Staurt’s CRA Has A Problem

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The area encompassing Stuart’s CRA (Community Redevelopment Area) is large for a city its size.

Not only is it large, it encompasses different neighborhoods with different economic and physical needs.  The CRA was meant to arrest blight and to bring economic development by investing tax funds collected within those areas in improvements such as infrastructure to enhance revitalization. Those are worthy goals and should be supported.

I believe Stuart has become complacent in how those funds are being used. Two agenda items from the last Community Redevelopment Board Meeting (CRB) are illustrative. In both instances, it seemed that staff could not wait to give away tax money for rather superfluous projects. The projects had the added benefit of being easy to administer for staff and requiring no imagination to put into effect.

The first was spending $277,000 to put a median on 3000 feet of Federal Highway from the Roosevelt Bridge to Northwest Baker Road in the northern part of the City. When I read the agenda item, the first thing I noticed was the following:

“The Community Redevelopment Agency allocated funding in the amount of $100,000 for the Federal Highway Gateway Beautification Project in the CRA Budget for FY 2019. The CRA contracted with engineering consultant Kimley-Horn to prepare landscape design for the Federal Highway Gateway Beautification Project.”

This project already exceeds what is in the budget by a substantial amount. It then goes on to state how the expenditure is broken down:

“Funding Source:
Total Project Cost – $277,179

  • Design Cost – $33,440 (under contract)
  • Estimated Construction Cost – $243,739”

Stuart has already spent a third of the budgeted amount of $100,000 on design. Then it will need another $244,000 to complete the medians and landscaping. However, not all funds are coming from the CRA:

“Funds to come from the following funding sources:

  • CRA – $143,739
  • City’s Tree Funds – $100,000”

In the spirit of finding the funds somehow, staff is tapping the Tree Fund which is what developers pay into when mitigation is needed for removing trees and not replacing them on site. If you notice the cost is still at $177,000 more than what was in the budget.

The rationale to do the project is to cut down on supposed accidents and foster a sense of neighborhood. This is a commercial corridor.

I am not saying it isn’t something that should be done. Many things should be done. It is a matter of spending limited tax resources to achieve the best outcomes. But if this is a City priority, then something is wrong. And I mean very wrong.

The second item was allocating funds to businesses within the CRA using the Business Improvement Reimbursement Program. This is where businesses within the CRA can apply for up to $10,000 of matching funds to pay for the costs of exterior improvements. The purpose is to allow business owners in “blighted” areas the funds necessary to improve their facades.

According to the agenda item, the last project was:

“On January 28, 2019, the CRB/CRA approved an application for the replacement of obsolete and deteriorated windows at the Geary Professional Building in the amount of $10,000.  This project was completed.”

This building is on East Ocean across from the Court House.

The grant requests this time included Luna’s for a new awning and Colorado Inn for new windows. The Inn did not receive the grant because no one was present. This is not a criticism of any business owner that takes advantage of a lawful program. I would do the same thing.

But is that the purpose for the use of tax dollars. You are taking money from neighboring commercial owners and residents to give to other owners and residents? One of the recipients said that he was so glad he had met the CRA administrator on the street so he could be told of the program.

Both these examples show the un-seriousness of how the CRA program is administered. There doesn’t seem to be an objective; but, rather, just people checking boxes. The tram no longer has a funding source. It will be $90,000 short. I would argue that a better way of spending Tax Increment Financing (TIF)dollars is the continuation of the tram using those dollars while a permanent solution to the shortfall is found.

I would argue that TIF should be used to make sure that sewer to septic is advanced within the CRA. Athletic and other projects are advanced at Stuart’s Community Center. That actual infrastructure is built above and below ground. Blighted properties purchased, rehabbed and then sold back to the private sector. I can think of a multitude of uses that would be more important and more within CRA guidelines than giving businesses funds and putting in landscaped medians on state roads.

Implementing these things would require a real plan…not something that is drawn up to check a box. This would take a vision not just lackadaisically going from project to project. Where are the Commission and City Manager in this? Government too often does the easy thing. I believe it does so because it is not their money. The only skin they have in the game is the next election or to hang on until retirement.

Our City deserves better than that!

