Letters to the Editors

Who's next if we let the county squeeze boaters?

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 15, 2001

Editor: The proposed boat ramp fees for Bayport and Hernando Beach by Hernando County government appear to be a punitive measure toward boat users. Punitive because now that the county feels compelled to provide overdue amenities to watercraft users, they are being inconsistent in the way they are charging for using the boat ramps. No other adjacent county charges for the use of its boat ramps, negating Commissioner Betty Whitehouse's plea to keep charges competitive with other counties.

What I am really concerned about -- please follow closely -- is that last year the state reacquired 1,500 acres of low-lying land (below sea level) at Bayport from the Whitehurst family. In turn, this land was given back to Hernando County. Here's the kicker: The state, in giving back the 1,500 acres at Bayport, also gave the county a grant to redevelop the Bayport land in the sum of $1.4-million.

The county says it will provide more amenities. Truth be told, the state has provided the funds to install toilets, parking, etc. County Parks Director Pat Fagan's talk of the way "they park anywhere and everywhere" makes the boat ramp users sound like vermin. His comments about "offsetting some of the costs of operation and maintenance of the boat ramp areas" is totally out of order. In fact, he should be made accountable for how the state grant was spent. Meanwhile, no sooner had Mr. Fagan spoken than Commissioner Diane Rowden was virtually putting in pay-and-display meters by hand, such was her excitement to extract money from boaters.

Furthermore, I don't see any pay signs at any other parks in Hernando County. Why are the boaters all of a sudden expected to pay for the use of county park facilities when nobody else is? Because the boat ramps come under county parks, our taxes already compensate for their maintenance. At least the county has not had to foot the bill for the development of Bayport. Boaters are being penalized undeservedly because they have demanded to have adequate, safe facilities in which to use their watercraft, just the same way parents have lobbied to have decent facilities for their children to play baseball, etc.

Much of the commerce of Florida is based on the attraction of saltwater. What is a fundamental draw to the area is now being turned into a one-sided, profitmaking venture, and we boaters are the first generation of parks users to be milked for money. The county is now expecting boat users to be grateful for the expansion of facilities we have already paid for.

I would be happy to pay these fees if the policy was consistent with other park users, like the good people who jog at Veterans Park or play softball at Deltona Woods, etc. It is bad enough we have to pay to use our beaches (Pine Island); now water lovers are being hit in their wallets again.

As water lovers, boaters, divers, beach lovers, etc., we have to show a united front on this issue. I support a petition to demonstrate the dissatisfaction we feel. I also propose the County Commission and its employees stand and be accountable for bringing this plan to the table on our time without a proper analysis of the entire situation. I am disappointed the lure of a few bucks would cause the county to be so indifferent to the plight of water users.

The significance of this fee measure is important to everybody, not just boaters. If we allow this to go ahead, how long is it until a project close to your heart is sanctioned financially? Gouging boat users for money the county already received to compensate for the upkeep of parks and amenities is wrong.
-- Chuck Zimoski, Spring Hill

Water crisis demands guts, visionary thinking, action

Editor: Re: Builder envisions a 3,000 home project, Feb. 8 Hernando Times, and Time to find solutions to bay area's water woes, Feb. 11 letter to the editor:

These two headlines from the Hernando Times section show that no one's watching the store. Obviously, no one -- no group, no company, no government agency -- gives a damn about our future water supply.

Our county government okays more and more building; 1,000 here, 3,000 homes there, with no regard for where we're supposed to get water. If our county commissioners had any backbone they'd put a moratorium on any new building until we solved the water shortage. Their solution seems to be to keep building while we hope (pray would be more appropriate) for normal rainfall.

Our big water expert group, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, has done nothing to plan for the future of the bay area's water needs. Part of Swiftmud's name is "water management." Their idea of water management consists only in more restrictions and higher rates. When do they plan to look at one or all of the following possibilities?

1. Desalination plants to turn seawater into usable water.

2. Tapping the many springs in Florida, such as Weeki Wachee and Silver Springs.

3. Building reservoirs and aqueducts to the north to bring water to the bay area. New York City gets its water via aqueducts from many reservoirs in upstate New York.

4. Hiring rain dancers (just a joke).

All joking aside, it's time for our governments, from Tallahassee on down, to get serious about this problem. If our weather forecasters are correct, this water shortage is only going to get worse.

It's long past time when our illustrious county commissioners should have bitten the bullet and said, "No more building until we solve the water shortage problem." We just spent millions on the Suncoast Parkway that might have helped fix the water problem.

Where is Gov. Jeb Bush on the critical problem? Where is our state Legislature? Better yet, where is Swiftmud? I've been in Florida for more than 10 years and can't recall any serious efforts by Swiftmud for long-range solutions to our water problem. Maybe they should change the name from Swiftmud to Slowmud. Their only solution to the problem has been more restrictions and higher rates.

It's time for some visionary thinking and action to solve this problem before we all dry up and blow away.
-- Art McIntyre, Spring Hill

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