Stuart Commissioner Krauskopf Honored with E. Harris Drew Municipal Official Lifetime Achievement Award

Stuart Commissioner Jeffrey “Jeff” A. Krauskopf has been honored by the Florida League of Cities as recipient of the E. Harris Drew Municipal Official Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented to Commissioner Krauskopf last Friday during the League’s 91^st Annual Conference in Orlando.
The League’s most prestigious award was named for former Supreme Court Justice E. Harris Drew, who coined the League’s motto: “Local self-government, keystone to American democracy.” Appointed to Florida’s Supreme Court in 1952 while serving as the League’s first vice president, Drew remained an advocate of local government throughout his career.
“The Florida League of Cities emphasizes membership education. Take advantage of every opportunity they offer to better yourself and your service to your community – I did,” said Commissioner Krauskopf. “Thank you, FLC!”
Known as a passionate and persistent public servant, Commissioner Krauskopf is tireless in his pursuit of “smart growth” for the City of Stuart. He defines smart growth as the type of development that implements the city’s Comprehensive Plan and creates job growth while preserving Stuart’s historic charm and environmental heritage.
Whether he’s forging beneficial relationships with local partners, negotiating deals on environmental projects, or thinking about creative ways to generate additional revenue for the city, he consistently goes above and beyond to meet the needs of Stuart’s residents.
Thanks to Commissioner Krauskopf’s leadership, the city has developed a strong working relationship with Martin County officials. This mutually beneficial relationship led to the adoption of an inter-local agreement for the purchase of 53 acres within the city, known as the ‘”Haney Creek Preserve,” which dedicated environmentally sensitive land for preservation and water quality improvements to the St. Lucie River Estuary. He also played a significant role in nearly a dozen other environmental and redevelopment projects within the City of Stuart.
Commissioner Krauskopf is a financial innovator, constantly searching for ways to generate additional revenue without increasing taxes for residents and local businesses. He has long been a proponent of long-term leases on city-owned property as a revenue source. Today, the city’s leased Property Management Fund generates $1.3 million per year, which amounts to a 1 mill decrease in the ad valorem property tax.
In addition to being a dedicated public servant, Commissioner Krauskopf is also active in numerous civic organizations. He serves as a board member for the Environmental Studies Council, the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, the Council of 100, the Martin County Republican Club, the Sunrise Rotary Club, and the Martin County High School Interact Club, and he is co-founder of the Martin County High School Career Day.
Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.