Martin County Commissioner Harold Jenkins Talks Growth and Rural Lifestyle

Westward sprawl is a no-no for Martin County Commissioner Harold Jenkins. The Commissioner representing District 3, a huge District that is larger than all of the other county districts in Martin County speaks his mind with your Florida Business Forum Podcast host and anchor Sam Yates. 

We also announce plans to host a very special podcast with Commissioner Jenkins back for a second appearance. Listen to learn why. 

Transcript

Sam Yates: 0:06

Hello, everyone, and welcome to another informative episode of the Florida Business Forum Podcast. Let's open the Florida Business Forum floodgates and let the information begin to flow. Here's your Florida Business Forum information guru and Anchorman Sam Yates. Hello, everyone, and welcome to another edition of the Florida Business Forum. As you know, I have been traveling around the state spotlighting different organizations, different businesses, and here in Martin County in particular, because it is my home county, I've been taking a look at a Republican leadership in local governmental operations. And the big question, why would you do that? Because I can. And because I think it's also important to that our community, our county and our leaders throughout the state, know that we have people in local offices that are making the right decisions that are doing the things that are important for their constituents. So today, I have as my guest, our county commissioner for district three, Commissioner Harold Jenkins, welcome to the program.

Harold Jenkins: 1:12

Thank you so much. Thanks for having me.

Sam Yates: 1:14

You know, you and I had the opportunity to chat a little bit before the program. So we know a little bit about one another. But for our audience, give us a little bit of your background and your history.

Harold Jenkins: 1:25

Well, my family's been around for quite a while. They started farming back in the late 20s and actually moved to the Jupiter area in the 30s. I started out life until I was six and Jupiter. And then my father had our business and hopes and so we moved to hope sound when I was six. I currently reside in the same house I grew up in. So that's I have some I haven't gotten very far.

Sam Yates: 1:53

You know, I have to confess that your district is one of my favorite districts. And the reason for that is during my early years in the broadcasting business and also being a local native, there was a gentleman doc Meyers, William doc Meyers, who was county commissioner for your district and went on to be with the the House of Representatives for Florida and also the Florida Senate. And he and I became friends. And that meant that I got a lot of insight into the district, and also at the state level when I would visit Tallahassee, but we just became good friends. So I always kept in touch with your district. And I have to say that he has to be smiling right now because he had some big shoes to fill. And I think you're doing a damn good job of filling those shoes.

Harold Jenkins: 2:42

Yeah, I actually grew up with his kids. I knew doc very well. He was a really interesting guy. And he was good friends with my parents. I, one of the things he bought a Pantera one. And it was just the car, I've always had a pence, whatever for but he was really a neat guy.

Sam Yates: 3:06

And of course we recognize him today with many things in District Three, from our park there to to just many other things as recognition for a job well done. One of the things that he did, and I want to say it was back in the early 70s, comprehensive land use plan. And it was very important for where we are today in Martin County, our signature. And that's something that you believe in as well.

Harold Jenkins: 3:32

Absolutely. It's served us very well. And and set the foundation for growth. I have some concerns with some preemptions that have been coming hard at us and around 2011 that are diminishing our bill ability to govern on a local level. And a lot of folks don't understand that. The, you know, why did you do that? Why did you do that? And they don't understand we don't have a choice. We're controlled by the legislature. So

Sam Yates: 4:09

I want to come back to that in just a moment because that is something that I'm hearing all over the state about live local. So I'll come back to that. But for your district, your district is huge. And I didn't realize when you're adding up all the other districts it's larger than all of the others combined. Absolutely.

Harold Jenkins: 4:28

We we have all all of South County. We go from Jupiter Island, the most wealthy to out in in town one of the most challenged all the way to the lake. And then at that and about Indian town to the lake you go all the way north to St. Lucie County, so we're, we're a huge L. So we have probably more cows than people but it is it's quite a challenge for Colleen and I to cover that whole that whole area. So

Sam Yates: 4:57

Now as I take a look at to growth, we are growing westward, and some are saying, Please no more westward sprawl. But it is also something that's inevitable. So there's got to be a good happy medium in there is that a fair statement?

