The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - April 16, 2008
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
Letter to the Editor:
Re: Progress energy input deadline for interveners testimony and exhibits-- Apr. 16
1) WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED OF THESE DEADLINES, MEETINGS AND
Yankeetown Mayor's Report
DATES. SINCE IT IS OURAREAAFFECTED. THE MEETING SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOCAL
OR ONEALSO SCHEDULED LOCALLY FOR CITIZEN AFFECTED FOR INPUT INSTEAD
A Guest Commentary by Mayor Dawn Clary
OF AT THE PLANTATION INN CRYSTAL RIVER AND NOT KNOWING THE DEADLINES.
Sewage, and what to do with it, seems to be the topic of the day. I would like to
I JUST GOT THESE DEADLINES ON THE 16TH WHICH IS THE DEADLINE FOR INTER-
comment that our Zoning Official denied the waste water treatment plant proposed by Izaak
VENERS TESTIMONYAND EXHIBITS.
Walton Investors. If anyone would like to see her comprehensive report on their entire
2) BEING FOR OR AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER IS NOT THE QUESTION. It is
project, it is available at town hall. Hopefully, I will be able to have it posted on the Yankee-
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION WATER WATER WATER!
town site. If you would like a hard copy, the whole report is 88 pages including attachments
3) Many local citizens just got done presenting a strong case against Tarmac Mines
and the portion on the WWTP parcel, application 06-12 is only about 9 pages. Also in town
just across Hwy 19 north of Inglis from where the proposed site is for the 2 Nuke Plants.
hall is a very good report published by the Bureau of Onsite Sewage Programs, Division of
Except for the trucks, many of the issues brought forward are exactly the same when it comes
Environmental Health Florida Department of Health, on the Wekiva Basin onsite sewage
to environmentally sensitive land and stress on the aquifer. Water is precious and we can not
disposal. It is an interesting look at onsite sewage disposal (septics) verses sewer systems
live without it. I believe that the PE location would be more in line with our town well sites than
and has some good information on the subject. It is worth a read as the decisions that are
even the mines. Any excess water drawn will have an effect on our future water supply, be it
made in this area have serious consequences both environmentally and financially. The
from salt water intrusion from the Gulf or just over extracting when droughts are unpredict-
report is 21 pages long and available at town hall for only 15 cents a page if you want a hard
able but very real. No figures pertaining to aquifer usage water has been given that I can find,
copy. That's a good deal for so much knowledge.
just amount of salt water taken from the barge canal for cooling. Fresh water has to be used
The town's yearly audit has been completed by Davis Monk, it looks good. Our
not only for plant housekeeping but a major amount to dilute that salty solution from
accountant Mr. Robert Beauchamp will be at the April 21st midmonth meeting to present the
the cooling back to acceptable levels to put it back in the Gulf or it will affect the marine life.
report.
That is a lot of property and there is no telling what else would be built on it that would also
On the legal front, the Town Council voted unanimously to have Dale Scott, our
use ground water. Water is not forever.
insurance attorney, continue to represent the town in the case of Mazzuca Vs. Yankeetown
4) Evacuation routes in an emergency. YANKEETOWN SCHOOL EVACUATION
should our insurance coverage be exhausted in this case. Carl Mazzuca, a Yankeetown resi-
ROUTE IS NORTH ON HWY 19 TO BRONSON OR WILLISTON. (right toward the plant site)
dent, has challenged the election procedure for the charter amendments which were approved
Where does Yankeetown and west Inglis evacuate to in an emergency. (West by boat?) IF
by the voters in the last election. They are informally called the hometown democracy amend-
THERE EVER WASAN EMERGENCYAND THE WARNING SYSTEM SPEAKERS NOTIFY
ments as most of them dealt with giving the citizens of the community a vote on certain land
US, HOW WILLWE KNOW IN PANIC WHICH PLANT IS AFFECTED AND WHERE TO GO
use issues. They have also been referred to as direct democracy amendments meaning that
SINCE WE WILL BE SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE 2 SITES NORTHAND SOUTH OF US?
individuals get to vote directly on specific issues. While the Levy County Court Judge ruled
5) I have heard but have no proof that the transmission line corridors are extra wide
in the town's favor, the appeal of his decision could mean that the town will have to expend
to provide for water transmission. It was printed that with new alignments and control over
more funds should the insurance cap be hit. Mazzuca's attorney has indicated that they will
water, water from Lake Rousseau WILL be piped out to supply those east of us running out
appeal the court's decision.
