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I <br />3 <br />t,J rt9�c 1 <br />various other sections of the County to emphasize the low number of acres purchased within <br />boundaries of the city of Vero Beach. She pointed out that the County has gone above <br />appraised value to purchase other property, and cited the landfill property. She urged the <br />Board to move forward with purchasing the islands. <br />Vice Chairman Macht defended the purchase of the Cairns property citing its locale, <br />archeological and native flora importance, as well as being already zoned for development. <br />He also spoke on the price paid for the Prang Islands. He believed that negotiations on the <br />(Lost Tree) islands would not be stopped by a negative vote at this meeting. He felt the <br />State still had the ability to continue negotiations and there could be other appraisals at a <br />future date. He also thought that negotiations on the islands could continue under the aegis <br />of the LAAC, but he did not want to gut the land acquisition funds nor pay more than the <br />appraised value. <br />Commissioner Ginn defended the value of the islands because they are riverfront <br />property. She read a quote of Ed Eckstein regarding the recreational potential of the islands. <br />She termed the purchase of the islands as being win-win and feared if stopped today, we will <br />not have another opportunity to buy them. <br />Chairman Tippin objected to having been put in a box with the required condemnation <br />resolution. <br />Commissioner Ginn argued without success that this is "friendly condemnation". <br />County Attorney Vitunac explained that the County has been put in a box by Lost Tree with <br />this condemnation issue. The reason he called Lost Tree on Friday was to let them know that <br />his sense of the Board was that condemnation would not pass, that they were foredooming <br />this whole procedure by requiring condemnation. He thought that just because they were in <br />a box, did not mean that they had to live within those rules. They would still have the option <br />of proceeding with the option agreements and putting the ball back in Lost Tree's court. <br />They cannot bind the offers that we may make back to them. <br />The Chairman CALLED THE QUESTION and the motion <br />carried 3-2 (Commissioners Eggert and Ginn opposed). <br />(Condemnation resolution NOT adopted) <br />May 26, 1998 <br />