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County officials don't know meaning of the word 'preserve'

Once again, the Crescent Oaks community was surprised and distressed to learn that within the next several weeks, 3,000 trees will be cut down at the border of our community in order to prepare 38 acres of the Brooker Creek "Preserve" for lighted athletic fields, parking lots and a refreshment stand.

We found out about these plans when our community president, John Miolla, and I recently trekked 38 miles to the Weedon Island Preserve in south Pinellas to attend the Environmental Science Forum's meeting on the Brooker Creek Preserve. (I wonder whether the county could have found a meeting place farther from Brooker Creek?)

This contemplated destruction of a portion of the Brooker Creek Preserve follows the county's modus operandi (a la the county's planned water blending plant) of not having public hearings before destruction of the preserve becomes a fait accompli. Our surprise was shared by the Friends of the Brooker Creek Preserve, who also had no advance knowledge of such plans.

What is particularly disturbing is that the county has pitted the families in the unincorporated East Lake area who want recreational facilities for their children against the environmentalists who want to protect and preserve the last bit of nature in the county. This conflict is not only harmful to the East Lake community, but also absolutely unnecessary. The simple solution is to build these athletic fields on the school district property at the corner of East Lake Road and Keystone Road.

Of course, the county and the school district will jointly say this is impossible because this property is reserved for some mythical middle school. The facts are, however, that the East Lake area is pretty much built out, and if the school district hasn't found the need so far, I don't see any future development in East Lake that necessitates such a school (unless the county has some undisclosed plan to sell off the preserve to developers).

I suspect the real reason that the county and the school district don't want athletic fields there is so that someday they can slip the school bus depot onto this property. (I understand that if it weren't for the fact that the school district wanted underground fuel storage tanks in this environmentally sensitive area, such a depot would be up and running by now).

I am asking each of you to honestly look at what the county is foisting onto the residents of East Lake and take a stand against destruction of the preserve and the creation of discord in our community. Please use your political muscle to do what is fair and right by causing the athletic fields to be built on the property at East Lake and Keystone.

Robert T. Loos, chairman, Crescent Oaks Governmental Relations Committee

Safety Harbor officials don't get it

Re: Workers for city describe hostility, story, Sept. 22.

Once again, the Safety Harbor City Commission just doesn't get it. Rather than focus on the concerns of the Public Works Department (harassing workplace, pay, benefits) that employee Eric Davis brought forward and providing solutions to the issues, Commissioner Kara Bauer hops onto her social commentary soapbox again to lecture on the inappropriate use of racially charged harassing language.

We all get that part of it. What this commission doesn't seem to understand is that the way to keep a union out is to address the concerns of your work force with open and honest negotiation. This commission needs to follow another pontification from Commissioner Bauer, and I am paraphrasing: The purpose of the city is to provide services. That's the reason we exist, and that costs money.

Who doesn't understand that? That seems obvious to me.

John Ricci, Safety Harbor

Don't force crematory on neighbors

Re: Proposed crematory on Wilcox Road in Largo.

I am so frustrated as a good citizen of Florida and Largo! Insurance rate hikes, property tax hikes, increased living costs and now more fighting over the "right" of a crematory to be forced on me and all of my neighbors because big business wants more big business.

Placing this industrial complex in a residential community with deliveries of propane gas, caskets, bodies, etc., to the crematory; having three ovens running 24 hours a day 365 days a year, with accompanying generators for extra power; the compatibility issue being completely ignored, thereby forcing me to breathe mercury emissions and human particulate - my head is spinning, and I am joining the chorus of folks who are disenchanted with this new "Florida lifestyle."

I choose to fight this battle, but how long can I maintain my ability to live and breathe and have a good quality of life in the state where I have been for 25 years?

Harryette G. Williams, Largo

[Last modified September 24, 2006, 09:15:20]