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Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Posted: 6:14 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009
The Port of Palm Beach is poised to make a critical decision one week from today on the location of an inland port. But the public won't be allowed to see the critical information that will shape the port commission's decision-making.
Today, four bidders vying for the inland port will submit detailed business plans. The business plans supplement original bids submitted in October. Port commissioners insisted that they couldn't pick a winner without seeing business plans.
Under state law, the port does not have to release the plans for 10 days after getting them. But the port could waive that provision, so the public could be fully informed. How can the public comment to the board before the vote if the public can't see the bids? Port commissioners apparently don't want a well-informed public.
In e-mails to The Palm Beach Post, Deputy Port Director Thomas Lundeen said the bids would not be made available for 10 days or until a decision is made, as allowed by state law. What good is releasing the proposals after a decision is made?
As we've said before, this port commission is not broad-minded enough to be making a decision of this magnitude. The inland port's promise of thousands of jobs prompted a competition among Palm Beach, Hendry and St. Lucie counties. Private landowners in the three counties have submitted proposals. Top state agency chiefs have criticized the port for moving too quickly. They're obviously worried that port commissioners, elected in Palm Beach County and lobbied by voters in the Glades communities, will have a hard time delivering such a potential economic powerhouse to another county.
It's a controversial, critical decision. Failure to release all the information to the public before making the decision would be another reason why the port commissioners are the wrong people for the job.
