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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final September 4, 2018 <br />Richard Baker, President of Pelican Island Audubon Society, wanted the County to <br />purchase the entire parcel to preserve Historic Dodgertown. <br />Michael Kint, 6255 59th Court, as a Citizen and not in any official capacity, <br />appreciated the historic element of Dodgertown and wanted to preserve it. <br />Andrew Kennedy, 2050 U.S. Highway 1, represented the owner of D.T. Commons <br />near Dodgertown, a property used for parking during Dodgertown events, asked if <br />County staff could notify him of any changes to the Dodgertown Parcel. <br />A discussion ensued amongst the Board in support of Alternative 1, purchasing the <br />entire 35 -acre parcel with a mixture of Tourist Tax and Optional Sales Tax Funds, <br />and the need for a plan in the future for the acquisition of properties. The Board <br />expressed their concerns that if only Tourist Tax Dollars were used to purchase the <br />parcel, it could restrict the options for development. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Commissioner Adams, <br />to approve Alternative 1, to make an offer to the City of Vero Beach to purchase the <br />entire 35 -acre parcel adjacent to Dodgertown with funding available from a <br />combination of the Tourist Tax Fund and the Optional Sales Tax Fund reserves. The <br />motion carried by the following vote: <br />Aye: 4- Chairman O'Bryan, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, and <br />Commissioner Zorc <br />Nay: 1 - Vice Chairman Solari <br />County Administrator Brown made the argument that offering a price matching the <br />current buyer's offer in the amount of $2.1 million for the 35 -acre parcel may be <br />favorable for the County. He explained that the plans for the parcel would align <br />with the City's original intentions when they had purchased the property. He asked <br />the Board for authorization to present an offer to the City in the amount of $2.1 <br />million at their September 4, 2018 meeting, as well as some flexibility, but did not <br />want a bidding war. <br />A discussion followed on submitting a matching price of $2.1 million to the City, <br />with Chairman O'Bryan pointing out that under the plan with the current buyer, the <br />City would be generating additional revenue. He felt that the Board needed to <br />make a better offer to offset any ad valorem revenue or sales tax, but agreed that he <br />did not want to start a bidding war. <br />A discussion ensued amongst the Board whether to offer the City an amount <br />slightly higher than the current buyer's offer. <br />Indian River County Florida Page 4 <br />