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/qA i <br />INDIAN RIVER COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Members of the Board 'of County Commissioners <br />DATE: November 15, 2016 <br />I <br />SUBJECT: The Spoonbill Conspiracy <br />FROM: Commissioner Bob Solari <br />A county resident, Barry Shapiro, has made allegations about the <br />effectiveness of Indian River County's Spoonbill Marsh. Among other things <br />Mr. Shapiro alleges, "not only an environmental tragedy but also a <br />potentially criminal cover-up of the truth by our county officials". (Shapiro <br />letter "To whom it may concern" dated August 20, 2016) Shapiro asserts <br />that the Spoonbill Marsh is "not properly functioning" (August 20, letter) and <br />is damaging the Indian River Lagoon. <br />I am addressing this issue, as opposed to Mr. Burke, our Utility Director, or <br />Mr. Reingold, the County Attorney, because, I believe, as will be made <br />clear, the Spoonbill Conspiracy was not driven by any substantial problems <br />at the Spoonbill Marsh but was simply a nasty and sophomoric attempt to <br />alter the outcome of the last elections, specifically, my County Commission <br />primary race against Jay Kramer. As Shapiro writes: <br />County Commission chairman Bob Solari has aggressively <br />defended the marsh system and is currently basing his re-election <br />campaign on the benefits to the county these marshes provide." <br />(August 18 email and August 20 letter) <br />Perhaps the best place to begin this story is with 'a short description of the <br />Spoonbill Marsh. <br />2,ll" V <br />