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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final <br />10. CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS and GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES <br />11. PUBLIC ITEMS <br />A. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />B. PUBLIC NOTICE ITEMS <br />12. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MATTERS <br />12.A.1 25-0516 City of Vero Beach Request for County to Assume Responsibility for <br />Ocean Rescue Operations at City Beach Parks. <br />May 6, 2025 <br />Recommended Action: Staff requests the Board review and consider the information in this agenda report and <br />provide staff direction to the City of Vero Beach's request concerning the County <br />assuming ocean rescue operations at City Beach Parks. <br />Deleted <br />12.13.1 25-0541 Revised Requested Salary Increase - Chief Medical Examiner, District 19 <br />Recommended action: Review and consider the information contained in this agenda item, staff recommends <br />supporting the requested increase to $460,000 annually. <br />Attachments: Districts Chief Medical Examiners Overview <br />Districts Chief Medical Examiners Workload <br />County Administrator John Titkanich reported during the Board of County <br />Commissioners (BCC) meeting on April 8, 2025, that the Board declined a request <br />for a $495,000 salary for the Medical Examiner. He stated that representatives from <br />St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, and Indian River Counties expressed concerns about <br />the potential loss of Dr. Aronica and the challenges of finding a qualified replacement. <br />He noted that Indian River County's share of the increase was $22,100, and other <br />counties were willing to bridge the gap to cover it if agreed upon by Indian River. He <br />concluded that at the Four County meeting, the Board had three options: fully funding <br />the salary increase, agreeing to a modified proposal, or declining the request. <br />Titkanich argued that increasing the salary was critical to avoid service disruptions and <br />recruitment challenges. <br />A lengthy discussion ensued between the Board and Administrator Titkanich <br />regarding Dr. Aronica's proposed salary increase from $367,000 to $460,000, <br />representing a 23% rise. Concerns arose over salary comparisons and the <br />philosophical implications of such an increase. The Board emphasized its responsibility <br />to taxpayers, noting that Dr. Aronica's request was significantly higher than her <br />Indian River County, Florida Page 11 <br />