MELISSA MCKINLAY County Commissioner District 6 Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners Governmental Center 301 North Olive Avenue, 12th Floor West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Telephone: (561) 355-2206 Facsimile: (561) 355-4366 mmckinlay@pbcgov.org Glades Office Complex 2976 State Road #15 Belle Glade, FL 33430 Telephone: (561) 996-4814 Facsimile: (561) 992-1038 ?An Equal Opportunity Af?rmative Action Employer? printed on recycled paper June 23, 2016 The Honorable Governor Rick Scott Plaza Level 05, The Capitol 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399?0001 Dear Governor Scott: As the Palm Beach County Commissioner elected to serve the area of central Palm Beach County commonly known as The Acreage, I am extremely concerned about the circumstances surrounding the recent conversion of the Seminole Improvement District (SID) to Palm Beach County?s 39th municipality called Westlake. Both the 2008 and 2012 agricultural enclave legislation pieces paved the way for the improvement district to convert to a municipality without going through the normal and historical process wherein resident input is paramount. The SID boundaries encompass 4000 acres and has one property owner - Minto Communities - a large development company. The property is virtually unpopulated and all agricultural. While there is a long and acrimonious development history on this particular parcel, I understand that the legislation in place affords the SID development municipal conversion powers. My concern lies in the fact that the conversion process only requires the support ofjust three ofthe five registered voters listed as living within the SID. These voters, remarkably, share the same address. It would appear that renters were brought in by the property owner to fulfill this "voter" requirement and those same ?ve renters were automatically appointed as transitional council members to the new municipality. These votes were certified by the canvassing board on June 20th. On June 21?, one ofthe five renters/council members resigned and is unable to fulfill the duties of his seat due to his current incarceration in the Palm Beach County jail stemming from a recent arrest. In addition, Westlake?s Municipal Charter requires that only two of the five Transitional Council members reside in Palm Beach County. I understand that no law requires municipal officials to reside in the city they serve, but allowing a majority of the Transitional Council to live not only outside Westlake, but also Governor Rick Soctt Page 2 June 23, 2016 outside of Palm Beach County, strains accepted principles of representative government. On behalf of the 40,000+ residents of the Acreage and surrounding communities, I respectfully ask that you investigate this issue to ensure the voting process was lawful and coincides with the intent of the governing special district conversion legislation. Sincerely, (new Melissa McKinlay Commissioner cc: Ken Detzner, Secretary of State 6/23/2016 Jailed Westlake council member resigns on Palm Beach County :PalmBeachPosccom AUTOS HOMES CLASSIFIEDS HELP 86? a to NEWS MYPALMBEACHPOST WEATHER a LIFE a SPORTS THINGS TO no - MORE 993?? 1. LOG . - - 31" This is what supporters Judge to rule in Freddie 2: :52: in l: are really like Gray van driver case WPB shooting @mertcen Red mess Wayne Washington Jailed Westake council comma member resigns (9 June 23, 2016 Filed in: bnblogs, Minto, newsfeed. The Acreage. Anthony Fritz, one of Westlake?s founding city council members, resigned on Tuesday in letter addressed to the new town?s mayor. $1,500: 3 ?Mayor,? Fritz wrote in the undated letter. ?This letter serves as my formal notice of resignation from the City 1,0008" 35 Council of the City of Westlake effective immediately. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the City of Westlake.? SOON Up To The letter, stamped as being received on Tuesday, was sent to The Palm Beach Post on Thursday by the manager of the Seminole lmprovement District, which, with the votes Fritz and four others, was converted into Palm Beach County?s newest city on Monday. Fritz, 27, has an extensive arrest record and is currently in jail in Belle Glade on a charge of battering his live-in $3,0i Total Savmi THE 2016 ALTIMA "More Cash Back Information girlfriend. Search S?ea Minto Communities, the developer who plans to construct 4,500 homes in Westlake, has supported incorporation, which has drawn opposition from area residents and some county officials. . . Categories Efforts to reach Fritz or any of the voters or COUl?iCll members Involved in the founding of Westlake have been unsuccessful. Minto, whose vice president was quoted in a statement announcing the city?s incorporation, did not ??9iegt 7 respond to requests for information about the voters or council members. The Seminole Improvement District manager, Ken Cassel, also did not provide information about those involved in the incorporation when asked on Wednesday. . Archives Select Month . Anhony Frits .. 1/2 Anthony Fritz 4001 Seminole Pratt-Whitney Rd Unit Loxahatchee, FL 33470 Mayor City of Westlake 4001 Seminole Pratt?Whitney Road Loxahatchee, FL 33470 Re: Resignation from the City of Westlake City Council Mayor, This letter serves as my formal notice of resignation from the City Council of the City of Westlake effective immediately. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the City of Westlake. Regards, Antl?r/Fritz ECEHVE JUN 2 ?20/6 6/23/2016 Mayor of Westlake runs printing business, looking forward to serving on Palm Beach County [PalmBeachPost com JOBS AUTOS HOMES CLASSIFIEDS HELP '1 r?g?ry 86? NEWS MYPALMBEACHPOST WEATHER - LIFE - SPORTS - THINGS TO no - MORE ?$553593?? 1 we Writ . - This is what supporters Judge to rule in Freddie ggsri?hoigrgg: 5:2: in are really like Gray van driver case WPB shgoting Every 8 minutes, we respond to a disaster. American Jr Red Cross now Mayor of Westlake runs printing can. business, looking forward to serving (9 June 23, 2016 Filed in: bnblogs. development, growth, Melissa McKinlay, Minto, newsfeed. Palm Beach County Commission. taxon: The Acreage. The newest mayor of Palm Beach County's newest city doesn?t live there, and he's not sure he will move there even after taking the oath of office. nline tam ti?i But Roger Manning, who lives in unincorporated Lake Worth and has run a printing business there for more than C015 VSQS you we 30 years, said he is looking forward to serving as Westlake?s inaugural mayor. Nothing about Westlake?s founding has been standard, and Manning, 62, didn?t become mayor by kissing babies START LEARNING and earning votes. He said he was asked to serve as the infant city?s mayor by John Carter, vice president of Minto Communities, the builder that plans to construct 4,500 homes and develop 2.2 million square feet of commercial space in an area of The Acreage that IS largely ?elds and groves. A. gseamh . Carter and Manning serve as board members for the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce. Minto is the largest landowner in Westlake and supports its incorporation, much to the chagrin of area residents, Categories who don?t want the hustle and bustle they believe the developer will bring to their quiet area. . County officials who endured intense criticism two years ago when they worked with Minto to set limits on the size of the development only to have Minto support an incorporation that could open the door to even more development aren't thrilled, either. County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, whose district includes Westlake, has called Minto ?greedy? and said it?s backing of incorporation was "a dishonest business practice." - In an exclusive interview with The Palm Beach Post on Thursday, Manning said he is aware of the frustration surrounding Westlake?s start as a city. "Some things are shocking for a start, but, once people work together, things can work out," Manning said. Manning said his decision to stand as mayor wasn?t a snap choice. He said he visited the area and determined that it could use much of what Minto plans to bring. .. Follow 1/2 6/23/2016 Mayor of Westlake runs printing business, looking forward to serving on Palm Beach County ?There is a real need for services in that area,? he said. ?The area looks like it needs more services.? Eettew on Paim Beach Read more about Westlake?s new mayor including his views on a jailed former Westlake council member and Ca um 37 on how he plans to work with Minto later today at "?liw? marl Build a website with WordPress?cc-m We Westlake Mayor R0qu Manning AdVEl?tiS? Content May Sponsored Links by Taboola Unstable Stock Market? 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