Tom Campenni
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IN THIS EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER
I am pleased that Friends & Neighbors has become the place to read so many different opinions and hear new ideas in our community.
In every edition, we try to bring you different points of view on matters that the people of Martin County care about. What we ask of our contributors is that they not use abusive language or make statements that have very little basis in fact. If you want the Martin County difference, you will find it in the newsletter.
Hardly an issue goes by that I don’t put out a call for readers to become contributors. If you ever wanted to be a writer, here is the place for you. Don’t be shy…send me an email with your contact information and what subject matter you would be interested in offering. I will get back to you.
We are in election season, and I hope the candidate profiles were helpful. Instead of asking them to answer my questions, it was up to them to communicate with you, the voter, directly. If their grammar was hopeless or you found their answers uninformative, remember that when it comes time to vote.
Do you really want someone representing you that cannot put a coherent thought on paper? How are they going to read agenda packets and understand them? They will be voting on issues that will affect our daily lives.
Every candidate received several emails asking them to write about their reasons for running. They were sent to the email addresses listed on their candidate forms. Those that did not respond could mean that either they don’t take you, the voter, seriously or they just couldn’t give a darn. In either case, do you think they deserve your vote?
The newsletter published the candidate essays as submitted except for removal of phone numbers and other contact information. These were not paid political advertisements. I believe their submissions give you a peek at how they will govern.
We will rerun all the candidate submittals in the next newsletter on August 7th in time for early voting and election day, August 23rd.
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We have our usual columnists (Darlene, Nicki, & David) all giving you, their opinions. Dr. Michele Libman goes into a detailed explanation of a healthy gut. Rob Ranieri writes about the good work at House of Hope, Missi Campbell on staycations, and the latest fishing tips from Capt. Paul Sperco. Lastly, we hear from an old friend and writer Michael Syrkus on the Martin County budget.
I give you my take on Stuart PD, the scourge of partisanship, and the profession of being a teacher. The newsletter also weighs in on the coming ½ mill school tax referendum. And “Final Thoughts” on good and bad guys.
There are letters, favorite articles, and constitutional announcements. Jackie Holfelder has a profile on one more dynamic Martin resident. As I said earlier, this is the place for ideas.
And as usual all the government meetings we can are covered. Both the school district and BOCC had their budget meetings to send their maximum millage rate to the property appraiser which is reported in this newsletter. We continue with our PalMar and Trailside story with plenty of photos.
Read it all or only the parts you want. It is up to you. Welcome to Sunday morning!
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WORSE & WORSE
There is nothing more destructive to the political process than partisanship.
James Madison warned against the evil of partisanship and then, along with Hamilton, formed the first two political factions in the United States. Yet Madison, who was the chief author of the constitution just a few years earlier, did not provide for political parties anywhere in government. Was it that Madison and the other Founders could not help themselves when realpolitik set in? Jefferson believed political parties were inevitable and urged their official recognition.
What is driving American politics today is the adherence by the most partisan to not so much a doctrine as hatred for the other party. I don’t believe I have heard a cogent policy argument from either party in at least 20 years. It is all about name calling and a stirred-up hatred that has us as close to a civil war as any time since the 1860s.
Even non-partisan races have now become tinged with partisanship. Since neither party has a thought-out platform, what does it mean to claim to be a Republican or a Democrat? At one time, those who identified as Republican were in favor of free markets and small government. That is no longer true. Just as being a Democrat was once the party of the working man, they have now evolved into an elitist group more interested in being based in Washington than Peoria.
It is a senseless battle that can never have a conclusion unless the other side ceases to exist. Hatred is not a philosophy or a political ideology. Without ideas as the core to party participation, it is like racism…the hatred comes simply from the other person being something else rather than any philosophical ideology. Both are very dangerous for our country.
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STUART PD
The death of anyone is not something to be ignored. When the deceased is a young person, it is even more tragic.
I have heard that a patrol cop’s days can go by in tedium and boredom, but that boredom could become dangerous and life changing in a second. Police see the worst moments of a person’s life and only occasionally the best. They are thrown into situations that the rest of us do everything to avoid. When things go wrong, cops must respond.
That is what happened the other night on East 10th Street in East Stuart. An officer responded in about a minute to a call of a shooting. What the cop found was a teenager bleeding profusely from gunshot wounds. As other officers and Stuart Fire/Rescue raced to the scene, there was apparently some in the crowd who were hostile to the responders. Dealing with that is part of their jobs.
An officer applied a tourniquet and was trying to stop the kid from bleeding out. The victim was rushed to Guy Davis field where he was then taken by helicopter to a trauma center. The victim, Devone Delancy, died.
Some would call these cops and emergency services personnel heroes. I wouldn’t because they were just doing their jobs. They were doing those jobs under very stressful circumstances, but those were jobs they chose to take and perform knowing full well that they could be thrown into this type of situation at any moment.
While I was in a nice restaurant with my wife eating dinner, these guys were tending to a victim of violence laying in the street. Some in the crowd were trying to provoke trouble, but they failed. There were probably some in the crowd who witnessed the incident but won’t say a word to the police trying to find justice for the victim and his family while, at the same time, cursing them for instances like this occurring.
As a resident of Stuart, I have interacted with the officers. When I was a city commissioner, I did so more often. In my experience, they want to do their jobs and make it through their shifts. Some go far beyond their duty and are active in the community. The men and women of Stuart PD are not heroes. Yet at times they perform heroically. Last Wednesday night was one of those times.
(As Published In The Martin County Moment)
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THE TEACHING PROFESSION
Teaching is a profession. Many teachers have advanced degrees…some more than one.
Most work in public schools which means they are employees of local districts. I would classify them as public employees. Though many believe teachers work only the hours that school is in session, that is far from true.
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Lesson plans must be made, papers graded, and homework checked. They pay for supplies out of their own pockets and, at times, might even buy a student something that they don’t have and need. A good teacher can be such an influence on a student that it could put the kid on the right road for life.
Teaching was never one of the highest paid professions. I know it was an ideal profession for my wife when our kids were in school. They both had the same time off. Her starting pay was $5,700 and that was nearly 50 years ago.
For years, she provided the health insurance so I could afford to build a business. That was a benefit. It probably is a bigger benefit today. She also had great pension options that have been a boon to her now that she has retired.
Of course, over the years, teaching has become more complex. Sensibilities have changed and one false move can end a career. In the age of cell phone cameras, there are no moments that are off the record. Yet people still choose teaching over more lucrative careers, and I applaud them.
It is their choice to put up with the bureaucracy, rules, and crazy parents. In a just and perfect world, they may deserve more money. Martin County is far from a perfect place.
At the last board workshop during public comment, the teachers complained about their financial plight. But each teacher has a choice…they can stay here and teach at the prevailing compensation, find another job in another district that might pay more, or go into a different profession. If there are enough teaching vacancies in the county, the board will somehow have to attract new teachers by instituting signing bonuses or raising salaries. How they pay for it will be up to the rest of us to figure out.
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OTHER OPINIONS
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MICHELE’S MEDICAL MOMENT
By Michele Libman M.D.
Provided Dr. Michele Libman
The Gut Microbiome
Did you know that we are not alone?
Living inside our bodies are trillions of micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other life forms that are collectively known as the microbiome. We have different organisms that live on our skin but the group where there is currently a lot of focus is the gut microbiome. Although many different microbes live inside us, bacteria are the most studied. An amazing fact is that there are more bacterial cells in your body than human cells!! We are more bacteria than we are human!
There are up to 1,000 different species of bacteria that live in our gut and each of them plays a different role. Most of them are extremely important for your health but some may cause disease. Altogether these microbes weigh as much as 2-5 pounds which is roughly the weight of your brain.
The research into the microbiome just started taking off in the past 10 years with advancements in gene sequencing. There are so many fascinating questions that are being investigated. Our microbiome begins at birth and babies born by vaginal delivery get their microbiome from their mothers and babies born by C-Section get their microbiome from the hospital environment. It is unknown if these differences have any lasting impact on health. Formula fed babies have different microbiomes than breast fed babies. Again, it is unknown about lasting effects on our health.
When there is an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy bacteria this is a condition that is called gut dysbiosis and it has been linked to a number of diseases. Gut dysbiosis can lead to weight gain and may play a role in intestinal diseases like IBS and inflammatory bowel disease. The bloating, cramps, and abdominal pain that people with IBS experience may be due to gut dysbiosis as the bacteria produce a lot of gas and other chemicals which contribute to symptoms of pain and discomfort.