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding Your Real Estate Tax Bill

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This was published as part of a series for the Martin County Taxpayers Association. To see more go to: https://mctaxpayers.org/

Owners of property in Martin County receive a real estate tax bill. When we examine the bills we receive, we care most about the total amount we are obligated to pay. The bill itself has many different lines that distinguish the component amounts that create the total tax for each property. This article will explain those different lines that are enumerated on your current property tax bill.

Every tax bill, regardless of where you live within Martin County, has the County’s General Fund line. The millage rate is currently 6.5971. The tax collected in the General Fund goes to pay the operating budget for that portion of government such as the Sheriff, Administration, and Commission. These are governmental functions that service the entire County whether you live in Hobe Sound, Stuart, or Jensen Beach.

In addition, unincorporated Martin County has what are known as Municipal Service Taxing Units (MSTU). There is one for Fire/Rescue at 2.6319 mills, the second is Parks & Recreation at .1615 mills, and the third Stormwater & Roads with a .2935 millage rate. The reason they are only charged in the unincorporated areas is because incorporated cities, such as Stuart, provide those services within their boundaries and those properties are charged for those functions through the municipality.

Further, there can be a Commission District millage rate. The amounts that are raised in the District through that tax are used at the discretion of the Commissioner within those districts. Municipalities that are within a Commissioner’s District are not included in these taxing districts. The tax only is applied to the unincorporated areas. Therefore, those discretionary funds cannot be spent within the municipality’s borders. Currently, Commission Districts 1, 3, and 5 have this discretionary millage.

There are 4 millage rates for the Martin County School District. School districts in Florida must set their rates for their General and Capital Funds according to what rate is prescribed by Tallahassee. The state also will allow an additional amount, known as a discretionary rate, for the District’s General Fund. Florida will further permit the School District to ask the voters for approval of an additional half mill. Last year, Martin County voters approved that amount in a referendum for 4 years.

On the 2018 tax bill the School Board rates were the following:

General Fund: 4.1140

Discretionary Fund: .7480

Capital Outlay: 1.500

Voter Approved: .5000

The School Board further received a ½ cent sales tax increase for capital expenditures in a second voter-approved referendum that is independent of the millage rates and will be collected for a term of 7 years.

If you live within one of the municipalities, there is an additional millage rate which is levied by the municipality’s governing board (e.g., the Stuart Commission). Theoretically, the reason to incorporate is to have additional governmental services not provided by the County. The rates for the municipalities are:

City of Stuart: 4.75 plus a debt service rate of .2462

Town of Jupiter Island: combined rate of 3.7621

Town of Ocean Breeze: 5.475

Town of Sewall’s Point: 2.87

Town of Indiantown: 4.2623

The City of Stuart also has a 2-tier fire fee. The fire fee goes to maintaining the Fire/Rescue Department. The minimum paid by every property owner in the City regardless of assessed value is $108.35 per parcel. The second tier is determined by the assessed value of the parcel.

There are other agencies that also tax property: The Children’s Services Council at a rate of .3618, the Florida Inland Navigation District at a rate of .0320, and finally, the South Florida Water Management District at a rate of .2936.

As you can see, your real estate tax bill has many component parts encompassing several taxing districts. In order to give you a better understanding of how much overall tax is paid per area see the charts below. Remember that each mill levied equals $1 on every $1000 of assessed valuation. Your individual tax bills may include exemption amounts on your assessed valuation. Assessed Valuation and exemptions will be discussed in the next article in this series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drainage Districts
(Rate is per Acre) Pal-Mar Water Control District$22.00

Hobe St. Lucie Unit 1$75.16

Hobe St. Lucie Unit 2$75.75

Hobe St. Lucie Unit 3$78.37

Hobe St. Lucie Unit 4$123.61

Hobe St. Lucie Unit 5$5.78

Troup-Indiantown Water Mgmt. Dist.$35.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Duties of Citizenship

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Most of us have relatively little interaction with city or county governments. That is until we are in trouble and need police or fire/rescue, need a permit of some sort, or want to make a complaint. In some ways, it is too bad one of those situations will be our introduction to city hall or the county administration building.

We are all responsible for government performance. We cannot treat local government services as we would shopping in a store or as if we were consulting an attorney. For government to be at its best, every citizen should be ready to contribute time and energy to make it work.

