The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - June 3, 2009
Yankeetown Mayor s Report
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
A Guest Commentary by Dawn Clary
Tarmac welcomes law defining aggregate mining
It’s HERE. Hurricane season that is. Hard to believe that a year has gone by so quick.
There are a lot of theories as to why time goes so fast when you get ...older. One is that a year
as “critical industry”
becomes a proportionately smaller and smaller part of your life already lived. But what ever
the reason, it’s again time to get prepared for the next round with Mother Nature. Last week
Guest Commentary by Albert Townsend, director of Real Estate and
I attended a hurricane drill at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Bronson. They
Environmental Services for Tarmac America
had assembled governmental and emergency agencies from all over the county to respond
We at Tarmac America are very pleased with Gov. Crist’s signing into law of
to a theoretical storm named “Suiter”. The group ranged from a County Commissioner to a
House Bill 5013 which recognizes the vital need for construction aggregate materials
Progress Energy representative knowledgeable about the electrical distribution system and
obtained from Florida sources, and also designates the construction mining industry as
the problems of resurrecting them. The following are some important points to think about.
one of critical importance to the state. The demand for construction grade aggregate -- a
SPECIAL NEEDS If you are an individual who has special needs such as need-
vital building component -- will be even greater in the coming years as Florida embarks on
ing help to evacuate your home before a hurricane, or transportation to a shelter, please
an ambitious building program under the American Recovery Reinvestment Act of 2009.
contact the town hall and have your name put on the “Special Needs” list. The Yan-
Tarmac is currently seeking federal, state and local permits to open the King
keetown Fire Department maintains a list of special needs people and assists these people
Road Mine in Levy County, with plans to begin producing construction grade limestone
as needed. Also the county Emergency Management supplies support to help in this area.
aggregate in 2012. Plans are to produce approximately three (3) million tons of ag-
THREE DAYS It cannot be stressed enough, that everyone needs to prepare for
gregate each year to be used in the building of roads, schools, homes and commercial
being without a supply of food or water for at least three days. Governmental infrastructure
development throughout west central Florida. Having a local source of aggregate, which
and personnel are not magically immune from the effects of any given disaster or will have
is the intent of House Bill 5013, will avoid a disruption of supply of this much-needed
an enormous amount of tasks before them. Therefore, depending on the circumstances,
resource, as well as hold down the overall cost of construction projects in the region.
it may be some time before help can be in place. Stocking up on necessities is a must.
The limestone aggregate found in southern Levy County is one of
NO GO AFTER 40 Many people do not realize that there comes a point where it
the few remaining sources for this material in Florida, and the King Road
is too dangerous for emergency vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks, to respond. Depending
Mine will be the only active construction grade aggregate mine in the county.
on the size of the vehicle, the no go threshold is 40 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour
About Tarmac America: Since the 1980s, Tarmac has been a leading sup-
for the larger vehicles. This means that if you do not evacuate when an evacuation is
plier of construction materials in Florida. The company employs approximately
called, and then later get into trouble when the storm is upon us, you may be on your own.
1,000 people in its quarry, concrete-block, ready-mix concrete, sand and transporta-
GETTING BACK IN This year, you will need a re-entry sticker on
tion facilities across the state. The Florida operations are based in Deerfield Beach.
your car to get back in after a storm or flooding event evacuation. This pro-
Editor’s Note: Gov. Charlie Crist signed HB 5013 into law on Wednesday, May
gram was instituted to protect the town from looting and also to protect residents
27, with the following Legislative Intent: The Legislature finds that there is a strategic and
from re-entering if it is not safe. Re-entry stickers are available at town hall.
critical need for an available supply of construction aggregate materials within the state and
YOUR POD Local emergency supplies are coordinated at centers
that a disruption of the supply would cause a significant detriment to the state’s construc-
called Points Of Distribution (POD). Our POD is the Yankeetown Fire Station.
tion industry, transportation system, and overall health, safety, and welfare.In addition, the
NO ICE. Just so you know, ice will not be supplied this year by the
Legislature recognizes that construction aggregate materials mining is an industry of criti-
governmental emergency response agencies.
If you remember previously,
cal importance to the state and that the mining of construction aggregate materials is in the
ice was handed out after the storms, along with water. Ice is not now consid-
public interest.
ered a necessity and it is very hard to manage, so it has been discontinued.
FWC to hold listening session’ on human
Good Night and Good Luck, Dawn Marie Clary, Mayor of Yankeetown
"Greater Bronson Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Drive"
& manatee interaction in Crystal River
The Greater Bronson Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to this membership
Concerned about human/manatee interactions in the Crystal River area?
drive and having local community people and other businesses to get involved and join us
Would you like to learn about the harassment laws covering these interactions?
in the fun. 2009, We are now meeting at 11:30 am- 12: 30 pm at the Old Town Hall at 660
If the answer is “yes,” you will have the opportunity to find out more at
E. Hathaway Avenue/Main Street Bronson, Fla. The 3 rd Friday of every month. Our next
a “listening session” held by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis-
meeting is June 19, 2009. Call The Greater Bronson Area Chamber of Commerce at 352
sion (FWC), in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
486-1132.
The session is scheduled for June 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Plantation Golf Re-
sort & Spa, 9301 West Fort Island Trail, Crystal River. The public is invited.
“Our goal is to gather information on human/manatee interactions in the Crystal Riv-
er area and review harassment laws as they apply to these interactions,” said Maj. Lee Beach,
regional commander for the FWC’s North Central Region. “Among other possible outcomes,
Restaurant
we hope to gather ideas on ways to better manage interactions between humans and manatees.”
The format for these sessions is a short overview of the cur-
The Best Mexican Cuisine South of the Border!
rent
situation,
followed
by
a
facilitated
discussion.
Crystal Terrace Shopping Center • N.E. of Big Lots & Post Office
FWC and USFWS staff hope to learn more about users’ perspectives
on current human/manatee interactions in the Crystal River area, their rec-
445 N.E. 1st Terrace • Crystal River, Florida
ommendations for changes, if any, and users’ recommendations for long-
HOURS:
term plans related to human/manatee interactions in the Crystal River area.
Monday-Thursday
“The sessions will be designed to explore these topics and other issues of in-
11 am - 2 pm & 5 - 9 pm
Friday
terest to the participants,” Beach said. “There are no pre-determined solutions.”
11 am - 2 pm & 5 - 10 pm
For a copy of the agenda, send an e-mail to manatee.interaction@MyFWC.com.
Yes,
Saturday
r
inne
Any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this
W
Beer e Have
D
Noon - 10 pm
ch & ed
workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least five days be-
&W
Sunday
Lun erv
ine!
fore the workshop/meeting by contacting the FWC at 850-488-6411.
S
Noon - 9 pm
Dine-In or Take-Out - Call 352-795-5251
If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay
Service, 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (voice).
Inglis
Shannon Adams,Realtor
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