The gut microbiome may even affect heart health. A recent study found that the gut microbiome played an important role in promoting good HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, certain unhealthy species in the gut microbiome may contribute to heart disease by producing a chemical known as TMAO.
TMAO is a chemical that is known to contribute to plaque formation and blocked arteries which can lead to heart attacks and stroke. Certain bacteria within the microbiome convert choline and L-carnitine both of which are found in red meat and other animal-based food sources to TMAO potentially increasing risk for heart disease. Other bacteria within the gut, particularly Lactobacilli, may reduce cholesterol when taken as a probiotic
The gut microbiome also may help control blood sugar which could affect the risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The gut microbiome may even benefit brain health. When I was in medical school, we were taught that serotonin “the happy hormone” was produced in the brain. Now we know that 80% of serotonin is actually produced in the gut, so if your gut bacteria is out of whack this can lead to anxiety and depression.
There is also a known link between gut bacteria and autism. We are also now learning about the link with Parkinson’s disease and Multiple sclerosis as well. The gut is also connected to the brain through millions of nerves. The gut microbiome may affect brain health by controlling the messages that are sent to the brain through these nerves. A small number of studies have shown that certain probiotics can improve symptoms of depression and other mental health disorders.
Our gut barrier is made up of a mucus layer and an epithelial layer which serves as the interface between the outside world and the internal environment. Disrupted gut barrier function will increase gut permeability and lead to dysregulated inflammatory response which can cause allergies, auto immune disorders, and inflammation
So how can you improve your gut microbiome? Eat a diverse range of foods, in particular legumes, beans and fruit contain lots of fiber which can promote the growth of healthy Bifidobacteria. Fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut and kefir all contain healthy bacteria, mainly lactobacilli and can reduce the number of disease-causing species in the gut.
Limit intake of artificial sweeteners. Studies have shown that aspartame can increase blood sugar by stimulating growth of unhealthy bacteria like Enterobacteriaceae. Eat prebiotic foods. Prebiotics help stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria. Prebiotic rich foods include artichokes, bananas, asparagus, oats, and apples.
If a new mother, try to breastfeed for six months. Children who are breastfed have more beneficial Bifidobacteria than bottle fed children. Eat whole grains and beneficial carbs like beta glucan which are digested by gut bacteria to benefit weight, cancer risk, diabetes, and other disorders. Try a plant-based diet.
Vegetarian diets reduce levels of disease causing bacteria such as E.Coli as well as inflammation and cholesterol. Eat foods rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols are the plant compounds found in red wine, green tea, dark chocolate and whole grains.
Take antibiotics only when necessary. Antibiotics kill many bad and good bacteria in the gut microbiome which can contribute to weight gain and antibiotic resistance. Take a quality probiotic supplement. Many of the products on the shelves are useless as once the product gets into the stomach the stomach acid kills 96% of the good bacteria and only 4% of the bacteria make it into the intestines.
Talk with your health care provider about which product is best for you. This fascinating research is sure to lead to revolutionary new treatments for a plethora of disorders including cancer, auto immune diseases, mental health disorders and more!! As our understanding of this fascinating area continues to grow new breakthroughs are sure to follow!!
Michele Libman’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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VANRIPER’S VIEWS
By Darlene VanRiper
Legislators Passing the Buck….
I recently wrote an article in which I concluded that our elected legislators should take certain facts into consideration when voting on an issue to become (or not) a national law.
I was surprised when an informed friend emailed me to explain that our legislators would, in fact, NOT be taking a vote on the issue. This issue, which was to, I reiterate, become a NATIONAL law, was to be determined by the national AGENCY which oversaw it! Wait a minute, that means bureaucrats are making NATIONAL laws. This leads to a multitude of questions.
The first I asked myself is if I was simply naïve. Of course, our elected officials cannot be expected to make all decisions. There is just too much information to digest and too many laws being scrutinized during legislative sessions. However, when a law is to affect 332 million people, I think the legislators should be involved at the very deepest level. Is there even any debate if a bureaucratic agency decides to invoke a decision?
From where does the issue in question arise? I do know that often a legislator’s personal experience will inspire them to write a bill. But then the bill gets scrutinized by their peers and debated in the appropriate committee or on the floor of Congress. Bureaucrats have bosses with whom they are not going to debate.
I read the court ruling (sent to me by my informed friend) regarding the issue on which I had written. An organization, which no doubt came into existence out of necessity to fight these sorts of bureaucratic decisions in order to protect its membership of small and large businesses, had to pay attorneys to fight. At no doubt extravagant hourly fees, the organization’s attorneys had to disprove a theory that a bureaucracy presented.
The “scheme” as the court called it was deemed in the judgement to have been “arbitrary and capricious.” Some other eye-popping phrases used by the court in reference to this case were “the agency failed to consider an abbreviated, less burdensome process”, “the agency failed to reasonably consider the costs and benefits of subjecting small businesses …to regulation”, [the agency’s] finding … was premised on a flawed reading”, [the agency] “failed to consider” , “its [the agency’s] lack of responsiveness to the data”, [the agency’s] “not reasoned decision making”, [the agency’s] ”abstract theorizing offered in a vacuum “, [the agency] “resorted to a common refrain to obscure the issue”, “when there is in fact pertinent record evidence and the agency ignores or overlooks it”, [the issue was] “not reasonably analyzed [by the agency].”
Going to court means increased costs for a business. This is always passed on to you and me. Expensive attorneys having to disprove a theory is wasteful, if not criminal. Creating an organization to spread the costs out to needlessly defend its industry must be exasperating and demoralizing to its membership.
I can only surmise that these bureaucracies may create “issues” for self-perpetuation with impunity. Was anyone fired for this waste of time and money?
Where does this begin? At what point do legislators decide to grant an agency what are in essence legislative powers? Is it when they just don’t want to face the lobbyists? Or, the people? More importantly, when does it end? When legislators decide to take responsibility for proper oversight of the agencies they create? Or when the people decide to take responsibility to properly oversee their legislators?
I want to say thank you to my informed friend and entice him, as I have in the past, to consider running for office.
Darlene VanRiper’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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Nicki’s Place
By Nicki van Vonno
Shark Week
When I went to Washington D.C. for Mother’s Day, I learned about the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. Washington’s home is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, a, private, non-profit organization. It accepts no government funding.
The organization was holding a fundraiser, and for a donation I received a hardback copy of Mary Higgins Clark’s first novel, originally published in 1969 under the name “Aspire to the Heavens”, the family motto of Mary Ball Washington. The novel has now been reissued as “Mount Vernon Love Story.” It’s a perfect summer beach read, a love story of George and Patsy, as Martha was called, ending as George demonstrates for his nation, and for the world, the peaceful transfer of power.
I don’t go to the beach, but I am a shark when it comes to books. I am ever moving, scouring thrift stores, The Friends Book shops, discount book websites, and the library catalogue. I own books, I collect books. I like to graze, to browse, to taste and inhale.
I like holding a book. A recent trip to Barnes and Noble was restorative, and tempting. I went there to buy “Horse” by Gwendolyn Brooks, partially set in Lexington, Ky, and “Joan” by Katherine J. Chen. “I will make a war cry that will be remembered forever.” Joan of Arc wrote to her jailors. Of course, I bought a discount book on the history of Athens and another new novel for half-off.
Then there are the other books, artfully arranged in piles. I need those books for some reason that I may not even know. Each speaks to me from across the universe: a dedication to a loved one, a whispered phrase from a fevered dream, ancient poetry chanting in the voice of a long-ago bard, an organizational structure that mimics a spider’s web, a hook that pulls me to the next chapter…
In the meantime, bookmarks hold my place in “The Great American Railroad War” by Dennis Drabelle, about dueling journalists and railroad barons, “Sisters of Fortune” by Jehanne Wake, a family saga spanning the founding of Maryland in the 1660s through the marriages of heiresses to British Lords in the 1920s. Then there’s “Rich Relations” by David Reynolds about American G.I.s stationed in Great Britain during 1942-45. Now I understand the joke in “White Christmas” about neckties!!!
Reading is truly a gift from the gods!
Nicki van Vonno’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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HAFNER’S CORNER
By David Hafner
On June 24th, my life came to a crashing halt when I was T-boned by a dump truck on my way to work.
By the grace of God, I walked away from this accident, though I am still working through some long-term injuries. Many others who have been in similar accidents on our rural roadways have not been so lucky. As people began to check in on me, they would share how often they see vehicles run the stop signs at that particular intersection where I was hit.
