Lauderhill/Tamarac are Successful at Sunrise Commission Meeting on Waste Transfer Station

On February 23, the City Commission of Sunrise held a public meeting to discuss the possibility of a Waste Transfer Station near the border of Tamarac, and not far from Lauderhill. Numerous Sunrise residents, about 2 dozen City of Tamarac residents and officials, along with the Mayor of Lauderhill were present, mostly in opposition of the consideration.

The cities of Tamarac and Lauderhill both sent Resolutions, unanimously passed by their Commissioners opposing the project. Mayor Beth Talabisco and Mayor Kaplan each urged the Sunrise Commission to not support the project. With over 400 people present, many had to watch from the Sunrise Civic Center, or the Sunrise Web Site. While a few supporters were present, they appeared not to be Sunrise residents.

Concerns about odor, water leakage, traffic and road maintenance, and safety of children/students were highlighted as the major reasons for objection. The staff of Sunrise stated that such use was not presently permitted in Sunrise, though the applicant's attorney for the Waste Transfer Station believed otherwise. This meeting was treated as a pre-approval test for a possible later approval of a quasi-judicial hearing for a special exception (among other possible required approvals). While a quasi-judicial hearing is conducted under oath, this proceeding was not.

Mayor Rodger Wishner and Commission Don Rosen indicated support for the changes to allow. Commissioners Scuotto and Alu were firmly against it. After several hours of discussion, and public input, Commissioner Sofield, the deciding vote that would be needed to move this forward, finally advised his opposition to the project. Without the necessary support of a majority of 3 members of the Commission, the matter was concluded and appears that it is dead for now.

Overlying the meeting was the concern that Commission Rosen may have a conflict of interest to vote on the matter, for which the Ethics Commission staff initially did not support. However, such initial advise was not binding on the Commission, nor did it prevent, if a vote occurred, a complaint to be filed against the Commissioner. Since no vote took place, no valid complaint can be filed.

Also several members of the Commission are up for re-election this year, and the public clearly indicated they would remember them for their actions this night. Mayor Wishner's election is in August with the Florida State Primary, and Commission Sofield's is in November.