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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final November 20, 2018 <br />Each Commissioner was given the opportunity to speak to their concerns with <br />regard to the settlement agreement which included: <br />• Quantifying the cost to continue litigation and whether the County could retain <br />legal representation given that Martin County and CARE -FL have signed the <br />agreement. <br />• The benefits the County would receive such as a cap to maintenance costs, funds <br />to install fencing, and construction of a train station; additionally, the County would <br />have to relinquish the current lawsuit, the ability to challenge the project in the <br />future, and there was concern for the impact on future Commissions. <br />A discussion with the Board ensued regarding the language contained in the <br />agreement that limited the scope of future objections from the County, with similar <br />concerns being expressed for the concessions included in the agreement. It was <br />opined that continuing litigation may not be in the County's best interest with the <br />recent developments that could possibly weaken Indian River County's likelihood <br />of successfully blocking the financing of Brightline's expansion. <br />A suggestion was posed that it may be best to join Marin County and CARE -FL in <br />accepting the settlement agreement and gaining some safety improvements. Other <br />members of the Board questioned the benefit of abandoning the opposition to <br />Brightline noting that the public safety concerns would persist even with the <br />provisions of the agreement. A discussion followed with staff on whether the <br />promised train station for the Treasure Coast would actualize and the value of the <br />proposed cap to maintenance costs. <br />Chairman Solari opened the discussion to the public. <br />The following people spoke in favor of the County continuing to fight against <br />Brightline and rejecting the settlement agreement: <br />George Royster, 211 Johns Island Drive <br />Peter Seed, Indian River Shores <br />Nick Schaus, Indian River Shores <br />Bob Auwaerter, Vice Mayor Indian River Shores <br />John Preschlack, 101 Oyster Cut <br />Jan Demko, Vero Isles <br />Joseph Paladin, President, Black Swan Consulting <br />Walter McNeil, Indian River Shores <br />William Troxell, Orchid Island <br />Dick Brickman, Indian River Shores <br />Indian River County Florida Page 2 <br />