Up until a few months ago I served on the Martin Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) as the representative for the Village of Indiantown. I stepped down when I moved from Indiantown. Being on this committee allowed me to speak up for the rural residents of Martin County and voice the terrible road conditions we live with- both the road conditions and the dangerous way people drive.
The recommendations from the CAC, along with a few other committees, are delivered to the members of the Martin MPO where they make final decisions on roadway projects and the order they will be completed. This is an organization that affects our daily lives but is not given much thought by the public.
During my time on the MPO CAC an interactive map was developed where residents can mark areas of concern across Martin County. You can find that map here.
I share this link because if you didn’t know this map exists you would not find it buried on the Martin MPO website. On this map you can report speeding problems, areas that are difficult to cross, where increased law enforcement is needed, where a sidewalk or bicycle path is needed, where there is a visibility issue, where lighting is needed, where the road or signage needs refurbishment, and where there are dangerous intersections. I have marked the intersection where I was hit along with some other areas of concern.
This map is a great tool that sends your concerns straight to the MPO staff. All of Martin County’s municipalities are represented on the Martin MPO so reporting road conditions to this board gets you front row access to your representatives. In addition to using this map you can also speak at the MPO meetings and share your concerns. Unfortunately not many people do.
You can watch the Martin MPO meetings anytime on MCTV (http://martin.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=24). I will be speaking about my accident in person on September 19th.
David Hafner’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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HOPE IN OUR COMMUNITY
Rob Ranieri
CEO for House of Hope
House of Hope’s mission is to empower residents to overcome hunger and hardship.
Many people are familiar with our work in the basic needs arena, which centers on access to healthy foods, support for clothing and housewares, and financial assistance programs. To meet our mission, we also offer a variety of programs, services, and support in the life skills arena. These opportunities focus on health and nutrition, education, job readiness and career support, and the arts.
The rising cost of food, fuel, rent and more continues to create a high level of need in the community for House of Hope’s services, bringing over 7,000 people each month through our doors. Job readiness and career support programs have risen in importance to those we serve as a means to improve household earning capacity to keep up and hopefully get ahead of the rising cost of living, we all face.
Both of our Centers for Enrichment provide programs and services to help our clients gain employment or attain a better career opportunity. Some examples are computer classes and computer access, career coaching, resume writing, and English classes. Our career closet may supply job seekers with professional attire for interviews or for those starting new positions.
We also use our facilities for internships and skills training. Currently we have interns at Growing Hope Farm, our production farm in Palm City, as well as social work interns at our main office. Soon we expect to add internships in our nutrition center as well. House of Hope also works with our partners such as Helping People Succeed and the Martin County School District to provide sites for skills training at our food warehouse and at the Hope Shop, our thrift store on Federal Highway.
Recently, House of Hope added a new position, our first ever Workforce Partnership and Career Coordinator. This position was made possible through a grant from the Martin County Board of County Commissioners using their American Rescue Plan dollars. Martin County was one of the more innovative counties in our state with the use of ARPA dollars, and several nonprofit agencies received funding to expand and improve workforce development in our community.
This new position works with businesses and House of Hope clients to connect people to career opportunities. Clients are also connected to trainings, certification programs, internships, and other opportunities to improve their skill set and earning capacity. House of Hope also has job postings at our service centers to provide easy access for clients seeking new opportunities. If you are seeking employment, are a business with positions to fill, or just want to learn more about House of Hope’s services and ways to help, please visit our website at www.hohmartin.org.
Rob Ranieri’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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PALM CITY HIGHLIGHTS
By Missi Campbell
Executive Director of the Palm City Chamber
STAYCATION
Here we are in the middle of the summer vacation season and prices are very high for everything so why not enjoy a staycation in wonderful Martin County?
A staycation is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within day trip distance of their home and does not require overnight accommodation. We are so fortunate to have so many amazing activities locally.
Martin County beaches are some of the finest in the country so why not pack a cooler and plan to spend the day. Visit the Seaside Café at Stuart Beach for a delicious breakfast or lunch. If you want to make it a longer stay, check into staying at Hutchinson Shores Resort for a couple of days. There is nothing like going to sleep to the smells and sounds of the ocean. While out on Hutchinson Island, plan a visit to the Florida Oceanographic Society, the Elliot Museum, and the House of Refuge. Learning about our local environment and history is always exciting for adults and children of all ages.
Nighttime is very special at our local beaches during sea turtle nesting season. You can sign up for Turtle Walks with the Hobe Sound Nature Center or The Environmental Studies Center. We are so fortunate to be able to watch this spectacular sight. Be sure not to disturb the turtles by using special red lights and don’t get too close so that she can safely lay her eggs.
If the beach is not for you, we have numerous other fun activities.
Sailfish Splash is a wonderful waterpark right in our own backyard! Another fun water spot is Indian RiverSide Park with shooting water fountains. The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast is in the heart of Indian RiverSide Park. Their mission is to offer children and families a place to explore and learn through hands-on, and interactive activities.
Sailfish Sands Golf course is available for our golfing enthusiasts. Halpatiokee Park has hiking trails for walking and biking. One of my favorite walks is the boardwalk at the Kiplinger Preserve at the foot of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Park your car and enjoy a leisurely stroll through the upland and wetland preserve area down to the river.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park has opportunities for hiking, biking, and kayaking. Kayaks are available for rent to travel along the river to Trapper Nelsons. Be sure to watch for wildlife as you paddle along.
Take the time this summer to explore your own backyard and see all that Martin County has to offer!!
Missi Campbell’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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FISHING TIPS
BY Capt. Paul Sperco
The middle of July is upon us, and the afternoon showers and high humidity are making their presence known.
The time to hit the surf for the next six weeks is early morning and late afternoon. Light winds have been prevalent so make sure you add a can of bug spray to your gear so you can fish comfortably. We are still battling some slime weed along with patches of sargassum but there have been more fishable days than we had since the beginning of June.
The whiting and croaker schools have not shown up in big numbers due to the lack of bait moving down the beach. We just had our July full moon phase and traditionally this has been the catalyst that gets that bait moving. Look for some great catch and release snook fishing on the sand in the upcoming weeks and look for the best action to be from dawn to 9 am.
When the bait schools show so will the tarpon so bring a heavier setup to use to do battle with this great gamefish. The one species that has made a great showing on the beach is the palometa. This fish is in the pompano family and casting 1/8-ounce crappie jigs in the first trough will provide some great action.
The other way to hook these speedsters is a traditional hi lo rig baited with Pink Shrimp Fishbites and a small piece of frozen shrimp. A number 4 or 6 J hook is the hook of choice. As far as the offshore bite is concerned Capt. Nick Cremasco of Daymaker Charters has been putting his customers on sailfish, bonito, mangrove snappers, and king mackerel on a daily basis.
The river bite has been pretty darn good too according to Capt. John Young of Bites on Fishing Charters. John has been putting his parties on a steady catch and release snook bite, rod bending jack crevalle action, and running off the beach on the calm days to catch some beautiful king mackerel. John has some open dates still available in the upcoming weeks.
Good luck, stay hydrated, and catch em up.
Paul Sperco’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR A HEALTHY BUDGET
By Michael Syrkus
For nearly 10 years my summer reading list has included the governmental operations budget for the Martin County BOCC.
This 500-page document enumerates the general position of expenditures and revenue sources anticipated (and theoretically “approved”) for the following fiscal year. Of course, no one has a crystal ball. Therefore, the budget and actual expenditures/revenues will vary.
For the first time in at least 15 years, the BOCC has approved a net millage decrease for Martin County taxpayers. With the passage (on July 18th) of a tentative budget, the millage rate can now only decrease further-not increase for the proposed fiscal year.
In years past, I have been highly critical of the expenditures of our government. As one commissioner has put it: “we must figure out what are niceties and what are necessitates.” All of you reading this will have your own opinion of what is needed and what is simply wanted. With that in mind, my proposal this year was simple:
Reduce ALL debts to under $900 per resident- the cap we set for ourselves for bonded debt. After all, we are in a position this year that simultaneously allows for a net millage decrease while also absorbing an expenditure increase in the same budget. That increase, by the way, stems closely to the net increase of the CPI year or year. Government, too, is victim to inflation.
The idea is simple. To go below $900 debt per resident, we would have to increase our debt service by approximately $3.07 million dollars. Though this seems to be a large chunk of change (I certainly don’t have those funds), this is only a small portion of the $14+ million that we expect to grow our total reserves next year. If we were to increase our debt service, we will still project ending fiscal year 2023 with more than $80 million in reserves for an emergency.