of water again at our loss. Our lower Withlacoochee River (Outstanding Florida Waterway)
Also, we have been informed that the Levy County Court decision for Yankeetown
gets it's fresh water flow from Lake Rousseau. Salt water intrusion is I have heard found east
in the Wickman case, Sherwood Partners Vs. Yankeetown will be appealed. This case in-
of the Hwy 19 bridge in Inglis. At the Dunnellon meeting of PE transmission lines it seems that
volved the zoning on the old Saxon oil property. Sherwood Partners, Jim Sherwood had
multiple corridors went directly toward south Marion County and The Villages. AGAIN..
maintained that a non-conforming use had been continued all these years and that he was
WHY DO WE PAY THE PRICE??? WILL OUR WATER BE TAKEN WITH THE POWER?
allowed commercial usage. Our attorney has yet to see on what grounds they have appealed.
6) The Transmission Line Corridor maps and pictures are very scary, with no idea
Special Thanx this week goes to all the "Preservateers" who helped with the Open Gate Days
where all they will run and electromagnetic fields, I feel are a REAL health issue and should be
at the Withlacoochee Preserve, the event would not have been possible without you guys.
taken into consideration.
7) If the need for power and water is great over at the Villages and else where that
Letter to the Editor:
construction and growth are not being controlled then let that area solve their own problems
RE: Package Sewer Plants
and not put the burden on South Levy County to supply over built Florida POWER AND
I attended a presentation given by IWI on Thursday, April 10. There were things
ROCKS TO KEEP BUILDING at our expense of our water and environment. Tax payers in
said I feel were misrepresentations.
South Levy don't care about the tax dollars Levy County will get at our destruction. IF IT HAS
The first and foremost is that Yankeetown decided on it's own to require perfor-
TO BE IN OUR COUNTY THEN DO LIKE CITRUS AND PUT IT AT THE WATER FRONT
mance-based systems for new and replacement systems. That is not true - there is heavy
WHERE YOU WILL DRAW THE SALT WATER FROM, NOT INLAND IN LINE WITH OUR
pressure throughout the state from DCA to require those. Levy, Citrus, Wakulla and Marion
AQUIFER FLOW WEST TO OUR TOWN WELL FIELDS AND LOCK US IN WITH NO
require them now, and according to DCA, 5 more counties are in the process.
ESCAPE ROUTE IN AN EMERGENCY. IT IS GREAT THAT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR -
Next is the relative cost. A wide range of $10 to $15 thousand was presented. Again,
TO SEE IF OUR ELECTED LEADERS RIGHT DOWN TO COUNTY ARE GOING TO
according to DCA, the average is under $10,000 (down to $7,300 in Wakulla County- less than
PROTECT SOUTH LEVY OR SELLUS OUT.
IWI is stating a hookup to their plant would be). It is important to point out that the cost
8) I AM NOT ASKING.. BUT BEGGING FOR MORE UPFRONT OPEN HONEST
difference compared to a standard mound system was NOT presented. There is NO DIFFER-
INFORMATION PERTAINING TO OUR SENSITIVE AREAAND AQUIFER USE, MORE
ENCE in the drain field requirements. True, they require annual maintenance, but that cost is
STUDY, MORE CITIZEN INPUT. IT IS NOT NUKES.. IT IS CONSIDERATION
comparable to the estimated fees we would pay for the private, for-profit alternative that was
OF LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION! WATER WATER WATER!
presented.
Sally Price, Inglis (Sally Price can be reached at 352-447-4444)
Next is the "grant-mill" (free money) that we could access only with IWI's help that
would lower costs for all. That revenue source is available without their "help." They gave no
Paid Announcement, Paid For and Approved by Sally Price
specific experience or success they have had in the past with procuring such grants.
They call their package plant "central sewer." Every local government in Florida
No one asked IWI what would happen if the valve failed which connects one's
makes a strong distinction between the two. A "central system" has a much higher degree of
house to the forced main (pressurized) system. Imagine, if you will, that scenario.Package
treatment and capacity and is typically operated by governments. Package plants are viewed
plants run mostly unattended. Imagine also what happens when, not if, something goes
at best as temporary and low-volume fill-ins until a central system is available. Many govern-
wrong and no one is there to solve the problem. Mr. Sherwood stated that he could prove that
ments, including those of other states, ban package plants outright because of their dismal
85-90% of Yankeetown septic systems are failing. I look forward to that evidence.Finally, they
operating history. DCA has said they will not approve a comprehensive plan amendment
forgot the true cost of the package plant: 200 condos, dry-rack boat storage and the loss of
(which IWI would need) that would involve a package plant in a coastal high hazard area.
our way-of-life.
Patricia Candela, Yankeetown
NAPA Auto &
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