Tom Campenni
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IN THIS EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER
We are adding different contributors to our lineup as we continue our mission to be your source of information for Martin County.
This week, a new feature with announcements and press releases sent from our constitutional officers will be launching. I often receive these announcements which contain both interesting and valuable information. We believe we have found a way to incorporate them into the newsletter to keep you more fully informed.
David Hafner has written his first piece for us. For those of you that aren’t familiar with the goings on in western Martin County, I hope he will bring some insight. Carol from United Way and Fletch from the Boys & Girls Club have their monthly columns. Mike Meier, our real farmer, is on vacation this week and will return next month. And of course, our regulars (Herbie Howard, Frank McChrystal, and Tom Pine) write about how they see our hometowns.
We also have incorporated a paper from the Martin County Taxpayers Association on the contract between the county and the Humane Society. You should read it because it does involve millions of your tax dollars.
For those of us that live within the Stuart city limits, there is a contested commission race between incumbent Troy McDonald and his repeat opponent, Caryn Hall. I offered both a chance to write about their candidacies. Their pieces appear in the Stuart section.
Occasionally, I have readers suggest improvements. One that came in after the last newsletter was a way to scroll down to a particular section from the top. Another was to add an additional tab like the ones provided for the Stuart or Martin County sections where you can just go to those sections and read the news.
Friends & Neighbors is not a slick “professional” publication with hundreds of employees behind the scenes. I am the employee, and my staff consists of my wife on a very part time basis. While both are great suggestions, one would require having a web person insert different code in every edition. As to the tabs, the current website does not have the room to add anymore.
For those of you who have been reading Friends & Neighbors from its inception when it was nothing but an email, you have seen how much we have progressed technologically. As time passes the technical part will improve. Right now, I am focused on bringing you more information and Martin County viewpoints with each edition. That is the mission of Friends & Neighbors. At least for now, we will leave the razzle and the dazzle to others.
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STUART & MARTIN COUNTY ARE AT A CROSSROADS
I do not believe any Martin County resident wants to see us take on the characteristics of Palm Beach or St. Lucie Counties.
Some people try to make the point that we may end up with growth like Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach have experienced if we are not careful. I believe a fairer analogy would be a comparison with St. Lucie County. The three counties to our south are much larger than we are in square miles and have been in the south Florida development game for over a hundred years.
We have 753 square miles with 543 being land and 210 being water. St Lucie County has 688 square miles with 572 being land and 116 being water. Martin County has taken a different approach when it comes to development than our sister county. It looks to me that St. Lucie County has never seen a development that was not in keeping with their vision. While Martin County appears to be just the opposite.
Martin County’s slow growth approach has served it well over the years. Regardless of who was on the county commission, the historic rate of growth is 2%. That tug of war about development has been beneficial overall in keeping our quality of life. Yet when does always saying no become stagnating and threatening to that very quality?
The way we fund government in Florida depends on growth. The longer you are a homeowner the less you pay in property taxes for government services. This is because of homesteads, exemptions, save our homes, caps, and portability. That leaves government few ways to increase funding except by creating new homes for new Florida residents.
This cockamamie system that Tallahassee’s political sleight of hand has produced is the little secret no politician wants to confront. If you want parks, roads, public safety, and public works, you need tax money. The best way to get that money is from people who have not yet started the cycle of real estate government tax giveaways that we, existing residents, already enjoy.
Most residents in Martin County want to enjoy a bucolic lifestyle. That is a good goal, but it is only a sustainable one if we cluster new development within existing CRAs and municipalities. Or if you own thousands of acres — very few of these parcels are left— you develop them as small towns with dense sections and wide-open spaces on most of the property. You need to think of Knight Kiplinger’s Palm City development.
The worst possible thing to do is create nothing but cookie cutter homes without any infrastructure to support those homes. If it is one big housing development, it is sprawl. You need to locate homes by stores, parks, entertainment venues, schools, and offices. It is even worse if you spread the homes over 20-acres and call them ranchettes.
We may want to be nostalgic for a time when Stuart had farms within city limits. That was a different period that culturally and economically has passed. People hate change unless they can see how it benefits them. Yet change is necessary for Martin County and Stuart to continue providing government services which enhance our quality of life.
What we can do is make sure that we use development in a smart way. That smart way is to make every acre count. The Costco development will do that. Some sincerely believe that putting single family homes on that site is all we should achieve.
If not growing and changing were the desires of the original pioneers to this area, we would still be one big pineapple plantation. Stuart would be known as Potsdam. And we would still be part of Palm Beach County. Our forefathers knew how to adapt. My question is do we?
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LIVING THE DREAM
Here it is the beginning of July, and we have already had one storm that sort of made a Florida landfall. Luckily, we were not in its path, so except for some clouds and rain, Martin County was unaffected. Yet storms are becoming more numerous and stronger.
Will we be hit this year? Only time will tell. It was only until recently that we did not have to worry about storms posing a danger to us until the middle of August. Ana became the first named storm on May 22nd of the 2021 season…more than a week before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
As people arrive to claim their piece of the Florida dream, I wonder how sanguine they are about what they may face. Many from the northeast have had their share of storms in the past few years. Some newbies may be prepared for what could happen. They did live through Superstorm Sandy.
Yet if a big one hits Martin County directly, how many of us have the slightest idea what that would be like? Though there have been significant improvements in building codes since Andrew hit years ago, homes that were built in compliance with those new codes still could suffer substantial damage due to flooding. And the wind is still the wind with trees and roofs vulnerable.
That is the price one pays for “living the dream.”
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NON-PROFIT PERSPECTIVE
By Carol Howaart-Diez
United Way of Martin County President-CEO
When I ask people if they know what United Way does, the most common response is ~ United Way does good work.
What exactly does that mean? Having spent the last 34 years of my career and life in the United Way movement, I can tell you that it means different things at different times of the year.
Throughout the year, we rally individuals and organizations to contribute to United Way’s Community Impact Fund. These funds are then invested in local programs that improve the education, health and financial stability of Martin County residents.
But what makes United Way unique is our citizen review process to ensure donor funds are used efficiently on the most needed programs. Each spring, dozens of volunteers provide an extra layer of accountability by carefully reviewing grant requests to ensure the programs that are requesting funding are effective, meet current community needs, and are financially stable and sustainable.
