The Reserve At Sweetwater Estuary
SRWMD approves the permit per the Taco Times. Hopefully Mr. Pruitt will satisfy the other regulatory agencies to proceed with the development. I have to acknowledge Don Curtis' comment, "we never imagined that our act of conservation would be used to restrict the rights of other private landowners." The future income from that development for the County should be great, as long as it has not waived, or lowered, too many fees. I hope I get the opportunity to thank him for picking Taylor County to invest his money in. I am assuming he was not solicited by the County. Do the rest of you also feel it is a positive for Taylor County?
I definitely view this as a good thing for Taylor County. It will provide jobs, bring in money, and increase the property tax base.
Of course, the usual suspects are fighting it tooth and nail--but hopefully the project will move forward.
I also hope that the county will closely control growth and set certain restrictions. I'd hate to see tall hotels like those in Panama City spring up here, or for commercial property to get too dense along the coast.
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I agree, as good as the growth will feel in the budget, the County still needs to control the pace and the path of it.
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I am placing this here because this is closest to the top near the preface of this blog. Don Curtis wrote "we never imagined that our act of conservation would be used to restrict the rights of other private landowners." Conservation is what it is.....period. Just as I stated in a previous post "I live in the city limits and do you think I can do anything I want on my land. We all have limits to what we can do on our land and restrictions are used to protect people/neighborhoods and the environment". When Stephen Alford came selling "snake oil" to Taylor County wasn't Don first in line to "help" Stephen with his little scheme. I checked Stephen out using the internet and in just a few minutes I knew I wasn't about to be "bought" or taken in "by being patriotic" by this man. What was at stake? Land and changing it forever. Conservation may keep landowners from destroying or altering its characteristics which may be crucial to the area it is in. Soon, and it is a fact, we will face another storm or flood (wasn't it in 1962 we had a major flood here)and instead of news reports of the midwest/elsewhere it will be us or our neighbors facing a disaster. Some of which, "NOT ALL" mind you, was because we had altered/built in land unsuitable for housing or development. Conservation is what it is.....period.
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Yes, this is a good thing. NO, the county had no clue. I'm not sure if the "development authority" had any input - I think Dr. Pruitt picked the county. This is a great opportunity for the area, I'm hopeful the county managers won't jinx the deal.
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Although this is not as positive as Magnolia Bay would have been this is a great move forward. Yes, we will have our usual treehuggers attempting to block it but that is because they have NOTHING else to do. Let's get behind thia Taylor County!! It will be a super infusion for our economy in Taylor County!
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This is for T.Mac...
Regarding your remark about the "tree-huggers not having anything better to do", well it looks like to me after reading "ALL" your comments, it's YOU who has nothing better to do with your time! Get a life outside this blog, DUDE!
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Thanks Danny, Merely stating my opinion is all...Have I struck a chord ? Simply stating the facts here...these liberal tree huggers in our county is killing any hopes of our children staying here....Just look around, restaurants are closing, people are working partial shifts at DMH...Know why ? There is nothing here to keep people here. Thanks to the tree huggers Magnolia Bay was condemned...Right now we could be experiencing a construction boom within our town...Look around nothing going on here...As far as my life..I am self sufficient, I pay taxes and take no government subsidies. I never have...Can you say the same about yourself, DUDE??????
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I didn't know the "local" tree-huggers had such a strong hold in this county.
I thought it was the EPA and the SRWMD who put a stop to Magnolia Bay due to the fact it would involve dredging up sea grass and disturbing the oceanlife in that area.
To answer your question as to whether I pay taxes or live off of government subsidies..I probable pay more taxes than you and have never had to live off our government. I also contribute to our local charities and support our local business'. Do you?