We should view being a citizen as an active responsibility. Involvement is key to having good government. If we allow our municipality and county to govern without our input, we are asking for a bad outcome. Citizens need to take advantage of the opportunities afforded for civic involvement such as serving on community boards and other volunteer opportunities.

If citizens are not involved, mistrust begins to develop between government employees and the people they are there to serve. Residents have a civic responsibility to be part of government’s workings. I know that only a few will be able to devote hours to being involved but taking one of the citizen’s academies (see links below) offered will open your eyes to how your government operates.

We can’t have good government without everyone being part of the government. Go to your local council or commission meeting and see how you are being represented. How can you vote to keep someone in a job if you have no idea what they are doing in your name? In the larger governments, that Council Member or Commissioner is being paid a salary and receiving benefits such as medical and pension. Like any employee, they are not anxious to lose their jobs and citizens are the ones those employees report to.

Ask questions of staff and elected officials. Make sure that they understand what is coming before them. From my own experience, I can tell when an elected official or appointed board member has not looked at the agenda package that they are supposedly voting upon at that meeting. The public should not let those acting in our name off the hook for this inattention.

But, when staff, elected officials, or appointed board members are not prepared and do not take their positions seriously, our governments run much less efficiently and our taxes increase. It is the citizens that allow the carelessness and inattention to detail to continue, and then those same citizens whine about the result. In order to hold people accountable, you must have some understanding about how and what those people are supposed to accomplish. That takes involvement and knowledge.

It is incumbent on all citizens to spend an hour or two monitoring and understanding government. If you have more time, you can volunteer. Meet with your elected officials and question their decisions and understand their motives. It probably is a bad sign if a Commissioner doesn’t want to schedule an appointment with you, the constituent. The more you know, the less you will be fooled.

 

 

Here are links to two citizen academies. Stuart Police Department also has one.

https://www.martin.fl.us/CARES

http://www.sheriff.martin.fl.us/citizens-academy.html

 

Sarah’s Trial

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From the April 20th Friends & Neighbors Newsletter. To subscribe to your free subscription send email to thomasfcampenni@gmail.com

 

SARAH’S TRIAL

 

Sarah Heard’s trial ended in an acquittal on all charges.

 

I am of mixed feelings about it. I am happy that she will remain on the Commission. If found guilty, she could have been removed by Governor DeSantis. Though he would have been on stronger ethical grounds than his other removals, I still would have thought that removal was a mistake. Heard was just re-elected even with the charges and trial pending. It is undeniable that the voters had spoken.

 

More importantly, she was found not guilty. The jurors in the case voted that she had not violated the public records laws as charged. Whether you agree or not with the verdict the matter is now closed. It is time, at least in this instance with Heard, that all of Martin County moves on.

 

Commissioner Heard is a dedicated elected official. She thoroughly reads the agenda packet and understands the issues. When it comes to watching taxpayer dollars, no other Martin County Commissioner comes close to scrutinizing the bottom line like Heard. I don’t agree with her being consistently against any new projects, but, at times, she brings up points that should be investigated and discussed.

 

Unfortunately, because of her opposition to almost all new development, she doesn’t have the influence she should. Many development people consider her a “no” vote, so they do not try to change her mind. She might be able to get something of importance to her with these projects if her vote wasn’t so predictable.

 

For the next 3 plus years, Sarah Heard will be a County Commissioner. She may even be there longer if she runs again and is re-elected. There are no term limits for Commissioners which is something that should be changed. I know she will continue to be a fiscal conservative. I just hope she is more balanced in her outlook on development projects especially in the CRAs and within the USB.

And So It Begins (From The Martin County Taxpayers Association

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Here is a piece I wrote for the Taxpayers Association. To read more go to:  https://mctaxpayers.org/articles-2/

The governments of Martin County are beginning their budget processes for the upcoming fiscal year.

As they begin to put together their operating, capital improvement plan, and enterprise fund budgets, the public will see that there will be increases in various taxes and fees.  It is a bit early to tell where and how these increases will manifest themselves. Given the state of the various governments finances and the services they will need to provide, it is hard not to believe that taxes will be higher in the coming year.