It is not guaranteed that these programs will receive funding every year. There are new grant requests submitted every year from various organizations. This process is one way that donors can be assured that their contribution is going to critical programs in Martin County that are monitored and evaluated on their overall effectiveness in changing outcomes for our community and clients. We are allocating $928,417 to programs that applied for funding this upcoming fiscal year.
Allocating community impact grants is only one of many ways United Way addresses our community’s unmet needs.
We are currently working with the Martin County Board of County Commissioners and staff to assist with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Our partnership will lead to millions of dollars being invested in our community for quality programs that have proven track records to provide results. Last fiscal year, we assisted with the CARES Act funding for our community and we were able to get an additional $4,032,384 of funding to community partners. This year, we will collaborate with two of our funding partners, Children’s Service Council of Martin County and the Community Foundation Martin St. Lucie, to have a more broad perspective on our approach to serve Martin County.
In addition, we are working with the Martin County School District to provide the most needed school supplies for every child in our school district. Did you know that many children are embarrassed, sad, and worried when they walk into school without proper supplies? Our approach of having the school supplies directly in the classroom waiting for each student eliminates the stigma of arriving without supplies. No more waiting in lines at free giveaways; each child can now be ready to learn on day one. If you would like to volunteer to help us sort and package these school supplies for each classroom, please go to our website www.unitedwaymartin.org or this link here to sign up.
We will be working until the end of July to get these items sorted and packed.
These are just a few examples of the benefits a strong, healthy United Way in Martin County can help to provide for our community. I will continue to share some of the amazing work that we do in Martin County and when we get closer to the holidays, I will share more about our role as local coordinating organization for Toys for Tots and how we assist families in Martin County for the Christmas holiday.
To learn more about or to volunteer with United Way of Martin County please go to our website www.unitedwaymartin.org.
Carol Howaart-Diez’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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PINE’S PONDERING
By Tom Pine
Over the last two months the Martin County Taxpayers Association has called out Martin County Commissioners twice for spending our tax dollars in a questionable manner. Their statement read the county needs to get out of the business of business and stop spending vital tax dollars on being a restauranteur when we have real issues looming such as the dredging of the inlet.
As the county continues to have problems staffing the two restaurants on the beach, their solution is pay higher wages. The lead cook will start at $29,042.00 a year plus benefits which will include Health Insurance, employee – funded health reimbursement account, twelve paid holidays, tuition reimbursement and more.
At commission meetings we often hear the commissioner’s talking about how they love our small business, they sure have a strange way of showing it, by going into business, and competing against them and trying to steal their employees.
Will our small restaurants be able to compete with county government that has money growing on trees? Will they be able to compete not only on wages but also the benefit package the county is giving?
The county employee that came up with this scheme should be terminated and replaced with people who understand how democracy works. It is not government’s role to compete in the private sector. I would encourage anyone who thinks our county government should get out of the restaurant business to call the County Administrator at 772 – 320 – 3167 to express their thoughts.
The Consent Agenda, CNST #2 At the June 22, 2021, the Martin County Commission approved $ 12,383,802.96 in payments made between May 22, 2021 and June 4, 2021 without identifying the purpose of the payment or the payees. These are supposed to be routine payments ???
Truth To Power
Tom Pine’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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McCHRYSTAL’S MEANDERINGS
By Frank McChrystal
As I write this on Independence Day, the latest polls show 29% of Americans have no plans to ever get the Covid-19 vaccine.
These people don’t seem like conspiracy theorists to me. These are independently minded people who search for the rest of the story. The majority of the 29% have made the decision to not expose themselves to an experimental vaccine not approved by the FDA. This is especially considering the under reported survival rates for Covid-19 published by the CDC in September of 2020. Those survival rates for humans range from 99.997% of those aged 0 – 19 to 94.6% for those aged 70 and above.
For those independent Americans who always dig deeper; “the rest of the story” alternative is not that hard to find in 2021. Dr. Stephanie Seneff is one who questions whether the Covid vaccine is worse than the disease. Dr. Seneff is a senior research scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab.
Her degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology include a BS in biophysics, a MS in electrical engineering, and a PhD in computer science. Her published articles in the biology and medical fields have produced a slight chasm between her and the rest of her mainstream, grant seeking contemporaries. Her whistleblower status was cemented in 2013 with her co-authoring of a paper exposing the herbicide glyphosate as a cause of cancer and autism.
This is not a conventional vaccine. The usual 12 – 15 years of studies for safety have been abandoned. Dr. Seneff points out some firsts: First to use polyethylene glycol in an injection. First to use mRNA technology against an infectious agent. First time Moderna has brought any product to market. First to be implemented with only preliminary efficacy data. First injection of genetically modified polynucleotides in the general population.
“The media has generated a great deal of excitement about this revolutionary technology, but there are also concerns that we may not be realizing the complexity of the body’s potential for reactions to foreign mRNA another ingredients in these vaccines that go far beyond the simple goal of tricking the body into producing antibodies to the spike protein.” – Dr Seneff
In simple terms, this is an experimental vaccine that injects genetically modified mRNA into the body for the first time ever. The scientific debate regarding the possibility of this hi tech, cheaply produced, genetically modified messenger RNA actually changing the recipients DNA has only just begun. Dr. Seneff concludes her expose on the Covid vaccine with a plea to governments and the pharmaceutical industry to consider exercising greater caution in the current undertaking to vaccinate as many people as possible against SARS-CoV-2.
Dr. Fauci has publicly expressed his goal of vaccinating all students by December. I’m hoping our local leaders will show independent thinking as the pressure to vaccinate all students gets amplified this fall. This is an experimental vaccine that is unnecessary for students who already have a 99.997% survivability rate without the vaccine.
Frank McChrystal’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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HERBIE’S HOBE SOUND
By Herbert Howard
Since our Independence Day will have just passed by the time this is posted, I thought it apropos to write about a flagpole dedication that I recently attended.
This is an unusual event for me to attend mainly because I didn’t even know it was a thing. a friend, LuAnn Prestegard, invited me and I wanted to support her. She and her late husband, Tom, had presented a flagpole to the historical Apollo School here in Hobe Sound. There were about 40 in attendance on a glorious early summer day.
