U. S. Sugar Deal Questioned

The massive land deal to save the Everglades was under the microscope on Tuesday. The board of the South Florida Water Management District scrutinized the $1.3 billion deal to buy U. S. Sugar Corporation's land. At least one board member said he didn't know if the agency could afford the purchase, while competing sugar growers called the plan unfair.

The revised U. S. Sugar deal, for land only, was announced last month and assembled in just weeks. Board member Mike Collins said he has yet to see district revenue projections, to determine if buying the 180,000 acres-- almost all of it in Western Palm Beach County-- is feasible.

Collins said he supports the idea of purchasing the land. But he said he feared it would be years before the Water District had enough money to build the reservoirs and water treatment marshes necessary to improve water quality and quantity in the Everglades.

Water District staff released maps of a couple of possible scenarios for where those reservoirs and marshes would be placed. One concept requires acquiring land from other growers, possibly

During the public comment portion of the meeting, smaller sugar growers from Western Palm Beach County voiced their concerns.

"It creates a very very unfair competitive situation in the sugar industry," said John Hundley, a grower and former water district board member. He and other farming interests are upset over the part of the plan calling for U. S. Sugar to lease back its land.

The idea is to keep the company operating and employing people for at least seven years. But the lease is exclusive and way below market value.

That's unfair to other growers, said Hundley. He pointed out leasing the land at market rate would enable the district to recover more of the cost of buying the land. "I believe the district board has a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers to get the best deal," said Hundley.

Also at Tuesday's hearing, experts on the sugar industry told water managers without the land, the U. S. Sugar mill would not survive. Many hold out hope the mill could process imported sugar or other crops.

Environmentalist Cynthia Plockelman, while adamant about making sure the needs of the Everglades are met, said keeping a healthy job base in the Glades communities is also essential. "Agriculture can't go away," said Plockelman. "Agriculture is going to be critical to our economy."

Water board members told staff to come up with more information on preserving jobs and the specifics of the deal before the board meets again on December 15 and 16. Under the deal with U. S. Sugar, the Water District board has until the 16th to sign the contract.