The Martin County Taxpayers Association has begun analyzing and gathering information regarding the upcoming budget year for the various governments of the County. It is important that the individual taxpayer understands why increases will be proposed and whether they are justified. The Taxpayers Association can analyze the numbers, but it isn’t always easy to know whether a proposed project is necessary. Further, many times, we do not have the expertise to know whether a less expensive alternative exists.

That is why having more citizen volunteers that can delve into the minutia of a subject is necessary.  For example, if you currently or in a former life worked for a road construction company, perhaps you could look at a proposed road improvement and help us point out a less expensive alternative. As in the private sector, government needs to evolve and improve the way it provides services to their clients, the taxpayers.

The Martin County Taxpayers Association is a volunteer organization that can only be as good as the members willing to help in this work. While we have a dedicated board, the association can always use more help in our legislative, observation and membership committees.

Each resident and citizen is a consumer of government services. Some may take advantage of one service more than other residents (e.g., the library system).  If that library user thinks there is a way to provide all or part of the library services in a more cost-effective way, we would welcome an opportunity to partner with him/her to help determine where potential savings or efficiencies exist. If need be, we could show an interested volunteer where in the budget that item is listed. Our organization is an entirely volunteer group, so our strength comes from having a diversity of expertise and a willingness to use that expertise for the benefit of all taxpayers.

This organization believes that we are a partner with elected officials and their staffs to help provide better government for as low a cost as possible. We are not an anti-tax organization but rather a smart tax organization. Every dollar collected from the taxpayers should be used to buy the best level of service. This is what the citizens of the County deserve.

 

All Laws & Regulation Are Not Needed

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When someone is in government as an elected official, the official develops a tendency to believe that every problem can be solved by passing a law or ordinance. These actions make everyone feel as if they have accomplished something. Have they really done so?

This tendency of elected officials to solve every problem through legislation is natural for them. That is their tool and, therefore, using it is what they come to know. Looking in hindsight, I don’t believe I was any different when I was an elected official.

Every societal problem cannot be solved this way.

I see this attitude by elected officials over and over: The inability of a commissioner to accept his or her very limited practical scope of authority. By this I mean that, yes, commissioners have the legal authority to pass or change ordinances, but should it be exercised in this way and to such an extent?

Can local government pass an ordinance mandating that no tree can be cut down in a person’s yard without a permit? In Florida today, the answer is yes. However, ordinances such as that have led to the Legislature trying to pass bills to pre-empt that authority from local governments.

There are times that local governments should pass ordinances to curtail egregious behavior within their jurisdictions. If your town is in a resort area, there may be a justifiable reason to regulate short-term rentals within your community.

Often local regulation does not hinge on a need as much as a complaint over a single incident. In Stuart, the entire Commission and City staff have been thrown into a tizzy over a duplex owner that erected a front yard 6-foot fence. To my knowledge, there has never been another incident regarding front yard fences.

There have been complaints from other neighbors on this block of duplexes. Having seen the fence, I don’t blame the residents for their anger. But, because of this one incident, a “Zoning in Progress” has been passed by the Commission. This means that any new front yard fence permits in the entire City will be decided at the discretion of the Development Director until a new ordinance is passed.

Now, thousands of tax dollars are being spent on countless hours of staff time to rewrite the code because of this one incident. The original culprit will still be there because it was grandfathered under the old code. What the Board should do is prohibit front yard fences in this two-block neighborhood of attached homes and leave the rest of Stuart under the existing regulations.

In government, this is not an isolated incident. This is an example of regulation which is not “smart.” You couldn’t call it over regulation because a problem in a narrow section of Stuart does exist. But what the Commission is doing by using this one incident is changing a regulation that has worked for the past half-century. Many people in neighborhoods such as mine have or will want a fence to make sure their dog or kid can’t leave the front yard. They may find they can’t or will be limited to how high or of what material the fence can be.

This unneeded regulation is what gives the Legislature the plausible argument of pre-empting local governments from passing other regulations which are actually needed.

The Legislature is not immune to using the same rationale, only on a statewide basis. It occurs when the Legislator, a friend or one constituent runs into a local ordinance that prevents him or her from doing something. The one thing all politicians have in common, whether on a state or local level, is their ability to believe that all problems have a legislative solution.

Every elected official should not jump to the conclusion that a law passed will equate to a problem solved. In most cases, a smart lawyer or wily citizen will find a way to get around that prohibition. The answer to every problem, or even most problems, cannot be solved by legislation or regulation.