Commission Chair Smith addressed this suggestion and returned with a valid point: reserve funds can be quickly depleted in an emergency. It is a fine line to walk-paying down debt vs. having money in hand. Especially in a county that self-insures.
This brings us to the age-old question: what is better…money saved, or freedom from debt?
I would contend that in a time when money saved has little interest gained in the bank, and the cost to borrow is increasing at a quickening pace, now is as best a time as ever to proactively chip away at debt.
$80 million in a rainy-day fund will cover quite a bit of rain. Assuming a major issue does arise, lower outstanding debt will make the ability to borrow for an emergency that much easier. In a balance of pros and cons (where borrowing is always an option), it’s hard to see a downside to lowering debt when able.
Michael Syrkus’ opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
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CONSTITUTIONAL CORNER AND OTHER GOVERNMENT NOTICES
And from our Supervisor of Elections:
From The Clerk of The Court:
From the Property Appraiser
Tax Collector
MARTIN COUNTY
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First letter is from Don Winer:
Do the residents of South Sewall’s Point (SSP) know the town commission is now taking steps to install sewers in SSP?
They were Not awarded the $800,000 grant they had applied for.
They have authorized the town engineer to examine the dry line sewers in the subdivisions having them to determine their viability. They are spending funds not in the budget to do this.
You know most SSP residents oppose them as they feel their elevation doesn’t warrant them. They agree the properties in the flood zone need them.
The next letter is from Tom Hannon. He wrote to me, commissioners, and the Stuart News. I believe he was referring to an article by the paper:
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Have you had a chance to do a follow up story on this windfall issue? Regarding your article today why doesn’t the county take some of this windfall and put it towards the teachers instead of trying to increase or maintain the taxes they have? I think the County really needs to identify what they plan on doing with the windfall. thanks
I did write him back:
Dear Mr. Hannon:
FYI…the BOCC as a government has nothing to do with the school district. I don’t think it would even be legal for them to be involved or spend their collected tax dollars for that purpose.
While the BOCC like so many other taxing authorities may be receiving higher taxes due to increased values, what they do with it is of some interest to me. Next Monday will be when they decide on budgets. I don’t believe they will be raising the rate.
As you know I have written and spoken in opposition to building golf courses and water parks instead of maintaining the infrastructure for existing parks and public works. In the budget a good percentage of funds go to the sheriff and fire/rescue both of which if the increases continue will not be sustainable at some point or fiscally manageable. Can a county of less than 170,000 people afford departments that most bigger counties would be envious of.
The agenda for Monday’s meeting can be found here
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COMMISSION MEETING JULY 14, 2022:
The most significant item of the day wasn’t even on the agenda.
During commissioner comments, Ed Ciampi brought up how much the county needs affordable or attainable or workforce housing. That was precipitated by the comments made by advocates for such housing during public comment which Ciampi probably knew were going to be made. Ciampi wanted to keep the ball rolling from the joint meeting last month.
As usual with such a spur of the moment discussion, there were many ideas floated. Doug Smith would like to see focus groups headed by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. Ciampi wants to use staff and existing groups and others to move it along.
Heard made it quite clear that taxpayers don’t want to grant any subsidies for such housing nor have it in their backyards. Then she began saying density is not the solution. Too much traffic on the roads and zoning incompatibility were also bywords.
Hetherington wants the private sector involved and, perhaps, the school board. She has constituent families that have had their rents raised. But she believes too much housing is already being built. And non-profits should collaborate.
Jenkins does want an item to come back. He is working with Banner Lake on a community land trust to foster home ownership. Ciampi made a motion to bring back an agenda item that Jenkins seconded. It passed 5-0
At the present, the members of all these committees who are pushing for an answer to the affordable, attainable, and workforce housing shortage have no real experience with operating, building, or maintaining such housing. I have worked with and managed this type of housing using the Section 8 program and other such federal and state programs, and it is daunting. One thing those programs did do was allow the private sector to make money. Alas most of those programs are now history.
On a national level, that is one of the reasons that fewer and fewer units are available at affordable rents. This isn’t the only reason. But This problem will never ever be solved without an infusion of massive federal money. Even states can’t do it, and it is certainly prohibitive for local government to do so.
Sybil was a book in the early 1970s that dealt with a woman that had 29 multiple personalities. Martin County may have that many or more when it comes to its affordable, attainable or workforce housing goals. It can be seen by the commissioners’ comments.
It is not that they are not serious about the task, but it is beyond county or municipal government capabilities. To encourage private sector response, you will need to encourage building of more housing not less. Real estate is where supply and demand make the market. As a glut happens then prices fall, and this is very true of the rental market. Right now, we have nowhere near the number of units needed.
The county can eliminate impact and other fees for those who will commit to a specific number of apartments with rental rates based on an AMI derived formula. They could give a density bonus in their CRAs if the extra apartments had cheaper rents using an AMI derived formula. The more apartments that came under the formula, the more they would be allowed to build up to 30 units per acre.
Every single-family home, regardless of where it is located even within HOAs, could have an accessible dwelling unit that, if rented, would not be subject to increased real estate taxes. The community land trust idea is a good one, but like Habitat for Humanity, it can only build so many homes.
In fact, all these suggestions would eventually lead to more housing options. However, these are stop gap measures without a commitment by the feds to release billions in housing dollars. And that is not likely.
Heard and Smith and, now to a lesser extent, Hetherington are not interested in more housing being built. The City of Stuart did approve more housing for the last few years but has now gone back into its shell and is not likely to come back out for a decade or more. Politicians cannot blame greedy developers and property owners when the reason existing prices are so high is a lack of product.
Government adds about 25% to the cost to build and that doesn’t consider the increased building prices due to more stringent construction codes. The private sector’s motive is profit. Local government can incentivize to some extent, but it cannot do so unless it gets behind a continuous effort to produce these units. They cannot retreat every time people complain about a new project being built.
So, form any committee you want. I would be glad to lend my expertise. Commissioners, just realize you can’t complain about the lack of housing and then do everything in your power to prevent new housing. And if you think by allowing more single-family homes to be developed you are going to solve the existing problem, you are not. That is what will contribute to sprawl.
(As Published In Martin County Moment)
The other item I found interesting was the discussion about the proposed building of the new medical examiner facility.
The current and future facility is used by the entire Treasure Coast. The other three counties, Okeechobee, Indian River, and St. Lucie have agreed to fund design of the new facility. The amount contributed is proportionate by county population. For the design phase only, Martin County’s share is about $225,000.
The design is usually about 10% of the construction costs according to what Don Donaldson, the new county administrator, told the commission. That means when it finally gets around to being built, it will cost Martin County roughly $2,250,000. That is nothing to sneeze at.
The existing medical examiner office has been on IRSC grounds in Fort Pierce for nearly 50 years. The facility is old and may have been adequate in 1975 but the population and therefore the number of examinations necessary have climbed substantially in the intervening years. While I haven’t seen the office, it probably is time for a new facility.
According to a few commissioners, this is an unfunded mandate from the state. I don’t quite understand why except that under FS 406 Part 1, it is necessary for districts to have an examiner. There is a governor-appointed commission to oversee the operation of the medical examiners.
While I may agree that the state should kick in more funds, I don’t know if I would categorize it as an unfunded mandate. The state also requires there is a sheriff’s department and a tax collector’s department in every county. Those officials are paid for by the county. Is that an unfunded mandate?
Ciampi was correct when he said the county can’t opt out. The motion passed 5-0 to authorize the county administrator to sign an agreement up to $225,000 for design. I guess it is tax and election season, and the need for commissioners to make some noise is necessary.
BUDGET WORKSHOP JULY 18, 2022:
The county budget for this coming year is almost $559 million as compared to last year’s amount of $526.5 million.
One of the highlights according to Jennifer Manning, OMB Director, was that impact fees were higher due to increases mainly from new construction in Stuart and Ocean Breeze. There will be 7 new FTEs (Full Time Employees) 5 of which will be in utilities and solid waste funded by enterprise funds paid by rate users. There are roughly 160,000 people that call Martin County home with almost a third over the age of 65.
The median home value is $352,615. Taxable value of all real estate is $28,124,150,246. The total tax bill for the General Fund (all taxpayers) will be 3.5% less with those in the unincorporated areas including paying their MSTUs will be less by 2.95%.
Fire/Rescue will have 394 FTEs…one more than last year. They are adding an administrative person. Their total budget is $51.9 million about $900,000 more than last year. That comes to about $370 per Martin County resident in the areas that the department responds.
