On land deal, still no sale
A defensive Palm Beach County Health Care District board asked no questions and offered no answers Wednesday as to why district staff failed to get a formal study to prove that a $4 million commercial parcel was a better site for a nursing home than virtually free land offered by the county. They proceeded as planned on a new $25 million Healy Center.
Board members clearly were angered by Sunday's Palm Beach Post story and Wednesday's editorial that raised questions about the deal, in which a company partly owned by the district's now-deceased real estate agent will benefit. By their defensiveness, they believe that the public has no right to examine their actions.
Board Chairman Jonathan Satter, a commercial real estate executive, made a point of emphasizing the credentials of committee members and outside consultants involved in choosing the site, sarcastically repeating throughout the meeting, "Seems qualified." In other words, they are the experts. Taxpayers should take their word - no questions asked - that the property owned by Pointe West Riviera Beach, a partnership headed by Neil J. Gaeta, was a better deal than the county land.
A large Family Home
Large country house on three levels and circa 400 m sq in size