Why is it important for an east coast resident of West Palm Beach?
Why would I travel 25 minutes out to the west for an issue about a road in their backyard?
Because, the road will be at the very edge of our water catchment area which affects ALL OF US!
THAT"S RIGHT! It's our drinking water they are playing with!
If you haven’t been informed yet, we have a "situation" with our water supply, and since the "quality" of water hasn’t been, shall we say pleasant , we should all chime in on this "project".
What situation am I referring to?
Well, the issue is a long standing one, which has receive the cursory political attention, but no real resolution, except, as County Commissioner Jeff Koons stated last night, "We pushed the road back as per the agreement of the surrounding communities".
There are current, funded, in the works planning and design, to build a road extention for the residents who live in the acreage, abutting our water catchment area.
Thank you Mr. Koons for pushing the road further into our water basin area. Now we can really rest assured that a possiblity of a potential traffic accidentof a truck carrying gasoline or chemicals will surely give us our own "Valdez" experience.
In today’s environmentally sensitive times, it would seem that leadership should dictate logic, not politics. But as Commissioner Koons shared his wisdom with the group of 50+ residents: "This is a political process and a POLITICAL APPROACH is needed."
Really?
Okay, then what should we poor voters do?
I have a suggestion...vote out the politicians who are not taking this situation to the next level.
County Commissioner Koons admits that "Water is like gold and access is very valuable".
Okay.
That’s a start.
City Commissioner Geri Muoio said: "The City is meeting with 5 environmental agencies and needs the community to get involved."
Okay.
That’s at least an effort.
George Webb (Palm Beach County Engineer) stated: "This (building roads over environmentally sensitive lands) is not unusual for us. We know its environmentally sensitive."
Really?
Okay then...
Why are we still moving forward at the speed of a fast moving train?
This was the reason given:
During a workshop to fund the project (which wasn’t even on the list) Royal Palm Beach residents lobbied the county Commission so that they (RPB) could have a reliever road out of the acreage.
All the elected officials present agreed:
"There’s a lesson here for all of you in Riverwalk, get active."
Funny... I have always seen Riverwalk as a very ACTIVE and ENGAGED community.
Haven’t they been bringing attention to this issue for years?
One resident even shared last night that they have been vocal for 11 years.
But credit goes to City Commissioner Muoio who made the statement:
"Community WATCHDOGS are very important to the process."
(Thank you for that acknowledgment. I should know because that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 9 years. I appreciate the acknowledged valued of my service.)
(Oh by the way, and here’s a news alert.
A bit of information shared, which drew gasp from the audience:
There are an additional 2,000 new homes now approved for development that we need to accommodate.)
So why are we asking the same elected officials who approved development plans (probably with variances and waivers) to help us now with the problems they created?
Back to (as stated by our elected officials) why we MUST move forward with the Roebuck Road extension:
County Commissioner Koons: "It’s a policy decision made by the board..." ... the board you sit on Mr. Koons? Aren’t you a voting member of that body?
City Commissioner Muoio: "Its not Commissioner Koons fault or Mr. Webb’s. They (I think she was referring to the County Commissioners) were lobbied by Royal Palm Beach."
George Webb (County Road Engineer): "There’s a proposed connection to Persimmon Road. "
Okay then...we understand the history,
we know the "stated" positions of our elected representatives,
and we see what the realities are before us...
so tell us now...
what are you going to do about it?
City Commissioner Muoio: Meetings with environmental agencies and requests for an environmental study, not an assessment...
County Commissioner Koons: Meetings, meetings and more meetings have occured, he said. But don’t fear residents...he is going to facilitate an air boat ride for his fellow county commissioners through the water catchment area... (no comment...although I could have a lot of fun with that statement!)
(Please help yourself to fun reading or scroll down past the italics to the rest of my reporting of last night's show...the following is from a document which was sent by County Commissioner Koons in a Newsletter to a constituent.)
Our Tallahassee Top Ten
By Commissioner Jeff Koons
The 2008
Florida Legislative Session gets underway the first week in March, and with more
state-mandated cuts in property tax revenue looming this year, our lobbying
efforts in Tallahassee will be more important than ever. County staff has
identified 44 legislative priorities, appropriation requests and support issues
that I hope state lawmakers will support.
