Martin County, Stuart Bury Hatchet on Fire Response; $4.9M Land Gift Grows Preserve

The Martin County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to overhaul its fire and emergency services partnership with the City of Stuart, ending a long-running dispute over response protocols and agency fees. A deal both fire chiefs hammered out in under two weeks.

The new interlocal agreement eliminates all fees between Martin County and Stuart fire-rescue and replaces the old dispatch framework with a single rule: whoever is closest goes. For residents living near the city-county boundary — a moving line that has historically determined which truck showed up and how fast — the change is straightforward. The nearest engine rolls, regardless of jurisdiction.

Fire Chief Chad Chancholi and Stuart Fire Chief Feliciano resolved years of disagreements that complicated emergency response after a private sit-down meeting, he told commissioners. The board approved the agreement without dissent.

In the same session, the commission accepted three land donations totaling $4.9 million from philanthropist Louise Yizer, expanding county preserves by 6.65 acres. The parcels include property adjacent to the Hobe Sound Scrub Preserve and land along East Fork Creek — two ecosystems conservationists have long identified as critical to the county's remaining natural corridor. Commissioner Hetherington praised Yizer for what he called "unprecedented philanthropy," and Yizer urged other property owners to follow her lead in protecting Martin County's natural character.

The meeting also surfaced growing frustration along the county's rail corridor. Seventeen residents lined up during public comment to demand the commission place railroad quiet zones on a future agenda. Speakers cited as many as 5,400 train horn blasts daily across 27 county intersections. Advocates argued that quiet zones, which require enhanced crossing infrastructure already mandated under federal regulations, would reduce noise without compromising safety.

Commissioners made no commitment on the quiet zone request Tuesday.

A separate hearing on a proposed storage facility within the Heritage Ridge planned unit development was postponed at the applicant's request to a date not yet scheduled, leaving more than a dozen opponents without an opportunity to speak.

The commission also recognized National Safe Boating Week, Public Works Week, Memorial Day, Emergency Medical Services Week and The Pine School boys varsity soccer team, which captured the state championship.

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