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Stay aware of goings-on to keep land preserved

Diane Steinle's April 2 column, What's preserved at Brooker Creek Preserve? raises the question of whether the preserve is truly a preserve or merely a land bank for the county.

The Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve hope that it is the former. Our group was established in 1994 to help ensure that Brooker Creek Preserve remains a wilderness forever. We have worked diligently over the years to maintain awareness of any project that takes place within preserve boundaries. We have met with county officials in the Environmental Lands Division, the Department of Environmental Management and Pinellas County Utilities to address our questions and concerns about the various projects.

Although we don't like to see any of the land that is in the preserve converted to any other use, we do realize that some projects, although they destroy habitat, are necessary, such as those that provide potable water to the residents of Pinellas County. We strongly believe that these projects should be absolutely essential, without any alternative and designed to minimize loss of habitat or conservation value.

We look at other projects on an individual basis. In addition to the above conditions, we also consider strongly whether a project supports environmental preservation, protection, restoration or education. The Brooker Creek Preserve Education Center has a strong environmental education purpose that far exceeds the minimal loss of habitat needed to construct the facility.

The proposed riding center, however, has no environmental purpose and will have adverse environmental impact on the preserve. We have recommended that this project be relocated to a site outside of the preserve boundaries.

Ms. Steinle mentions Pinellas County Resolution 99-196, which says that all activities, needs and construction projects affecting Brooker Creek Preserve be planned with open communication and cooperation so that issues can be resolved. After our most recent meeting with county officials, we believe they understand that the Friends need to be involved early on in the planning process for just that reason.

We commend Pinellas County for creating and supporting Brooker Creek Preserve. However, as you can see, having the name "preserve" does not necessarily mean that the land will be protected in perpetuity. Because of this, we urge all citizens of the county and neighbors of the preserve to stay informed of proposed projects within the preserve's boundaries to ensure we don't lose these precious 8,283 acres of pine woods, swamps, hammocks, creeks, ponds and marshes otherwise known as "Pinellas County's Wildest Place."

How about thanking twins for the work they've done?

Fracas leads to firefighting twins' arrest, story, March 31, and More qualified firefighting candidates have to be out there, and How many more firefighters have criminal backgrounds, letters, April 6.

Have we stooped so low to make newsworthy the off-duty lives of our most endangered city employees, our firefighters?

When was the last time even a minority of us put our own lives on the line for strangers, let alone faced the horror and stress of a 500-degree fire raging above our heads and all around us? Where is our sense of community? These twins deserve our thanks and our support, commencing with the Clearwater Fire Department, the firefighters union and citizens.

Perhaps these young men will forgive our shortsightedness, inflammatory remarks and assumptions (clearly noted by the editor that there are not any prior convictions) and will accept our assistance, in any form.

Thanks to Dunedin mayor for hearing the residents

I would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Mayor John Doglione on his excellent and continuing service to Dunedin, Pinellas County and the citizens of the communities we call home.

I have lived in Dunedin for the past 16 years, and I have been proud to call it my hometown. I got involved in city government because of the support I received from the City Commission and Mayor Doglione. I served as a high school representative on the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee, and as chairman of the city's Youth Advisory Committee.

I also had the privilege of being a part of Dunedin High School and the NJROTC unit there. The continuing support from Mayor Doglione of the NJROTC program and its activities was no less than overwhelming. He attended all of our unit's annual awards ceremonies and made it a priority to take part in the school's graduation ceremony and other important events throughout the school year.

It's people like Mayor Doglione who keep our cities running and make sure the citizens always have a say in how their government should run. He showed true dedication to his city, and for that, on behalf of the youth of Dunedin, I thank him.

[Last modified April 13, 2006, 00:52:17]