The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - January 13, 2010
Yankeetown Mayor’s Report
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
A Guest Commentary by Dawn Clary
Letter to the Editor:
Arsenic Report - The Department of Environmental Protection has issued a notice
Re:Who Do YOU think You Are?
with its proposed actions on the arsenic contamination on the old Saxon property at Cr 40
Government employees had to work a full day December 23rd…Inglis Didn’t.
and 50th Street. The report was issued to Mr. Vic Wickman of Wickman Powerboats who
Most Government employees had to work a full day December 24th….Inglis Didn’t. Most
now owns the property. The DEP based its opinion on an analysis performed by Geosyntec
Government employees had to work a full day December 31st…Inglis Didn’t. Why, you
Consultants who were apparently hired to study and evaluate the situation. The conclusion
ask? Because the Mayor of Inglis Felt they work so hard (while on a 4 day work week as it
is that the Arsenic would natural attenuate “All detected levels are within FDEP natural at-
is) they deserve it. Does he write or sign the checks to those 12 employees?
tenuation criteria.” Citizens in this area are all on the town water system. The town’s water
No, he doesn’t. You, me, and the rest of the folks who pay taxes, assessments and
system was tested for Arsenic in June of 2009. The test results were .00079 mg/L. The limit
fees to the town of Inglis do. Quick math 12 employees x $12.00 an hour = $144. x 10 hrs
is .01 mg/L. The FDEP report and the test results are available at town hall and on the town
(per ‘work day’), $1440. x 2.5 Work Days = $3600.00.
website. Contact town hall if you have questions. I have asked the Assistant Town Attorney
You want to know why You have the 2nd highest millage rate in Levy County as
to prepare an explanation of this issue. As I have understood it, the owner is responsible for
tax payers in this town? I give You one answer…Mayor Bill Lake, who didn’t have permis-
pursuing this problem which Mr. Wickman, to his credit, has done.
sion, authorization, or even the job description to GIVE AWAY YOUR MONEY. Welcome
Cold Weather Challenge - The Yankeetown water department had their hands full
to “Lake-ville”. What do You do when Your ‘Lake’ Becomes a Swamp? Drain it.
this week with the extreme cold weather. They have had to beef up their cold weather pro-
I really appreciate the people who work for the Town of Inglis but we do not need
cedures. They worked overtime to erect a small garden shed over some outdoor instrument
the Mayor buttering them up because occasionally he wants to have a screaming fit in town
lines which needed more protection than tenting. Also some of the equipment has required
draining. So far the plant has sustained minimal problems due to the staffs attentiveness and
hall or smoke in government buildings or all of the other absurd things like trying to buy
water supply has been uninterrupted. Special Thanx to Volunteer Rob Kubistek for pitching
property from a salesman (Brown project we wasted 10,000 to 12,000 dollars on, Mr. Brown
in also.
is now currently incarcerated). If Bill Lake gave them the days off the Commission should
Help - During this extreme weather if you are unable to make your utility bill
require him to pay the hours out of his pocket, then next time he would ask the people in
during this very cold weather, you may wish to contact the Central Florida Community Ac-
charge (the commission makes all of these decisions for the Town of Inglis and its employ-
tion Agency at 352-493-1732. They administer the Low Income Home Energy Assistance
ees) or is the Mayor in charge as he thinks.
Drew White, Inglis
Program (LIHEAP) which assists low-income households meet their home energy needs. It
may provide several types of assistance. They have an office in Chiefland. As of this writing
Town of Yankeetown Response to January 6, 2010
I have not been able to verify whether or not they help with water bills also, but town hall is
Letter to Editor
looking for an agency to refer people to who are having problems making their water bills.
