Page 15 - Stuart Exposure - January '24

Stuart Exposure, Page 15

COMMunity Happenings

“There are environmentally sensitive lands throughout
Preserving Paradise: Martin County that need to be preserved now or they are at risk
A Half Cent At A Time of being lost forever. Our community will never be the same
if we don’t act now,” said Merritt Matheson, Martin County
New Martin County Forever Initiative Forever committee member and former City of Stuart mayor.
Underway To Purchase Natural Lands About 46,000 acres of natural lands within four target areas
have been identified by Martin County’s ecosystem division for
A group of concerned citizens, passionate about preserving potential acquisition:
vast areas of environmentally sensitive lands, has created a • Indian River Lagoon Watershed, 27,000 acres essential to
new conservation initiative called Martin County Forever. the health of the lagoon
The group has spent most of this year on outreach and • Loxa-Lucie, 9,800 acres essential to the health of the St.
education to determine whether citizens would be supportive Lucie and Loxahatchee rivers
of a sales-tax referendum to acquire these lands. Acquiring • Pal-Mar, 8,500 acres of some of the highest quality
undeveloped land would help to protect the unique character wetlands in Martin County
of Martin County, clean and restore rivers and waterways, • Blue-ways, about 400 acres of smaller parcels inside our to vote on. “Martin County residents have a history of taking
safeguard sources of drinking water, preserve valuable urban areas and near waterways matters into their own hands to protect our environment and
wildlife habitat and wetlands, create wildlife corridors and The group is proposing that a referendum for a half-cent quality of life,” added Matheson. “We’re simply asking the
expand recreational opportunities. sales tax be placed on the November 2024 ballot for citizens Martin County Commission to allow the citizens to decide if
they want to support an initiative to buy these lands.”
If approved, the sales tax could generate about $18.3 million
a year for 10 years, and much of the land would be eligible for
matching state or federal funds, stretching those dollars even
further. More than a third of the monies raised would be from
visitors who live elsewhere but spend their money in Martin
County. The sales tax would only apply to the first $5,000 of
any purchase. Importantly, groceries, prescription medication
and school supplies would all be exempt.
Martin County has a long, proud history of supporting
ORTHOPAEDICS the preservation of environmentally sensitive lands. Several
referendums have been passed where citizens voted to tax
themselves to generate funding for land acquisition. A voter
approved half-cent sales tax in 2006, for example, generated
about $30 million and was used to leverage an additional $30
million from state and federal sources. In fact, many popular local
parks and preserves were acquired with funds generated from
past referendums. These acquisitions include important preserve
areas such as Halpatiokee and Atlantic Ridge state parks, beaches
throughout Hutchinson Island, and regionally significant park
facilities like Indian Riverside Park. These places are part of the
recreational fabric of the community while also improving water
quality in the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon.
“We know there may be skeptics, and the devil is in the
details, but we’ve structured the referendum language to ensure
it does what it is supposed to do and nothing else,” according to
committee member Jim Snedeker. A citizens advisory committee
would be created to screen land acquisition opportunities.
An annual audit would be required. Properties would only be
purchased from willing sellers. “Even though discussions about
The Patricia Lichtenberger Medical Plaza is located at 2150 SE Salerno Road in Stuart. taxes can be controversial, we’ve been surprised and encouraged
by the widespread support we’ve received for the initiative,”
Robotic technology helps fine tune added Snedeker.

“Martin County is a special place, and we want to keep it
joint replacement surgery that way. It’s our small-town charm, slower pace, low density,
beautiful waterways and beaches and abundance of undeveloped,
natural lands that sets Martin County apart from so many other
places in Florida,” said Matheson. “The time is right to create
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, plan if needed during surgery, and better execute a funding mechanism to purchase these natural lands and
is the most common cause of walking-related the removal of bone during the surgery. ensure they remain that way during our lifetime and for future
disability in people age 65 and older. generations.”
Robotic-assisted technology can add Martin County Forever has launched a website, www.
Anti-inflammatory medications, physical martincountyforever.com, with more information. To schedule
therapy, braces, activity modification, weight accuracy and precision to total knee a presentation to your group or association, please contact
loss or injections can help some individuals replacement surgery. them at martincountyforever@gmail.com and follow them on
with osteoarthritis. Often, the disease will Facebook at facebook.com/martincountyforever or Instagram
progress despite these measures. If joint According to registry data, this technology is at @martincountyforever.
replacement is recommended, patients may more accurate than traditional surgery for total
benefit from emerging technologies available knee replacement,” says Jason Weisstein, MD,
to assist surgeons. an orthopaedic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic
Orthopaedic surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health who sees patients at the Patricia
Martin Health have access to robotic-assisted Lichtenberger Medical Plaza located at 2150
technology, which can add accuracy and SE Salerno Road in Stuart next to Cleveland
Clinic Martin South Hospital.
precision to total knee replacement surgery.
“Ultimately, we want to provide the best possible
The robot helps surgeons create a 3-D model of outcomes for our patients, and this technology
a patient’s bone, choose the correct implant size has the potential to do that.”
and placement, and create a custom surgical
plan. Surgeons use the robot to conduct a virtual If you need joint replacement, ask your doctor if
run-through prior to surgery, adjust the surgical you are a candidate for robotic-assisted surgery.

TALK WITH AN EXPERT.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Weisstein or another Cleveland
Clinic Martin Health orthopaedic surgeon, call 877.463 2010 or visit
ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/OrthoDoctors.
Jason Weisstein, MD