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Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final August 11, 2025 <br />1. CALL TO ORDER <br />Present: 5 - Chairman Joseph Flescher <br />Vice Chairman Deryl Loar <br />Commissioner Susan Adams <br />Commissioner Joe Earman <br />Commissioner Laura Moss <br />2.A. A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND MEMBERS OF <br />THE ARMED FORCES <br />2.11. INVOCATION <br />Rev. Dale Glading, Risk Takers for Christ <br />3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE <br />Commissioner Susan Adams <br />4. CONTINUATION OF BUDGET WORKSHOP - SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUDGET <br />Chairman Flescher opened the continuation of the Budget Workshop for the Sheriffs <br />Office budget. He noted the unprecedented nature of holding a second workshop and <br />could not recall a similar event in recent history. While the County maintained good <br />financial standing, Chairman Flescher expressed concerns about uncertain economic <br />challenges in the upcoming fiscal year and urged a cautious approach. He addressed <br />the Budget Workshop meeting that took place on July 9, 2025. During the discussion, <br />he recognized the Deputies who shared personal accounts of their financial challenges, <br />including their experiences with government food assistance and taking home leftover <br />school lunches to support their families. Chairman Flescher expressed concerns <br />regarding the validity of these claims. He maintained that while law enforcement <br />officers deserved fair compensation, budget limitations had to be considered. <br />Chairman Flescher stated that it was implied that the County Commissioners were <br />unsympathetic to law enforcement. The Chairman noted his colleagues' backgrounds <br />in Law Enforcement and Fire Services, asserting that everyone on the Board valued <br />and supported law enforcement. He rejected the notion that the Commissioners did <br />not favor law enforcement. He emphasized the need to balance obligations to <br />taxpayers and the larger community of over 170,000 citizens who faced financial <br />hardships. <br />A letter received from Sheriff Flowers before the start of the meeting was read into <br />the record by Chairman Flescher. He acknowledged the Sheriffs absence from the <br />workshop but conveyed his respect for the Sheriffs prior commitments. <br />[Clerk's note: the letter from Sheriff Flowers is on file in the Clerk to the Board <br />Indian River County, Florida Page 1 <br />