Good Night and Good Luck, Dawn Marie Clary, Mayor of Yankeetown
The Town of Yankeetown has asked me to respond to a paid announcement ap-
Letter to the Editor:
peared in the January 6, 2010 Newscaster implying that the Town of Yankeetown is some-
I am writing to show my support for my good friend, Sammy Yearty. I have known
how remiss in their responsibility with regard to the assessment and remediation of arsenic
Sammy, his Father and Mother, and his family for more than 60 years. I watched him grow
contamination at the privately-held “Wickman/Saxon Oil” property. In fact, the Town has
up and was pleased 30 years ago when he turned to serving Levy County government just
taken appropriate actions and continues to receive regular updates from the State DEP on
as his father had. More and more, public service is not an easy path for one to choose.
the remediation of this site.
When Sammy brought transportation for disadvantaged persons like myself to
First and foremost, the Town of Yankeetown has tested the potable water at the
Levy County, I agreed to serve on the committee with him. The program has been very
newly-updated water supply plant using the Federal Environmental Protection Agency’s
successful and has opened many doors for disabled persons. Sammy and his wife helped
approved test method for Arsenic. The level of arsenic 0.00079 was barely detectable and
promote the Levy County Archives Committee when we wanted to publish the history of
just above extremely-sensitive detection level of 0.00072 mg/L, but exponentially far below
Levy County. If it had not been for Sammy’s efforts, Levy County would not have their
and well within the Safe Drinking Water maximum contaminant level of 0.010 mg/L.
own county library system, saving thousands of dollars and providing new literacy opportu-
Secondly, with regard to the remediation of the privately-owned “Wickman/Saxon
nities for local residents. Not only does Sammy talk the talk, but he walks the walk. In all
Oil” property, the State of Florida, Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) estab-
the years I have lived in Levy County, I have not known anyone who cares more about this
lishes standards and regulates the assessment and remediation of soil and groundwater con-
Very truly yours, Lindon J. Lindsey,Chiefland
county and its people.
tamination. FDEP has jurisdiction over the assessment and remediation of contamination at
the Wickman site. FDEP is also aware of the location of the Wickman site in relation to the
BANK WANTS THIS ONE SOLD!
Town water supply and has taken this into active consideration. FDEP’s December 7, 2009
Report on the Wickman Site found that the residual levels of arsenic were the “result of
GREATLY REDUCED WATERFRONT
geochemical impacts from the remediation process and are expected to naturally attenuate.”
on canal to Gulf of Mexico just reduced to $85,000 this is
FDEP’s December 7, 2009 again clearly notes in section 6 “Additional Comments”
the least expensive in town!! Fea-
that “all detected concentrations are within FDEP natural attenuation criteria.” Perhaps the
confusion lies within the use of the term “Natural Attenuation.” Natural attenuation is based
tures 2 bedrooms, large enclosed
on the site’s intrinsic assimilative capacity and allows for in-situ (in-place) remediation of
porch, tile flooring with berber in
contaminants. Natural attenuation of Arsenic works as Arsenic adsorbs (adheres) to solids
immobilizing Arsenic in soils and removing it from groundwater. Natural organic matter
bedrooms plus a nice dock. This
commonly associated with soils, clays and aquifer sediments, hydroxides of iron, alumi-
is your opportunity to afford wa-
num, manganese, clay and sulfide minerals have all been shown to be significant Arsenic
terfront living! $85,000!!!! Do
adsorbents. Natural Attenuation is also influenced by site geochemical conditions such as
pH. Microbial activity may also catalyze the transformation of Arsenic. Based on the levels
not delay!!!
detected and the site characteristics, FDEP found that Arsenic was within natural attenua-
tion criteria at the Wickman site.
Diamond Investments, Inc.
352-447-4442
Although the Wickman site is expected to naturally attenuate based on existing site
Darryl A. Diamond
geochemical characteristics, your readers may find it interesting to know that in 2001 just
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Call Shirley at 352 400-0301
up the road in Gainesville, several University of Florida researchers discovered a hardy,
Real Estate Investment Consultant
Darryl & Vicki Diamond & Shirley
versatile, fast-growing species of brake fern that is capable of removing Arsenic from con-
www.diamondhomesandland.com
“The Diamond Team”
Continued on page 12 - Response
Inglis
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