Letters to the Editors

Working to use our water wisely

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 12, 2000

Throughout Florida, the challenge of supplying our communities with fresh drinking water is paramount. Here in Clearwater, we are aggressively exploring the possibilities of alternative water sources for our growing population.

Recently, our city augmented our reclaimed water supply for a few days with freshwater, also known as potable water, because testing showed unacceptable bacteria levels in the reclaimed water supply. The objective was to avoid an adverse effect on private and public landscaping and irrigation systems.

However, I believe that we could have responded better to this specific water challenge. We did not work closely enough with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to ensure that our response complied with our water permit. Our reclaimed-water customers should have been notified of this situation, and then given the same set of water-conservation guidelines as our potable water users. We will do that in the future.

I can personally ensure our residents that my staff will work closely with all agencies to develop an emergency water irrigation plan. Within the next few days, our water department staff is meeting with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to discuss the disinfection process at the city's wastewater treatment facility and related standards.

We are also working with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to resolve any issues involving the use of potable water in the reclaimed water system. Swiftmud has asked the city to create an action plan for any possible future interruptions of reclaimed water service. One means of accomplishing that goal is to amend the city's water use permit to include provisions for such emergencies. We will ensure the proper internal review exists to make smart decisions when emergency conditions exist.

During the past two years, the city of Clearwater's reclaimed-water program has provided approximately 1.3-billion gallons of reclaimed water to residential and commercial customers. The goal of this program is to reduce the amount of fresh drinking water used for irrigation purposes.

Our commitment to balance the water needs of our citizens while protecting our fragile ecosystem remains steadfast. The process by which we attain those objectives requires closer review with the governing bodies that work to ensure that balance for all citizens.
-- Bill Horne, Clearwater interim city manager

Clearwater's mayor pays attention to constituents

Re: Clearwater mayor helps fill his area's wish lists, Nov. 6 story.

Once again I have read an article in the St. Petersburg Times that is clearly incorrect and I, for one, am tired of it. The Times ran an article that accused Mayor Brian Aungst of pork-barrel spending because of a $500,000 recreation center that is being constructed in the Countryside area, where he is a resident.

Had the Times wanted to print the facts, it would have informed its readers that the $500,000 for this recreation center was put in the budget in 1997, two years before Mayor Aungst took office, and was already scheduled to begin construction this year.

But I guess that would not make a good story. Perhaps the Times could just send the citizens of Clearwater a list of public officials it doesn't like and save us all a lot of time and trouble.

As to another part of the article, is opening the Countryside Library on Sundays really a story? From my point of view, that is a very positive thing. The mayor is trying to do what his constituents are asking him to do. I know the Times meant for this to be another negative, so I would bet someone is on the hot seat right now for printing something that is being perceived as positive about a Clearwater official.

It's refreshing to have a mayor who listens to his constituents and isn't swayed by big business (the St. Petersburg Times). Keep up the good work, Mayor Aungst.
-- Louis Piano, president, Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce

A word of appreciation for Clearwater's police

Re: Helping homeless is a noble thing, letter, Oct. 24.

I have just finished reading the letters to the editor, as I do every day. I didn't care for one letter at all. Most of it was putting Clearwater police Chief Sid Klein down for helping others. You can bet your boots if it were the writer or one of her family members he was helping, it would be a different story.

If she knew Chief Klein personally, she would know he is a decent, understanding man. Why doesn't she talk to him and see for herself? He will help anyone who needs help. I know from experience that the writer doesn't know what she is talking about.

Has she ever gone to an accident scene and seen a small child lying there dead or hurt? Has she ever gone to a home and had to say, "I'm sorry, but your child (husband or wife) is dead"? Police officers do that every day -- and then she calls them "nothing-better-to-do officers." They are all human, and most of them are married with families.

The only time people write or call about our officers is if they don't like something the officers do. They never write to say thank you, we appreciate what you did. I'm not a police officer -- just a citizen who appreciates what they do. I say, may God bless them all and keep them safe while they are putting forth an effort to protect each and every one of us from harm.
-- Margaret Jetton, Clearwater

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright