'Newspg11' by The Newscaster - Nature Coast News

The Newscaster/Nature Coast News

PAGE 11 - April 23, 2008

Editorial - Opinion - Commentary

A Critical Workforce Choice

Guest Commentary by Thomas ìRustyî Skinner

Yankeetown Mayor's Report

This is a critical time for our state. Our economy has created major budget issues

that our legislators are struggling to resolve. In this struggle to budget the state's limited

A Guest Commentary by Mayor Dawn Clary

resources, the workforce development system is in the middle of the fray.

It has been quiet in town hall lately. That is a rare but pleasant thing and probably

Since 1996, Florida's workforce system, composed of 24 local workforce organiza-

won't last long. Probably the most important event since I last wrote was the Florida Depart-

tions like CLM Workforce Connection have responded to the workforce needs of both our

ment of Environmental Protection permitting hearing on the Izaak Walton Investors proposed

business communities and those seeking employment. In the three-county area of Citrus,

wastewater treatment plant held on Monday the 14th. The FDEP took public comment on the

Levy and Marion Counties, our Workforce team has responded to the challenge of welfare

facility which will have a 150,000 gallon per day design capacity but the plant will be limited to

reform by reducing the caseload of welfare recipients by 90%.

100,000 gallons per day due to the inability of the percolation ponds to handle more at the

At the same time, we have worked with a number of businesses in our area to keep

current design. The facility is proposed for 12 acres on the north side of County Road 40

their current workforce trained and up-to-date in their skills, thereby assisting those busi-

approximately at 59th street. All significant comments, both written and orally presented at

nesses to "Stay Strong" in both the boom times and times like today, when all aspects of

the public meeting will be considered and addressed when deciding the final action, either to

business are being stressed. Since July 2007, over 274 employees in 26 local companies have

issue or deny. Comments and questions from both sides of issue ranged from the very

benefited from the coordination of CLM and our economic development and educational

technical to the philosophical. An independent technical analysis on the ability of the IWI

partners-CFCC and our three school boards.

percolation site to perk was presented. This second opinion predicted a much lower disposal

Our services and access to them are vital to those residents who are seeking employ-

capacity. Some individuals urged issuance of the permit because of problems with septic

ment. So far this fiscal year (July 2007-February 2008), we had 6,327 job seeker visits to our

tanks experienced during flooding. Comments were made that the Comprehensive Plan had

Citrus County One Stop; 1,887 visits to our Levy office; and, 32,274 at our Marion County One

supported a central sewer system. Another individual stated that this project was not a

Stop. This represents a 40% increase in customer visits over the same period last year. Over

central sewer system but a package plant to serve IWI's future project. The final action is the

12,000 "new applicants" sought our services during the same period.

next step which is the intent to either Issue or Deny the permit. This requires public notice in

In another service area, 290 professional and highly skilled technical applicants

the newspaper and affective parties will have 14 days to petition the FDEP for an administra-

found employment through our one stops since July 2007. Over the same period, our one stop

tive hearing.

workforce team has assisted over 2,400 people that have lost their jobs seek new opportuni-

To have the permit issued, IWI must prove with "reasonable assurance" that the

ties.

plant and its discharge will meet the ground or surface water standards of the state. The FDEP

Combined with national funding reductions, the state reductions affect both access

listened to everyone. I do not know how long it will take the FDEP to review and address the

and the quality of services. If over $20 million is cut from the state's workforce system by the

comments made at the hearing. At this time the wastewater treatment plant has been rejected

legislature, our one stop offices in Citrus and Levy Counties will be closed. Services will be

by our zoning official, as it does not meet Yankeetown's zoning or comprehensive plan. This

coordinated from the Marion County One Stop. This will turn back the clock on workforce

report is posted on the Yankeetown website. The FDEP permit would have no affect on the

services to a time before 1992. While many can use technology and the Internet to access job

town's zoning decision as to the viability of the project. There has been no interaction with

information, many cannot, or prefer the staff assistance available at our one stops.

this administration from IWI on the subject.

