INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — With no discussion and no public comment, the Indian River County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a requested 5-acre annexation from the City of Fellsmere.
Vice Mayor Joel Tyson and City Manager Jason Nunemaker were in the audience but did not speak to the issue.
Since mid-year, the City of Fellsmere has worked with the County to take over the responsibility of what is referred to as the Lincoln Park neighborhood – a two-street small, lot development that has approximately a half-dozen occupied homes.
With the Commission’s approval, the City of Fellsmere will now have the homes on 100th Lane and 100th Place on the City’s tax rolls and will provide municipal services to those properties, including police service.
Dec. 1, 9:23 a.m.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – A request six months in the making will be decided Tuesday morning when the Indian River County Board of Commissioners votes on a proposed annexation agreement with the City of Fellsmere.
Fellsmere leaders have petitioned Commissioners to approve an interlocal agreement that would allow Fellsmere to take responsibility for a 5-acre enclave just near the Hall Carter James community currently consisting of about a half-dozen homes.
When first approached with the suggestion, Commissioners expressed support and directed staff to work with Fellsmere to draft the agreement.
The Fellsmere City Council approved the interlocal agreement at its Nov. 20 meeting. If the County Commission approves the agreement, the transfer of responsibility would go into effect immediately.
Fellsmere City Manager Jason Nunemaker has consistently raised concerns about various, chronic issues in what is known as the Lincoln Park enclave. Such concerns include prostitution, drugs and illegal dumping, as well as water quality given the narrow, 40-foot wide lots do not adequately provide separation between wells and septic.
The City of Fellsmere plans to run a water line down 100th Lane and 100th Place to provide water service to those residents who connect. They won’t be forced to connect to the service until such time as the property experiences a well or septic tank failure.
The City has maintained that if it were to take responsibility for Lincoln Park, it would have the authority to clean up the rights of way, clearing out exotic trees and plants. Doing so would open the lines of sight, making the properties easier to monitor from a public safety standpoint.