TCCA Enrollment Figures

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Projected Student Enrollment
Parent-selected Current School & 2019-2020 Grade Level of Students in Registration Process
3/28/2019
Total Grade level 2019-2020
  # Students K 1 2 3 4 5 6
ABC Montessori 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
All Saints Catholic School 12 1 2 5 0 2 0 2
ALLAPATTAH FLATS K-8 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Apple Tree Academy 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0
Barnabas Christian Academy 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
BESSEY CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 30 0 0 5 5 3 7 10
Bethel Lutheran Preschool 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bridges Montessori 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 0
CITRUS GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 40 1 3 6 9 7 4 10
Community Christian Academy 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
CRYSTAL LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 44 1 7 6 6 9 6 9
DAVID FAIRCHILD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
DESOTO TRAIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Education Station 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
FAU/SLCSD PALM POINTE RESEARCH SCHOOL 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
FELIX A WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 25 1 2 7 6 2 6 1
First Baptist Christian School 7 1 1 1 2 0 1 1
First Step Learning Center 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
First United Methodist Preschool 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
For the Love of Learning 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
Franklin Academy Palm Beach Gardens 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
GALATAS ELEMENTARY 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Grace Place Preschool 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
High Hopes Preschool 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
HOBE SOUND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 30 1 6 8 5 3 4 3
Homeschool 24 1 5 3 5 6 2 2
IMAGINE SCHOOL AT FT. LAUDERDALE 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Indian River Acadamy 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
J.D. Parker Elementary 5 0 0 0 1 2 1 1
JENSEN BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 10 1 1 2 0 2 0 4
Jupiter Christian School 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
JUPITER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
JUPITER FARMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
Liberty Baptist 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
MARIPOSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Mary Mother of Light 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mason Classical Academy 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Montessori Schools (Applicant Address Determines Program Location) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Morningside Christian Academy 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0
NORTHPORT ELEMENTARY 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Oak Hammock K-8 School 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Other 98 43 6 10 7 9 11 12
PALM CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 28 2 4 3 6 2 3 8
Pebblestone Academy 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
PINEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 21 0 3 5 3 4 4 2
PORT SALERNO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 12 0 2 1 2 3 4 0
REDEEMER LUTHERAN SCHOOL 11 3 0 1 2 2 1 2
RENAISSANCE CHARTER SCHOOL OF ST. LUCIE 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Riverside Montessori 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Saint Lucie West K-8 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
SEA WIND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 37 0 5 7 8 9 4 4
St. Clare Catholic School 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL 6 0 0 0 2 0 3 1
Sun Grove Montessori 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
Sunlight christian academy 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
Temple Beit HaYam 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
The  YMCA  of the Treasure Coast 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
The Pine School 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 1
TIMBER TRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
TROPICAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Veritas Classical School Jupiter 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
VILLAGE GREEN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SCHOOL 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Weiss School 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
YMCA YOUNG LEADERS ACADEMY 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Unknown 218 45 30 33 31 30 21 28
TOTAL 740 134 91 109 111 103 85 107

Parks & the Public

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Are having parks important? Of course, they are!

The more people and denser the area you live in, the more important parks become. Green spaces in big cities are indispensable to the residents living there. Most people who think of New York City parks have scenes of Central Park in Manhattan or Prospect Park in Brooklyn in their minds.

The vast majority of people that live in New York don’t use those two parks. New Yorkers could go years between visits. Most residents, especially kids, use the playgrounds that dot every neighborhood in the city. A quick google search reveals that there are 1700 parks in New York City.

Stuart’s density is much lower than probably 95% of New York’s neighborhoods. Most residents have some sort of open space such as yards or private common space around their homes. Stuart has a panoply of different open areas, such as 52- acre Haney Preserve, Memorial Park, Kiwanis Park, and a number of vest pocket street-end parks.

The recent hubbub about Sailfish Ball-fields and the emotions surrounding it piqued my curiosity as to the amount of use these public areas have. I decided to look at the use that Stuart parks were getting and who was using them. I have been going at different times of the day and on different days of the week to see how many people are actually taking advantage of these fabulous open spaces.

