5/12/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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0 Commissioner Eggert advised she has always felt the County should buy the Lost Tree Islands; that they are very important. She had thought long and hard about the matter the last several weeks. She was distressed at the name calling and other things that have occurred and felt it was time to do something and move on. MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Eggert to 1) turn negotiations over to the staff of Board of County Commissioners; 2) *request the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) to allow us to not keep private the appraisal amount or accept the fact that it has already been revealed by Lost Tree to the newspapers; 3) make a counter offer of $10,500,000 and go from there. Under discussion, Commissioner Eggert commented that Lost Tree has been generous in the past. There was a brief discussion concerning the confidentiality of the State's appraisal. Following a suggestion by County Attorney Vitunac, MOTION WAS AMENDED *to ask the FCT for permission to reveal the appraised value as part of the negotiating process, without jeopardizing the $2.3 million contribution from the State. Vice Chairman Macht felt that point had no validity because confidentiality had been breached already. Commissioner Eggert understood, but the County did not breach the confidentiality and she was looking for a "formal breaching." Vice Chairman Macht spoke at length against the motion. He was in favor of buying the Lost Tree Islands for under the appraised value, and he had no intention of having any part in buying them for anything over the appraised value. He did not understand the compulsion to lavish money on an organization above an established value. He mentioned several reasons, including lawsuits and zoning, why he would not support the motion. It made no sense to him and he hoped the Commissioners would not pass it. He believed it was May 12, 1998 33