HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-071RESOLUTION 110. 73-71
40
WHEREAS the Board of County Commissioners of
® Indian River County, Florida has been notified that the
Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Division
of Corrections intends'to purchase land and construct a 150
bed prison for first time offenders in Indian River County,
Florida, and
WHEREAS, said Board did conduct a public hearing
on November 7, 1973 regarding the proposal of the Division of
Corrections and did determine that: the citizens of Indian River
County do not wish a prison to be constructed in this County
for the following reasons:
(a') It would require the expenditure of several
hundred thousand dollars for road construction as
the proposed site is not on or near a paved road.
(b) Adequate low or medium priced housing is not available
in Indian River County and most of the proposed 97
employees would have to find housing in St. Lucie
County.
(c) Indian River County is not an urban county and the
Florida Legislature mandated that this prison be
built in an urban area.
((l) the prison would have a negative impact on the
economy, population and the tourist trade in
Indian River County.
(e) Required local services of schools, hospitals and
utilities are not adequate to meet the prison's demands.
This prison would create a drain on the existing
facilities within this County.
(f) The site location lies in an area of projected
residential use and would have a serious negative
impact on surrounding land values.
- 22 -
(g) There is no guaranty that this facility would remain
a 150 bed institution in view of the fact that there
is 90 acres of land to be developed.
WHEREAS the Florida Cabinet must approve the ex-
penditure of funds.for this project,
Be It Resolved that the Board of County Commissioners
of Indian River County, Florida unanimously oppose the con-
struction of a prison in Indian River County and request the
Governor and Cabinet to deny .the Division of Corrections'
proposal to locate that prison in Indian River County and the
expenditure of State funds for the purchase of land and request
that the Division of Corrections be ordered to carry out the
mandate of the legislature by locating the prison in an urban
area.
Further Be It Resolved that the Board calls upon all
Indian River County citizens, municipal and town councils
and our legislative delegation to notify the Governor and Cabinet
that Indian River County does not want and does not need a
prison.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
By
Alma Lee Loy, Chairman
U
ATTEST:
4alph_'Harri s, GIerk
- 23 -