MILT THOMAS

This is the only contest involving a seat on the Board of County Commissioners. The two candidates are incumbent Joe Flescher and challenger Althea McKenzie. They were both asked for their positions on the key issues facing voters countywide and in the district, which encompasses primarily northern Indian River County.

1. Oslo Road Boat Ramp (this issue was taken off the table at the October 21 County Commission meeting, where a decision was postponed for three to five years. McKenzie was interviewed before that date but Flescher’s position was unclear until the actual vote)

McKenzie: This is such a contentious issue with almost unanimous opposition by scientists, environmentalists and voters. I am disappointed the county is not working with the people who are opposed to it. I am personally in favor of the ramp so regular Joes can have an outlet to the river. I approve of paving, but not with asphalt. Shell rock would be more suitable.

Flescher: The Oslo Road boat ramp has been an issue for at least seven years and when it first came up it was strictly about recreation. The emphasis on lagoon health we have today did not exist so formidably back then. But as more and more concerns emerged and I became more educated on the issues, it finally became apparent that we need more time to study the lagoon’s health issues in terms of changes we are already implementing. Dr. David Cox summed it up by saying this project was a want, not a need. So I agreed with postponing it.

2. The Lagoon

McKenzie: this is the number one issue in all counties bordering the Indian River Lagoon, but there doesn’t appear to be any coordinated effort to address it. We need to understand how much can we accomplish working alone, and assuming working together would be the best approach, what must we do to elicit cooperation among the counties.

Flescher: We are already addressing the Lagoon issues, beginning in 2008. This year I spearheaded the oyster reef project and result are already beyond our expectations. The fertilizer ordinance should have an impact but it will take time to determine what impact. Basically, we still don’t know for sure all the reasons our Lagoon is in such bad shape. We must deal with what we know and as our knowledge grows, we can do more.

3. All Aboard Florida

McKenzie: the affected towns were all built around the train tracks, which came first. You can’t just  expand the tracks and put in more trains in that same space. The rail system should swing west and then future development will also occur around it. When you go to the major markets like Fort Lauderdale and south they built the infrastructure to handle this expanded usage. I can see real problems when you have two tracks, two passenger trains running in opposite directions and then a freight train. Who must pull over to let the others pass? We have more railroad bridges over water than any other part of the route.

Flescher: This was first presented as passenger rail service, and high speed wasn’t emphasized then, the entire plan has changed so many times we withdrew our original endorsed the project unanimously, now we are opposed unanimously. We have no direct benefit from this, but we have said safety of our citizens is the paramount concern and that means the safest upgrades possible, with them paying to install them.

4. Electric issue

McKenzie: This has become a polarizing, political issue with the consumer being most hurt. None of the candidates are communicating clear and honest information about what can be done about it.

Flescher: This is another seven-year issue. Vero Electric rates are a burden on businesses and homeowners alike. The decision to negotiate better rates with the OUC does make it more reasonable and a step in the right direction, but I still believe the best option is selling to FPL. All the parties will get to discuss it at the November 28 public meeting with Indian River Shores, Vero beach city council and the county commission.

5. Gifford (Flescher represents Gifford currently on the Commission and McKenzie, a Gifford civic activist, is challenging him.)

McKenzie: The Gifford Neighborhood Plan is finally off the shelf, but there is no funding for it. The population in Gifford is underserved by the county. Even if it takes four years to complete the 45^th Street improvements as planned, people will be happy just to see progress.

Flescher: We have made improvements to the infrastructure in many cases as it is brought to our attention. The Gifford Neighborhood Plan sets specific goals and dates, but under current financial circumstances we are limited in how much we can do at one time. As the economy improves and more funding becomes available, we can move up the schedule to accomplish our Gifford Neighborhood Plan goals.