Remarks by Eileen Vargas
128 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 4 of 6
- Play at 3:25:30
“Okay. So that's about it. That's about it. From a course of business. Correct. I understand about a storm.”
Board of County Commissioners · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 4:36:22
“People need a breather. They need a breather. And I think I've been called the money hawk, which I'm very proud. I've only been here a year and nine months, but I saw it immediately what I felt we need to do to quantify with Martin County dollars that are given to us in good faith. Having said that, there is room to tighten the belt. Absolutely. And as a matter of fact, Let's talk about the practicality. More Americans are drowning in their mortgages right now. And that has climbed to 3.2% across the country. This is very real. So that means that these folks owe more than what their property…”
Board of County Commissioners · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 4:41:22
“Okay, so we will be deciding whether or not we're going to take the tentative millage or the rollback rate?”
Board of County Commissioners · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 4:41:39
“We need to be looking at the rollback rate, and I am pushing for the rollback rate. There's no reason to increase this particular amount right now. We are not in that position. We're going to fall hard. And I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I'm a realist also.”
Board of County Commissioners · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 4:45:15
“So are we, I'm confused. What is the motion on this if Commissioner Capps has just made a statement?”
Board of County Commissioners · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 4:48:29
“Yeah, that used to be on A1A landscaping, lighting, you know, to present for them.”
Board of County Commissioners · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 55:16
“I'm glad this was brought up this morning because this is chocker block full of talking points. I've been studying data centers since I came into office, which is, well, early 2025. That's why I attend the conferences for the FAC, Florida Association of Counties, National Association of Counties also. I did meet an expert there, a fellow commissioner from Loudoun County. which is the epicenter of data centers. I have looked at numerous webcasts, spoken with individuals individually to get their opinion, and then maybe there's somebody else's opinion. But really, what is the truth about this?…”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:00:56
“One other thing I wanted to add, it's not hard and fast one year. If we have to continue looking at more information, because this is an evolving subject, I do not get my information from social media, especially something as serious as this. I go to the experts. There are plenty of experts that are out there, but you have to do your homework. You really can't be lax. I'm talking about our commission. You've got to reach out. Go to the conferences. Talk to people. They're out there.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:17:30
“Thank you. Thank you. Very professional.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:19:16
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:31:46
“Congratulations to you, which I said earlier. And I know that this has been a long road. You have covered a lot of topics. You're a wealth of information. And I listen intently when you speak, especially about the love of Martin County. So just want to say that.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:32:08
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:37:42
“Okay. Rather than going through the I think it was a two-hour, two-and-a-half-hour discussion, which is fine. How about working with the applicant and stating that he does need rezoning for his one acre? Now, insofar as a dock, whether it's a floating dock or a stationary dock, that's something that has to deal with DEP. This has nothing to do with Martin County. Is that correct?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:38:40
“Therefore, I make a motion that the previous decision on August 11th be stayed and request that the applicant come before us again to discuss this, or if he chooses to work with our personnel, but based on the fact that he can build his home, but he needs rezoning on that one acre.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:52:09
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 1:52:23
“A lot of rich information. that I think the community is totally unaware of, whether you're with a nonprofit, you're an individual, you're somebody who has an idea, whatever it may be. I take copious notes there, and, of course, we have conversations, too. Now, I know we had tent city helpers here, well, over the last several meetings, and I did ask about this. I'm still looking into what the shower bus is. My understanding is Indian River County does provide the opportunity for nonprofits, which they should, to host the bus or churches on their properties. And because it moves around the…”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:01:08
“I concur with Chairwoman Hurd. I have been to numerous programs. University of Florida, they have the endowments. They can certainly have plenty of skin in the game, but we cannot continue to shoulder that. The Extension is wonderful, wonderful people. They really are. I've worked with them. I've been to their facility. I mean, they need to do what they need to do. I mean, we're not in the good times rolling anymore. We're really not. But I've been saying that since early 2025. We're down to the wire here. So who would be the person to reach out to the University of Florida and have a…”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:12:48
“I did tour one of your homes that was in East Stewart, and I know that you were waiting for Florida Power and Light to come out to, you had to cut trees down for palms, and then they had to change the box or move the box off near the street area, and so that you could obviously connect the electricity to be able to dry the home to be able to complete the the interior building of that. So I did see that. And I think you had set aside up to $350,000 for that home. That's amazing. When I started real estate, I'm saying, that would be like $45,000, you know, that type of home, size home.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:39:41
“Commissioner Vargas. I'm familiar with this project, and I think several months back when I did speak with the team from Ashley Capital, And specifically, and you've gone over this, and this seems to have been a green meeting. And I did ask the questions, did you preserve the trees? I got a resounding yes, the original trees. Because I know that if they were to be bulldozed in lieu of you could pay, but you can never replace the tree. It takes years to grow. The other thing that I noticed here, and I did forget to ask when I had my meeting, is about the gopher tortoises. I see they're going…”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:41:18
“So you're going to take them out to Palm City?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:41:24
“I know, but they really belong in their own site. Because I see at the back of the property, away from I-95, you have a lot of natural lands there. Wouldn't that be more appropriate?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:42:14
“Yeah, I've read quite a bit about this and they do flourish better in their natural environment where they're found? I understand what you said about it being a man-made area, but at least if they're moved to the other site, you know, the other site of the property, is that not doable?”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:43:01
“Well, I hope they don't try to walk back, you know, because this does happen.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 2:43:07
“I understand because I've toured that, you know, to see they're fenced off and watched.”
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026
- Play at 3:04:32
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of County Commissioners · Aug 25, 2026