Our number one priority is a
funding request of $3.5 million for the Lake Region Water Treatment Plant. It is
absolutely crucial that we get this state-of-the-art reverse-osmosis facility up
and running to replace obsolete municipal water treatment plants in the Glades.
The County facility will draw from the Floridan Aquifer rather than Lake
Okeechobee, freeing up surface water supply for restoration of the Everglades
and producing up to 10 million gallons per day of high quality drinking water
for thousands of residents.
Number two will be the elimination of unfunded
state mandates and cost shifts. With local tax revenues being reduced, it is
unreasonable to force local governments to operate some state programs without
any state funding. In recent years, we’ve had to shell out $4.2 million to
create and operate the Regional Transportation Authority and $4.8 million for
Juvenile Justice pretrial disposition. These are state programs that the state
should be paying for.
The number three priority is elimination of a
particularly sneaky cost shift that siphons locally raised communications tax
revenue and gives it to fiscally-constrained counties elsewhere. It may seem
altruistic for wealthier counties to assist poorer ones. But this measure also
takes money from municipalities such as Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay that
are in worse financial shape than the counties they subsidize. The Legislature
must find a less crippling alternative revenue source for needy counties.
We will be seeking environmental
funding for the Lake Worth Lagoon Partnership Grant Program ($5.25 million),
beach and inlet management projects ($7.29 million), and the Chain of Lakes
restoration ($1.5 million).
Transportation will get a lot of attention this
session, as well. We’re requesting a total of $20 million to widen Beeline
Highway and Congress Avenue and extend State Road 7 north into The Acreage --
three state road projects that Palm Beach County has agreed to do in order to
expedite the process.
Rounding out our top 10 list are
requests of $1.9 million for a new DMV building, $400,000 for the Juvenile
Assessment Center and $350,000 for the Glades Region Agricultural Program.
One new issue this year is a legislative request to require private
insurance companies to cover essential autism treatment for children. Such
treatments are covered by Medicaid and the Department of Children and Families,
but only for those who are indigent or have filed bankruptcy.
As always, I
welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to contact me or my staff
at 355-2202.So where did it all end last night?
The saddest statement (which was meant as a joke, but is no laughing matter) was when the suggestion was made that perhaps someday the road might be named "Koons Blvd."Now let me speak seriously to those who have made it through to the end of this post:
I hope I speak for you...I know I speak for myself, so here is my voice...
I am dead serious when I say that it's not only about the noise or the "in my backyard" issues that affect Riverwalk residents.Its about what’s in our drinking glass.
Its about our water supply.
Its about our health.
More importantly, it about our future generations and how we protect them today with logical decisions.
Enough meetings!
Enough pandering!
We demand action!
I appreciate that the Mayor has taken a pro-active stance (As my opponent stated last night to the audience: "On my way out here, the Mayor called me to tell me... she’s with you guys.").I believe that her intention is to see this extension stopped. However, she is a political force and Commissioner Koons told us last night "it’s a political process". So I need to ask the question: Is there something going on here we don't know, regarding the process? Some of you may think this is a low blow, but when Commissioner Koons closed the meeting last night, he closed it with an endorsement of the Commissioner who I am challenging...I ask that you be the judge.
As for the environmental study, I believe it may be moot or too late, but let's do it anyway.It just may be a political action to say they are doing something or it just may be their best idea...
I SAY, NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
So what would be my best idea?
We all have bosses.
For elected officials it’s the VOTING public.
For governmental entities there is a chain of command.
So I say, take it to the next level.
Take it to the Governor's office.
This is a vital health and safety issue for hundreds and thousands of residents in Palm Beach County. (Remember, they already know it's an environmentally sensitive area, but maybe an air boat ride will reaffirm that.)
The higher powers of government can and must intervene.
We need to take this to someone who can stop this plan.
It’s a bad plan. Logic shows us that.
And in government, nothing is done until its done...like a new city hall.If the political leaders believe, as commissioner Koons stated, that this is a "political process", then they must take the "political process" to the next level.
So should we.
Vote for new ideas and leadership, March 11th.If they haven’t gotten us there yet, then when...the clock is ticking and our water is in danger.
So that’s my idea.
Change the law, and the plan, from Tallahassee... because I don’t think they hear us here.(please refer to these links for more information which relates indirectly to Roebuck Road concerning the State Road 7 extention.)
