New Citizen Info Policy To Remain

As he vowed, County Commissioner Jim Adkins on Tuesday asked his colleagues to reconsider their recent vote to charge citizens for information requested of government officials.

Adkins' request died a quick death.

"You're not in order, sir," Commission Chairman David Russell told Adkins after he broached the issue at the commission meeting.

Russell explained he was out of order because he wasn't a member of the prevailing side of the original vote. Adkins was the sole dissenting vote during the policy adoption.

Russell said the board is not trying to keep the public in the dark by charging citizens who ask for voluminous amounts of materials or for special reports.

As long as information requests are reasonable and easily obtained, "we will bend over backward to make sure they get the information requested," he said.

County Attorney Garth Coller called the recently adopted "Duplication of Documents Fees Policy" a "good policy" that is backed up by Florida law.

Coller said it formalizes what is already common practice in most departments.

"I recommend sticking with the policy," Coller said.

But Adkins said he believes the policy removes transparency to the public.

"I believe a taxpayer has the right to come before this board and request information," he said.

Also at Tuesday's county commission meeting:

• Board members voted 5-0 to approve a developer's plan to develop 72 acres on the southwest corner of U.S. 19 and Lake-in-the-Woods Drive with a mix of commercial activity and a 225-unit senior living facility.

Several residents thanked the developer - Flag Mets 1, LLC - and the engineering firm for meeting with them and suggesting traffic improvements to keep congestion to a minimum.

• Commissioners voted to allow James Batten an administrative conditional use permit to have another biker rodeo on Soult Road on May 7-10.

Permission was given after Zoning Administrator Gary Fisher said Batten's previous event met strict standards.

Brian Santoro, who lives on Soult Road, spoke against the permit, saying there was explicit language coming over the loudspeaker at the adults-only event.