INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – County commissioners are expected to get an update on the status of the beach replenishment project today and transfer 18 acres of land to the Indian River County School Board for future use.
Commissioners are meeting at 9 a.m. to also consider designating an area near the main landfill a “brownfield” so a potential bio-energy company could get state funding through special incentives. INEOS New Planet BioEnergy is asking the county to name the former Ocean Spray site, where the company is looking to move in, a brownfield site because there are incentives available to businesses that have not yet moved into a designated brownfield area.
The bio-energy firm has a contract to purchase the property but the sale has not be finalized.
Brownfields are designated areas of perceived or real contamination that may be harmful to the environment or human health. Property owners in such areas can receive state funding to help develop or redevelop the area and clean up contamination.
On Tuesday, commissioners are also expected to transfer over 18 acres of land to the school board for a future elementary school site.
The property came from the Millstone Landing community, whose developers carved out the site for a potential school or park land.
The land, located at 17th Street SW and 35th Avenue SW in south county, is to be developed within the next 20 years as an elementary school. If the school district does not do so, the property will revert back to the county, which would leave the land undeveloped as a park or open green space.
Nearly 30 days into the beach renourishment project, commissioners will receive an update from staff on how the project is progressing and whether the contractor is running on schedule.
Staff members may also give commissioners an update on how negotiations are going with the contractor, Ranger Construction, over a more than $500,000 change order the company requested a month ago.
The Board of County Commissioners meets at the County Administration Complex, Building A, 1801 27th St., Vero Beach.