The Sheriff’s Department has 608 FTEs, and of that, 433 are in law enforcement. Their total budget is $86 million which is $7 million more than last year or a 9% increase. That comes to $535 per resident.
It is great that we are receiving a millage reduction. That will result in a $30 reduction for each $1000 paid last year. What is not widely known is that the millage cannot be easily raised in the future if needed due to the convoluted tax system. Because of various rules implemented by Tallahassee, it could take several years for the county to collect once again the $1000.00. It might have been better to put the 3% in a rainy-day fund or use it for capital improvements that were delayed last year.
At one time, it took the commission several days to go through the budget. The public hearing has been reduced to a couple of hours. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been one on one meetings between staff and commissioners. There has.
Some would argue that transparency requires the public to witness commissioners asking questions and more questions on a line-by-line basis. But how many people either watched or were in the chamber during budget hearings in the old days? Transparency means access and if necessary, an appointment can be made with OMB to have questions answered. There may not be endless hours of public meetings, though the public can easily look at the budget and see where the money is allocated.
With today’s budget books being online, it is much more transparent than in the past. It is also much easier to get a handle on trends because of graphs and charts that were never there in the past. Does it really mean anything for the budget of Parks & Recreation’s administrative offices to spend $300 on pencils instead of last year’s budget of $240 for them? Those were the type of questions asked when the budget was presented in the old way.
You can see the entire budget here
TRAILSIDE A SPECIAL REPORT
By Kyla Shay
Trailside HOA President
TEAR IT UP- NO RESPONSE FROM AGENCIES
With the rain finally arriving in our immediate area, one can clearly see the continued destruction of the preserve areas of PalMar.
Nothing has been done to stop it. Not ONE thing. The photos clearly show the ecological disaster unfolding at PalMar. Yes, we get platitudes of “working on it”. From our side of the canal, it certainly doesn’t seem like there is any work being done on it. There appear to be at least one pond that has been excavated. Where is the permit for the earth moving?
On June 27, 2022, representatives from Trailside Homeowner’s Association attended the PalMar Water Management Board meeting. A formal request was made at that time that the unpermitted culvert placed within The PalMar Water Management Board’s canal adjacent to Trailside be removed. This unpermitted culvert gives access to Trailside’s private lot owner property and the common area of Trailside’s Bridle Paths.
It is a security and safety risk as well as a large liability to let unknown individuals have free access to our community. A PalMar Board member argued that persons may want access into other lots outside of PalMar. He was assured that Trailside did NOT want access into Trailside from PalMar. Our neighborhood was set up with one main entrance for ingress and egress. There is an emergency exit to the west through other properties which has not been utilized during my 16 years at Trailside. This emergency ingress/egress is for periods of storm damage only.
Despite our requests, the culvert remains. On an official survey of the southern side today, we witnessed ATV tracks on the Trailside bridle paths and the other side of our canal coming from the unpermitted culvert. We visualized the gate which is too high to keep ATV’s out of our neighborhood. In addition, the chain on the gate has three locks on it. We question, WHO has unlimited access to our neighborhood?
We are still waiting on confirmation that Martin County Staff has sent out the letters to owners of PalMar lots who have illegal unpermitted structures and campers on their lots. It was mentioned that they needed to do another survey.
Our initial meeting with Martin County Staff was March 21, 2022. What exactly is the hold up? During this delay, there are now a few additional structures that have been erected or deposited on the PalMar lots. Also noted are the metal roof trusses and poles for yet another building. These are permanent 24/7 camp residences. When will any enforcement be done: HAVE THE VIOLATIONS GONE OUT?
Hungryland i.e. PalMar Lots have their own Facebook site. The caption to this photo is “No One was hurt”. Is Charlie Armstrong’s fence damaged? What wetlands and natural habitat have been destroyed this week by all the side-by-side, hunting buggies and ATV’s.
I did speak at the SFWMD Board meeting on July 21, 2022. We are seeing a large amount of wading birds that have been injured by the gunfire. During the 4th of July weekend, we could hear PalMar persons yelling between gunfire “If it flies, it dies.” FWC is now aware of the problem as well as SFWMD.
We still hear target shooting every day. It’s not hunting. You do not need an AR-15 or an AK to hunt. Nor do you need exploding targets and ammonium nitrate bombs to hunt. Every day we wait for the bullet that injures or kills one of us or our animals. It is not difficult to see the shooting range aimed at Trailside from the aerial views of PalMar.
When can we expect some forward action from the agencies involved? We are still waiting.
The platitudes of “we are working on a difficult situation” just does not appease us in the least bit.
Kyla Shay’s opinions are her own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors viewpoint.
PHOTOS TAKEN BY TRAILSIDE:
PALMAR BOARD MEETING JULY 13, 2022
The chaos continued at this board meeting from the last one.
At some point and I believe as soon as the August 22nd landowners meeting who will hold the contested seat on the board will be decided. Probably it will be George Stokus even though I suspect Mr. Gazza who currently holds the seat will try to remain for as long as he can on the board. In any event there will be a lawsuit that may go on for quite some time. That will not stop the seating of the new board member if I understood the district’s attorney at this chaotic meeting.
PalMar is a water control board. It is an independent district that has taxing authority to maintain the property for the purpose of controlling and directing water flow. The two governmental entities that decide what can and cannot be done for other matters are Martin and Palm Beach Counties. Both have determined that roads, buildings, or other structures have never been or will never be allowed within the district.
I wish I could vote for Palm Beach Commissioner Maria Marino who is not a shrinking violet. She flat out told one speaker that the lot he bought would never have a home or even access to his lot via a road. And that is a tragedy for him but not the fault of the governmental bodies. All you had to do is look at the FLUM to know that or make a quick call to the growth management department.
As to the flooding because of the Bee Line that was mentioned. The PalMar land is supposed to take the water off the road and let it filter down into either the aquifer or make its way south. PalMar once again is a “water control” district and not a recreational park. People who claim that their land is no longer to be used for the purposes they bought it forget what the intended purpose was.
Martin County should have paid all assessments and not been so cute with the PalMar district. Much of what has occurred may have been avoided if they and Palm Beach had never lost control of the board. So now the pieces must be picked up and a semblance of order restored.
Martin County is beginning to do that. There is still the problem of lax law enforcement for a reason only the sheriff’s department can answer. You want to restore law and order the law needs to do so and curb the gun fire that has nothing to do with hunting and everything to do with chaos.
I want to commend County Attorney Sarah Woods for her handling of this mess and trying to steer the county to being back in control. The same thing goes for County Administrator Don Donaldson who needs to keep staff on task and enforce the county’s codes. This is no time to let up on the pressure for any reason. Commissioner Harold Jenkins as the county’s representative is trying his best to hold his temper during these meetings. He is following the advice of counsel and not making any errors that can be used against the county in the coming lawsuit.
And lastly Martin County should not forget what Trailside has and continues to go through because of the chaos of PalMar. These citizens deserve a break because their lives have become chaotic even though they followed the rules. For no other reason, a calmness needs to descend on PalMar, once again.
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COMMISSION MEETING JULY 11, 2022
The city has been fortunate to be able to have the funds to construct its alternate water supply project.
Over the past several years, Senator Harrell and Representative Overdorf have been pivotal in having the state appropriate $2,250,000 for the use including $500,000 this past legislative session. Representative Snyder will begin representing Stuart next year as districts have shifted. He also helped in this year’s appropriation.
This project is critical to Stuart’s water utility which not only serves city residents but also a good number of Martin County citizens. This is anything but pork barrel spending. This appropriation is what our legislators should be key in bringing to their constituents…clean drinking water. Thank you to Overdorf, Harrell, Snyder, and Jordan Connors, the city’s Tallahassee consultant, for the great work on this.
Brightline gave a presentation to the commission. It was the same one that was given last month to the Martin County Commission. What a difference between the two bodies.
Martin County asked no questions and there were few, if any, comments. It was rather a quick one and done sort of thing. That is just the opposite of what happened in Stuart.
Maybe it was because Brightline had one of the downtown crossings closed. Maybe it was because of Florida Street having been worked on and being completed. Both bodies recognize how powerless they are when it comes to influencing the railroad. It is in how their approaches differ that the commissions are distinct.
The railway owns their tracks and the land underneath. That property is worth hundreds of millions of dollars and runs through the most densely populated areas of the county. The railroad, perhaps rightly, believes that they were there first, and they recognize no reason to do more than they must.
Stuart Commissioners know of their almost total inability to alter the course of events from the number of trains running through the city to the quality of the bridge over the St. Lucie. People spoke out against Brightline and the city especially because of the Florida Street crossing without acknowledging that the city manager was able to get concessions on the configuration of that crossing.
