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CONSENT AGENDA <br />A. Draft Letter to Senator Connie Mack Approved <br />The Board reviewed a proposed letter as follows: <br />DRAFT <br />Honorable Connie Mack <br />United States Senator <br />517 Hart Senate Building <br />Washington, D.C. 20510 <br />Dear Senator Mack: <br />The Indian River County Commission would like to thank you and <br />the United States Senate for the recent commitment to fund the land <br />acquisition necessary to protect Pelican Island National Wildlife <br />Refuge (PINWR). Rapid growth on Indian River County's barrier <br />island and the deteriorating impacts to the Lagoon's water quality <br />are combining to threaten this unique estuarine ecosystem. <br />To reverse this trend, it is essential that' communication, <br />coordination, and the partnership approach should continue between <br />local, state and federal government. <br />The Indian River County Commission is working with the U.S. <br />Fish and Wildlife (USFWS), the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) and <br />the Florida St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to <br />acquire environmental sensitive uplands and wetlands that will <br />protect the oldest national wildlife refuge. Without the funding <br />you have proposed, the Kennedy Tract, an important piece of the <br />puzzle will be missing. <br />During this past year, the County has purchased the Korangy <br />tract located adjacent to PINWR and north of the Kennedy tract. We <br />have also committed $100,000 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife toward <br />the purchase of the wetlands in the Colliers Hole area east of the <br />Kennedy tract. The county and the Florida Department of <br />Transportation are in the midst of a five year $2.3 million ISTEA <br />enhancement project for Jungle Trail. Jungle Trail is a scenic and <br />historic public roadway that will provide a buffer line between the <br />PINWR and the huge residential developments advancing from the <br />_ east. The State of Florida through the 1000 Friends of Florida, <br />recently, designated this roadway as a Florida Greenway in <br />celebration of Florida's 150 years of statehood. <br />Sincerely, <br />ON MOTION by Commissioner Eggert, SECONDED by <br />Commissioner Bird, the Board unanimously <br />approved the letter to Senator Connie Mack as <br />presented. <br />5 BOOK 96 f'A"; ou- <br />September 19, 1995 <br />