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Look, the fact of the matter is that building a 2-mile long channel in one of the most pristine Sea grass beds in Florida could be permanently detrimental to the ecosystems there. If it turned out that building that marina ruined the fishing and scalloping here, it would all be for naught. This is the "Low-Energy Coast" there are hardly no beaches here to draw in tourists- it's all fishing and hunting. So yes, it sucks that the tree-huggers shot it down, but the fact of the matter is we don't know what might have happened to the environment here if it had gone as planned. I really wish that Pruitt and the DEP would do more research on it because I for one would LOVE to see something a little more "classy" come to that area. It would certainly increase the tax base for this area and hopefully increase the quality of basic services and the lives of citizens.
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Yes, I do....And yes it was the local environmental wackos who pushed for the closing of Magnolia Bay and the closing of the coal power plant..Imagine, 1500 trade contractors residing with Taylor County for 12-18 months the economic impact on our community...On top of the tradesmen and contractors constructing Magnolia Bay..except for the virtual dregs of society the unemployment rate here would have been probably less than 2%...There would have been some environmental impact but not as damaging as the left-wing kool-aid drinkers would have had you believe. Remember we all have to make sacrifices in order to have progress. This is why our children are moving away from Perry...we have nothing here and any hint of progress is challenged by a few..Remember, they claimed Buckeye was the leading cause of Cancer in Perry, where is is a known fact that Cigarette smoke is the scientific leading cause of C.O.P.D. .To answer your question, yes I pay numerous taxes, shop local businesses, and of course I not only support local charities but I also work hand in hand with local charities.
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Mr. Mac
Why don't you have another glass of ice tea and another slab of fried mullet.
How silly does one have to be to allow themselves to be exposed to poisons.
This isn't rocket science its fourth grade earth science. Taylor county's karst(porous limestone formation)terrain
allows the Fenholloway in times of drought to feed the aquifer through linear channels. Even the uneducated cow poke knows not to drink down stream from the herd. Insults will not hide the truth and the truth is, it is as bad as it gets. Now ask if lung cancer was the first agent orange benefit paid out to solders from being exposed to 2,3,7,8 TCDD. As for your comments on tree huggers well those wackos you refer to are not the tree huggers you should worry about. But the largest land holders with pine trees planted to produce low cost supply to the pulp mill the agriculture tax rate is far lower. The tax rate is set per at a value of $261.91. Now if that is what my land was assessed at I too could hold 3/4's of all the land in Taylor County without tax burden. I could write foolish 2060 growth plans and talk silly people into going along cause I would basically own the town and all the locals nare do wells would think I am so important. Now it seems to me all you want to do is talk smack. When I read your comments I can only say "De-ja- moo" that feeling that I've heard this bull before. I say the rich get rich and the poor get pregnant and we all know how that happens.
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I'm amazed that people continue to be bamboozled by these developers and are quite willing to sell out their souls and the natural beauty of Taylor County.
You want jobs? Come into the 21st century, clean up your environment, upgrade your schools, insist your leaders be more than good old' boys and actually be able and qualified to do the job you're asking them to do, and lastly, but certainly not least, educate yourselves on why it will take to be successful in a global economy.
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Bingo, you said it, with the technology we have today, these developers can build these things, clean burning coal plants, The Magnolia Bay or The Reserve At Sweetwater Estuary as it is now called can be built and be environmentally sound projects. development is part of the global economy.
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Well I'll be damned...
A "clean burning COAL plant"!
Who knew that there is such a thing.
Please T.Mac, let's hear your intelligent take on what a clean burning coal plant is. This should be interesting to all "local tree-huggers"
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Danny, my question exactly. Be careful Tmac, you'll have to be really well-educated to respond. This tree hugger knows way too much about burning coal to let you get away with opinions formed by reading the local paper, listening to the TCDA and the Chamber. Let's hear about clean burning coal!
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* Coal cleaning by 'washing' has been standard practice in developed countries for some time. It reduces emissions of ash and sulfur dioxide when the coal is burned.
* Electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters can remove 99% of the fly ash from the flue gases - these technologies are in widespread use.
* Flue gas desulfurisation reduces the output of sulfur dioxide to the atmosphere by up to 97%, the task depending on the level of sulfur in the coal and the extent of the reduction. It is widely used where needed in developed countries.