The commissioners reiterated that people cross at places where there is no fence. Yes, people shouldn’t do it, but they do. It is extremely dangerous and going at the speeds the passenger trains will be travelling, which is well over 100 miles per hour, a person can be killed in a matter of seconds.
If the railroad was being built today it would have to be a sealed corridor. But the Federal Railroad Administration hasn’t required that. People will be killed. Most will be suicide, some will be stupidity, and a few will be because they were just dumb kids. Is the railroad culpable? Is the city?
Legally and to some extent morally, Brightline is right when they argue that people are trespassing. It would be like someone climbing an FPL pole and trying to use the transmission cables as a zip line. The same logic applies to the city’s position. The FPL analogy is very apt in that case as well.
People should be careful about commenting about how dangerous those crossings are. If I were the city or the railroad, I might just close the crossing since no one wants to be blamed for anyone’s death.
Whether we get a new bridge or not will not be up to Brightline or any local government. It will hinge on Tallahassee and Washington coming up with the money. Although working with all parties involved, Brightline is not going to spend its own money here. They will rehabilitate, change parts, and talk to all. Everything but spend hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new bridge.
There needs to be a lobbying effort for our congress person, state representative, and senator to bring that money home. You can see the Brightline presentation here
The lease on the community garden between the city and House of Hope in East Stuart was renewed by a vote of 4-0 with Meier abstaining because he is employed by House of Hope.
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SCHOOL BOARD MEETING JUNE 28, 2022:
This meeting should have been reported to you in the last newsletter. Unfortunately, I didn’t have all the employee evaluations from the district until now.
The evaluations were of Dr. Millay, the superintendent, by the board. Many of us have given employees that we manage written evaluations. They are seldom very indicative of the employee’s true record. Everyone is great and the person either exceeds expectations or is making acceptable progress. No one is ever God forbid mediocre and a dolt.
The person doing the evaluation might think that the employee is not close to an acceptable performance level, but it isn’t reflected it in the employee’s written evaluation. At some point, the supervisor will want to fire someone because he/she is truly incapable of performing in that job but who has received great reviews for the past several years. HR will look at the file and claim it will be tough to do because of those outstanding evaluations.
In its rating of Millay, the board has gone that route. Mr. Anderson gave him all exceptional ratings in the 12-page evaluation report. Mr. DiTerlizzi took a similar track but threw in a few “acceptable progress” checks. Ms. Roberts is a cross between DiTerlizzi and Anderson. Nothing in these documents would really guide the superintendent publicly on how these board members really view his job performance.
Ms. Defenthaler gave high marks to Millay but had criticism for some of her other board members. Since she has chosen not to run again, I believe much of what she stated contributed to her decision. It looks as though she believes the board has strayed from its prime responsibilities. She writes, “During my time as a board member, I believe the lines have been blurred when it comes to the roles and responsibilities of the Superintendent and our Board.”
Victoria Defenthaler
She goes on to write “that an individual board member may become increasingly involved in administrative details and tend to become a second administrator.” And lastly, “We hired the Superintendent to serve as the CEO of our school district. We need to give him the authority and flexibility to serve as such.”
Defenthaler is not wrong in that assessment. She was naïve enough to believe that personalities would conform to what the Florida School Board Association states are the roles and responsibilities of superintendents and school board members. There is plenty of elasticity between the theory and the actual. Defenthaler in her written notes mentioned that school board members were elected to represent the best interest of the children.
Dr. Millay also gave his own evaluation…not much introspection.
Ms. Powers, however, gave an honest assessment with constructive notes.
Powers believes what Defenthaler wrote about representing the children which would include the parents. The school board is not there to make sure that teachers and administrators are happy. It does not appear that she believes that the larger community, with its political agendas, are her concern. She wrote in her evaluation, “We must be open to new & innovative ways to deliver instruction. Parents & students want choices that meet their academic needs…”
Powers sums up my philosophy on education. Schools ultimately must educate children. But the arbiters of how children are educated are not professional teachers or administrators. Those experts are tools that should be used to obtain a desired outcome. Parents should consult and weigh any advice they recommend. The ultimate decision is the individual student and parent.
If I were rating Millay, I would give him a solid B. Perhaps many of his plans and their implementation were set back by COVID. He has become a highly respected member of our community. Millay does reach out and speaks to anyone. Now it is time for him to reverse the academic slide and once again make Martin an A district.
You can see the evaluations here
BOARD MEETING JULY 12, 2022
No one is ever happy! That is what I took out of this meeting.
A few weeks ago, the board entertained many suggestions on how to spend the money from the voter-approved ½ mill ad valorem tax for next year. A description of the suggestions can be found here
Not counting additional pay for teachers and other personnel, the expense was $3,179,000 for the other four categories outlined in the referendum. The rest of the anticipated $13.7 million collected from that tax would go to pay for teachers and all other employees.
Four years ago, the original gap in pay for teachers between Martin County and other nearby counties was $9 million. In 2020, Tallahassee stepped in with a new program called the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation (TSIA). The allocation for Martin County is almost $4 million. That amount has been used to close the gap. At the same time, the district is now saying the gap in pay between counties is down to $6 million.
Teachers are complaining that the increased pay is not distributed fairly. The governor’s TSIA money is for newer teachers and not senior teachers. It is meant to raise starting salaries to a target range of $47,500. Martin County’s starting salary currently stands at $45,700 (from under $39,000 four years ago). Allocation of the pot of money for teacher salaries is a negotiated item between the union and the board.
At this meeting, teacher after teacher took to the podium to complain bitterly about their pay. One of the teacher’s claimed she was making less now than she was 13 years ago in another district. The board listened but, unfortunately, they can’t print money to make everyone happy.
There were a few boogey men that were mentioned. One is that public charter schools take 8% of the money available. That is 100% true. According to statute, public charters need to receive the same percentage of funds based on their student bodies from the district. Public county charter schools educate 8% of the total students. It sort of seems fair to me.
Another one is a lack of local control by the board. Tony Anderson mentioned this, and he was 100% correct. The state dictates much of what the district can do. There isn’t much local flavor in schools. Perhaps if the state sent more money, its dictates would be more acceptable. Remember that even how much a school board can tax residents is proscribed by Tallahassee.
School employees everywhere have been complaining about their pay since the one-room schoolhouse days. Every employee everywhere doesn’t think they are being paid enough. Teachers should have the right to negotiate the highest pay and benefits that they can. On behalf of the public, the district needs to keep pay and benefits as low as possible while still being competitive enough to recruit necessary talent.
For some reason when it comes to public employees, politicians (board members are elected) believe they need to be more accommodating than in the private sector. The BOCC thinks deputies and fire fighters should get every raise and benefit they want. I can’t imagine the private sector doing that. Perhaps it is because both unions are heavily involved with political donations and as campaign volunteers. The unions are not doing that to foster good government.
Two current school board members were, at one point, represented by the teachers’ unions…they are creatures of the system. So where would their sympathies lie? I don’t blame them, but their point of view does skew in a particular way. You can go to any school board meeting and witness this for yourself.
If teachers or anyone else feels they can make more money by changing jobs, they should. Whether that means driving to Palm Beach or St. Lucie Counties to find school jobs or to begin in a new profession, this is how markets work. And that means whether you are a public or a private sector employee. We are all part of the free market system.
At Ms. Robert’s suggestion, of the anticipated $13.7 million that will be collected from the referendum millage, $10 million will go to teacher’s pay. An additional $2 million will be allocated to compensation for other employees and the rest for the other four named categories in the referendum. If the referendum does not pass, all bets are off.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING JULY 19, 2022
During his presentation, Dr. Millay made comments regarding how close the district is to obtaining an A rating. He stated that presently they are 3 points short of that designation. I would be very surprised if by the time the next evaluation is done, the district has not reclaimed that distinction.
A new charter school, TechnoArts Academy, is opening somewhere in the Port Salerno area in 2023 or 2024. It will be a K-5 specializing in language arts. Defenthaler stated that the district can also provide the services that the new academy can. I would just observe that may be true, but the parents of the children that will attend the charter do not believe that is the case. So, either the district needs to engage in better communication with parents or show that to be true by raising the scores.
That is the entire point of choice in education. If the district can convince parents that they can provide the same level of service, then children would not be going to charters. The vote was 4-1 with Defenthaler voting no.
The board then tackled the referendum to extend the millage. It seemed everyone was in favor of Option B.
