The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - June 10, 2009
Yankeetown Mayor s Report
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
A Guest Commentary by Dawn Clary
Letter to the Editor:
Legal Front - Our attorneys are in the process of attempting to arrange the ad-
Re: Tarmac Editorial Response
ministrative hearing to address the challenge by Izaak Walton Investors to the Depart-
WATER is the answer to Tarmac’s try at getting you to like their 100- year
ment of Community Affairs intent to find our recently submitted Comprehensive Plan
blasting a couple miles from four public water supplies. Swiftmud says that area
Amendment in compliance. At this time we have asked for an expedited hearing. The
aquifer is fed only by rainfall.  If the Nuke plants get built that’s lots more wa-
attorneys are now working on setting a date and place. Two proposed dates early in July
ter used, leaving nothing coming out of your faucet. Gov. Crist did add a few sen-
have been rejected by IWI. They also had objections to using the Lion’s Club build-
tences to statute 337.0261, which changes nothing that Tarmac can hang their hat on.
ing in Yankeetown citing numerous complaints about the condition of the building.
Tarmac asks in their permit request to wash their lime rock with 22 million/gals water
Weatherization Program - If your home is in need of improvement in the energy
a day and put 1000 rock trucks on #19 daily, and returning is another 1000. It takes 500 feet to
saving department and doesn’t hold its cool well, you may wish to attend the mid month
stop a rock truck so don’t try to cross on the green light at #40 as that truck cannot stop for you.
town council meeting on the 15th. Depending on your income and financial circumstances
Florida has many laws protecting your water, Levy County has a Wa-
you may be able to get help through the 2009 Florida State Weatherization Program which
ter Plan. Tarmac can go back to Greece when it all plays out, but where can you
has been funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Mr. Leon
go? F.A.C. 62-40.110 Declaration and intent: “The waters of the state are among
Gele of the Central Fl. Community Action Agency will make a presentation on this program.
its basic resources.  Such waters should be managed to conserve and protect natu-
Geocaching and the WGP - The Withlachoochee Gulf Preserve has been added to
ral resources and scenic beauty and to realize the full beneficial use of the resource.
an interesting program called geocaching which is a very high tech game of hide and seek.
Recognizing the importance of water to the state, the Legislature passed the Water Re-
A small cache is hidden on a particular site and then individuals use a GPS to try and find it.
sources Act, Chap. 373, and the Air and Water Pollution Control Act. Chap.403. The
Apparently people set up these sites all over the world. As I understand it there is usually not
State Comp Plan, Chap. 187 addresses water resources and natural systems protection”
anything of value in the caches but something like a trinket. The reward is just the fun of finding
“Waters in the state means any and all water on or beneath the surface of the
it. Anyway it is something that may be useful in helping people discover and enjoy our park.
ground or in the atmosphere, including natural or artificial watercourses, lakes, ponds,
Green Business Summit - I attended a “Green” business conference/seminar
or diffused surface water and water percolating, standing, or flowing beneath the sur-
last week at the Central Florida Central College (CFCC).  ’Green” in this case was a
face of the ground, as well as all coastal waters within the jurisdiction of the state.”
term used for businesses that conserve energy, or contribute to the sustainability of our
Before Tarmac can begin, the Levy County Commission will be asked to re-
resources such as recycling businesses. CFCC is now offering courses such as the Fun-
zone the leased 10,000 acres with a special exception. Their answer supersedes fed-
damentals of Solar Water Heating as it is projected that there will be jobs in the area of
eral and state permits. There’s no shortage of road building material or Holcim rock
“green” technology. If interested in pursuing a job in this area, check out CFCC’s schedule.
mine on the Barge Canal would not export all their rock out of state.Betty Berger, Inglis.
Planning & Zoning Commission Resignation - I regret to report that Ms. Wendy
Letter to the Editor:
Allison has resigned her position from the P& Z Commission. Ms. Allison had only been
Re: Mining Industry HB 5013 /SB360
on the commission for a couple months and brought a wealth of talents that were considered
It is quite predictable in Florida that when industries are affected by a new legislative
to have the potential to be a huge asset to the Commission such as her extensive education,
bill, they interpret it as a green light to avoid previous state and federal laws. The in-
and experience in education and administration. She also had experience with things that
dustry spends a fortune lobbying for such legislation and naturally expects a payback.
cannot be learned in school such as her insight into the commercial fishing industry. Ms.
Mr. Townsend's editorial on June 3 gleefully trumpets the effects of the shell-
Allison cited family obligations as the reason for the resignation and we will miss her but
game that has been played upon the unwitting residents of this over developed state.
can understand her priorities. The rose is the birth flower for the month of June.Good Night
Ironically, Mr. Townsend attended a meeting where the CEO of the Florida
and Good Luck, Dawn Marie Clary, Mayor of Yankeetown.
Turnpike Enterprise advised that the state does not have any money to build new roads.
Why You Should Eat Local At El Ranchito Restaurant
Incomprehensibly the two bills passed also eliminate the requirement for developers to
A dollar spent at a locally owned store is usually spent six to 15 times before it leaves
build new roads to support new development. So where is the need for this aggregate?
The US Census Bureau publishes export data annually, the report
the community. One dollar generates or creates $5-$14 in value within the community. From
shows for the past years the steady increase of aggregate being exported out of
a dollar spent at a national chain store, 80 percent leaves town immediately. (Source: a quote
the state of Florida. This is because Florida doesn’t need the rock it produces.
from Tom Mitchell of E Magazine, taken from Northwest Institute's Choices for Sustainable
Mr. Townsend fails to mention that Tarmac needs changes in zoning and
Living discussion course book.)
many permits because of all the degradation it will cause to this area. Their permits
mince words sometimes claiming to consume only 120,000 gallons of water a day,
yet they would be using 23 million gallons of water a day to wash rocks. This would
be done on environmentally sensitive lands, including wetlands that protect our aqui-
fer and Waccassassa Bay. The loss of fishing and hunting lands would be forever.
The filth, noise, water degradation, loss of wetlands, increased traf-
Restaurant
fic, safety problems and addition of 800 dump trucks per day thundering through
the cities of Inglis and Crystal River will have the potential to chase business from
The Best Mexican Cuisine South of the Border!
these communities and limit new business from coming to these communities.
Crystal Terrace Shopping Center • N.E. of Big Lots & Post Office
Our water and natural beauty is more valuable than the one cent per pound of
rock that will be hauled away forever by a company that doesn’t even own any land here
445 N.E. 1st Terrace • Crystal River, Florida
and will not pay any ad valorem taxes to support the communities they plan to devastate.
HOURS:
We live in the last area of unspoiled Florida. If you want to enjoy it in the future,
Monday-Thursday
you must express your feelings to the Levy County Board of Commissioners’ and the Army
11 am - 2 pm & 5 - 9 pm
Corp of Engineers. If you want to see your water vanish, your Nature Coast disappear and
Friday
your natural resources shipped away, along with the profits going to a foreign country, re-
11 am - 2 pm & 5 - 10 pm
Yes,
Saturday
main silent and do not complain when it is too late.
r
e
Dinn
W
Beer  e Have
Noon - 10 pm
Jack Schofield,Yankeetown
h&
&W
unc erved
Sunday
L
ine!
ew! email news to: news@thenewscaster.com
S
Noon - 9 pm
Dine-In or Take-Out - Call 352-795-5251
N
Inglis
Shannon Adams,Realtor
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