* Low-NOx burners allow coal-fired plants to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 40%. Coupled with re-burning techniques NOx can be reduced 70% and selective catalytic reduction can clean up 90% of NOx emissions.
* Increased efficiency of plant - up to 45% thermal efficiency now (and 50% expected in future) means that newer plants create less emissions per kWh than older ones.
* Advanced technologies such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and Pressurised Fluidised Bed Combustion (PFBC) will enable higher thermal efficiencies still - up to 50% in the future.
* Ultra-clean coal from new processing technologies which reduce ash below 0.25% and sulfur to very low levels mean that pulverised coal might be fed directly into gas turbines with combined cycle and burned at high thermal efficiency.
* Gasification, including underground gasification in situ, uses steam and oxygen to turn the coal into carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
* Sequestration refers to disposal of liquid carbon dioxide, once captured, into deep geological strata.
What say you proud tree hugger ??
Did you know cow farts were harmful ?
It has been estimated that 9 to 12% of the energy that a cow consumes is turned to methane that is released either through flatulence or burping . A huge number of factors affect methane emission, including diet, barn conditions and whether the cow is lactating, but an average cow in a barn produce 542 liters of methane a day, and 600 liters when out in a field (Adam, 2000).
These estimates were made using a trace gas (sulphur hexofluoride) that was released at known points within a barn containing 90 cattle. Levels of this trace gas and CO2 are then measured 30 meters downwind of the shed and thus they can estimate how much CO2 is released per cow per day. All this methane can add up to a significant amount. Australia's 140 million sheep and cattle are estimated to produce one seventh of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions, whilst America's 100 million cattle also are major contributors. So want to get rid of the cows also ??
P.S. It gets worse. You see, studies have revealed that vegetarians and especially vegans, produce more potent flatulent gas than their meat eating counter parts.
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LOL!!! You definitely keep it interesting.
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Thank you...and thanks for bringing a forum we can all give our thoughts to.
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I say nice try...but none of the first five remove heavy metal from the coal nor keep it out of the air when burned or out of the ground when deposited; they certainly don't touch the CO2. The last four were not considered by the partners wanting to build here (how would you sequester in Florida limerock?)
Thank you for informing folks about methane, which is a more serious greenhouse gas than CO2. In addition to your posts, another scary source is the methane being released from under the melting polar ice caps.
You are the first person in Perry to give this tree hugger such nice compliments! Everyone else said the governor stopped the coal plant and numerous regulatory agencies stopped Pruitt. Keep on telling your truth, and we'll keep on watching Taylor County stand still in time. Education must really be the key to progress.
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T.Mac,
Was Taylor Energy Center going to be a "clean" coal burning power plant?
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Yes, it was, it was going to one of the newest state of the art coal plants in the country.
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Boy-oh-boy T.Mac,
I'm really disappointed you got this one wrong, Pal!
This one was NOT a gasification power plant, but one like the dirty ones in Jacksonville. Actually, it was modeled after one in Jax. When TEC was asked about building a gasification plant, they stated to "ME" it was too expensive to build and that they were NOT willing to pass the cost down to their customers. Their customers got cheap power while "WE" got the pollution.
What a mighty GOOD neighbor they would have been. No tears lost here when they packed up and left town!
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Thats not what was aksed in the forum, what was asaid was there was no such thing as clean coal...I have provided proof there is and all you can say is I am wrong!! Kindly present your argument that there is not...
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You are wrong!
Last week on the CBS Evening News they did a story about "clean coal" and how it's a lie! There is NO SUCH THING AS CLEAN COAL...period.
Go check it out on their web site.
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danny, you still believe every thing you see on tv. Especially CBS? They have been successfully sued in court many times when they have lied and made up facts about stories they have aired on "The evening news" and "60 minutes". So as you have told t mac, you also need to find a better source for information or at least a more truthful one.
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Clean Coal Technologies—the products of research and development conducted over the past 20 years—have resulted in more than 20 new, lower-cost, more efficient and environmentally compatible technologies for electric utilities, steel mills, cement plants and other industries.
