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Commissioner Macht asked for a discussion of this important matter and possible <br />actions by the Board, such as individual letters to senators and representatives. <br />County Attorney Vitunac explained that this year's Congress is considering this <br />insidious proposal whereby a local court can bounce local zoning matters right up to a <br />federal court and tie up the case for years. NACo (National Association of Counties) is <br />keeping an eye on this. Commissioner Macht met with the Senate recently and, because of <br />the strong representation at this meeting, some of the Senators seemed to be more in favor <br />of local issues. <br />Commissioner Macht commented that it was a NACo effort. They met with Senator <br />Trent Lott and later with Representative Newt Gingrich, who was a little less forthcoming <br />than Senator Lott. They discussed many issues such as ISTEA, childcare, juvenile justice, <br />rehabilitation and prevention of crime. The available funds are split 60% to rehabilitation <br />and 40% to prevention and he believed those should be reversed. They were told that <br />substance abuse will be a priority in both Houses. <br />Commissioner Macht asked for a resolution, copying local municipalities and asking <br />them to also support the action. <br />ON MOTION by Commissioner Eggert, <br />SECONDED by Commissioner Ginn, the Board <br />unanimously adopted Resolution 98-033 in support <br />of retaining local appeal jurisdiction in local zoning <br />matters and in opposition to Bill HR #1534. <br />RESOLUTION NO. 98-33 <br />A RESOLUTION OF INDIAN RIVER <br />COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN SUPPORT OF <br />RETAINING LOCAL APPEAL JURIS- <br />DICTION IN LOCAL ZONING <br />MATTERS AND IN OPPOSITION TO <br />BILL HR #1534. <br />WHEREAS, Congress is considering giving appeal jurisdiction in local zoning matters <br />to federal district courts under Section 1983 of Title 42 of the U.S. Code; and <br />WHEREAS, the federal court system is presently understaffed and overworked and <br />years behind in its civil case workload; and <br />WHEREAS, adding thousands of additional zoning appeals would clearly worsen the <br />problem; and <br />WHEREAS, it is the announced intention of the administration and Congress to <br />bring government back to the local level under the theory that government closest to the <br />people governs best; and <br />MARCH 10, 1998 <br />-81- <br />EkOOK 10 4 F,aGES I <br />