Together, cites can better represent the county’s interests on regional Lagoon Council
COMMENTARY
“Besides, the County Commission can work through Tim Zorc’s shadow group, the Indian River Lagoon ‘Coalition,’ set up by Zorc, largely to circumvent Florida’s open government laws.”
MARK SCHUMANN
Word on the street is at least one local Lagoon activist is working with representatives of Fellsmere, Sebastian, Indian River Shores and Vero Beach on a plan that would enable those cities, together, to take the “Republic” of Indian River County’s place on the new Indian River Lagoon Council. The Lagoon Council is a regional effort to address the Lagoon crisis.
Led by Bob Solari, the County Commission last month voted 5-0 not to accept an invitation to join Brevard, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach Counties, along with the Saint John’s and South Florida Water Management Districts and the State Department of Environmental Protection, in a coordinated regional approach to addressing the Lagoon crisis.
The major sticking point, at least for Solari, was that the new Lagoon Council is not organized in a way that reflects his idea of representative democracy. Specifically, Solari does not want the three state agencies to have voting representation on the Lagoon Council. Never mind that those agencies are contributing 83 percent of $1.5 million in startup money.
The new Lagoon Council will also be applying for state and federal grants. Without a seat at the table, Indian River County could lose out on funding for projects such as converting septic tanks to sewer system.
Maybe it is for the best, though, that someone other than a member of the Indian River County Commission will be representing the county in what is to be a collaborative effort. After all, none of the current County Commissioners have shown much, if any, capacity for collaboration. Combat is more their style, which is why they refuse to work with others, choosing instead to govern Indian River County as if it were an independent republic. Besides, the County Commission can work through Tim Zorc’s shadow group, the Indian River Lagoon “Coalition,” set up by Zorc, largely to circumvent Florida’s open government laws.
Perhaps it will be best for the county, then, and more importantly for the Lagoon, to have the cities of Fellsmere, Sebastian, Indian River Shores and Vero Beach to take the lead.
As tempting as it may be to appeal to the County Commission to reconsider its decision, it is best to let sleeping dogs lie. After all, those five men don’t play well with others.
Indian River Guardian 
Even better idea is to erase the county government and let the cities each do what the county does.
People like Bob Solari who have an insular view of the world fail to recognize that issues affecting the lagoon are not able to be changed in one small aspect of a far larger problem. A field trip to Maryland might be beneficial for Bob Solari. It would give him insight into the fact that the Cheseapeake Bay has achieved great success despite the fact that it required working in a collaborative fashion. Improvements have been achieved in the largest estuary in the nation by working in a cooperative fashion with other states and the Federal government.
Bob Solari is a great example of 18th century thinking, unfortunately it is the 21st century.