The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - January 28, 2009
Letter to the Editor:
Yankeetown Mayor’s Report
Re: Yankeetown's Future?
A Guest Commentary by Dawn Clary
A recent letter accused the Town Counil of being "INTENT on destroying Yankeetown's
Yankeetown has received our written clearance from the Department of Environmental
future." What possible motivation could folks have for that nonsense?
Protection for the new water plant to supply water to town. This means that as soon as the
Many think the future would be especially dire by the appearance of several hundred
plant completes its functional testing, it can be put on line. Functional testing is underway
condos plus thousands of new transients and time-share residents. Others think condos are
and is projected to be completed within the next few weeks. There appears to be a great deal
good for Yankeetown (think personal profit). THAT is the real issue, not Progress Energy
of misinformation being generated concerning the new water plant. I would like to make it
(P.E) and their mythical funding of our "projects." Please consider the following:
clear that the new design will eliminate the Trihalomethane contaminate problem. Eliminating
* Yankeetown is NOT a P.E. customer. I submit that neither their customers in Inglis nor the
this problem was the sole purpose for the 85% grant that we were given from the DEP. The
Public Service Commission would feel it is good policy for others to pay for Yankeetown's
DEP conducted a walk down of the plant for the purpose of verifying that we had built a
infrastructure.
system with a design which would produce water meeting all water quality standards. They
* Yankeetown's old water plant was under a DEP consent order, so if the Town wanted to
have apparently agreed that we have as they are "clearing this facility for service". Within a
wait for the P.E. tooth fairy to pay for it, the Town not only stood to lose a $5 MILLION dollar
few weeks, Trihalomethanes and disinfection by-products will no longer be an issue, our
grant but would also pay daily DEP fines. The new water plant was oversized by pro-condo
water will be in compliance all DEP water quality standards.
folks in early 2006 and now we're paying for it in our water bills.
There have also have been, for some reason, a lot of questions concerning the level
* The Town HAS contacted P.E. regarding a regional wastewater system. P.E. has NOT
of Arsenic in the water. The town reported the level of Arsenic in the town's water supply in
expressed any interest in working with the Town. Even if a plant were available, there's the
the last Water Quality Report, as LOWER than the level allowed by a factor of 20. The town is
issue of funding the collection system. A recent wastewater project at Chassowitzka, hooking
not in violation of water standards with this contaminate.
up 600+ residents to an EXISTING sewer plant, cost $12 MILLION. Even if grants were
Costs of the water plant have been asked about a great deal lately. Comparing costs
available, a large portion will still be paid by Yankeetown residents. Besides, it's not coinci-
of the new as built water plant, with other alternatives is very difficult. You always have the
dental that the sewer system some desperately want for personal gain would open the door
problem of making sure that you are comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges to
for build-out.
grapes to flying pigs. You have to be careful that you are not comparing construction costs
And where would the considerable dollars come from for a police force? Our taxes, of
only, to the total package cost which would include the land for the spray field, administrative
course.
costs etc. You also must be sure that you are making comparisons in the same dollars. An
Yankeetown Council is accused of single-handedly ruining the national economy and
even bigger impact was the costs identified when transitioning from a block diagram concep-
of course that of Yankeetown. Uncontrolled growth would cost us taxpayers so much that we
tional design to a detailed final design. Remember that the plant design proposed in 2005 also
will no longer be able to afford to live here. If people can't pay for water bills, where will the
had a Reverse Osmosis system. Therefore it would have gone through the same process of
money come from for a $20,000 sewer hookup, hook-and-ladder fire trucks, a police force and
design finalization which would have incurred essentially the same increase in cost. The
road improvements to handle the hordes? For sure, not from transients or Ohioans.
bidding process is significant because it is a reality check by yielding what someone is
Edward Candela,Yankeetown
actually willing to build the plant for. Comparing the present as built plant with alternatives
that were not selected cannot be done until they have been adjusted for the relative change
A MEMORIAL SERVICE For Herbert " Clyde " Kirkland Who Went To
which occurs when going through the bidding process, design finalization to building. Use
His Heavenly Home will be held JANUARY 20, 2009. Clyde was Past
figures RESPONSIBLY.
Commander of Gilley-Long-Osteen VFW Post 8698 1992-1993 We Want
A bizarre rumor is going around that the water plant is built on a "brown field". THIS
To Welcome You To his MEMORIAL OF LIFE, Sunday February 8th,
IS NOT TRUE. Remember to vote on February 24th. Good Night and Good Luck, Dawn Marie
2009,4:00 pm at VFW Post 8698,520 Highway 40 East Inglis, Florida.
Clary, Mayor of Yankeetown
Covered Dish Welcomed.
email your news to: newscast@atlantic.net
Friends of Library Get Ready for Special Speaker
Have you noticed the bustle down at the Knotts Library in Yankeetown? The Friends
of the Library are dusting and cleaning to get ready for the Paul Dorsal program. He will be the
speaker at the Friends annual meeting that they have about this time every year. In the past,
they have had some really good programs about Florida sponsored by the Florida Humanities
Council - steamboats on Florida rivers, submarines in the Atlantic, and even Florida Crackers.
This year should be no exception. Paul Dosal, a third generation descendent of
Cuban immigrants, will speak January 30 at 2 p.m at the library, located at 11 56th Street in
Yankeetown. Since his topic is Florida and the Caribbean - From Ponce de Leon to Hugo
Home of the Deep Fried Turkey
Chavez, the Friends are checking their cookbooks for some Caribbean foods to to serve after
14 u.s. Hwy. 19 N. (S.R. 55) • Inglis, FL
the meeting. The program is free, everybody is invited, and the food is always good.
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