Palm Beach County Commissioners decry verbal assault of witness at recent public hearing

Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs has called on the Sheriff's Office to investigate allegations that a witness was verbally accosted after he testified against a plan that would allow truckers to store semitrailers in The Acreage.

Burgess Hanson, the executive director of the Indian Trail Improvement District, testified on Wednesday, Nov. 29, that district roads could not handle the weight of the 80,000-pound semitrailers. He urged that the ordinance be rejected. At times, some truckers at the meeting booed when he made his points, prompting warnings from county commissioners that they be civil or else they would be removed from the meeting room.

Indian Trail is responsible for maintaining the roads in the district, which is primarily in The Acreage, an unincorporated area in western Palm Beach County.

Hanson told The Palm Beach Post that the incident occurred on the first floor of the administration building as he attempted to leave.

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"I was cursed at. They called me a f***ing liar, and a faggot." he said. "It got so bad that a deputy, who witnessed it, escorted me to my car. When I crossed the street, I told the deputy that I would be okay on my own.

"Then, out of nowhere, a woman started cursing at me again. I got into my car and drove away. No one should have to put up with this."

Commissioner Gregg Weiss agreed, describing in detail at the commission meeting what happened to Hanson.

Weiss called "the verbal assault a vile display of hatred and bigotry,” adding: “The use of derogatory slurs, including calling him a faggot, is reprehensible and goes against the very fabric of our community’s values. Such actions not only threaten the safety of individuals like Mr. Hanson but also undermine the integrity of our public processes.”

Sachs said she wants those who hounded Hanson “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” She added she will also ask for increased security at commission meetings.

Hanson testified at the hearing last month that the unpaved roads in the district were never meant to accommodate semitrailers. They are so narrow that the trucks cannot make it into a driveway without going over swales, he said.

Weiss noted that Hanson was asked to appear before the commission. Hanson, according to Weiss, provided needed input as to the impact of the rule change.

After more than two hours of debate, the commission voted 4-3 to advertise changes to the zoning code that would permit up to two semitrailers on each Acreage parcel. None are now permitted as the weight limit for trucks is 12,500 pounds. Dozens of truckers have been cited for violating the county's zoning code.

The truckers argue that the ordinance change is needed for them to stay in business. Some say they have been operating in The Acreage for more than 20 years and only recently began to be cited by code enforcement.

“What happened to Mr. Hanson is an attack on all of us,” Weiss said. “I stand in solidarity with him all those who face discrimination and bigotry.”

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Could the incident hurt the truckers?

Commissioner Sara Baxter, the proponent of the ordinance change, agreed that no one should be accosted for expressing their views at a commission meeting. She asked Weiss what he wanted done.

Weiss said “these people” should never be allowed to come to a commission meeting again, but it was not clear how or if that could be done. Also unclear was how many of the truckers were involved in the incident.

Hanson said at least a half-dozen truckers hurled insults at him. He said he is considering filing a criminal complaint with PBSO.

"What concerns me is that there appears to be an orchestrated campaign to harass people who disagree with them," Hanson said. "That is wrong. People are afraid to come out to these public hearings."

Hanson said he will not be silenced and will again testify against the ordinance in January when another public hearing is scheduled to occur. This time, at least three Indian Trail commissioners will also testify against the ordinance, he said.

Commissioners can change their votes at that time. The incident with Hanson has not helped their cause, noted Sachs, who provided the necessary vote last week that allowed the ordinance change to move forward.

Meanwhile, residents opposed to the change that would allow up to two semitrailers on each lot in The Acreage have started their own Facebook page to oppose the measure. They argue, as Hanson did, that the roads were never designed to accommodate the heavy trucks. The Facebook posts complained of harassment by truckers, so much so that some are afraid to express their feelings.

Baxter appeared at a recent Indian Trail meeting to urge the district to rescind its letter of opposition. The board of supervisors did not respond to the request.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County commissioners warn truckers leave witnesses alone