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Commission wants to defend wetlands

Commissioners want a bigger role in deciding whether permits are issued to develop 212 acres. The developer is willing to add to a park.

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published August 24, 2005

INVERNESS - A proposed 212-acre development along U.S. 19 would have a detrimental impact on area wetlands, county officials said Tuesday.

The County Commission voted at its meeting to send a letter asking the Southwest Florida Water Management District, commonly known as Swiftmud, to table its discussion of the proposal, which Swiftmud's governing board is scheduled to take up on Tuesday.

"I have some real concerns over this, commissioners, as I'm sure we all do," commission Chairwoman Vicki Phillips said. "We need to do everything we can to ensure the wetlands are protected and the water issues are addressed."

Swiftmud's staff has recommended that the developer, RealtiCorp, receive an environmental resource permit for the site, situated along U.S. 19 about a quarter-mile south of the Crystal River Airport.

But commissioners criticized that recommendation, noting that the proposed development would affect the same wetlands that were once endangered by RealtiCorp's proposal to build a Wal-Mart near Crystal River. The county, not the state, should have the final say in permitting that would affect wetlands, they said.

"I see some glaring errors that the water management staff has overlooked," Commissioner Gary Bartell said. "I think they're in violation of their own statutes regarding how they issue their permits."

If the permit is approved by the district's governing board Tuesday, director of Development Services Gary Maidhof said, the county would have 30 days to appeal.

And RealtiCorp still would have to receive permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Citrus County before proposed commercial and residential development of the site begins.

Maidhof said he and County Administrator Richard Wesch met with representatives from RealtiCorp earlier this month. The developer, he said, seemed willing to adjust its plans in light of the county's concerns. Maidhof said he hoped RealtiCorp officials would join with the county in asking Swiftmud to postpone its decision.

The Swiftmud permit would allow impact on nearly 15 acres of wetlands. To make up for that, the developer has agreed to create 4 acres of wetlands on the property. It also plans to donate 127 acres of wetlands and 62 acres of upland to the state to be part of Crystal River State Park.

But local advocates and county officials say that mitigation is not enough.

Representatives from the Kings Bay Association and the Homosassa River Alliance said they were happy to hear county officials criticizing the proposal.

"We thought that we were going to be fighting this alone, but it looks like for a change we'll be fighting with you guys on this one," said Gail Jannarone, president of the Kings Bay Association.

The Swiftmud governing board will meet at 9 a.m. next Tuesday at the district's headquarters, 2379 Broad St., Brooksville.

In other news at Tuesday's commission meeting:

Joseph Springer of Hernando urged commissioners to re-evaluate their support of increasing the gas tax of Citrus County residents. Last month, Bartell wrote a memo to Wesch and County Attorney Robert Battista saying he was reconsidering his support of the gas tax hike, which commissioners approved in May.

But during a break in the meeting, Bartell said he had changed his mind in light of recent preliminary data from a transportation study. The study, by consultants Dyer, Riddle, Mills & Precourt Inc. gives failing grades to a number of road segments in the county.

The gas tax is the "most appropriate way" to pay for the county's road improvement needs, Bartell said.

"You cannot ignore infrastructure," he said.

Commissioners voted to authorize Waters Risk Management to conduct an independent audit of the county's insurance provider, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. At the last commission meeting, Phillips cited recent media reports that the Chicago insurance company sent a $1.3-million check to Gainesville in June to cover overcharges made during the past 14 years.

Alachua County received a check from Gallagher for more than $117,000 and Lakeland received a check for more than $1-million. The company has said the overcharges were isolated incidents discovered in an internal audit. But Wesch has said the Gallagher employee responsible for those overbilling errors handled the company's Citrus County account.

Waters Risk Management, a firm based in Pinellas Park, has estimated that their audit will require up to 50 hours of professional time, costing between $5,000 and $9,000.

The commission voted to spend up to $52,942 for the construction of a new permanent skate park in Bicentennial Park. The Crystal River City Council voted last month to contribute $5,000 to the project.

County funding from the project will come from money originally budgeted for a roller hockey rink at the park.

Commissioners voted to set solid waste disposal rates for 2005-2006 at $25 annually per residential dwelling unit and $1.20 per cubic yard for commercial disposals. They also included a limited exemption for nonprofits.

Commissioners decided not to pursue the creation of an impact fee advisory board, agreeing that such a board would add a needless layer of bureaucracy to county government.

Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 860-7309.

[Last modified August 24, 2005, 01:14:20]