It was somber as LuAnn spoke about her late husband. Tom had served in the military his entire life. The pledge of allegiance therefore became something they said every day, maybe more than once. So, they were reminded daily of its meaning.
For the first wave of the star-spangled fabric, LuAnn offered a flag she had purchased 20 years ago. As it was hoisted and we recited the Pledge learned in elementary school so very long ago, I wondered when it was that I’d last said the Pledge.
I think everyone was moved as it rose high in the air. An event of my youth came to mind. I had spent a year in Europe as an exchange student back in high school. Flying home as we descended into New York, the Statue of Liberty seemed to raise higher and higher to meet me. I knew I was home, and I couldn’t fight off a tear.
My heart suddenly in my throat, I realized how much I had missed this land of the free, home of the brave. How proud that I was one on that plane who had been born here. I was a citizen of the greatest experiment in government. An experiment with a noble goal… the freedom to live life as you would on your own terms.
I was born in a place where you could attend synagogue, temple, church, mosque or just walk the beach in wonder. I was born in a place where you could write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper complaining about leadership without fear of reprisal. Where college students wearing short shorts and tank tops and miniskirts could protest. Whereas they would be punished, imprisoned, or stoned in other countries. I was born in a place where the government did not confiscate your gun.
Where I recall Condoleezza Rice saying if her father had not had a gun to protect the family from the KKK they might have perished. All experiments include failure. Americans are free to make horrible mistakes and pay the consequences. That’s how we learn so we can reach for perfection.
I was born in a place where you could work as physically or mentally hard as possible and eventually, through only your own effort, own a mansion and send your kids to private school. Or you could sit on the couch and watch TV all day.
I was born in a place where you could burn the symbol of freedom as “symbolic speech.” As I stood there at the Apollo School with fellow Americans, without anyone asking or caring about political party affiliation, I wondered who in the world would ever think to ask that question in this setting.
We were united as lucky participants in a great experiment!
Herbert Howard’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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HAFNER’S CORNER
By David Hafner
Conservation has been a big topic statewide this year.
There was a big push through the Florida House and Senate to preserve the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Thank you, Senator Gayle Harrell and Representatives Toby Overdorf and John Snyder, for your part in that effort.
In a recent Martin County Farm Bureau Board of Directors meeting, with our guest Representative Snyder, the topic of conservation came by way of a discussion about the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. For more about this program go here
During the June 24th joint meeting between the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, City of Stuart Commission, Village of Indiantown Council, and Martin County School Board, Stuart Commissioner Michael Meier posed an initiative to conserve more land in Martin County for future generations. School Board Member Michael DiTerlizzi mentioned there is a map that shows the land currently owned by Martin County that has been put into conservation. He suggested that map should be sent to all the members in attendance.
This push by Meier obviously struck a positive chord with the Village of Indiantown Council as later that evening, during “Comments by Village Council Members” at their bi-monthly council meeting, several members of the village council made mention of Commissioner Meier’s idea.
Councilwoman Susan Gibbs-Thomas was the first to make mention: “We are losing our agriculture and it is going into golf courses and homes.” Councilwoman Gibbs-Thomas made mention of possible ways to preserve green spaces, including building new parks.
Vice-Mayor Jackie Clarke followed up by requesting staff find and deliver the conservation land map to the village council for their consideration.
Mayor Janet Hernandez took the thoughts of Commissioner Meier and went in the direction of preserving the Indiantown Cemetery. Mayor Hernandez further mentioned a lack of trails in Indiantown, such as those at Halpatiokee Park in Stuart.
Village Manager Howard Brown said he will look through the comprehensive plan to see what the village can do within that plan to preserve green space in the Village of Indiantown.
I wonder, will this favorable look at saving green spaces lend to the resident requested lessening of the building density of the development coming to Fernwood Forest Road? Will the village consider purchasing the land located between Indianwood Golf & Country Club and the incoming Tractor Supply to preserve that buffer? Maybe the village will build out a trail system with integrated exercise stations to encourage people to get outside?
We shall see, but I do know they aren’t making more land, so we need to protect what we have.
David Hafner’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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FLETCH’S PERSPECTIVE
By Keith Fletcher CEO & President of
Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County
It could have been a childhood embarrassment that fueled doubt and stymied self-expression. Instead, it motivated Emma Floyd to make sure that next time, she would be ready to meet the moment.
“Truthfully, I don’t even remember the song I sang,” the 17-year-old Palm City resident recalls of that fateful day in third grade. “I just stood in the middle of the auditorium, looking at all the parents and the kids looking back at me. I didn’t move. My voice was all shaky. But I remember feeling a rush of adrenaline kick in and it felt really good, and I knew this was something I could do well at if I worked at it.”
If you’ve had the privilege of hearing Emma perform her soul-stirring, heart-swelling, eyes-misting rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, then you’re among the grateful that she didn’t let initial disappointment dissuade her from her dreams.
Emma is a remarkable talent, which the astute staff at our Palm City club recognized shortly after she arrived there as a shy third grader. In club talent shows she shined on stage. Mentors spotted her singing ability and invited her to perform the National Anthem at Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County events such as Youth of the Year Awards and AmeriCorps Opening Day, as well as the recent FPL Cogen Plant demolition in Indiantown.
To help her further hone her craft, BGCMC secured her a scholarship in musical theater at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Conservancy of Performing Arts.
“We did a performance of ‘Guys and Dolls,’” she remembers. “I had a small part—just in the ensemble—but that’s when I knew I loved theater.”
Emma branched out more, joining theater and OPUS at Martin County High, studying acting and dance. She even choreographed a production of “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.” She later earned the lead role in her theater troupe’s version of “Guys and Dolls.”
Even as BGCMC is committed to helping members improve academic performances, we aim to instill lessons that go beyond the classroom, emphasizing their innate value as people and upholding an environment that’s ideal for nurturing and cultivating their individual gifts.
Emma is currently readying for her senior year, preparing for college, and considering a major in theater. Recognition of her talent is growing. She was recently nominated for a maARTies Award, which The Arts Council of Martin County hosts in celebration of local performers.
“When you sing in front of large group of people,” says Emma, “it doesn’t feel real. It’s pitch black in the audience, but somehow you can feel their presence.”
