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Senator Mike Haridopolos <br /> Senator Ken Pruitt <br /> Representative Ralph Poppell <br /> Representative Debbie Mayfield <br /> February 18 , 2009 <br /> Page Two <br /> Background <br /> Boat Club Island ( a . k . a . Spoil Island No . IR25 ) is located in the Indian River Lagoon <br /> in <br /> central Indian River County . The island is owned by the State Board of Trustees of the <br /> Internal Improvement Trust Fund ( BTIITF ) . From the mid 1960s through the mid 1990s , <br /> the Vero Beach Boat Club maintained boat docks and a picnic pavilion on the island . In <br /> March 1996 , Indian River County took over management of the island , entering into a <br /> 10-year agreement with the State to manage the island facilities . Those facilities were <br /> substantially damaged in the 2004 hurricanes . Three docks , currently in disrepair , <br /> remain at the island . <br /> Indian River County ' s 1996 management agreement with the State formally expired in <br /> 2006 . Recently , FDEP staff advised that , for the County to reconstruct and maintain <br /> facilities on Boat Club Island , the County would need to apply for and obtain a formal <br /> Sovereign Submerged Lands Lease . <br /> Due to the expense of obtaining a submerged lands lease ( i . e . , permit application fee , <br /> obtainment of a certified survey , identification and mapping of all submerged resources , <br /> development of a detailed management plan , annual lease fees ) , the County advised <br /> FDEP that the County did not wish to enter into a formal submerged lands lease , but <br /> instead offered to work with the State to repair the existing docks in the public interest . <br /> FDEP staff responded to this offer by demanding that the County remove the docks or <br /> the County would be "deemed to be engaged in an act of trespass on State lands, " in <br /> violation of 810. 09, Florida Statutes, under threat of penalties . <br /> Given current economic times and the public interest of restoring and keeping public <br /> docks on Boat Club Island , the Board of County Commissioners is dismayed at FDEP ' s <br /> threatening response and inflexibility in requiring a formal submerged lands lease , <br /> particularly for docks that have existed on Boat Club Island for more than 40 years . <br /> Building A <br /> 1801 - 27`x' Street <br /> Vero Beach, FL 32960-3388 <br /> Telephone: 772-2264490 FAX: 772- 770-5334 <br /> F, <br />