December 8, 2008

ISSUE 1247

In an effort to keep businesses and jobs in the area, the Palm Beach County Commission endorsed a plan Dec. 3 to designate 99,500 acres, including the towns of South Bay, Belle Glade and Pahokee, as the potential site for an industrial distribution center, or inland port, near Lake Okeechobee. The board must also vote on the plan in the spring in order to move forward. Commission members say the port would not interfere with Everglades restoration efforts.

In a related development, Florida Crystals and the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative said the state's offer to buy 180,000 acres from U.S. Sugar Corp. gives U.S. Sugar an unfair advantage because the company would be allowed to lease the land for $50 per acre per year for six years and in the seventh year for free. Sugar cane leases generally range from $125 to $325 per acre, say financial advisors.

U.S. Sugar’s board of directors plans to vote on the land deal Dec. 8. The deadline for the South Florida Water Management District to approve the deal is Dec. 16.