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• <br />are none to the other members. He believed the low ranking reflects to the general public <br />the wrong importance of purchasing the islands. He recommended the Board consider <br />weighted votes. He listed the objectives of the LAAC and stated that the islands meet 5 of <br />the 6 objectives. He asked the Board to consider using some of the bond money from the <br />$26 million to purchase the islands, to reapply to the Florida Communities Trust for <br />matching funds, to allow the Town and the City to have a little more say and participation, <br />and to allow the municipalities to see who else they can get involved in the purchase of the <br />islands <br />Tom Trolley, 4903 Sunset Drive, advised he had recently been advised that of the 150 <br />or so miles of the Indian River Lagoon, there is only one narrow area, and that is right in the <br />funnel where the Lost Tree Islands are. He spoke with Jim Egan, the director of the Marine <br />Resources Council, who confirmed that was a serious concern because of the nature of it as <br />"sort of the plug in the bottle." The islands are a distance from the flushing action of the <br />inlets at Sebastian and Ft. Pierce. Also, Vero Beach has many canals which contribute to the <br />fresh water flow into the lagoon. He suggested that the County gather all the information <br />from the MRC and from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and forward it to the State. <br />Mr Egan suggested it is very possible that we have fish and sea grass species around those <br />islands that are not found anywhere else in the lagoon. He felt this would highlight the <br />environmental sensitivity in working towards the saving of the islands <br />Chairman Ginn was certain Vice Chairman Stanbridge had been in touch with the <br />MRC and HBOI as environmental concern is one of her areas of expertise. <br />Vice Chairman Stanbridge advised that the lagoon's narrows extend all along the <br />Jungle Trail. The area of the Lost Tree Islands is not the cork although it is very valuable. <br />She had a problem that the development agreement put on the table by DCA, DEP and <br />undoubtedly agreed to by the Town and City has elevated the price of those islands In fact, <br />March 6, 2001 <br />87 <br />8{ <br />7PG346 <br />• <br />