Source: U.S. DOE, Office of Fossil Energy
Clean coal technologies helped make it possible for U.S. utilities to meet more stringent Clean Air Act requirements while continuing to utilize America’s most plentiful domestic energy resource—coal.
The original Clean Coal Technology Program, which began in 1986, focused on commercializing processes that helped reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and demonstrating more efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional pulverized coal boilers.
New programs in clean coal technology—such as the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI)—are essential for building on the progress of the original Clean Coal Technology Program, finding solutions for reducing trace emissions of mercury; reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions; and increasing fuel efficiencies. Over the longer term, research in clean coal technology will be directed toward developing coal-based hydrogen fuels. If coupled with sequestration, this will allow greater use of coal with zero emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a Presidential initiative to build "FutureGen," a $1 billion project that will lead to the world's first emission-free plant to produce electricity and hydrogen from coal while capturing greenhouse gases.
Clean Coal Technology is Important, Now and in the Future
Electricity demand will increase 53.4 percent over the next 25 years. Meeting this rising growth rate will require the construction of the equivalent of more than 1,200 new power plants of 300 megawatts each—the equivalent of about 65 plants each year.
Coal will remain the largest single source of electricity—accounting for 51 percent of power generation in 2025. Clean coal technologies will help meet these needs, plus continue the decline in SO2 and NOx emissions already underway.
Source: Table 8, Annual Energy Outlook 2003
The recently announced FutureGen project takes clean coal technology even further. FutureGen, a plant to produce hydrogen from coal and sequester emissions, will be the world’s first zero emission coal-fired plant.
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This is the same news company who made up false paperwork on the Presidents service record and it was found to be a lie, and it cost the #1 news anchor a job....Just find some facts and post them. Right now Coal and Nuclear are the only viable alternatives.
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I haven't talked smack, I have spoke the plain truth. My three children live here in Perry and I have urged them to leave and no neither of them are pregnant. They work long an hard and more than likely will not have the life I yearn for them here. Instead of attacking ones comments simply be smart enough to post an opposing argument. I provided facts about C.O.P.D and not the first one has been able to post any opposite opinion. Yes, I love my county and I yearn better for my children. A few eco-liberals attempt to speak for everyone. Wake up the technology is there for there to power plants(nuclear and coal), projects such as Magnolia Bay, which would provide a much needed economic boom for our county...The rich get richer because they work, the poor simply stay where they are because 90% of them have a socialist belief the rich owe them something.
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* Coal cleaning by 'washing' has been standard practice in developed countries for some time. It reduces emissions of ash and sulfur dioxide when the coal is burned.
* Electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters can remove 99% of the fly ash from the flue gases - these technologies are in widespread use.
* Flue gas desulfurisation reduces the output of sulfur dioxide to the atmosphere by up to 97%, the task depending on the level of sulfur in the coal and the extent of the reduction. It is widely used where needed in developed countries.
* Low-NOx burners allow coal-fired plants to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 40%. Coupled with re-burning techniques NOx can be reduced 70% and selective catalytic reduction can clean up 90% of NOx emissions.
* Increased efficiency of plant - up to 45% thermal efficiency now (and 50% expected in future) means that newer plants create less emissions per kWh than older ones.
* Advanced technologies such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and Pressurised Fluidised Bed Combustion (PFBC) will enable higher thermal efficiencies still - up to 50% in the future.
* Ultra-clean coal from new processing technologies which reduce ash below 0.25% and sulfur to very low levels mean that pulverised coal might be fed directly into gas turbines with combined cycle and burned at high thermal efficiency.
* Gasification, including underground gasification in situ, uses steam and oxygen to turn the coal into carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
* Sequestration refers to disposal of liquid carbon dioxide, once captured, into deep geological strata.
What say you "danny"
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Dude,
anyone can copy and paste info. found on the WWW. Whopp-de-doooo!
There is NO clean coal. Even the "clean" coal releases toxins. Just not as many as the old coal burning power plants...
