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BOOK is FAGS '3 Commissioner Stanbridge added that this fire could have threatened homes and businesses in the area, and Director Wright reported there had been some fires in residential yards and there was some damage to equipment belonging to a business to the west of the fire. We have been lucky so far. Environmental Health Director Michael J. Galanis, who is also the Environmental Control Officer for the County, gave some of the history of this business and the environmental hazards it has been cited for in the past. The chipping operation was more of a landfill, but the Florida Department of Environmental Protection would never agree. The DER did require the owner to get an air pollution permit and made some requirements on the chipping operation. It is easy to say, "We should have never allowed it," but it was allowed. The Board of County Commissioners currently has a $10,000 lien on the property which could be foreclosed. Foreclosure has thus far been resisted because if the County takes over the property, the County will have to clean it up. In the past, he thought that would not be wise, but knows of no other solution. The use is not compatible with the area and the owner apparently is more interested in taking in landscape waste than selling chipped materials. In response to Chairman Macht, County Attorney Vitunac confirmed that the Board does have the prerogative of foreclosure on the property. Commissioner Adams suggested something be done about the fire, and Director Wright made it clear that the fire fighting was restrained because the firefighters did not have access to the private property, merely the perimeter. There was discussion about the inaccessibility to the property and its public nuisance aspect and the spiraling costs associated with fighting the fire. Mr. Galams asked, if the foreclosure on the lien is successful, if the owner could just pay us which would help cover some of the costs incurred. If we do take the property, the County must clean it up and he wanted everyone to understand that. Commissioner Adams pointed out the effect on all of the neighbors in that part of the county. Roads have had to be closed which has caused about 10% of our residents to be held captive. The Sheriff's Department has had to be involved. The costs are escalated because the owner has not followed the rules. The Board has been very lenient, unfortunately, thus far and it is time for the owner to stop being such a nuisance. CountyAttorney Vitunac suggested the Board authorize his departmentto take Circuit Court action and forget the Code Enforcement Board and the Environmental Control Board, who have tried but have been fought by the DEP, which refused to acknowledge the obvious APRIL 13, 1999 54