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The Board of Directors has voted to change the PC fiscal year to a January to December calendar year, thus simplifying the accounting and renewal process. As a result the Communication Committee updated the membership renewal process, and renewal notices have been distributed to Property Managers. There will be no increase in the 2020 fee schedule. Please support the Council and respond to the renewal notice by the due date.
Invitations have been extended to the St. Lucie County (SLC) Erosion District as well as the USACE (confirmation from the Corp is pending) to speak at the PC's March meeting about the Beach Project generally AND
1. The pending north-south "construction easements" along the dune, similar to those everyone consented to for the 2004/5 and 2013 projects. The county should soon be following up with property owners with the forms as required by the USACE. More to follow from the county . . . 2. Funding of the "Local Share" (The projects unfunded balance AFTER presently committed federal and state funding), is most recently presently estimated by the SLC to be +/-$8.5MM for fund planning "working" purposes instead of the heretofore +/-$10.5MM. A reduction of +/-$2MM due to expected forthcoming reduced combined project costs. +/-$8.5MM is still a "big nut to crack" locally, potentially from a combination of:
Access for additional Federal funding: The PC has been and is encouraging the County to develop and earnestly pursue a viable plan “B” with undeveloped property owners for acquiring the 3 strategically located access points necessary to increase the federal funding by as much as +/- $6.2MM. 3 owners have been identified. We recently had a preliminary, but an encouraging conversation with one such owner and already following up with the county. Dec. 16th we were advised the County has been and is investigating alternatives, to their heretofore Plan “A” efforts to obtain “free” easements from various Associations. Understanding what those alternatives are and how they may be progressing is at present unknown and to be further pursued. More to follow. . . Project Costs: They continue to be questioned and evaluated, given the 2022 3.4 mile So. SLC project. Martin County’s 2018 USACE 4 mile and very similar project was less than half of the still projected cost for More in Dec. below and to follow . . . As we continue to endeavor to collaborate about the successful implementation of 2022 “Initial Start” by the USACE under the federal 50-year Beach Preservation Program a recurring question from us is If not this, why NOT? And what other alternatives might there be?
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PRESIDENTS COUNCIL OF HUTCHINSON ISLAND | MISSION STATEMENT
The President’s Council, working together, seeks to maintain and enhance the lives of the owners and residents of Hutchinson Island. President’s Council serves St Lucie County, Hutchinson Island resident concerns, such as beach & dune, island safety & beautification, roads, future development and County services affecting us. |