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ddduudddeee if anyone can post then post an argument..I simply provided proof that it can be done..All you can do is act like an extra on a 80"s "B: movie and call someone a dude....Passing gas releases toxins....Do you mean to tell me you do not do such a thing ? This is a forum where we can provide different views...Just do so
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"Clean" is, of course, a relative term.
The fact is that the plant would've been cleaner than any other in existence, yet those opposed to it repeatedly tried to compare it to older plants that didn't implement such technologies.
Maybe some day the sun, wind, and water will provide us with all the power we need. But they don't do that now, which means we have to look elsewhere for the time being. Only coal and nuclear energy can provide us with what we need--so take your pick.
Everybody wants power, but nobody wants power plants in their back yard. Whose back yard should we stick them in, then?
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1. Clean may be relative but the dictionary says it means "free from foreign or extraneous material;" therefore can never be applied to coal.
2. the cleanest coal plants currently in existance are the gasification plants, including one in Florida. As Danny said, this was rejected for the Taylor County proposal as it was too expensive for the partners.
3. "need" is also a relative term. Maybe some day we can get our wants met with a combination of sources. Until then, give our hospitals and home-health patients all they 'need' and the rest of us can conserve.
Why aren't solar panels on all the flat Florida roofs, helping reduce the amount of electricity needed from coal?
Why hasn't our National government put the same R&D or subsidy money into alternatives similar to what they give the oil and coal companies?
Why aren't cars and trucks getting better gas mileage-the technology exists right now for them to get 70 mpg. Reagan set us way back by freezing the fuel economy standards.
Why don't people drive 60mph, saving many gallons of gas?
Let's all conserve and encourage local government to do the same. The less electricity we all use, the less money we spend on utilities.
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Earth-based solar panels can never function at optimal capacity. Atmospheric Interference and weather conditions make "peak capacity" a relative term.
Congress had mandated getting to 27.5 mpg by 1985 for passenger cars, but said DOT could make changes after that. Those changes actually lowered the mileage requirements, but in 1990 the standard was reset to 27.5 mpg, where it remains.
After the Clinton administration took office in 1992, Clinton cut a deal with the auto industry to this effect: We won’t push to tighten these efficiency standards if you will agree – with plenty of help from federal coffers – to research super-energy-efficient vehicles.
Some say there's a lot of technology out there that you're not putting on your vehicles that are cost-effective for consumers. I'm not sure many consumers want to wait fourteen years to get $3,000 back.
[The Kerry bill] is technologically unfeasible. We know of no basis in science, fact, data, or any report (especially the National Academy of Sciences report) that would lead one to the conclusion that the 35mile per gallon average level is achievable through cost-effective technology in that timeframe (2013). It just ain't so!
For example, let's look at Daimler Chrysler. Assume we could achieve at 28-mile-a-gallon truck fleet. For us to average 35 miles per gallon, our car fleet has to get 78 miles a gallon. Now, if those trucks only get 27 miles a gallon, then our car fleet has to get something like 111 miles a gallon.
So any law that talks about a combined standard has disparate competitive effects which I would argue, the Congress is not fully considering.
So Senator Kerry's [CAFE] bill is really not even a 35-mile-a-gallon bill by 2013. It's more like a 40-mile-a-gallon bill.
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I hate to argue semantics, but we all use the word "clean" in a relative way. We clean our cars. We clean our houses. We clean our pets. We call them "clean", but does that mean they're 100% "free from foreign or extraneous material"? Of course not.
So if we can never call coal plants clean, then we can never apply that word to things like our homes, laundry, or pets, either.
As for reducing energy usage... I'm with you on that. I don't keep things turned on around my house that don't need to be, and when replacing appliances I spend more to purchase something with greater efficiency.
But our nation's population--and our state's--is increasing. Conservation alone won't be enough at some point; we'll HAVE to have additional sources of energy. And right now, nothing beats coal or nuclear for that. I hope this changes in the future, but we've got to do something to buy time until then.
