Commissioners compromise on wetlands regulation

TAMPA -- Hillsborough County commissioners voted unanimously today to scale back somewhat their local wetlands regulation office, but not to abolish it.

Though commissioners had taken an initial vote in June to do away with the $2.2-million wetlands division of the Environmental Protection Commission on Thursday they adopted a compromise plan that preserves Hillsborough's local wetlands protections.

The plan, put forth by EPC executive director Richard Garrity, would streamline some functions of the division and share them with the state, cutting some jobs and saving money, but would still keep the office intact.

Even commissioners who had seemed to be against the wetlands division moved in a different direction Thursday.

Commissioner Kevin White, who made the motion to abolish the division back in June, said he did so to bring people together to find a better solution.

"Sometimes we have to do the unpopular. Yes, it was unpopular to make that motion but it got us here today,'' White said.

EPC Chairman Brian Blair made a motion to adopt Garrity's compromise proposal, but it was tabled in favor of more public comment Thursday afternoon. Commissioners voted 7-0 to pass the motion in the afternoon.

Michael Van Sickler, Times staff writer