Option B provides $9.7 million for teachers and $2.3 million for non-teaching staff. $1.2 million for mental health type programs, $476,000 (it was later revealed that would be $550,000) for SROs, $10,000 each for professional development and academic initiatives. It is attached here
Powers supports the millage because if it does not pass, she said the district will be at an extreme disadvantage in attracting employees. She made the motion for Option B. Andrson seconded and it passed 5-0.
Now it is up to the voters. (See my opinion on the millage next)
SCHOOL BOARD REFERENDUM
In a blink of an eye, four years have passed since the voters of Martin County approved two referenda to increase taxes.
One was a half-cent sales tax to replace two elementary schools and other capital improvement work. That tax was for a term of seven years and will expire in 2025. The other was a half mill increase for property taxes for four years. It is expiring at the end of the current tax year on June 30th.
The latter proposal is up for another vote on the August 23rd ballot. The language is slightly different than in 2018. The ballot will read as follows:
“Shall the Martin County School District continue the existing ad valorem millage up to one-half mill per year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2026, for essential operating expenses (School Safety and Security, Mental Health Programs, Recruiting and Retaining Qualified Teachers and Support Staff, Professional Development, Academic Initiatives); providing charter schools funds proportionate to student enrollment as required by law with annual reporting to citizens”
The key difference between the last proposal and this one is instead of a flat half mill (the language of four years ago), it now is a not-to-exceed number. Which means it could be for less at the Board’s discretion but never more. The five categories where the money can be spent are the same. The requirement that there be an annual reporting is also still there.
Before one can know whether to support this tax, one should look at how the money was spent previously. For the last four years, the school board has been scrupulous in keeping the spending to the categories outlined in the last referendum. They have also had a citizen’s review committee that has audited the district. The reports are on the district’s web site.
I heard from some taxpayers that the district should not receive the money because of what they perceive to be disappointing reading scores, or the district schools being rated at less than an “A.” Individual voters should not believe that withholding funds from the district because of the rating or reading scores will help to improve either. For that matter, any academic improvement won’t be better because of fewer dollars. Though money alone will not produce better scores either.
Most of the money (about 77%) has gone toward teacher stipends and the rest to other personnel and outlined areas. The half-cent sales tax was meant to be finite. Its purpose was to build two new schools and perform deferred maintenance. The half mill real estate tax has a different purpose.
Teacher and other personnel stipends are ongoing. This year the amount that will be covered by the tax on the ballot for those two items will be $10 million for teachers and $2 million for other job categories. Will the district ever be able to just use their other funds to cover the shortfall, or will this tax need to be ongoing indefinitely?
If the referendum is defeated, what happens? The district cannot just add the additional ad valorem onto its millage. State law proscribes what the rate will be. That is why the referendum was needed.
Martin County teachers will never be paid as much as Palm Beach or St. Lucie teachers. They are starting from different bases. The original pay gap that Martin County School District had was $9 million. By the district’s own estimation, it still is at $6 million.
It is a tough decision on whether to vote in favor of extending the half-mill. It would seem to me that subject to a referendum every four years the extra half mill is now permanent. Every voter must look at the situation and determine that for themselves. Without substantial cuts to other programs, it is obvious that the increased amounts for teachers and others cannot be sustained without the continuation of the half mill.
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SEWALL’S POINT MANAGER CANDIDATES:
Sewall’s Point has been looking for a manager for about six months now.
This is the second round of candidates after the first group was either eliminated by the commission or they found other jobs in the interim. Will these erstwhile managers be the next town’s number one? Only time will tell.
Take a peek and see what you think. The winner is slated to be chosen on July 21st.
Finalists’ packages are here
SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING JULY 21, 2022:
The commission and residents at the “meet and greet” interviewed the 6 candidates over the past two days.
At this meeting, each finalist had an opportunity to make their final pitches. Lynne Ladner the Pahokee manager made the most detail pitch. Both Raymond Bosser and Brian Geoghegan were from out of state. That always gives me pause since Florida is so different than many other states because of Sunshine and Public Records.
Commissioner Campo was the only one that asked a question. Each of the candidates were asked whether they had read the proposed contract and if they had a problem with any of the terms, especially the financial ones. He also asked when they could start. I believe it was a good question given that the commission is fairly set on contract conditions.
Then each commissioner ranked their three choices with the top candidate receiving a ranking of 3 then the next 2 and the third 1. The finalists were Daniels, Bossart, and Hogarth.
Campo then made a motion for the town attorney to negotiate a 3-year contract with Daniels for $110,000, a 30-day notice if his contract is not renewed. 160-hour vacation allowance the first year and a full month thereafter, with an August 1st start date. It was seconded by Fender. It passed 5-0
It seemed they want to have this wrapped up by their next Tuesday meeting. They were ready to give the attorney the authority to begin negotiating with Bossart if Daniels’ contract wasn’t finished by Monday afternoon. Though it was not voted upon. The commission is meeting on Tuesday and I would imagine it will be finalized then.
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INDIANTOWN COUNCIL MEETING JULY 14, 2022
It was much ado about nothing or a serious breach of the charter…or both.
Susan Gibbs-Thomas asked that a discussion item be placed on the agenda regarding Manager Brown’s having not informed the council within seven days of his hiring employees and giving those employees increased benefits that are more than those approved in policy. This practice came to Gibbs-Thomas’ attention at the end of May or beginning of June.
Indiantown is one of the only places where the manager is not allowed to have new positions or set benefits and pay without council’s approval. That is how the charter was written and approved. This very unusual provision was re-affirmed by the voters in a referendum. The citizens have voted that only the council can set this policy.
Brown claims that notifying the council within the seven-day period twice slipped his mind in January with two different employees. The ordinance passed by the council last year gives Brown the authority to not go to the council for a new hire that accedes stated policy. Brown needed to inform the council in writing within seven days is one of the ordinances provisions. This is what the village attorney came up with to do an end run around that charter provision.
The manager has apologized and has proposed that rather than individually writing to each council member, he would place notification of any hiring variances in his bi-monthly report to them. That report is also available online. The ordinance would have to be amended.
Most council members made all types of excuses for Brown. Dowling stated that he had voted against the ordinance, and he would give Brown the authority to handle these hiring decisions without council (the charter says they can’t). He also said the village is short staffed and Brown doesn’t need busy work.
Hernandez piped in that she never makes deadlines in her job, so she understands. That statement in of itself is remarkable. In Hernandez’s view the village needs more employees. She also said that operating the water company was another business that Brown had to run. She then went on to say that they were told how easy the water company was to manage but that was not the case. I think almost every public speaker told the council that it would be very hard to manage.
Gibbs-Thomas wanted to take back the authority granted to the manager and follow the charter. The others did not.
Howard Brown
I don’t believe anyone thinks that what Brown did was that bad. It really is not. And he shouldn’t be fired or even really be reprimanded for not informing the council in the prescribed manner. The real question is should the charter be followed?
There is no choice but to do so. The cavalier attitude of upholding what the charter says and that has been reaffirmed by the voters cannot be ignored. Council members are putting themselves above the people. They are saying that if they don’t like something, then they can do what they want.
This election is about choices. Do the voters of Indiantown believe in ever-expanding government and now also a disregard for charter provisions or do they want the council to reign in that ever-larger government and follow the charter? Re-electing Dowling and to a lesser extent Clarke results in the former. Re-electing Gibbs-Thomas and Dowling’s challenger, Carmine Dipaolo the latter.
The village has an excellent communication system. There is a wealth of information that can be found including the manager’s report. Stuart should take a lesson. The city’s website is a hodge-podge of things and maneuvering through to find something takes time.
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The next meeting will be June 13, 2022.
COMMISSION MEETING OF JULY 11, 2022:
County Commissioner Harold Jenkins should be commended for attending municipal meetings within his district. He is a regular at both Jupiter Island and Indiantown. Because of that, he can better represent his constituency. He even attended the Mayor’s Coffee. Jenkins gave a report on what is going on in the district.
At this meeting, Commissioners Penny Townsend and Moira Collins were attending remotely. The feedback from the digital connection throughout the meeting was almost unbearable. One or two of those commissioners did not mute themselves causing reverberations. It would be helpful if the commissioners who were present would speak into the mics. Constituents who tune in are not getting a full understanding of what is going on.