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What a great project for taylor county, it is needed and will provide needed jobs. Hats off for DR.Pruitt for looking into the future.
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First, this development was stated to bring 624 condos, 874-room hotel, a 280,000-square-foot commercial center and boardwalks into Taylor County. Isn't that growth?
There has been blogs on here about children getting in trouble for vandalism, there has been blogs about crime rate, do you see a pattern? Perry, with many other counties in this state are experiencing troubling times. The economy is bad, children have nothing to look forward to in this town, and people are leaving like the town is poison.
I dare to imagine that a great percentage of the people posting on here have children that live in Taylor County. Do you enjoy your life living in Taylor County? Want to keep your children close, give them something to look forward to. The "tree-huggers" (thanks T-Mac) are fighting to keep Perry just the way it is, but there the ones that are helping our kids pack and leaving the county. With-out growth you have no hope. I'm not saying that I want my kids or your kids to work at The Reserve at Sweetwater Estuary but I am saying that if you continue to kill growth, you will be stag gent in the same problems that you are facing today.
I am not endorsing this project (although I do wish to see it developed), I am just shedding a little light on the fact that people like Danny and everyone else in Perry that is scared of change will continue to see economic problems in the county and will continue to see our children leaving and the crime rate increasing because there is nothing to look forward to in Perry, it has become a dead economic town.
As a side note, wasn't WalMart protested by the same people? What has that company done for Perry.?... Nothing but bring in jobs to the county but also has given everyone in Perry an economic relief... that was growth that was scary but it worked...
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Thanks for a great article Skipper!! Not to mention the tax base this will bring into the county, the other growth this may spurt and the people passing through Taylor County to visit this and stay a week...People will be buying gas, eating at restaurants and shopping our local businesses. People will come here, see what a great community this is to live in and some will even become our neighbors!
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This explains the reason everyone is laughing."It is hard to gain support when people are bad mouthing your ideas, But it is by far harder to gain support when people are laughing at your ideas." I hear laughter, am I the only one giggling?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDgHSVYiq4M
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Watched the video, pretty funny. I guess this means you are against the homes and hotel being built. I was against the coal plant, but can't understand what is wrong with building houses and such on private land that is not causing daily damage to our environment, and I don't want the building on pristine land argument. The home, land and city you live in was once undeveloped and considered pristine land. I think that the County should have strict building codes for coastal development and control the types of construction, but there comes a point where conservation is misused. I guess we should build up instead of out, stop having kids and eventually just all move onto floating islands in the ocean. I am against coal and for nuclear. I think we should go green when feasible in our daily lives, but we should not hinder progress, nor embrace other forms of alt. fuels that are unreliable and just as costly in other areas. We should be careful what we let come here because of the type of people that follow, but we also need to be realistic as well. There must be compromise, which liberals rarely do, because we, society, can not survive by going backwards, staying stagnant or moving forward with ignorance.
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I do agree that we need to search for viable alternatives, but right now these are the most feasible.
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Yes you are the only one laughing. All you can do is post a youtube video with no facts. Let me post something for you to think about:For the first time in 30 years, United Van Lines Inc. says it moved more people out of Florida than in, and analysts see that as a sign that consumers are looking elsewhere for a cheaper slice of life.
Eco-terrorists like yourself push your ecological views onto people. People like you push to get away from oil to ethanol, when ethanol is very environmentally unfriendly.
The continual push of ethanol as an alternative fuel for our nation’s vehicles has another twist. It appears experts didn’t take into account that ethanol might be an environmentally dangerous industry to our sea life.
Yes, ethanol, praised as an environmentally excellent alternative as a gasoline additive might be an ecological nightmare for fish, crab, oyster and shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico.
Now it has already been admitted that the soaring price of meats and groceries is because of the ethanol explosion. Corn hovering at $2 a bushel for years is trading as high as $4.50 on the futures market today. The commodity has nowhere to go but still higher as ethanol plants begin blossoming up around the Midwest like dandelions in our yards each spring.