Harold Jenkins: 5:14

That is a fair statement and proper planning is vital. And especially today. You know, if you look further south, they're full, they're full, you look north. It's a nightmare snarl. We're the only spot on the map that still green. And if we don't do proper planning, we're going to be in trouble, especially if Tallahassee preamps us more than they've already done it. So anybody that thinks that growth is not going to happen? I don't think is thinking it through. I heard the other day, astounding figure that, you know, it was 1000 people a day moving to Florida, and now it's like, 1200, well, where are they going? I'm sure we're not going to grow at the rate that other counties that are inviting growth are, but we're gonna get our fair share. And the people that are coming here is changing the dynamics of our body of voters that elect our officials. So you know, I'm sure back in the day, Palm Beach County was just like Martin County, we're going to keep our ag areas safe, we're going to do this, we're going to do that. And now look at Palm Beach County. So unless we do some planning, for the future, of how we're going to grow, period, that is a fact. And, and, you know, I mean, we could probably have a whole nother show completely on the rural lifestyle. But as you know, I was fully behind that. That is good planning. It helps border urban service boundary. And it puts out mandatory open space, and put land in preservation for perpetuity, unlike Palm Beach County, that has broken all of those. So in our situation, we have a third party, a not for profit, Land Trust, or Audubon, or somebody has recognized has to be on the title. So the only way that that can be broken is for that entity to agree, which is highly unlikely. So we're doing the best we can. And I certainly would like to take you up on coming back at some point in the future. And let's spend some time specifically on that. And that leads right into the question, Would you be willing to come back on the program again? Absolutely. I haven't had a person turn it down yet. So thank you for, for keeping my streak alive. Live local. That is something that from a standpoint of even last week, hearing it in the halls of Tallahassee, some good and some bad things. But there is apparently no doubt that it's taking away a lot of the opportunities for our local governments to govern locally. Right. And it absolutely infuriates me. We've all identified that we've got to do something about attainable housing. Right? So what's planned for it? But to have it jammed down our throat? Yep. And, you know, so So now, it's commercial properties, to what happens when they say, You know what, that's not really working out. So what's let's let that go outside urban service boundaries into ag land. Exactly what our biggest fear of what would happen in my district could happen. All right, you take a mile arc, from the end of C branch, let's say out into to all these properties that were talking I hate to go back to rural lifestyle, again, all these brothers were talking about. And now you can do a density of two units per acre inside that arc of a mile. I mean, come on, that's 1000s and 1000s and 1000s of homes. You know, so I just, you know, it may work I guess I can't in my mind, I don't see why it would work anywhere. But it may work in Dade County. That's not something Martin County, that's not how we operate. That's why we were elected is to make these decisions on our own.

Sam Yates: 9:34

Commissioner, I have to tell you, I'm glad that you use the term attainable. For all transparency. I'm a member of the Board of Directors for the Gold Coast Builders Association, and we have as one of our tasks to look into attainable housing, but it can't be at the expense of services. It can't be at the expense of who's going to pay for it. There's a lot of moving parts. So I'm glad that you're, you're using that. And if there's an opportunity for us to share any of our experts, any of our expertise, you know, feel free to reach out. And I want to be there for you.

Harold Jenkins: 10:15

We, we have just briefly touch on this, one of my passions is now Land Trust community Land Trust. So we're in the process in the banner Lake community as the first stepping stone developing the Martin County Land Trust. So I'm passionate about that, because it's actual ownership, where a family can build wealth, and then move on to something better in the future. And then the next person that comes along, that house is still attainable, because you're not reselling the dirt, you're not taking you're not you know, if you've got a grant to help with the construction costs, you're not taking that the first owner, the second owner benefits from that. This is something that really makes sense, we have an opportunity, because banner Lake club, actually started that a little bit that and they're working under that. So we're actually forming a community land trust, that would be a public private partnership with Martin County, and the community. So it's just getting off the ground, we're getting our letter, our articles of incorporation done as we speak. And hopefully within the next six months, we'll actually be up and running with that.

Sam Yates: 11:33

And that gets back to the leadership role that you're taking for your district. And that is looking ahead, planning and preparing. And I can tell you from around the state of Florida, that is a increasing rarity. It's many times a knee jerk. And then all of a sudden we see things booming, you know, with growth that some and I'm going to transition here because I don't want to get on my soapbox. But transitioning to what we see coming into our county. One of my pet peeves is with business development. That doesn't seem to be bringing anything in, but they sure are taking a lot of our dollars. But are we seeing a good return on what we want to come into our county from our business development? Folks?

Harold Jenkins: 12:23

I am the commission liaison for the business development board. I saw where it was when I first was appointed? I would answer would be no. We've now transitioned into some leadership that has really a lot of experience with Joan and Pierre and her and all of their staff. They're doing an outstanding job. They've really got their feet under him. And they're running at this point. And it's not about it's not all about. It's not all about asking a company from out of state or whatever to come here. It's about supporting existing businesses that we have, and helping them expand and helping them through the trials and tribulations of being in business. So it's retaining the businesses that we have. Yes. All right, because I tell you, we've got some some huge marine and aviation industries right now that I'm sure Palm Beach and St. Lucie County would love. So their job as much as anything else is to make sure that those businesses operate as efficiently and be able to expand as demand asks.

Sam Yates: 13:32

And that's a good answer. I think that at a state level, for example, Enterprise, Florida is probably an iffy situation, depending on when our program this program hits the airwaves, enterprise, Florida may not exist as we know it. One of the reasons that we may be having more people here a lot of folks are telling me is we don't need people to be aware of us they're aware of us post COVID Because of what we are and how our government stayed open. So I think that's a that's a very good answer. And I'm glad to know that you're on top of it. And also glad to hear the perspective of used to be No, it is yes. Now. There was struggling before. Yeah. And we don't need to go into the problems there. As we talk about development, is water protecting our water, still a must do priority wherever you are in the county?