As Emma surely goes on to even larger audiences, she can know that BGCMC will always be in her cheering section, waiting—in anticipation, confidence, and support—of even greater things to come.
Keith Fletcher’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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FROM MARTIN COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
Martin County and the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast will be renewing their contract for a shelter for impounded animals consisting mostly of cats and dogs but also includes ferrets, rabbits, and other companion animals.
In most states including Florida, providing animal control is the province of local governments. The overwhelming majority of these entities are counties. Martin County has determined that the best way to provide for this responsibility is by contracting out the housing of stray and unwanted cats and dogs by signing a contract with a local non-profit.
In 2017, the county did seek bids from others to provide these services. The only bidder at that time was the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast which was selected. There was a 4-year contract which ends on September 30, 2021.
The county chose not to go through the RFP process this time. They are renewing with the Humane Society as a sole source provider. The Martin County Taxpayers Association is examining the following:
- Is there another non-profit agency that can offer these services?
- Can Martin County operate its own shelter more economically?
- Are the terms reached with the Humane Society fair and equitable to the taxpayers of Martin County?
Is there another non-profit agency that can offer these services?
There is no other non-profit agency or for-profit company that can manage the county’s responsibility in this context. Going through the RFP process would have been unproductive. The county has many sole sourced contracts for other goods and services. This is just an instance of another one.
Can Martin County operate its own shelter more economically?
When the question was posed to county staff, we received the following estimates:
- The county would need to purchase 16 acres at a cost of $1.5 million. To construct a building to meet the need would be an additional $9,600,000.
- The yearly operational cost would be $1,500,000 for a staff of 25, $600,000 for benefits, and other expenses of $700,000 for a total of $2,800,000.
The county stated that this was a rough idea of capital and operational costs.
We have no idea what sources they used to derive these figures. Answering the questions of can land be found cheaper or the building cost less to build would require much further research than MCTA is able to do. The same is true for determining whether their operational expenses are correct.
We do know one thing. Government seldom does things for less money than the private sector. Recent examination of costs like building fire/rescue stations and beach cafes would suggest that these numbers for Martin County building and operating a shelter would be true.
Are the terms reached with the Humane Society fair and equitable to the taxpayers of Martin County?
When looking at the contract, the first thing to examine is how much is being paid by the county. Currently the amount for 2020/21 is $766,120.65. The new contract begins with a 5% increase to $804,426.68 in year 2021/22. There is then a 2% raise each year until, in year 10, the cost will be $961,364.34.
Over the past three years of the existing contract, the overall number of cats, dogs and other companion animals have gone down each year. The reduction in feline intake is due to the implementation of the TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) program. Prior to that, feral cats had to be counted as intakes with no solution other than euthanasia available.
A feral cat can seldom be adopted. In Florida, cats can have numerous litters each year due to our hospitable climate. Ferel cats have a life span of 3-5 years. If you trap and sterilize cats in feral communities, then within a generational span the communities cease to exist.
The Humane Society must accept any animal brought in by a Martin County resident. They have not completely stopped euthanizing animals, but the numbers have been reduced substantially since the inception of the current contract in 2017. The ways that euthanasia can occur have also been more humane.
Though the contract increases yearly for a diminishing number of animals, it is at 2% yearly which is at the historic inflation level. Even with the overall decrease in the animal population, the Humane Society still has staff, other operating expenses, and the maintenance of their facility to be considered.
We did notice that there is a separate charge of $21,500 for flea/tick/heartworm testing, treatment, and medication. It seemed to us that should have been part of the contract price and not billed separately. When staff was asked why the separate charge, their answer was the following:
“The Heartworm Meds are not an extra, but rather a separate line item for costs. When the County receives an animal it has been the BCC’s , DACA and now the ACCOB’s direction that the animal should be adopted in the best condition possible. In many instances this includes providing Heartworm, Flea, and Tick treatments. Please consider that the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC) is acting as our contractor and is therefore an extension of our organization. Adopting animals with Heartworm, Flea, or Tick issues would reflect poorly on the county.”
That explanation is government speak for this is a way to throw them a bone.
Overall, the Martin County Taxpayers Association finds that the only practical way for the county is to allow the Humane Society to provide these services in lieu of the county. However, this is a ten-year contract which should be revisited in 5 years to see whether the trend continues with fewer animals being surrendered and brought to the facility each year. That should be a basis for a renegotiation.
11
CONSTITUTIONAL CORNER
Here is where we will post notices from our constitutional officers:
From the Property Appraiser:
Immediate Release
June 30, 2021
Martin County Total Taxable Value Increases by More than $2 Billion
Stuart, FL – With 2021 tax roll figures in today, the Martin County Property Appraiser’s Office announced that the County saw an increase in total market value to more than $36 billion. This is an increase of more than $2.1 billion or 6.42% as compared to last year’s figure of $34 billion. Taxable value increased more than $1.2 billion or 5.27% as compared to last year’s figure of $23.8 billion. Reported values are based on market conditions as of January 1, 2021.
Residential properties experienced one of the largest growth years since 2006 with 7.89% increase over last year. The median sale price of single-family homes increased to $388,945 compared to $365,000 in 2019. Median condominium sale prices increased to $168,500 compared to $148,750 in 2019.
“This year’s residential market value growth may be attributed to the overwhelming amount of demand which has far outpaced local supply,” said Martin County Property Appraiser Jenny Fields. “Listing times have shrunk significantly, properties are receiving offers above asking prices, and many properties are being purchased sight unseen. Home buyers are relocating to Martin County from out of state and highly populated counties in Florida.”
Commercial and industrial properties logged another year of growth this year with a 5.9% increase compared to last year.
“Net new construction growth was $297 million this year which is comparable to the past three years,” said Fields. “We are however, seeing many multi- family projects in the pipeline that may finish construction this year and will go on the 2022 tax roll.”
Fields and her team of professionals certified the 2021 Preliminary Tax Roll to the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) on Friday, June 25. This is the earliest the Office has ever submitted preliminary numbers to the DOR. A deadline is set for July 1 each year for all property appraisers’ offices throughout the State to submit their values. The early tax roll submission was a result of a multi-year conversion project to upgrade the software used for appraisal and assessment administration. The new system is already creating efficiencies by reducing the time to run and validate technical tax roll reports.