For these past many months, the new dock lighting ordinance has been discussed by the commission, changed by staff, and sent to the residents. On first reading, the commission approved the attached ordinance adding that the lights can only be white and green. The ordinance can be found here
The same thoroughness can be said for the golf cart ordinance. There was a question about whether someone from the mainland could drive their vehicle over the bridge. It was determined that to do so would be illegal because golf carts would not be allowed on the bridge. It was approved on first reading. You can find the ordinance here
The tentative budget was presented by Manager Michael Ventura. The estimated 2023 Taxable Value is $3.56 billion which is a 13.5% increase over the current year. In 2021, 38 properties sold for a total of $391 million which is an average of a little more than $10,289,000 per property.
The budget for next year, including transfers from reserves, will be $10,877,166 or 13.8% more than last year. The COLA adjustment will be 8% for employees. Staff is looking at self-insurance for employee health care. They use the Gehring Group which is the same company used by the School Board and the City of Stuart.
The millage will remain the same at 4.0214. The commission approved the tentative millage for the TRIM notice 5-0. To see the entire presentation with all the numbers, you can go here
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In The Spotlight
by Jackie Holfelder
If you live in Martin County, chances are you know at least one of the Vitales.
The first family member I met was Ashley, back in my Luminaries days, when she was a committed volunteer bringing the dream of the Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast to fruition.
Then came Marian, mother-in-law of Ashley and mom to Steven and Jackie. Marian is an outstanding artist and a great philanthropist and supporter of nonprofits.
Next was Steven, whose love of Stuart’s lovely early homes has resulted in many of them being saved, relocated, and given a new life in downtown Stuart, where he has also renovated the Old Colorado Inn into the gem it is.
The final Vitale I got to meet was Jackie, after she, Mike Meier and Micah Hartman opened Ground Floor Farms, predecessor of CoLab Kitchen, in 2015.
Jackie with Dad, Otto
I
’ve never met two of the family members: Jackie and Steven’s sister, Leah Carelli, and family patriarch Otto, whose support and encouragement have influenced and inspired all the Vitales.
I could have easily profiled any member of this dynamic family, but today I’ve asked Jackie to share her journey with us …. because Jackies rock!
Jackie was born on Staten Island, but since her father’s passion for golf brought the family to South Florida when she was three and to the Treasure Coast when she was nine, she’s almost a native.
She feels fortunate that her parents always encouraged independence and gave her the freedom to march to her own drummer. Music, performance, and art are important connective fiber for all the Vitales
Jackie on Carousel
School years in Martin County were filled with music (Jackie played the flute and piano and sang) and theater (her debut was at the Barn theater with Peter Jones, where she played “flower #2” in Alice in Wonderland).
High school found her enrolled in the IB program at South Fork, where she was deeply involved in theater, marching band, and student government and then it was on to Swarthmore College, a small liberal arts school outside of Philadelphia, where she majored in theater with a concentration in directing.
Some eclectic experiences followed Jackie’s graduation in 2009. She spent the next two years working on farms, making theater, and traveling. In 2011 she moved to London to earn a master’s degree in devised theater at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Her love of everything related to good food led Jackie to what she says was her “dream job” at Kappacasein, an urban dairy in Central London. She was a dairy assistant, helping to make award-winning raw milk cheese, and working at their stall in Borough Market. It’s also where she caught the fermentation bug and learned to bake bread.
A Christmas visit to Stuart in 2013 reunited Jackie with high school friends Micah Hartman and Mike Meier, during which the trio hatched the plan for Ground Floor Farm.
They wanted to contribute to a culture in Stuart with a focus on food, art, and community resilience and after a year of planning and renovation, opened Ground Floor Farm in March 2015. During the five years that they operated the business, they ran a small-footprint but very high-yield veggie growing operation, a local food market, a restaurant and an ever-evolving space for community and art.
By their last year in operation, they were burned out and sold the business to Pam Alexander, one of Ground Floor Farms’ most loyal customers.
Shortly thereafter, Jackie stumbled upon a posting for a job that seemed too good to be true– a year-long chef position at an artist residency at the former home of Robert Rauschenberg on Captiva Island.
Applying for the job on a whim, she was thrilled to find she got it and moved to Captiva, where she spent a year as chef-in-residence for the amazing Foundation which invites some of the world’s most exciting contemporary artists of all disciplines to spend five weeks in Captiva, making work in Rauschenberg’s former studio space.
Jackie experimented in the kitchen, cooking meals for staff and artists and diving further into baking and fermentation.
An unexpected benefit of the job was that she was able to slow way down, learning to relax and unwind in the tranquil beauty of Captiva.
Although she was invited to stay on after her one-year contract was up, Stuart is home, and Jackie wanted to be back with her family and friends. After waiting out the first five months of the pandemic on Captiva, she returned to Stuart in July 2020, where her current home is a 100-year-old Sears kit house in downtown Stuart. It’s been lovingly maintained and since moving in – among other things – she’s started a veggie garden and compost pile and replaced the front lawn with a native and edible landscape.
Jackie started a cottage bakery out of the house and renovated the kitchen, tested recipes, and built a wood-fired oven in the backyard. She opened Otto’s Bread Club in April 2021 and bakes hearty sourdough breads using stone-ground flour from Carolina Ground, a mill in North Carolina, as well as other baked goods like sourdough cinnamon rolls and bagels, biscuits, cookies, and pies.
Customers sign up for a regular order which they pick up on a set schedule from her front porch. There are plans to expand her offerings next year.
Jackie with Bread
A true lover of Stuart, Jackie also does pop-up markets around town, often at Gilbert’s, Hani Honey and the Creek District Artwalk. She teaches classes on baking and fermentation in her backyard.
She’s also a member of the NAACP executive committee, MartinArts Foundation Board, City of Stuart LPA, TCPalm Reader Advisory Committee and chair of the Golden Gate NAC
When she’s not baking or volunteering in the community, Jackie loves to play board games and sing karaoke. She also has recently taken up ceramics and is enjoying learning her way around the pottery wheel. She plays bass flute with the Treasure Coast Flute Choir.
Jackie never underestimates the benefit of having been born into a supportive family that encouraged her ambitions, provided her with a strong safety net, paid for her education, and invested seed money in her first business.
Jackie says that her mom encouraged her to find her own path, even when she might have been surprised at just how unusual that chosen path has been. Her father Otto is a devoted dad and keen entrepreneur who was instrumental in helping her start both Ground Floor Farm and Otto’s Bread Club. Naming her business after him was a way to honor everything he has done for her and her family.
Finally, Jackie says she can’t talk about family without mentioning Brinna, the dog she adopted from the Humane Society. Over the last 8 years, businesses, homes and boyfriends may have come and gone, but Brinna has remained a sweet and steady companion.
I hope you agree that Jackie Vitale’s journey to date has been an interesting and diverse one, an exciting mélange of great experiences. And who knows what the future has in store!
By the way, if you’d like to learn more about Otto’s Bread Club, visit www.ottosbreadclub.com.
Jackie is always looking for a good story…you may reach her at: jackieacolumn@gmail.com
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SOMETIMES IT WORKS
This week the Martin County School Board has approved the budget amounts if the half-mill real estate referendum passes. In it ultimately $550,000 will go toward additional SROs.
No other country in the world spends as much money on all types of security to keep people safe. On top of the money, we spend on law enforcement and private security, the U.S. has more guns than people. We also have the highest death rate using guns including suicides.
I am not anti-gun. (Please read my piece on the recent Supreme Court decision HERE
But it would seem to me that the Second Amendment does not prohibit reasonable regulation. Stopping kids buying assault weapons at 18 when they can’t buy a pack of cigarettes, or a beer would be justified and make sense.
That old chestnut only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun proved correct at a mall this week. The shooter of three was killed by a patron who was armed with no training. I read a statistic that this happens in about 3% of these types of incidents.
It didn’t work in Buffalo where the security guard in the grocery store where 10 were killed including the guard was a retired police officer. The good guy with a gun theory certainly didn’t work in Parkland where the SRO decided not to engage the shooter. And of course, in Uvalde where a kid with an assault weapon killed teachers and children indiscriminately when nearly 400 trained law enforcement professionals waited over an hour before stopping the shooter.
Unless there is something wrong with you, it is natural to be terrified in those situations… even cops. That doesn’t mean your fear paralyzes you. That is why consistent training is needed of law enforcement to make sure that you can face those incidents where most civilians would be running in the opposite direction.
Sometimes good guys with guns stop bad guys with guns such as in an Indiana mall. But usually in these situations the bad guys are not stopped as soon as they should be. It doesn’t matter how many trained good guys there are with guns. A little common sense regarding the regulation of weapons of war is needed so that not so many of these incidents happen.
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GET THE WORD OUT
Friends and Neighbors of Martin County is 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 772-341-7455 (c) Email: 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)
