I AM NOT HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I DISLIKE BRIGHTLINE COMING THROUGH OUR CITY.

THOUGH FOR THE PAST FOUR PLUS YEARS I HAVE BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC.

I AM ALSO NOT HERE TO TELL YOU THAT BRIGHTLINE HAS A BAD BUSINESS PLAN AND MODEL.

THOUGH I BELIEVE THAT IS AS TRUE TODAY AS IT WAS BEFORE.

THE COURTS, WASHINGTON AND TALLAHASSEE HAVE DEALT BLOW AFTER BLOW TO OUR EFFORTS TO STOP BRIGHTLINE.

THE TRACKS HAVE RUN THROUGH MARTIN COUNTY AND STUART FOR THE PAST 130 YEARS. FEC OWNS THOSE TRACKS AND THE STUART CITY COMMISSION IS NOT GOING TO PREVENT FEC OR BRIGHTLINE FROM USING THOSE TRACKS.

WISHFUL THINKING OR BURYING OUR HEADS IN THE SAND WILL NOT CHANGE THOSE FACTS.

WITH THAT SAID…WHAT SHOULD THE COMMISSION ULTIMATELY DO?

YOU SHOULD TREAT BRIGHLINE IN THIS INSTANCE AS YOU WOULD ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR DEVELOPER THAT WOULD COME BEFORE YOU.

WE IN STUART ARE KNOWN TO WORK WITH APPLICANTS TO ACHIEVE WIN-WINS. WE SHOULD NOT TREAT BRIGHTLINE DIFFERENTLY.

THE USE IS IN THE COMP PLAN AS HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED. LESS THAN A DECADE AGO WE WERE LOOKING FOR AMTRAK TO COME TO STUART.

BRIGHTLINE WILL BE PLACING ITS STATION ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT IT WILL PURCHASE.

THIS COMMISSION, STUART AND MARTIN COUNTY NEED TO PUT ITS FEELINGS ASIDE. WE DO NOT HAVE A TEST AS TO WHETHER A PRODUCT THAT A BUSINESS WILL SELL IS NEEDED OR WILL THAT PRODUCT BE PURCHASED. THAT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY.

BRIGHTLINE WILL CHANGE STUART. THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO BOTH MARTIN COUNTY AND THE CITY. THOSE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES WILL BE PAID BY TAXPAYERS WHETHER THERE IS A STATION OR NOT.

IF BRIGHTLINE IS COMING AND IT APPEARS THAT IT WILL THEN A STATION WILL BE A PLUS TO GO WITH THE NEGATIVES.

IF BRIGHTLINE IS STOPPED BY ANY PENDING LITIGATION, THAT WOULD BE FINE. THEY WON’T BUILD A STATION.

IF NOT STOPPED THEN WE WOULD BE POSTIONED TO HAVE A BENEFIT COME FROM WHAT WE DON’T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN.

THANK YOU