The costly additive, which won’t survive without huge tax subsidies, also appears to be far less friendly than the “green" allies of the additive have publicized. It is now apparent there is an ecological tradeoff that again the experts did not see coming.
The chain of events should have been obvious. Corn in high demand became a crop of choice for Midwestern farmers. Rather than rotate production year to year between corn, soybeans and other crops, farmers went where the gold was at and continued to plant corn each year. The crop which requires nitrogen based fertilizers doesn’t hold the fertilizer as well as beans and other crops so with rain; runoff of the nitrogen into the Mississippi river occurs.
These nitrogen based fertilizers eventually make their way into the Gulf of Mexico where they assist in the formation of algae. This algae, when it dies and decomposes, depletes the oxygen in the water thus making it impossible for sea creatures to exist in the area.
Scientists currently state that a Dead Zone in the Gulf at the mouth of the Mississippi is now a monstrous 7,900-square-mile area where no sea life can exist.This is especially destructive to oysters and crabs who can’t swim away fast enough when they begin to starve for oxygen in the zone.
With 2007 corn production at its highest level since World War II, it is likely more nitrogen based fertilizer is making its way into the Gulf every day with environmentalists believing that the region is fast approaching a tipping point where marine life will begin to die off in huge numbers.
Lets see you post a youtube "diddy" to that...
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Mr. Mac,
I apologize for making your blood pressure go up and your ill temper come out. But I can't help it, you tickle me.
Now if you can not take the heat "stop tickling the dragon."
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No blood pressure here, I am busy hosing down the so called dragon because all I see are little whimsical puffs of smoke and no response to any commentary.
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I believe this thread originally began as a commentary on the RASE being developed by Dr. Pruitt and its “positive” impact on the Taylor County economy and I’d like to comment on this subject. The number one reason people visit our coastline is to fish and scallop. We don’t have wide, white sandy beaches to draw the sunbathers, nor do we have shopping meccas to draw the spenders. If we harm the fragile ecosystem which provides the majority of our fish and scallops what will be here to draw people to our coast? Why does a golf course have to be built in the wetlands when the property owner clearly owns more uplands? Why does a 24-story condotel have to be built in the wetlands when empty rental houses abound in the Keaton Beach area? Visit Keaton Beach in the middle of January and you could roll a bowling down Beach Road and not hit a single person. Develop the RASE by planning single-family, energy-efficient homes built on already existing high ground. Build a golf-course away from the Gulf where the run-off will not pollute the fragile wetlands. When Dr. Pruitt first visited Dekle Beach and talked about his development he stated that “affordable” housing would be built. When asked what constituted “affordable” he stated that $450,000 would be an approximate figure. Where are the people that will be needed to work in this condotel and associated shops, restaurants and golf course going to live? The last time I looked, none of these jobs were high-paying. How is this going to be a boon to our local economy?
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This is going to be a great economic boom to Taylor County...The property tax money it will bring in is enormous, the jobs it will create is enormous. Not to mention that the people it will bring into Taylor County, people to shop our local grocery stores and other businesses. Not only will this create jobs during construction but add jobs to these businesses in Perry. Where will the employees come from ? These same people will visit our Doctors and at times even admitted to our Hospital...Imagine the impact...These employees will come form here within Taylor County.
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Enormous taxes? Enormous jobs? Shopping? Grocery stores? You can't possibly be talking about Taylor County Florida! Maybe it's Taylor County Texas you are referring to.
Or maybe Taylor County Wisconsin you are mixed up with. T.Mac, wake up and smell the coffee..oh wait, that's not coffee you smell.. That's Buckeye stinking up the place...LOL
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What I see here is an opportunity here..An opportunity for something to happen. With progress comes some sacrifices. Yes, jobs and new businesses will spring up...Lets be point blank...The people moving into these homes are well to do...$450K homes, thats a hell of a lot of tax money for Taylor County...What I see is a future for some of our children ...Do you remember the early 70's what Buckeye smelled like ? I think it has come a long way...
