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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Ordinance chips away at preserves

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published July 10, 2007

After trying to proceed with a variety of projects within Brooker Creek Preserve that were not compatible with a nature preserve, Pinellas County leaders were asked to better protect the preserve through more restrictive land use. Even though it would not have prevented the county from using the land, doing so would have required public hearings before embarking on projects not compatible with "preservation" land use.

Instead, the County Commission decided to create an ordinance that provides even less protection and gives the commissioners broad authority to use or dispose of environmental lands, including Brooker Creek Preserve. In pursuing this ordinance, the commissioners are ignoring the desire of numerous organizations and thousands of citizens who have asked them to keep all of Brooker Creek Preserve what it was designated a few years ago: a nature preserve.

With this ordinance to provide them the "flexibility" they say they need, commissioners could approve 10-year leases for sports fields and horse facilities in our preserves without land use changes and public hearings. Preserve and park land can be given away or traded if the commissioners feel it is in the best interests of the public.

With this ordinance, all of our parks and preserves would be open to their potential sale, transfer and use for utilities-related purposes. This proposed ordinance would allow four of seven county commissioners to make all of these changes and more at their discretion.

Keeping Brooker Creek Preserve intact was never contingent upon finding available and affordable land outside the preserve for desired projects. The entire preserve has great value simply because it is undeveloped and environmentally significant. Its value as a preserve is greater today than it was when it was created and it will be even more valuable to future generations. Pressure to use the preserve for other purposes will also be greater as time goes on.

Pinellas County needs strong government leadership to resist the temptation to use the preserve for nonenvironmental purposes. This ordinance provides the commissioners justification and permission to use our parks and preserves in ways that should not be permitted.

The environment, nature and the outdoors have helped make Pinellas County a desirable place to live and visit. Our county-owned parks and preserves were created to help make sure our county remains desirable. These environmental lands make up a relatively small portion of Florida's most densely populated county. Is it too much to ask for it to be left alone and keep the preserve lands we have been fortunate enough to accumulate?

The idea of providing better protection for the preserve through more restrictive land use gave the commissioners the flexibility they say they need, but it also gave the public the opportunity for oversight.

Considering recent events, I now feel an amendment to the county charter is the best way to protect our preserves. All citizens of Pinellas County can then decide the fate of our preserve lands. If you agree, please contact the county commissioners and tell them you are in favor of a charter amendment to protect our preserves.

Steve Poling, Palm Harbor

Fourth requires pet protection 

Re: Fireworks fans sidestep the law July 8, letter

I would like to thank the letter writer for his opinion concerning illegal fireworks. I live in Tarpon Springs and have not seen fireworks for sale here for many years, but they are available in Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Therefore, folks can go buy them and bring them home, and bring them home they did.

I stay home on July Fourth, as the illegal fireworks create a problem with my animals. I keep them inside, keep the TV on and, if necessary, give them a homeopathic remedy that helps keep them calm.

So, while I feel bad that the letter writer's wife was injured and her dog became terribly upset, July Fourth is not the night to take your pets outside. If we cannot stop the fireworks, we need to protect our animals from the noise and confusion that the fireworks create.

Since July Fourth, I still hear fireworks. Hello! The holiday is behind us, but folks still feel the need to set them off.

I did complain to a neighbor and asked them to stop, and told them they were illegal and the response was, "They are just fireworks."

Please, readers, have respect for your neighbors and their families, whether they are humans or pets. As we saw from professional displays, fireworks can be dangerous or lethal, even in the right hands!

Nancy Dively, Tarpon Springs

Thank you to event supporters

On behalf of the Kiwanis Clubs of Countryside and Dunedin, a big thank-you goes to the St. Petersburg Times for all your support in helping make the 28th Annual Kiwanis Morton Plant Mease Midnight Run a great success.

In addition, another big thank-you goes out to all the runners, walkers, sponsors and everyone else associated with this fundraising event. The race drew runners from all over Florida as well as out of state.

The Times, along with Kiwanis, is showing why they are serving the children of the local communities.

Tom DuLaney, Tarpon Springs

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified July 9, 2007, 22:14:36]