The Dish- April 2024

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When the King Gets Robbed In the heart of Fort Pierce, a controversy brews over the development of King’s Landing, with Dale Matteson, President of Audubon Development, at its epicenter. The saga unfolds against a backdrop of claims and counterclaims, leaving the city and its taxpayers caught in the crossfire of contractual disputes and accusations of misinformation.

Matteson claims the City violated the contract, and the City has found King’s Landing in default. Meanwhile, King’s Landing has no construction, no permits, and no hotel!

Matteson claims 1.5 million dollars is owed to Audubon Development by the City of Fort Pierce. Matteson contends that this substantial debt stems from the city’s failure to fulfill its obligations regarding the development of King’s Landing.

While the city has made a payment of $170,000, it falls far short of the amount Matteson claims is due.

Matteson’s allegations cut to the heart of the matter, asserting that the City’s proposal for the land contained critical inaccuracies. According to him, the land was far from ready for development, contrary to the City’s assertions. The litany of woes includes protracted delays caused by title issues, spanning over two years.

Yet, even after overcoming this hurdle and finalizing the deal, a startling revelation emerged: the

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certification of the land’s cleanliness was not as advertised.

The certification, upon closer scrutiny, revealed itself to be conditional, Kings Landing Rendering contingent upon the absence of Matteson’s claims. Hudson’s any earthremarks underscore a desire moving activities. However, to scrutinize the situation in the course of construction, further, signaling a willingness such activities are inevitable, to explore the possibility of necessitating a redo of the missteps on the City’s part. environmental assessment However, she stopped short of process. Matteson paints a admitting fault, emphasizing a picture of a project beset by commitment to safeguarding setbacks, attributing missed taxpayer interests and honoring deadlines to the exigencies contractual agreements. Further, of rectifying the City’s it was unsettling that City misinformation.

Manager, Nick Mimms was Faced with the spectre of legal action, Matteson demanded absent from the meeting since an extension of project deadlines he has been a key player in this process. from the City. In a pivotal As the dust settles on this decision, Fort Pierce’s City contentious chapter, a pressing Commissioners acceded to question lingers: who bears the this request, granting a 45-day brunt of the City’s missteps? extension. The move raises With Audubon Development questions about the City’s asserting a substantial claim culpability in the unfolding drama, prompting scrutiny of its against Fort Pierce, the prospect of taxpayers footing the bill for handling of the project. the City’s errors looms large.

Linda Hudson, Mayor of Fort Moreover, the backdrop of Pierce, addressed concerns public sentiment, with many surrounding the City’s actions, offering a cryptic response that KINGS - CONT ON PG 5 seemed to tacitly acknowledge

Pickleball Politics: Commissioners in a Pickle Over Courts The Fort Pierce City Commission meeting on April 15 showcased an unexpected clash of priorities as the discussion on Pickleball courts at the Ocean Village beachfront condominium complex took center stage, overshadowing a critical deal concerning King’s Landing.

In a session that lasted a staggering 4 1/2 hours, Commissioners engaged in a debate over whether to approve the installation of five Pickleball courts at the Ocean Village complex.

The contentious nature of the discussion was evident, with arguments and counterarguments flying across the room as the fate of the courts hung in the balance.

Commissioner Broderick’s

ownership of a condo at the site added a layer of complexity to the proceedings.

Expressing concerns about the historical use of amenities for residents only, Broderick highlighted previous approvals for exclusive facilities that eventually opened up to the public. The specter of a repeat scenario loomed large, fueling apprehensions about the potential accessibility of the proposed Pickleball courts.

Despite Commissioner Broderick’s reservations and Mayor Linda Hudson’s dissent, the project was ultimately approved. Signaling a victory for residents eager to embrace the popular sport. However, the decision raises pertinent questions about accountability

and oversight regarding amenities intended solely for residents’ use.

While the Pickleball debate commanded significant attention, it’s worth noting that the King’s Landing deal, discussed for a mere two hours, carries farreaching implications for all taxpaying citizens of Fort Pierce.

The apparent disproportionality in time allocation raises concerns about the commission’s priorities and underscores the need for a balanced approach to civic governance as well as common sense. Obviously, Mayor Hudson is to old to learn new tricks and her old tricks are failing her fast.