Here is what this very unscientific study found:

Memorial Park, the crown jewel of our park system, had no one at all most of the times I visited. The exception is the tennis courts, which are used. Several times in the past few weeks I strolled the park area and was completely alone in my thoughts. What Memorial Park has become is a great event space for something like ArtsFest or a jumping off point for various races.

Flagler Park, which is next to City Hall, had strollers and occasionally some kids on the courts playing ball. Shepard’s Park was the recipient of a FIND grant a few years ago that allowed the City to invest in new playground equipment and a sun shade. During several visits, I never observed any kids playing on the equipment, and, in fact, the only users of the park at all were several homeless people around the picnic tables.

I have also visited Smith-Turner Park and Martin Luther King Park where, on one occasion at each, I saw a single person sitting on the park table. There was use of the Stuart Rec Center playground on 10th Street but only as part of the programs that are offered there by the City. No children were there after hours. There was also use of the fields at Guy Davis, but again it was part of the city recreation program. Unless there was an organized game or practice, the ball-fields at Sailfish were empty.

The two parks that had activity were Kiwanis Park where I always saw children and their parents. The Dog Park on Central Parkway had a few dogs on two occasions and on the third visit there were at least 20 dogs and their owners. No one was ever at Haney Preserve or Mangrove Park, which was recently created on Palm City Road.

I didn’t survey the smaller parks such as Scott or the Hospital. Nor did I drive around looking at the street-end parks like the one next to my house. Unfortunately, the one next to my house is frequently used after dark and not used as intended.

I also did a highly unscientific survey of Stuart residents. Each believes that the parks are an asset and couldn’t imagine the City without the parks. When I asked when the last time that anyone went to a park, not one said that they could remember outside of a special event such as July 4th or Sunday at the stage downtown.

Like so many things in government, we want what we want regardless of whether we can afford to have it. Florida, and especially local cities, are unique in how government pays for things. There is no income tax (thankfully), but that means people who have income are not proportionately charged for services such as parks. Our real estate tax system is only partially based on the value of a property. With all the exemptions, homestead and caps, it is a broken system that is fast turning into a local government crisis.

For the vast majority of Stuart and Florida residents, there is no relationship to what amenities cost and how government pays for them. This is unfortunate because if every person paid his/her fair share of taxes, then parks or police or whether even to have a water amusement park would totally be citizen driven. But it is not.

The next time you hear elected officials pandering to their constituents because they want something, we need to ask how it should be paid for. It is no different than when you decide how to pay for your groceries or electric bill. It is irresponsible of politicians to continue to spend without a dedicated source of payment, but it is also irresponsible of you, the voter, to allow it.

 

Indiantown First State of the Village Address

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Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I would like to welcome everyone this evening to the Village of Indiantown’s first State of the Village address.

One short year ago in 2018 our very first Council election was held on March 13th with Indiantown’s first Council Meeting at Indiantown Middle School on March 21st.  That council meeting was the culmination of months of diligence and work of a transition team that’s purpose was to plan the first steps needed of getting the council up and running. To them and the  Village staff of Interim Attorney Paul Nicoletti, Interim Manager Teresa Lamar-Sarno, Clerk Sherry White, Administrative Assistant Kayla Toler, Building Tech Miriam Sanabria and Planning Consultant Bonnie Landry, who have served Indiantown in its first month’s, we say thank you for your work on behalf of our community.

In this year the Village Council has accomplished many firsts, one of which was to successfully complete the hiring process for Village Attorney in August with the selection of the Vose Law Firm and Wade Vose.  Wade has proven to be a talented expert that dispenses legal opinions in a very concise and thorough manner while having what is best for Indiantown at the heart of it all.  Most recently we completed the hiring process for an experienced full-time Village Manager with the hiring of Mr. Howard Brown.  When Mr. Brown started two short months ago he had to hit the ground running.  His experience and professional work history has prepared him to understand where we are in our growth process and to knowledgeably use his abilities to move the Village forward along the path set by the Village Council.  At the urging of Mr. Brown we have adopted a strategic approach to chart that path and measure our progress.  We now have a clear “North star” to drive the most important things that will strengthen and grow Indiantown, especially in the next three years. We named it “Contract with the Community” so it’s clear what we are working hard to accomplish.

