INDIAN RIVER SHORES — Sebastian Mayor Richard Gillmor found himself defending the fledgling Indian River Lagoon Council to members of the Indian River Shores Town Council Thursday when he asked them to join other cities in taking part in the group.
Gillmor has been making the circuit of elected board meetings to gather support and funds to give the municipalities of Indian River County a voting spot on the board of the new nonprofit organization.
The Board of County Commissioners rejected the opportunity to join the other four counties along the lagoon on the council’s Board. Commissioners raised concerns over the lack of planning, financial information, mission and project details and the fact that the other members would not agree to a sunset date for the program.
Gillmor suggested to the Shores that local projects would not get much backing if Indian River County does not take part, at least by way of its municipalities.
“If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu,” Gillmor told the Council.
But the Shores officials seemed to echo concerns raised by Commissioner Bob Solari that the council was another layer of bureaucracy and that it would be controlled primarily by paid staff and by the three government entities — Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St. Johns River Water Management District and South Florida Water Management District — which combined wield a total of three of the current seven votes.
The cities of Indian River County could, combined, make an eighth vote, Gillmor said.
So far, Sebastian and Fellsmere have voted to sign on to the council and a majority of the Vero Beach City Council has also expressed a willingness to do so, but has not committed the $12,500 share the City would need to contribute.
The issue of the inter-local agreement by which other entities might join and help fund the council may be placed on a future agenda for discussion, said Shores Mayor Brian Barefoot. But no action was taken on Gillmor’s request.