Brevard Commission Tables Environmental Permitting For Landfill Site Near Osceola County

FEBRUARY 16, 2016 MEETING REPORT

CLASS I and CLASS III US-192 LANDFILL: UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED TO BE TABLED

Brevard County has been pursuing environmental permitting for a Class I & Class III landfill at the US-192 site near Osceola County. Mr. David S. Dee, Esquire, has been retained by the County since 2006 to assist with this pursuit.

On Tuesday it was requested that the Board authorize the Chair to execute an agreement with his law firm for legal services to be provided on behalf of Brevard County with regard to environmental law issues in Farmland Reserve vs. Brevard County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The FDEP issued one of the required permits, the landfill permit, in 2011.

A Notice of Intent to issue the Environmental Resource Permit was advertised last month, and Deseret Ranch (Farmland Reserve) has expressed intent to challenge the permit.

For those of you who may not already know, Deseret Ranch is a massive ranch in St. Cloud that has been raising primarily cattle and citrus for over 60 years. They currently raise over 42,500 cows that produce over 36,000 calves each year, and their ranch covers almost 300,000 acres of land.

Deseret has been leasing the land that is being considered for the landfill from the County for a number of years, and they have made it clear that they have some environmental concerns if a landfill does go on the property in the future.

The Board voted unanimously, after hearing many of the concerns, to table the item and bring it up for discussion at the March 31st Board of County Commissioners Workshop in an effort to re-examine long-term plans for landfill expansion in our area.

RECONSIDERATION OF ECO-TOUR VENDOR PERMIT AGREEMENT DENIED 4-1

At Tuesday’s Board Meeting it was requested that we reconsider the Eco-Tour Vendor Permit Agreement, which was originally approved by the Board on December 15, 2015.

Brevard County Parks have seen a substantial increase in the operation of commercial non-motorized watercraft eco-tours. Parks are often over-crowded beyond the park’s capacity, resulting in the hindrance of utilization of the park by local citizenry, and also posing a possible negative impact on wildlife and its habitat.

This increased popularity of commercial eco-tours throughout Brevard County prompted the need to establish an equitable procedure that offers eco-tourism opportunities for visitors and residents, ensuring that the citizens of Brevard County continue to have access to parks while endeavoring to have minimal impact on local wildlife and habitats.

After hearing the concerns from eco-tour guides as well as residents, I made a motion to support our Director of Parks and Recreation and his staff in their recommendations to equitably divide the time between eco-tours and our residents.

In the end the Board voted 4-1, with Commissioner Infantini opposed, to keep the permit process as-is.

SATELLITE HIGH SCHOOL AUTO TEAM RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

Satellite High School beat out four other schools in the state to participate in the Quaker State Motor Oil “Best In Class Challenge.”

The nationwide challenge calls for automotive students to customize a pre-owned car into a showroom-ready, creative representation of their school. There are only five schools in the entire country chosen to participate in this national competition.

A 2000 Chevy Impala was, valued at $3,000, was delivered to the school in a less-than-appealing condition in October, which had a struggling engine, a bare-bones interior, and a very worn exterior. The radio was stripped from the car, the headliner was sagging down, and the hood wouldn’t pop open.

Under the leadership of Auto Shop Instructor Randy Pitts, the team of 24 students had six weeks to revamp the car and rebuild it with a touch of school spirit on a budget of only $2,000.

The Satellite High Scorpions placed second in the overall national competition, which was judged by NASCAR drivers Paul Menard and Tommy Pike, owner of Tommy Pike Customs in South Carolina.

The team received a $1,500 AutoZone gift card to purchase materials for future auto tech projects. The Satellite High revamped Chevy sold for $6,000 at the Mecum Classic and Collector Car Auction in Austin, Texas, and eight students were there for the awards ceremony.

The earnings from the sale of the car will be put towards the auto tech program at the school.

On Tuesday the Board voted unanimously to congratulate the Satellite High School Auto Tech students and their enthusiastic instructor Mr. Randy Pitts on their success.

FUTURE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS

Tuesday March 1, 2016
9 a.m. – Commission Chambers, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way in Viera

Tuesday March 15, 2016
9 a.m. – Commission Chambers, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way in Viera

Tuesday March 29, 2016
9 a.m. – Commission Chambers, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way in Viera

If you would like to view the agenda, minutes, or video of past Board of County Commissioners Meetings, click here.

ABOUT CURT SMITH, Brevard County District 4 Commissioner

Smith was elected to the Brevard County Commission in November of 2014 with 63 percent of the vote. He ran as a fiscal conservative coming from the private sector with 40 years of small business, entrepreneurial experience. This was his first venture into the world of politics.

Smith and his wife Linda owned and operated a Maaco Autopainting franchise in Melbourne for almost 27 years before retiring at the end of 2013. He grew up in a little town in southern New Jersey on the Delaware River called Pennsville. This is where he developed his deep love of nature and for being on and in the water of the river he loved. He also credits this area, just south of Philadelphia, with his deep love of God and country. The Delaware Valley is often called the cradle of Liberty.

Smith has always been civic minded. Some of his many associations in Brevard County include Board of Directors of Friends of Sally’s House and Prevent as well as supporting Brevard Little League Teams, Habitat for Humanity, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Candlelighters, Animal Services, and supporting efforts to restore the Indian River Lagoon.

Curt and his wife Linda have been residents of Melbourne since 1986. They have one daughter and three grandchildren.

To contact Curt Smith e-mail D4.Commissioner@brevardcounty.us or call 321-633-2044.

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