The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - August 26, 2009
Yankeetown Mayor s Report
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
A Guest Commentary by Dawn Clary
“FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU,
We received unexpected good news Friday when Izaak Walton Investors/Sherwood
Partners hand delivered a letter to town hall stating that they were withdrawing their Bert J
FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME”
Harris Property Protection Act Pre-Suit Notice. Bert Harris is a vehicle for settling alleged
loses due to a governmental action. IWI and Sherwood Partners had claimed that there had
A Guest Commentary by Sally Price
been restrictions placed on their property in the past three years which have devalued their
Back in October of 2007 the new Yankeetown government initiated a referendum to
holdings in Yankeetown where they have proposed a condominium type project. This pro-
change the Town Charter under the promise that it would give voters a right to vote on
cess is different from other court actions we have had because actions are required before
proposed changes to their town and its future. I think they called it “HOMETOWN DE-
the suit is actually filed. A notice must be sent informing the governmental body that the
MOCRACY” after it was overwhelmingly approved by the voters in the October 2007
property owner intends to file suit. Then a 180 day clock starts during which settlement
Referendum. One of the sweeping changes gave the residents the “right to vote” on all
offers are to be explored. IWI/Sherwood partners stated that they have the intention of re-
future changes to the town’s Comprehensive Plan (this is the town’s master plan for all
submitting the notice at a later date but for now they have dropped the issue.
future development).
The Yacht Basin Park has been a very hot issue. It has been a problem starting with
Why was the effective date of this new, all important “voter right” DELAYED until
vagrancy. Then the gentleman on the other side had severe complaints about the noise and
October 1, 2008? This seemed very strange to me at the time because the town government
kids coming into his yard from the park. This individual stated we were operating a public
was in full swing changing all the rules (Comp Plan) to “stop the developer”. They were
nuisance and threatened legal action. His position was the original concept of the park was
serious about this and spared no expense. They hired two new zoning officials, and a third
for boat launching, fishing and picnicking, period. This got our town attorney involved. He
attorney (Ralf Brookes) to assist Town Attorney, Ken Warndstadt and pro bono attorney/
got concerned over liability issues. Kids continually climbed the town’s trees, jumping
developer Tim Haines (Grey Ackerman and Haines, P.A.) in crafting a new Comp Plan
from them and also dived/jumped from the fishing pier. We put up “no jumping” signs,
and other new ordinances (more rules) to lock down and protect the town from any outside
they were stolen. Individuals complained about swimming in the boat basin. When boats
influences. It now appears that the town government wanted enough time to make all of
came in, the kids would not get out of the way and these individuals were concerned about
their changes BEFORE allowing the residents an opportunity to exercise their new “voter
the danger of mixing props and swimmers. Reports of kids riding bikes off the boat dock
right”. The town gave itself a full year to amend the existing Plan. The new proposed
further promoted an out of control problem. There seemed to be no way to just have peaceful
Plan is so chocked full of “new rules” that it would not only eliminate the prospect of any
swimming. On advice from the town attorney an ordinance was proposed which prohibited
economically viable business from ever coming to Yankeetown in your lifetime, but stop
swimming at the park, BUT it is not final yet, hearings have been scheduled.
you from doing just about anything except breathing including building or repairing your
An incident occurred which has been the subject of letters to the editor involving the
dock, trimming your bushes, building a fence and now even stopping your children from
closing of the park so that we could prune trees. We had chain saws running and town trucks
swimming in the river.
in the middle of the park with a strain on ropes to move the limbs. An individual wanted to
Well, sometimes “the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray”. In this case,
come into the park with children and wasn’t taking no for an answer. We did not consider it
the town government’s plan to stop development is having some very unintended results.
safe. The police were called when it appeared that the individual was on the phone rallying
Think back before 2005. Is Yankeetown a better place to live today? Do you like all of
more kids to come to the park even though it was closed.
the new rules? Did your neighbor just flip you off again this morning or just ignore you all
Everyone needs to put this in perspective. Petitions are good, discussions at council
together?
meetings are good but please stick to the issues. What do you really teach children if false
I remember back in early September 2008 (one month BEFORE our “new voter right”
accusations are made simply to bully officials? Good Night and Good Luck, Dawn Marie
to approve Comp Plan changes went into effect) the town officials were in a panic. They
Clary, Mayor of Yankeetown
were running out of time to get their Amended Comp Plan adopted BEFORE the October
Comments On The Tarmac Mine Poll
1, 2008 effective date kicked in which would have forced them to hold a public referendum
allowing the residents a chance to vote on their changes to the Comp Plan. After over 33
Cross City - Via Voicemail: My name is Joyce Tarno and i just voted against the tarmac
months of hard work, they were not about to allow the voter a chance to screw it up! So on
mine being started in Inglis. Thank you.
September 22nd they held a public hearing and quietly passed their Plan without interfer-
Beverly Hills -via voicemail: Hello this is Teresa Waldren. I’m calling for the nature coast
ence. On September 27th t they made some additional changes in a letter to DCA (without
group of the Sierra club. Our members do believe that the Tarmac mine is totally unneces-
the required public hearing) and transmitted both documents to DCA for approval
sary and we do not approve of it. We want everything stopped and this is in response to
On November 17, 2008 DCA attorney, Leslie Bryson, sent an e-mail to town officials
the online poll being skewed. We have over 1000 members and we are located in Citrus
outlining a problem DCA had with what the town had adopted.The e-mail was very clear.
Hernando and Pasco County.
The Plan adopted by the town council on September 22nd along with some subsequent
Yankeetown - via voicemail: Hi, my name is Lynn Drake and I own property at 6110
changes outlined in a September 27 letter had been adopted by the town in the absence of
N. Riverside drive in Yankeetown and voting no , NO on the Tarmac mine poll. I
a settlement agreement with DCA and therefore the Plan as submitted was not acceptable
do own property in Yankeetown, thank you.
to DCA. DCA instructed the town to merge the two documents (Sept. 22 and 27) into
one cohesive package and resubmit it to DCA for consideration and approval by the DCA
Secretary. This posed a big problem for the town council because now it was after October
VFW Post #8698
1, 2008 and the new Town Charter made it mandatory for the town hold a referendum and
520 E. Hwy. 40, INGLIS, Florida
allow the voters their right to vote on each and every component of the proposed Amended
Comp Plan BEFORE it was returned to DCA for further consideration and final approval.
Navy 1 mile East of Hwy. 19
Army
Town officials knew (back in 2007) that the radical changes they sought would be
Marines (352) 447-3495 Air Force
controversial but hadn’t counted on giving the voter a chance to vote it down. That’s why
they DELAYED the effective date by more than a year after it passed to allow themselves
The Public is Invited to a BBQ CHICKEN DINNER
enough time to get their version of a new Plan adopted by a simple vote of the town council
My Group
My Club
Saturday, August 29th
without voter interference.
My Work From 3-6 pm ... or until BBQ is Sold Out...! My Town
What were they going to do now? It would be way too risky to hold the referendum
Dinner is only $3.50, but further reduced to only $3
vote before the upcoming 2009 town council election because they knew the voters might
not like what they saw and it may cost them the election. That is when they decided to ig-
IF You Wear YOUR “COLORS” - A Shirt with ANY LOGO
nore the DCA instructions and only put the changes that were outlined in the September 27
Of YOUR Organization, Town, Club, Work, Group or Military,
LittleLeague
Scouts
SeaCa-
YoungMarine
ROTC
Paid Announcement, Paid For And Approved by Sally Price, continued on page 12
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