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conversion site to allow the County to donate a +19 acre portion of Kiwanis -Hobart Park to the Winter Beach Cemetery for cemetery expansion. FCT, however, in its approval of the Wabasso Scrub project plan, denied the LWCF conversion. This non -approval was based on FCT's reluctance to set a precedent of the state program being utilized in a way which would reduce overall acreage available to recreation use by the public, without compensation (e.g., from Winter Beach Cemetery) for that reduction. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners exercise its option to purchase the Wabasso Scrub property, and authorize the Board Chairman to execute the attached Addendum Iv to the Conceptual Approval Agreement; Purchaser's Reconciliation of Total Project Costs; and Grant Award Agreement. Further, staff recommends that the Board authorize staff to administratively approve other documents and undertake necessary actions to close the purchase. Mr. DeBlois advised that the property has been substantially cleared of debris by the owners and staff is recommending that the Board exercise the option to purchase the Wabasso scrub property. Recently, we have received further indications from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and are working with them to gain mitigation credit for this property for the CR7512 project. Their concern was just the fact that protecting the existing scrub jay habitat was not necessarily acceptable mitigation, but we made it clear to them that we actually are improving and expanding the habitat that would be suitable for scrub jays by managing it and burning it. That is the portion they are interested in looking at. We are pursuing that aggressively and hope it works out. Chairman Macht felt that is the rationale we need to bear in mind when we do other acquisitions. Commissioner Tippin cautioned again about not burning off the underbrush of the property during the turtle nesting season and to notify people blefore doing so. Mr. DeBlois believed the Management Plan requires that a workshop be held and notification given before a fire. The Chairman opened the Public Hearing and asked if anyone wished to be heard in this matter. Jim Granse, 36 Pine Arbor Lane, advised that he would not be repeating the arguments or points he had made at the last meeting when he voiced his objections to the purchase of this property. He pointed out that in January, 1986, this property was purchased by it SEPTEMBER 12, 1995 BOOK 9,6 1