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Highlands Today

County tries to resolve Eagle Center snafu

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: June 3, 2009

SEBRING - Technicalities are holding up final approval of the comprehensive plan amendment for the Eagle National Security Training Center, but Highlands County commissioners directed their planning staff to continue its efforts.

County Development Services Director Mark Hill told the commissioners an agreement among Eagle, the county, and Florida Department of Community Affairs would dedicate 208 acres of the 7,700-acre expanse near the Glades County border to conservation management. Another agreement would limit the number of dwelling units on the land.

Background

A year ago, Seth Ellis of Lake County appeared before the commissioners, seeking expedited permitting of the war games training facility.

If Ellis gets his way, by 2010, Venus will become known as a live-fire training center for the military, Homeland Security, local police, even foreign governments.

Ellis, former president and CEO of ICx Digital Infrared Imaging and a partner in Gator Mezzanine Funds, which loans money to mid-sized companies, said the center would employ 250 to 1,000 people. He was presented to the commissioners by Lake Placid attorney Bert Harris Jr.

Ellis planned a live-fire zone on 2,000 acres at the center of the property. This probably would include bullets but not bombs, Ellis said. A third part of the agreement with the county would establish the development capacity and intensity limits.

Hill recommended that the county negotiate an agreement with DCA - the state's land planners - which does not include Objective 12.

Objective 12 protects the water that flows into Lake Okeechobee. Part of the proposed training center is in Fisheating Creek's watershed, which flows into Lake Okeechobee, Hill said. Another part drains the other direction, into Peace River.

"Are you saying DCA's objectives do or do not have merit?" Commission Chair Barbara Stewart asked.

"I'm saying we need to determine if they have merit and whether they apply to this county," Hill answered.

"Mr. Hill, you do realize Objective 12 is not negotiable?" Stewart insisted. Hill nodded.

"We agree with the staff and appreciate their efforts to move forward," said Harris.

Public records

Over the objections of Bill Youngman, the county adopted a new policy on charging for public records.

"You're making it so complicated to get (records)," Youngman said, "that people won't ask for them."

The new policy, County Attorney Ross MacBeth explained, allows the county to recover search fees and the time of its staff if the search takes longer than a few minutes. State law allows the county to charge 15 cents per copy, 20 cents for double-sided copies, and $1 for a certified copy.

By a 5-0 vote, the commissioners adopted MacBeth's proposal, which includes reimbursement for the wages, overtime, payroll taxes, worker's compensation insurance and other costs.

"The Legislature has determined that those costs will not be borne by the taxpayers, but by the person who requests the documents," MacBeth said.

Some searches for public records have taken several hours, MacBeth said. "We're really looking at requests which are extraordinary in nature."

Other items

Not on the agenda were two discussions led by new Commissioner Jeff Carlson, who asked fellow commissioners to suspend impact fees as of June 1. Asked for his advice, MacBeth said such a motion would violate the interlocal agreements with the schools and cities, which are also receiving impact fees. Carlson's motion failed, 3-2, with Commissioners Guy Maxcy voting in favor.

Carlson also informed commissioners he doesn't favor the libraries using money for entertainment, like multiple copies of bestselling novels and allowing users to play games on computers. Maxcy disagreed.

Highlands Today reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863-386-5828

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