Harold Jenkins: 14:29

Absolutely. Absolutely. In these large projects, they've got to bring a level of water, improvement of water. So drawing from I'm thinking of this golf course, Apogee, right. So that that's bringing a huge amount of actual water purification to it. They're drawn out of the sea 44 They're using the nutrients that are that are going out it's cleaner than when it came in. So it that's it Yeah, that's what it's all about. And, you know, keeping, giving the ability for, for sewer rather than septics. I mean, that's, that's huge.

Sam Yates: 15:10

You mentioned golf communities, and we have a golf community that did get a passing vote from the Commission, not a unanimous but a passing vote. It's now the topic of a 28 page judge's ruling and likely to come back before our entire commission. It's in your districts more detailed, without going into too many details, where that would jeopardize anything. Where do you think this will end up?

Harold Jenkins: 15:39

It'll end up being done. So the challenge was, overwhelmingly, the judge overwhelmingly ruled in favor of the county, there was so the claim of any victory there was, I don't understand, again, some folks trying to be relevant, I guess. But so the the the only thing that was questioned or or stated that would not comply is the community store, which I found hilarious and extremely sad, all on the same thing. So I attended a lot of the public outreach prior to them submitting for that project. So the people that weren't there that were programmed to be objecting, or before they walked in the door, the people there that had an open mind, one of their main concerns was traffic. Right? So the developer decides that he's going to do something to keep Mr. So and so from having to run to the his wife send a name to Publix, and hope sound to pick up milk or eggs or whatever that they could say, is it a commercial venture, when it's only for the presence of that community? It's not open to the outside. So I think, you know, if you're going to claim you had a win, you won against something. That was the biggest concern of the people that were were actually had an open mind listening to the debate. So do you call that a win? Or do you call? I don't know what you call that. That's just silly. So I don't, you know, it'll be interesting to see where it goes from.

Sam Yates: 17:15

I think you and I share a philosophy about and I'm, I'll use your word silly philosophy about so many of these things that get it into silliness, rather than to call it something else. And there's no shortage of that.

Harold Jenkins: 17:31

So, you know, hopefully, it'll be ,it'll try to be relevant, I guess, is what it is.

Sam Yates: 17:37

Commissioner, anything that we should touch on. Before we wrap up here, I want to make sure that we cover things that are important to you,

Harold Jenkins: 17:44

I would really look forward to actually having a discussion about the rural lifestyle. There is so much misinformation going around about it. I mean, I mean, misinformation, like I'll give you an example. 130,000 acres are affected, could not be further from the truth. And I don't care how many times you say it, it's still not true. You know, it's four properties. Longbridge read and hope sound in several. It's, that's it. And it's two properties up up near Western palm city, right. It's, what is that 10 12,000 acres at the most in writing, there it is right there. And I keep seeing this 130,000. I mean, that's just one example of you know, and I'd love to have one of our growth management guys here, actually quite doing, actually here. It would be wonderful, if you would,

Sam Yates: 18:38

if you would do that. So I just I will accept that challenge. And here's how we can do it. Today. For our audience. We're face to face, I'm sitting at Commissioner Jenkins desk, here in his office. And we have the capacity thanks to zoom. And thanks to the way we put our podcast together to fill news voids of getting a bunch of folks together. You would be one client would be another if if we can plan that out ahead to fit your schedule and participating parties schedule. I will make that happen with you.

Harold Jenkins: 19:14

That'd be great. I'll make it happen on my end. All right. It's, it's vitally necessary. Again, going back to your original statement. We don't have any news outlets here anymore. And unfortunately, whoever gets ahold of the conversation first, the rest is chasing when or whether the first conversation is even remotely accurate. You know.

Sam Yates: 19:38

Having been in the news business. One of the reasons I got out of the news business was the way it was changing. And being on the outside now seeing how it further changed. It called for me to step back into it in this capacity. So for our audience, we're going to do that. We're going to be back with Commissioner Harold Jenkins and and others, and we're going to look at rural lifestyle because those of you in the audience do need to know truth, and disinformation be damned. And I'm going to do my part. I know others are in the community as well saying enough of this. We're tired of it. And we're gonna stand up and you have our audience have the right to hear what the truth is.

Harold Jenkins: 20:24

Absolutely, thank you. Unfortunately, we're led by people that have no other purpose in life and struggle to be relevant. And so that's their way, you know, and it just it annoys me but

Sam Yates: 20:37

I want to thank you for being our guest today and to our audience. We're going to have further conversations with Commissioner Harold Jenkins, Martin County Commissioner, District Three. Thank you all for joining us until our next episode. Have a great day everybody. The Florida Business Forum is dedicated to showcasing Florida businesses and CEOs of all sorts to promote their business or not for profit in the only business forum of its type in Florida. Thanks for tuning in. And remember, the Florida Business Forum is now accepting guest applications. Have a great day everyone and stay tuned for more business