />recreation use, he felt as a citizen that he would be very miffed <br />to find keep off signs on property bought with public money. <br />Commissioner Macht didn't think that capping the $26 million was <br />necessary since the Board can decide at anytime that sufficient <br />environmentally sensitive lands have been acquired. <br />Mr. Palmer repeated that the public believed that the cap <br />would be $26 -million and didn't realize that amount could double to <br />$52 -million by obtaining matching grants and conservation <br />easements, etc. He emphasized that the Commission has it in its <br />power today to take some of the burden off the backs of the <br />taxpayers of this county. <br />Commissioner Adams didn't feel any of us can second guess what <br />the taxpayers had in mind when they voted. She disagreed with Mr. <br />Palmer on this particular issue as she felt it would be a <br />dereliction of responsibility not to pursue grants and extend our <br />purchasing power. All of us pay for these grants and we need our <br />fair share. She felt it would be ridiculous for us to sit here and <br />watch them go to Brevard, Palm Beach or Volusia County without <br />making a fight to bring some -of the bacon back home. <br />Commissioner Adams emphasized that one of the overriding <br />factors of why we are buying these environmentally sensitive lands <br />is to conserve and protect our water resources. At this point in <br />time we are polluting all our water resources, and if we don't <br />begin to become much more environmentally sensitive and take <br />precautions to protect our water supply, we will exhaust our own <br />species. <br />Commissioner Adams did agree with Mr. Palmer's point about the <br />County paying so high a price for property assessed so low. She <br />felt that is the'type of thing that raises the question of whether <br />we are really serious or whether we are trying to sneak something <br />by somebody. She wasn't sure whether this had been totally <br />addressed, but it definitely raised a red flag to her. <br />25 <br />BOOK 5:2, 6 <br />419 <br />L_SEP 3 <br />