Taxing authorities will use these values next to help them prepare for their upcoming budgets and to determine their proposed millage rates.
Taxable Values for all Municipalities
Founded in 1925, The Martin County Property Appraiser’s Office (MCPAO) is one of 67 county appraisal offices in the State of Florida. Governed by the Department of Revenue, the MCPAO values more than 100,000 real, commercial, industrial and tangible personal properties throughout the County for a total of 543.46 land area square miles. The MCPAO is one of 52 offices in the United States and Canada to receive the prestigious Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration from the International Association of Assessing Officers.
From Our Tax Collector:
And from our Supervisor of Elections:
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The first letter is from Archie Jost of Hobe Sound regarding sending deputies to the border:
Attention, to who ever wrote this about MCSO sending 15 of our guys to texas, the MCSO does this as out of state training all the time with there tactical teams at least learn what you are talking about before you write stuff to upset people with storys that are not true, and to write that this does not effect florida in totally insane, because the home invasions, here in martin county are the thugs crossing the southern border and come to golden gate! 15 of our guys going for 15 days of training is not costing the taxpayers anything as we would be training out teams anyway, I not with any law enforcement, I live in Rocky point and believe we have one of the best trained sheriff’s officers in the country. Our tactical teams compete all around the usa and you probably dont even know that they win most of the time. We have great guys that need to be supported by the community.
Ps it’s not just a federal problem it’s our countrys problem.
My answer:
You are right about one thing, Martin County has exceptional law enforcement personnel. They should be kept here to protect the people of Martin County.
This is a deployment not training so I do not understand the mixing of the two. A federal responsibility means the Constitution gives the authority to Washington to manage and not states or their subdivision. Of course, the Feds have the option of beefing up their border enforcement by asking for appropriate help and then making any local law enforcement who agree then are sworn temporary federal deputies in order to assist.
As to home invasions, crime, etc. I agree that anybody, whether here legally or not, should, if they commit a crime, be tried, and imprisoned if found guilty. If they are in this country illegally, they should be deported once they serve their sentence. I do not know where your statistics are coming from but according to the FDLE, Martin County’s crime rate is substantially lower than it was 25 years ago. We live in a very safe place. That is due to our excellent law enforcement.
His reply:
Thanks for your reply Thomas all deployments are training , 12 to 15 of our guys for 15 to 20 days does not mean that we are left short handed by any means, we have MCSO officers riding off our coast on us customs and fisheries vessels assisting them on boarding vessels suspected of human trafficking right here in our inlet and along our shores, I live in the water and see this all the time. We have a problem right here and a lot of bad people try to enter here all the time.
And then mine:
That is what I am saying. Our deputies should be tending to our needs here. There is enough to do with all the programs you outlined. We agree on this and that is the beginning of a beautiful friendship to paraphrase Captain Renaud to Rick in Casablanca.
The next letter is from Bill Latham on the governor and cruise industry:
Tom,
In the most recent Friends and Neighbors you stated in your “Final Thoughts”: “Then why has DeSantis decided to tell businesses what they can do regarding masks and vaccinations within the confines of their premises”.
That is an incorrect statement/accusation, I have IN FACT heard DeSantis on several occasions state that if someone doesn’t want to wear a mask into a business, store, establishment, etc., and the business owner requires it then that is their prerogative and the patron can either abide or go elsewhere.
I guess we should not be surprised by your false statements and attacks because we all know you don’t like our Governor, however, now, you are NO better than the fake news media spreading falsehoods.
You also stated: “His motto has become “If I think you need to do something or not do something, then you better do what I say.” What a RIDICULOUS statement Tom !! I suggest you do some research and watch some REAL interviews with DeSantis so as to hopefully correct your untruthful sentiment about him.
Many of the people that go on cruise ships are “Senior Citizens”, and if they are not inclined to want to receive a COVID vaccination (in FACT it’s not even a vaccine) but the entire cruise industry has required it, those individuals can’t just walk across the street to ABC Cruise lines and go with them. If they are tested prior to entering the ship and test negative, what’s the problem. The next thing you know the Airlines are going to require passengers to be “vaccinated” before flying.
I guess you are not aware that there have been a significant amount of deaths from receiving the “vaccination”, in fact the EU halted administering the Moderna version because of the deaths and severe reactions to it.
Dr. Peter McCullough, a professor in medicine who is the most cited doctor on COVID treatments in the National Library of Medicine and testified before the U.S. Senate was quoted as saying “the COVID-19 vaccines are killing “huge numbers” of people and the government is hiding and “scrubbing” the data.
I am aware of several seniors that went and got the shot just so they could go on a cruise because they were “scared” into doing so. I commend Governor DeSantis for standing up for them, and ALL Floridians, just as he did for the Nursing Home lockdown which saved many, many lives. I am confident my 94 year old Mother was saved because of his prudent action.
My response:
You miss the point.
This has nothing to do with vaccinations. The governor has repeatedly said that he wants to leave these decisions to individuals and businesses to make. So, then you cannot say cruises are different from other businesses located within the state. If the cruise companies want to require vaccinations, they are within their right as a private company to do so.
The governor and Florida have done an excellent job in preserving our economy and getting us through COVID. They won an important case against the CDC’s continued insistence on having a state of emergency and having government mandate either masks or vaccinations.
I am saying it is hypocritical then to deny businesses the right to set their own rules for customers within their premises. If enough potential customers refuse, then one or more of the cruise ships will adjust their policies. But make no mistake it is the businesses right to determine what is required. That is just the logical conclusion of “no shirt, no shoes, no service.”
There was more but it seemed that we were writing in two different languages. He was against vaccinations, and I was for a business having the economic freedom to set its own course.
And from James Snedeker:
Thank u for this very informative newsletter. I’ve heard that there is a group of 51 or so people who very organized and are active supporters of the Costco project. Do u know who they are as it would be interesting to learn more.
Thanks
My answer:
Sorry I don’t. There may be a Facebook Page.
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And from John Dixson regarding the School District:
Two areas got my attention.
