Government in Darkness
A Bad Day for Martin County
Removed from Home Page on 6-13-03
Government in Darkness
A Bad Day for Martin County
Voted to Approve Subleases
Commissioner DiTerlizzi
Commissioner Smith
Commissioner Weberman
Voted to Deny Subleases
Commissioner Heard
Commissioner Valliere
It would be difficult for any reasonable person to find the rationale behind the majority vote which gave approval to three
airport subleases that came before the MCBCC today.
* A charter airline
* A flight school
* A jet sales company
After much discussion, it was determined that the Commission was being asked to vote on leases which contained
amendments that were not included in the lease packets provided to the Commissioners. When Stuart Jet Center was asked
to produce these missing documents, the request was refused. Stuart Jet Center implied that the contents of the amendments
are not the County's business, even though their leasehold is public property, owned by Martin County.
Commissioners DiTerlizzi, Smith and Weberman went forward to approve the subleases. Commissioners
Heard and Valliere, in an effort to bring reason to this issue, were unable to convince the majority that it might not be a good idea to
approve leases without the opportunity to see them in their entirety.
We are amazed to see our Commissioners make choices based on sketchy, incomplete data. Especially when it shows such a
careless disregard for many of the citizens they represent. Today's action tells us that some of these Commissioners only
represent themselves and special interest groups; in this case the airport business operators.
The one positive that has emerged from the discussion on these subleases is that Mr. Moon was told by Commissioners
DiTerlizzi, Heard, Valliere and Weberman, that they were concerned and uncomfortable with the implementation of a
portion of the Airport Minimum Standards Manual. It gives the Airport Director the discretion of allowing potential
subleases (at their own risk) to sign a lease and begin operating their businesses at the Airport prior to being approved by
the MCBCC. This practice directly contradicts the terms of the master leases between the County and the FBO's. Mr. Moon
agreed to review this policy and bring changes before the MCBCC.
This and other inconsistencies in the Airport leases, subleases, and in some cases, sub-subleases should warrant a thorough
audit by the County of all the lease agreements at the Martin County Airport.
WAAM, CCC and the public had written and submitted to the Commission in-depth reasons why these leases should not have
been approved. To read what WAAM and CCC had to say, click on these links: