MARK SCHUMANN

The new Indian River Lagoon Council, a regional effort to address the Lagoon crisis, held its first meeting today in Palm Bay. The group includes representatives from the Brevard, Saint Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach County Commissions and from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Saint John’s and South Florida Water Management Districts. The Indian River County Commission chose not to participate in the Lagoon Council, objecting to voting representation for the three state agencies. (See: Regional Lagoon Council proceeds without Indian River County)

Martin County Commissioner Ed Fielding as elected Chairman. Brevard County Commissioner Curt Smith will serve at Vice Chairman, and Chris Dzadovsky of the Saint Lucie County Commission was elected Secretary.

At its inaugural meeting, the members of the Lagoon Council expressed support for finding a way to enable the municipalities in Indian River County to fill the void left by the Indian River County Commission, but no decision was made.

The Council will meet every other Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the St. John’s River Management District offices, located at 525 Community College Parkway in Palm Bay.