HR: I’m a big fan of Dr Millay in general, but he comes from a quite small district NW of Ft Knox KY, and I think the effort to fold HR into a dual responsibility position will create problems that will eventually result in a return to a standalone HR executive. Line managers often have trouble making the decisions and policy changes/exceptions required in facing the reality of running a large, segmented operation, and the presence of a well-run HR department resolves those problems.
Operations: It was mentioned, almost in passing, that the Ch. of Operations, Garret Grabowski, had left and then, the new org chart revealed a separate Maintenance Dept and a separate Facilities and Planning Dept. (Those functions were previously owned by Grabowski, less the planning part.) Perhaps the details explain the logic here, but it looks counter-intuitive to me.
The final org chart for his position showed 9 direct reports, which automatically raises a span of control eyebrow. I thought it interesting that two of the nine direct reports boxes had “planning” included, when in reality, every one of those positions expected planning as part of their inherent responsibilities.
Just offering as things to watch for as events progress.
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There is a city commission race to be held on August 17, 2021. All Stuart registered voters may vote. It is for a three-year term. The two candidates are incumbent Troy McDonald and his opponent Caryn Hall. I offered each an opportunity to contribute a piece on why they are running:
CARYN HALL
I have lived and voted in Martin County since 1992, being a resident of the city for 16 years.
I have been a nanny, a volunteer with children, and a home tutoring mother for the majority of my adult life here. I am running for Group IV hoping to empower the powerless and energize my fellow residents to get involved, regardless of income or status, age, religion, race, or creed.
Every voice matters!
I have a history of speaking truth to power and standing up to governmental abuse of power in the courts, faithfully defending my city, county, and country’s rule of law, for over a decade without compensation.
I have done and will continue to do what is right, no matter what the cost. I believe accountability from elected officials is of the utmost importance and I have developed friendly relationships with our present commissioners in both the city and county.
I will listen and can represent those who do not vote for me because in the end, being a commissioner is a servant position and is only about doing what is best for our community.
I believe my opponent’s history, during his time on the pro-development Krauskopf commission, resulted in the building regulations being manipulated and therefore we have the nightmare of overdevelopment and very little affordable housing among it.
In addition, my opponent agreed to sue the residents in 2014 for a fire assessment tax that allowed “we the people” no legal recourse. In 2017, Commissioner McDonald voted for a 55% pay raise (more than double the state average) at the final budget hearing after the budget was already set and published.
The majority of his campaign contributions has always been heavy with land-planners and real estate professionals. In fact, public records show that Commissioner McDonald was texting with Martin County Realtors during a city commission meeting in 2017. He also attempted to abandon the city residents for the greener pastures of the Martin County Commission.
I am not a better person than Troy McDonald, just a better person to represent ALL Stuart city residents.
TROY MCDONALD
The residents of Stuart have blessed me with the opportunity to serve on the city commission for nine years. Thank you. I’m deeply grateful for your trust and recognize my responsibility to carefully consider how my decisions impact your pocketbook, as well as our economy, environment, and quality of life.
Among the most significant issues facing Stuart are the discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River. I’m proud to have joined my fellow city commissioners, Congressman Brian Mast, environmental advocates such as Jacqui Thurlow Lippisch of the South Florida Water Management Governing Board, and the leading Business Organizations throughout the Treasure Coast in demanding that the discharges drop to ZERO!
We will continue engaging the Army Corps of Engineers through updates to its Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) to recognize the concerns of our community and drastically diminish discharges with the goal of discontinuing them entirely outside of extreme emergency flood control measures.
Stuart is a leader in public safety, and I’m committed to ensuring our police and firefighters remain properly funded and trained to uphold the excellent levels of service they provide.
Stuart Police excel at community policing practices, which forge neighborhood relations and enlist citizen support in reducing crime.
Stuart Fire Rescue’s rapid emergency response saves lives and money. The department maintains a vaulted ISO 1 Rating—the highest result possible—which enables every resident in the city to save money on insurance premiums.
As responsible stewards of our natural resources, I’m proud to have helped protect residents’ water by investing in alternative-water supply technology, ensuring ample clean, safe, good-tasting (we have the award to prove it) water well into the future.
As someone who owned a small business for many years, I also remain committed to strengthening our local economy.
I’m thankful to have helped address these challenges and partner on key solutions. I humbly ask Stuart voters to please consider my track record of consistent prioritization of our community’s most pressing concerns and grant me the chance to continue representing you.
By the way City of Stuart on your website you are still touting the 2020 election with a link. Do you ever remove anything? You can do better than this.
STUART BUDGET WORKSHOP JUNE 28, 2021:
This was the first of several workshops scheduled. The meeting was to provide commissioners with the preliminary numbers. Millage will remain at 5 mills which translates into an Ad Valorem tax being collected of a little over $11 million. Stuart will finally collect as much in Ad Valorem as it did in 2007 which was the year before the Great Recession. Unfortunately, the worth of a 2007 dollar is different from that of a 2022 dollar.
The city’s budget for this year is $29 million. It probably will be north of $30 million next year. As you can see, about 35% of the revenues are based on property taxes. While Stuart’s is only a small fraction of Martin County’s budget, it has most of the same budgeted items as they do.
The items to watch on the expense side would be union negotiations, the impact of the $15 minimum wage, and expansion of fire service. For some time now, the county and city have worked together to provide seamless fire/rescue services. Sometimes, the county will take calls in the city, and at other times, the city will do the same in the county.
The city does not have a station in northern Stuart. It is time that it does. This is one of the proposals in the new budget. Stuart Fire/Rescue needs to service the entire city just as the police do now. That doesn’t mean there should not be assistance across lines, but Stuart with three stations should be available to take care of calls within the city.
McDonald mentioned that he was adamant about the city preserving the department. Others also mentioned the same. Stuart’s department is over 100 years old. It has great people working there and a chief that has brought to Stuart and Sewall’s Point, where Stuart sells fire/rescue service, the highest ISO rating which brings down property insurance premiums.
I agreed with McDonald when I was on the commission, and I still do. I wouldn’t be in favor of starting a department today but believe the one Stuart has is first rate. I am glad that it appears the commission and manager concur.
The budget presentation can be found here
COMMISSION MEETING JUNE 28, 2021:
During commissioner comments, McDonald mentioned that during the past few meetings, the selection of commissioners during voting was no longer random. In the past there was no fixed order. Now, there appears to be, and the mayor is always last.