In our meetings, workshops and listening sessions your Council has heard the community’s voice, residents and businesses alike, and unanimously adopted an overall vision of our strengths and positive assets.  They include-

-a sense of community with diverse community cohesion

-a commitment to learning and education

-infrastructure

-an ideal business location, transportation connected

-outdoor activity opportunities

And the list can go on and on.

Along with the vision, our adopted mission is: “enabling economic prosperity and new business while building community pride and cohesion through hands-on self-governance.”  As Indiantown celebrated that self governance in our first year of Home Rule in 2018, Home Rule was being recognized and celebrated State wide on its 50th Anniversary. We are the poster child for Home Rule. We as a Council along with all of the Indiantown Community is now tasked to protect this hard-won privilege by being diligent in our advocacy against the continued efforts to a erode our Home Rule rights and privileges.

With Home Rule intact, we are clearly responsible for our village.  We are now beginning to gain traction and are doing and accomplishing not just planning.  These accomplishments include-

BUILDING DEPT. – we now have a building inspection program established and permits are being pulled here in Indiantown. There have been a number of permits issued by the Village.  We have a part-time permit technician on hand and a contract building inspection and plan check firm responsible for reviewing building plans and conducting life-safety inspections of new and existing development.  Ms. Miriam Sanabria is a key and central employee to delivering these services. Miriam is here to help residents with the process.  Inspections are being done quicker and response times are better for follow up.

CODE ENFORCEMENT– your Council adopted Codes and adjusted them after community listening sessions and opinion polling to reflect the resident’s opinions according to their input.  Code Enforcement has been on a part-time basis but after staff review Code Enforcement will be moving to a full time position.  On April 25, 2019 the Village Council will interview and select a Special Magistrate.  A Code Enforcement Special Magistrate acts as Judge for alleged code violators.  It is essential that we have this system in place to carry out an effective code compliance program.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – we are actively promoting and encouraging economic development in several ways.  We have partnered with the Martin County Business Development Board to offer the Business Accelerator Program. Indiantown has been designated a Business Opportunity Zone.  The Village applied for and was awarded a Department of Economic Development Grant which will produce an Economic Strategic Plan by May. Work continues on the Comprehensive Plan and the Village will soon be soliciting proposals for a firm to draft Land Development Regulations.

ROADS – at this past February 14th‘s Council meeting Bowman Consulting gave the Pavement Condition Evaluation and Maintenance Recommendation Presentation. The study recommended maintenance to prolong the life of streets throughout the Village, so that study was for maintenance and not repair of potholes specifically.  With our current pressing road issues Bowman Consulting was tasked to look at several problem areas in and around the Village.  We put together a bid and received several bidders and Mancil’s was the lowest best bid.  They will start repairing roads any day now.   To bring the immediate need together with long term maintenance, our plan of action, which is currently being carried out, is to hire a Village Engineer (contract or in-house expert) to manage temporary and permanent street repair and maintenance activities throughout the Village

Folks we are engaged in a marathon, not a sprint.   We have been tasked with creating a new municipality and it is a process.  This process is able to gain traction and get rolling now that funds are becoming available.  An amazing amount has been accomplished considering that the Village just received in January the first installment of our Ad Valorem tax income, which makes up the bulk of the Village Budget’s income. So let me thank everyone for your patience during this process and your continued understanding and willingness to work together as we move forward in this process.

So in closing, let us stop and consider the lowly duck.  If you have ever watched a duck on a pond they look so serene and calm sitting on the water.  They look so peaceful until you look beneath the surface and see their feet paddling and moving as fast as they can go working against the current just to keep in that spot. We are that duck on the water. It may look like to the casual observer that not much is going on but when you look beneath that surface appearance you realize and know the work that’s being done and the things that are being accomplished.  So please help us in the process by continuing to be engaged.  Continue to come to Council meetings.  Continue to become informed of what is happening and going on.  Continue to voice your opinions and suggestions to every one of your Council members.   Continue to call the Village office with questions and concerns. We need everyone going in the same direction, together, to move forward.

Ladies and gentlemen I believe because of the process, that the Village of Indiantown is healthy and has an amazing outlook.  We are on our way to a bright future because someday that lowly duck will turn into a swan that the whole world will sit up and take notice of.

Thank you.