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Boa 94 Pia 296 <br />REQUEST BY JOHN DEAN TO SPEAK CONCERNING COUNTY <br />II 1 ION 0,00I 1 1515 R 1 -.•'151 to ITEP <br />John Dean, local architect, believed this is a great <br />opportunity to have a pier of substantial magnitude in this <br />community by saving the east end of the old Merrill Barber Bridge. <br />He showed a design sketch of how it would look if the east end of <br />the bridge was retained, noting that it would fit well with <br />Riverside Park. He believed there is still time to save the east <br />end of the bridge, emphasizing that 1500 people have donated a <br />total amount of $83,500 to do all the work on the east end of the <br />pier and deliver it to the City of Vero Beach. A substantial <br />number of the 1500 people who have signed the petition to save the <br />east end of the bridge for a pier are from the unincorporated area <br />of the county. Mr. Dean advised that there is strong interest to <br />create a non-profit company to raise the funds to provide the <br />maintenance for the pier. He received a call from one private <br />business offering to provide $50,000. However, this needs to be <br />reserved for a public use. The City of Vero Beach is considering <br />this tonight at their Council Meeting. <br />In conclusion, Mr. Dean urged the Board to do whatever can be <br />done to put this plan into being because people from all over this <br />county will use the pier. <br />Commissioner Eggert was concerned about insurance or liability <br />for the east end of the bridge if it is retained because of what <br />happened to Panama City. She understood that there is a $4.5 <br />million suit against the city and the end of the bridge has been <br />padlocked. <br />Commissioner Bird questioned the amount of parking that would <br />be needed for those people wishing to use the boardwalk and the <br />public pier, and Mr. Dean stated that eventually a master plan <br />would have to be done. <br />Commissioner Bird felt, from a recreational and a tourist <br />viewpoint, there would be some merit in keeping one end of the <br />bridge, but that decision is up to the City of Vero Beach. <br />Commissioner Eggert agreed, and noted that during the last 10 <br />days the majority of her calls are from people who are against <br />retaining the bridge for various reasons. <br />Commissioner Tippin realized the difference between the City's <br />jurisdiction and the County's, but people from all over the county <br />have called in to say they would like to share in the venture. He <br />preferred saving the east end of the bridge. <br />FEBRUARY 7, 1995 78 <br />