District Governing Board elects officers

Miklos is president and senior project manager of Bio-Tech Consulting (BTC) Inc., an Orlando-based environmental consulting firm. He has a bachelor’s degree in limnology from the University of Central Florida and many years of experience in environmental permitting, mitigation, wetland delineation, listed species evaluations, wildlife surveys and water quality studies. He is a member of the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, the Florida Lake Management Society and the Society of Wetland Scientists. Miklos has been on the board since March 2010.

Under Miklos’ leadership, the millage rate has decreased the past four years, saving taxpayers’ money on their tax bills, and permit review times have been reduced through a successful pre-application process in which district staff actively engage applicants early in the process so potential problems can be solved promptly. About 50 percent of permit applicants are now participating in the pre-application process.

The board also re-elected Fred N. Roberts Jr. of Ocala to serve a third term as vice chairman. Charles “Chuck” Drake of Orlando was elected to serve as secretary for a third year, and Ron Howse of Cocoa will serve as treasurer.

The other board members are Douglas C. Bournique of Vero Beach, John P. Browning Jr. of Palatka, Douglas Burnett of St. Augustine, Maryam H. Ghyabi of Ormond Beach, and Carla Yetter of Fernandina Beach.

The board also recently restructured its committees. New committees are:

• Finance Committee
• Audit and Administration Committee
• Water Supply Committee
• Water Quality Committee
• Lands Committee

Board members, who meet monthly, are responsible for setting the policies for the district’s operation. They are appointed by the governor to four-year terms and serve without pay.

Board member profiles and photos are available on the district governing board’s Web page.