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Chairman Stanbridge ruled the motion had died for lack of a second. <br />Commissioner Ginn specified that the Board had voted to have Florida Communities <br />Trust negotiate with Lost Tree Village and this contract is the result. She urged the <br />Commissioners to put aside small, solvable problems and look at the main issue. She <br />asserted that the public has been waiting 13 years to buy these islands which were <br />recommended for purchase when the bond issue referendum was approved by the voters. <br />She feared more years of litigation if this contract is not approved. She urged the Board to <br />buy the islands for the future because the citizens demand it. <br />MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Ginn, SECONDED <br />by Vice Chairman Tippin, to move ahead at full speed with <br />staff's recommendation. <br />Under discussion, Commissioner Adams commended the efforts of Commissioners <br />Macht, Ginn, and Stanbridge, as well as Mayor Cadden, and the City of Vero Beach. She <br />questioned the involuntary conversion language in the contract because the County is not <br />threatening condemnation. She needed a better comfort level and did not think it right, <br />particularly if this is the first offer She was concerned about where they would negotiate <br />from this point if the $15,000,000 offer is not accepted. <br />Commissioner Macht called the letter of donation a falsehood and felt we have no <br />business doing it. <br />Deputy County Attorney William Collins explained the document states a fact that <br />Indian River County has powers of eminent domain and may seek to acquire the property <br />through the exercise of those powers; it does not say we will. It is the policy of the land <br />acquisition program to look for a willing buyer/willing seller situation. As to negotiations, <br />September 3, 2002 <br />