This has the effect of allowing the mayor and the vice-mayor, who is being called 4th to vote, the option of playing politics with their votes. With random voting, the mayor may be called on first or last. Random order makes commissioners vote without as much politics involved.
QUASI JUDICIAL IMPROVEMENT
After the last Costco hearing, I defy anyone to say that meeting wasn’t a mess.
I wrote at the time that I did not blame Mayor Clarke. She is a politician in the position of a judge. It may be too much for any elected official to do. I urged new rules be adopted making the city attorney the presiding officer.
The proposed changes would allow the mayor to seek the city manager or attorney to make rulings. This is better than what is currently being done but still inadequate. It leaves too much discretion to the board to continue struggling while trying a serious matter.
Being an elected commissioner does not make a person an expert in policing, road construction, fire/rescue, or development. They are a policy board. The commission is not there to dive in the weeds. Yet statute confers the authority to act as a jury on complex legal proceedings.
When summoned to jury duty, most people are not experts in the matters to be adjudicated either. They look at the facts presented and come to a decision. The judge sitting on the bench is there to call balls and strikes.
He rules what is admissible and what is not. He determines whether what is being presented by one side or the other is relevant to the case at hand. There is someone well versed in the law and procedure to instruct the jury on how to weigh testimony and evidence in reaching a conclusion. The jury does not decide the pace of the trial or whether something should be objected to by one side or the other.
You can read the entire code change here
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INDIANTOWN COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING JUNE 23, 2021:
Since this was the first budget meeting for F.Y. ‘21/’22, much of the budget is still being formulated. It shows that the millage rate will stay the same, but the taxable value will increase. This allows the village budget to increase without the need for a millage increase. Most of that increase is absorbed by FPL.
The largest segment of the village’s $7,864,275 income comes from property taxes. As it grows, Indiantown will need to develop different and more diverse sources of revenue to fund a larger government. If revenue is derived just from property taxes, the rates will need to rise even if more homes are built.
The battle over having a “small” government instead of a “big” government has been decided. There are now 24.5 FTE (full time employees) not counting the council, whose members also receive a salary and benefits. If you look at their performance through a government lens, the village is doing a good job.
Howard Brown
Brown and his senior staff have been efficient at finding grant money and implementing the programs that the council has authorized. They may not be the programs that the “founders” wanted, but most of the “founders” of Indiantown are not residents and, therefore, not voters.
The budget seems solid and in line with the policies that were voted upon. The everyday expenditures to run the village are hardly excessive for the government they have determined they want. Perhaps the council is too fast to allow Brown to call in expert consultants when they are not always needed. Experts absolve senior management from owning any mistakes because of actions taken. Consultant advice is rarely worth the money it costs because of the hedging and hawing in the advice given.
There will be budget workshops for the public at different locations throughout the village. Most will not be recorded because they take place outside of the council chambers. In my opinion, that is a mistake. Village business belongs at Village Hall.
You can see the entire presentation here
COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 24, 2021:
If finally developed, the old Indiantown DRI will bring 2500 new homes to Indiantown. That is a game changer.
Once all are completed, 2500 homes will result in a doubling of Indiantown’s population. Will it be in the next two years or ten years or stall and never be built as before? If it is built, the change that some council members were speaking about at the meeting will happen in the village.
If this development occurs, a retail consultant to entice Publix or CVS will not be necessary. The population and the economic demographic will change how retail is developed within the village. More chain stores would begin to look seriously at coming to Indiantown.
Currently, it is the village that believes it can entice retailers. It is all about population and economics. Currently, there is a Dollar General in Indiantown. That is appropriate for the economic status of the residents. If population doubles but the economic status of the residents does not, then you will end up with a Dollar Tree not a CVS.
Even if the homes are in the $350,000 to $450,000 range, that will bring an entirely new population. It could be Stuart cops and Martin County fire/rescue employees besides people from Palm Beach County who would have an easy commute to work. These new residents will have a different perspective on where their local government should focus its attention. The new homeowners will be paying a substantial amount of the residential tax base.
If it happens a decade from now, today’s council members will not have to worry. However, if those homes are built and bought sooner, there will be changes coming to who sits as council members. New residents equate to new voters with differing sensibilities on what they want government to be. Be careful what you wish for.
PAY & STRATEGIC PLAN
The council approved an amended pay plan. I would imagine that they will be doing this quite often since they are required to sign off on new positions. There does not seem to be anything that is out of line.
You can find the plan here
Anthony Dowling wanted to discuss several things in the strategic plan. Why this discussion was needed was the question on everyone’s lips. There were nine things that he was interested in:
- Retail Analysis
- Water Plant
- Village Hall
- Parks & Rec
- Redesign of Warfield Blvd/710
- Redesign of Martin Luther King Jr Drive
- Annexation
- Lobbyist/ Appropriation Bill/ Legislative
- App for the Village
Guyton Stone
Stone asked a very pertinent question…how many of these are already being worked on? Brown answered that most were. Gibbs-Thomas wanted to know whether Dowling wanted to focus on all these items. There was not a clear-cut answer.
As they went through the items, it seemed that there was no real need for the discussion. If they want Jim Karas, the consultant, to return for one more workshop, the cost just doesn’t seem warranted at this point. Does the council want to have a meeting just to have a meeting? There is an expression in business that you need to let items ripen before tackling them.
Even though Brown recommended that the retail consultant give a report twice a year, the council decided on quarterly. I think they are going to be disappointed since the progress of bringing this merchant or that one will not change substantially in 90 days.
Brown was directed to bring back a strategic plan update in 30 days. The motion was made by Dowling and seconded by Clarke. It passed 5-0.
COUNCIL DISCRETIONARY FUND
How do you make something seem nefarious? Just ask Dowling to present it.
Anthony Dowling
For some time now, he has been seeking to have each council member have a discretionary fund of $2,000 per year. This would be spent for special events that he or other council members may have through the year. Attorney Vose admits in an email to council that of the 9 other government entities that his firm represents, none of them have such a fund. In fact, he needed to reach out to the City of Orlando with a population of nearly 300,000 residents to find one. Orlando allocates $150,000 per council district (where members are elected by district voters).
