By MEL TOADVINE,mtoadvine@breezenewspapers.com

Members of the East County Water District board of supervisors have voted to move ahead and apply for a bond issue worth as much as $7 million which would pay for two building, including a main office building, a maintenance building and the construction of five weirs and 25 culvert crossings.

Mike Welch, a member of the board suggested that the question to borrow $7 million be put up for referendum on the November ballot.

And there was confusion during a discussion before the vote. Supervisor Desmond Barrett said he thought the board was going to vote on a particular building for the main office building during the meeting on March 25 at the East County Water Control District Headquarters office on East County Lane. The ECWCD operates its business in two wide trailers.

During the discussion, a slide presentation was shown on a large screen with several buildings in question that the water board may choose. Although there has been no negotiations, the members of the board seemed interested in part of the I&E Office Building at Town Lakes.

“There are just too many questions about this. I would like to see a referendum … to many questions. I am very uncomfortable in voting tonight for the bond,” Welch said.

Board members were reminded by the comptroller that if they were going to move ahead, there had to be a resolution that night before she could get on the list for the $7 million loan from the Florida Municipal Loan Council, which is administered through the Florida League of Cities.

The bond issue for $7 million would stretch over 30 years and would cost some $15.3 million with interest at around 5.4 percent.

When the vote was taken to move forward to apply for the $7 million loan, it was accepted with a 3-2 vote. Chairman Neal Horrom, John Boardman and Nate Stout voted yes to move ahead and Supervisors Desmond Barrett and Mike Welch voted against the motion.

“I’m ready to vote tonight for the building. I believe in putting up or shutting up … I don’t want to be rude,” Barrett said at one point.

Barrett said the whole issue was playing into the hands of politics. I hope tonight to vote for a headquarters or not,” Barrett said.

“This is not what this vote is for,” said Chairman Neal Horrom.

Stout asked what the risk was if the board decided not to go through with the loan. The comptroller said it was $2,500 they could lose.

While they talked about the buildings that the staff had photos and information of concerning the cost per foot, the board’s lawyer said there has been no negotiations. Members noted that the I&E building had the lowest price per square foot, but agreed no figure could be agreed upon since there has been no negotiations for its purchase. And there are other buildings to be considered.

Staff was asked to come back with more information about the buildings and especially the I&E site, which is the newest of the buildings under consideration.

The issue to borrow $7 million and to buy an office building and a storage building has been the subject of controversy for about a year.

The next meeting is April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the ECWCD trailer office on East Construction Lane. The public is invited. At this past meeting, there were only four people there in addition to two news people.

They could vote at the next meeting on a building, but it could also be tabled.