Although, that Pickle sure got her attention. . .

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Audubon Development’s Plate: Too Many Projects, Too Little Progress?

Fort Pierce finds itself at a crossroads as Audubon Development, currently in default on their King’s Landing contract, presses forward with plans to transform the historic Coast Guard House into a lavish Bed & Breakfast wedding venue.

The ambitious project, estimated to cost between 3 to 4 million dollars, has sparked debate and apprehension within the community about the feasibility and prudence of proceeding with Audubon Development at the helm.

The Coast Guard House, once home to the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, stands as a symbol of Fort Pierce’s rich maritime heritage and is owned by Indian River State College. Audubon’s proposal to convert it into a high-end Bed & Breakfast, complete with a cigar bar, heart-shaped dock, 20-slip boat dock, and a 75-foot dock for a water taxi, represents a significant departure from its previous function.

While the project promises to breathe new life into the iconic landmark, concerns linger about the company’s ability to deliver on its ambitious vision.

Audubon Development’s track record, marred by delays and setbacks in the King’s Landing project, casts a shadow of doubt over its capacity to successfully execute the Coast Guard House endeavor. With King’s Landing languishing in default, taxpayers and stakeholders question the wisdom of entrusting Audubon with yet another multimilliondollar undertaking.

Of particular concern is the disparity between the proposed Bed & Breakfast’s exclusivity and the accessibility of its accommodations. With only a handful of rooms slated for the

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venue, fears abound that the establishment will cater exclusively to the wealthy elite, further exacerbating socioeconomic divides within the community.

As Fort Pierce grapples with these uncertainties, the looming question remains: can Audubon Development effectively manage both the Coast Guard House project and the beleaguered King‘s Landing development simultaneously? With taxpayer dollars and the City’s reputation on the line, the stakes could not be higher.

A better alternative wouldbe for the College to explore utilizing the historic property for continued educational purposes.

Ultimately, the future of Fort Pierce’s iconic landmarks hinges on the actions of Audubon Development and the vigilance of the community it serves. Only time will tell whether the promise of renewal will be realized or if the Coast Guard House project will become yet another casualty of misplaced ambition and broken promises.

Still Can’t Fix Stupid...

Last month we brought you the story of Jared Sorenson who was hired by the City of Fort Pierce as the Human Resources Director. Sorenson pled no contest after being arrested for battery and domestic violence in Ocala, FL. He was hired on March 11 by a temporary staffing agency.

Rick Reed, owner of Sweetie’s Diner, brought Sorenson’s sordid past to the attention of Fort Pierce City Manager Nick Mimms. His employment in Ocala ended after his domestic violence arrest.

According to the Ocala police reports, Sorenson pushed his wife during an argument then hit her in the head with a hair dryer.

Sorenson then had an alercation with his grown son who heard the argument and came to his mother’s rescue. His son ended up restraining Sorenson until police arrived. Sorenson smelled of alcohol and claimed he did not remember hitting anyone.

This was not Sorenson’s first rodeo. He had also been suspended from his job in 2019 for “conduct that is contrary to the best interests of the city”. The City had warned Sorenson that any additional violations of City policy “will result in additional disciplinary

Jared Sorenson action, up to and including termination of employment”.

Sorenson resigned his position after the arrest.

After pleading no contest to battery and domestic violence, Sorenson was sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service. The City of Fort Pierce claims he was a “top candidate” due to his knowledge of software and “his extensive experience in Municipal Human Resources”. It now begs to question how safe do we feel with him counseling and managing our city employees as the Human Resource Manager? Obviously, our city leaders have no problem with Sorenson’s past and have employed him full-time as the Human Resource Manager. This proves once again, birds of a feather, always flock together.

City of Fort Pierce website screenshot welcoming Sorenson before it was deleted.

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locals expressing reservations about the project, adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding saga.

In the crucible of competing interests and legal wrangling, the fate of King’s Landing hangs in

the balance. Will Fort Pierce navigate its way through the quagmire of contractual disputes and allegations of misinformation, emerging unscathed and with taxpayer interests intact? Only time will tell as the City grapples with the fallout from this contentious affair.

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