Dowling brought up that he had to pay for a park rental permit for one of his events. If it is not a sanctioned village event, then he should pay for the permit. Where does the political end and a legitimate public purpose begin? Gibbs-Thomas said it doesn’t bother her to pay when she does something that the village hasn’t sanctioned.
Stone wanted to know what the difference was between Dowling’s need and putting on the “High School Parade?” Staff was involved in the parade. It was a sanctioned event where any council member could participate. Dowling could not answer these questions. Gibbs-Thomas said that a council member could bring it to a meeting and ask the fee to be waived if it really served the public interest.
Hernandez was in favor of the $10,000 but each council member would be entitled to one event per year. She said she was a procrastinator and didn’t want to wait for a once a month voting meeting to ask. Perhaps some council members believe their jobs include having festivals where they are the center of attention.
Staff should oversee this type of thing when government money is used? Council members do not get to have one political event a year using government money. It is self-serving and reeks of self-interest.
That is why I was surprised when Dowling moved to table the discussion and it was seconded by Gibbs-Thomas. That means it will come back after multiple times already for another round. It looked to me if Dowling had made a motion for such a fund it would not have received a second. It would have died.
Now it still lives to come back at another meeting. Once more, a debate will occur. It will still seem like a slush fund is being created for political use with the people’s tax dollars. It is bad government.
You can see Vose’s email and Orlando’s policy here
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In The Spotlight
by Jackie Holfelder
Jackie is always looking for a good story…you may reach her at: jackieacolumn@gmail.com
The next edition will be July 25, 2021
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FINAL THOUGHTS
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Democratic Party in a voting rights case last week in Arizona. I believe it was the right decision.
This case began in 2016 and had to do with whether a voter needed to vote in a home precinct and secondly the collection of ballots by third parties. In both instances, the court ruled that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1962 was not violated by having restriction on those provisions in Arizona law. The basis of Justice Alito’s decision was that the state had a legitimate concern about voting fraud. And that mere minor inconvenience does not translate into denying someone the right to vote.
When I cast my first vote, you first needed to register at the local board of elections. You were given a voter registration card with your name, address, party affiliation, and precinct number. You showed the card when you went to vote. There was no photo I.D. since even your driver’s license lacked a photo back then. I think I showed my draft card and baptismal certificate at the board of election to prove my age.
On election day, which was the only time anyone could vote, you went to your voting location and waited your turn. There was no mail-in voting or early voting. How could there be? You went to the machine, pulled a handle to close the curtain, pushed down the lever next to the candidate you were voting for, pulled the handle again and your vote was mechanically recorded. If there was a re-count, the election workers would just look in the back of the machine again and re-tabulated the numbers.
It was nowhere near as easy to vote then as it is now. In my opinion, voting should be even easier, but that is a political decision for us to consider not a constitutional one.
While trying to make voting more inclusive and less intimidating, I believe we have forgotten how important the politics are for doing so. Who you elect to the legislature, governor’s mansion, Congress, and the presidency does matter. What they, the elected officials, believe and how they perceive their duty is important.
The courts are there not to be a political arbiter but to make sure constitutional rights are not being violated. Voting is a constitutional right. In 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed, people were voting much as I described. Perhaps they were using paper ballots instead of machines, but you went on Election Day and that was that. If you were ill or could not get to the polls because of the weather or were away, you did not vote.
That is why it is not the courts that I look to preserve and liberalize the time and place of voting. I look to my elected officials to do so. I vote for those who promise to do so. Voters need to choose the candidate that best expresses their ideas on this subject and all else.
If you leave it up to the courts to protect your right to vote, then you are chancing the party in power will do something unconstitutional so that their onerous law is struck down. The very voting booth that is such a contentious place is where the liberalization of voting will be decided.
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GET THE WORD OUT Friends and Neighbors of Martin County are your eyes and ears so that you know what is going on in Martin County’s municipal and county governments. I attempt to be informative and timely so that you may understand how your tax money is being spent. Though I go to the meetings and report back, I am no substitute for your attending meetings. Your elected officials should know what is on your mind.
Tom Campenni 772-287-5781 (o) 772-341-7455 (c) Email: Info@friendsandneighborsofmartincounty.com thomasfcampenni@gmail.com
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Articles Tom wrote:
From Martin County Moment:
“A Deal In The Works”
“The Emperor Has No Clothes”
From Medium
“School Vouchers Can Prevent School Censorship”
“Christian Nationalism For America Is A Fallacy”
Other Articles:
The Capitolist: “Jeff Brandes’ think tank: Live Local Bill will help, but bigger changes needed to fix affordable housing crisis”
The New York Times: “How To Clear 500,000 Ferel Cats From New York Streets”
Trump’s Indictment
Florida Phoenix: “Statehouses debate who should build EV charging networks”
The Washington Post: “Tracing the power of Casey DeSantis”
GLOSSARY
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Annual Medium Income (AMI)
Basin Action Management Plan (BMAP)
Best Management Practices (BMP)
Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)
Business Development Board (BDB)
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Center For Disease Control (CDC)
Centum Cubic Feet (CCF)
Children’s Services Council (CSS)
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Community Development District (CDD)
Community Redevelopment Board (CRB)
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Emergency Operation Center (EOC)
Equivalent Residential Connection (ERC)
Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)
Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR)
Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA)
Fixed Asset Replacement Budget (FARB)
Federal Rail Administration (FRA)
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND)
Full Time Equivalents (FTE)
Future Land Use Maps (FLUM)
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
Hobe Sound Local (HSL)
Indian River Lagoon (IRL)
Land Development Code (LDR)
Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS)
Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSUM)
Local Agency Program Certification (LAP)
Local Planning Agency (LPA)
Martin County Fire/Rescue (MCFR)
Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO)
Martin County Taxpayers Association (MCTA)
Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)
Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU)
Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)
Organization For Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD)
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)
Planned Unit Development (PUD)
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Preserve Action Management Plan (PAMP)
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Residential Planned Unit Development (RPUD)
Right of Way (ROW)
Secondary Urban Services District (SUSD)
South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
South Martin Regional Utility (SMRU)
State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP)
Storm Water Treatment Areas (STA)
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Urban Planned Unit Development (UPUD)
Urban Services Boundary (USB)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Zoning-In-Progress (ZIP)