Today our legislators are being asked to weigh funding welfare payments for an

The DEP left many copies of an information sheet on the IWI draft permit, which

anticipated increase in welfare applicants, or a workforce system that can make them tax

gives the permitting process and some information on the key dates of interest, and some of

payers instead of welfare recipients. They are being asked to maintain an effective service to

the rules that the project must meet. If you would like one, stop by town hall. The sheet also

both employers and job seekers or return the workforce system to the days of the "unemploy-

gives contacts as follows:

ment office." We think that the choice is clear.

Contacts at the FDEP Northeast District for this project are Jeff Martin, Waste Water

Letter to the Editor:

Permitting Supervisor at 904-807-3314 and Melissa Long, Water Facilities Administrator 904-

Re: Riverfront Property Owners PROTEST Annexing Progress Energy 44 A. into Inglis

807-3301. Special Thanx this week goes to the person who donated a color printer to town

Regular Inglis Town Meeting May 13, 2008 I put it on the Agenda and request property

hall. It is greatly appreciated. Good Night and Good Luck, Dawn Marie Clary, Mayor

owners against annexation either be present or send letters to Mayor Risher .

Re: Letter from Progress Energy dated March 11, 2008 stating their requirements for

annexation from Levy County into Inglis. The second paragraph states:

"AMENABLE TO SUPPORT ANNEXATION IF WE WILL NOT BE FACED WITH

notifications via e-mail

RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD LIMIT THE FULL USE OF THE SITE IN THE FUTURE"

They also want a water system hook-up (reportedly a 6" line). We are in a Phase III

(Citrus County) In late March, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, working in partnership with

drought under Swiftmud warnings and cannot promise to compromise our water supply. Their

the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), added a powerful tool to its website to

present franchise runs for several more years but the above would be for 30 years.

help citizens stay in the loop regarding the addresses of sexual predators and offenders.

Jeff Lyash of Progress Energy told me that we'd have to agree to a generating plant on

Citizens can now sign up to receive e-mail alert notifications when a registered sexual offender

the site if we annexed them. Their letter specifies NO RESTRICTIONS so anything else could

or predator moves into their neighborhood or within a radius of any other designated loca-

also be planned. Surely Inglis would not sign a contract for such unknowns for a small

tion. Citizens can also opt to track address changes reported by selected registered offenders

amount of tax money. The resulting loss to riverfront value would be more than $100,000

or predators.

approximately. Natural gas is presently piped to the site for a generating unit, but the river is

FDLE developed the notification service at the direction of the Florida Legislature as

not a reliable cooling water source. Back-up oil tanks are available also.

part of the state's compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Act. Citizens may select an

Under Levy County Industrial Zoning NO generating unit would be allowed; it cannot

unlimited number of addresses and/or offenders and predators to track, and can update their

be within one mile of a subdivision or of a school and Levy noise limits are 55 decibels

selections at any time. The alert system will send e-mail notifications within 24 to 48 hours of

opposed to Inglis allowing 60 dba.

Betty Berger -Inglis

an address change to the state's registry. The service is offered statewide and at no charge.

Public Service Commission Hearing on Levy Nuclear Plant

To register for the service, simply visit the Sheriff's Office website at

www.sheriffcitrus.org. Click on the link (shown below) from the home page, or click on Sexual

The public is invited to attend the Florida Public Service Commission's service hear-

Offender Information from the home page to get signed up. You will be required to enter your

ing on Wednesday April 23 regarding Progress Energy Florida's proposal to build two nuclear-

e-mail address, then instructions will be sent to your inbox to finish the registration process.

fueled generating units at a new energy complex in Levy County. The new complex will be

This new tool is just one more way citizens can stay informed about the sexual

about 8 miles east of the Gulf of Mexico on Florida's west coast. The meeting will be at 4 p.m.

offenders/predators in their area. However, nothing takes the place of getting to know your

at the Plantation Golf Resort and Spa, Sable Conference Center, 9301 W. Fort Island Trail,

neighbors. For questions, or to schedule someone to speak to your organization about sexual

Crystal River. The service hearing will give the public the opportunity to present evidence

offenders/predators, please contact Lt. David DeCarlo at 352-726-4488.

and testimony concerning the need for the proposed generating additions.

NAPA Auto &

The Newscaster by Mail

Shannon Adams,Realtor

Truck Parts

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