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Let's see.......We bill and sell ourselves as the "Nature Coast" but we're willing to fill in wetlands with concrete and asphalt. Now this is not nature. And we are told of all the tax monies it will bring in and how it will help us here in poor Taylor County. If you believe this, go to the phone and call some life long Panama City folks and see how its helped them to reduce the tax burden and help the economy. The condos and developments have been into place quite some time such that they may not have to pay taxes now and probably are being sent all that extra monies collected back in the form of rebate checks. Please get back with me when you are through with this little survey.
Then there is the argument that this is his or anyones land and he should be able to do with it's he pleases. Well I live in the city limits and do you think I can do anything I want on my land. Wake up my friends, we all have limits to what we can do on our land and restrictions are used to protect people/neighborhoods and the environment. And land mitigation is the biggest disaster to wetlands that has ever been made into law, just for developers to rape the land, legally mind you.
To keep with the Nature Coast theme I humbly ask Dr. Pruitt to consider this. Call this the "Sweetwater Preserve" and develop this back into what it once was.......a nature habitat. And place walkways or footpaths in this natural setting so our future generations can really enjoy "The Nature Coast". 100 years from now Dr. Pruitt will be remembered more for this act that than for building a concrete and asphalt jungle on our "Nature Coast".
With all this said I will end with this observation for all to consider: People are the worst threat to the environment. Houses, roads, sewage systems, landfills for garbage, damaging runoff caused by fertilizers to yards and golf courses and other necessities, (whoa here, I almost forgot "Power Plants" will be needed too) that human occupation of land brings with it. If this and other developments are not stopped or cautiously planned "The Nature Coast" in Taylor County will become just like the other deveolped areas that people seem to be fleeing from now in Florida and it don't need to move here with them. So there!
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Has the Fenholloway River been dry since 1988? Is that why, no one fishes in the Fenholloway since the Florida Department of health lifted the ban on fishing in the river in September 30, 2003? The Florida Department of Health has posted a fish consumption advisory which says you may eat “one bow fin" from the Fenholloway River per month and you may feed it to your child. Now tell me again, Why are the children leaving?
Maybe the children understand it is not their best interest which is being looked out for but those who wish to exploit the natural resources and the human resources.Failing to realize the worth of our children is hurting Taylor County. I love my children and the children of Taylor County and I will never agree to poison for profit.
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Dear Danny and BooBoo, thanks for straightening all this out. You seem to have all the problems figured out but what's funny is you never seems to have any solutions. What do you suggest we do with people. Maybe we should just give up, die off and give the world back to the dinosaur? 85% of our coast is "protected". How much is enough? Please fill in the blanks your posts are creating.
Thanks.
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Finally a person with a sense of humor. I laughed and laugh@ BooBoo..too funny.
The answer is first to define the problem before developing alternative solutions. The failure of transparency in communications of current conditions and proposals makes ethical decision making impossible. Ethical decision making requires leadership to make the decision which offers the greatest amount of good to the greatest number of people. This equality standard stops monetary entitlements given to the rich who can afford to purchase advantage for cheap. Sadly it is the collective also known as the taxpayer and property insured who pays in the end for many "considerations for or exemption of" made decisions.
One more thing "protected coast"? I don't understand. Ten square miles of dead seagrass bed within the Aquatic Seagrass Preserve and... protected how?
I suggest we protect people from industrial/commercial piracy and politicans who can not explain the decisions or proposals being made for "us" the people, while failing to protect the health and safety of citizens.
I sincerely hope I have not offended you by my opinion. It was never my intention to raid your pik-a-nik basket.
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Someone please explain how developing 15% of our coast and leaving the other 85% untouched ruins it.
And while you're at it, explain how preserving that small 15% is going to provide jobs and put food on the table for Taylor County residents.
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It doesn't. I am pro-environment and didn't think the coal plant was a sound decision for Taylor County. I say that because the cons sold their side better than the pros did. I know that all the facts regarding that plant were not presented, and I know for a fact by asking that some of the new standards for eliminating emissions would not be used at this plant. Regardless though, being pro-environment shouldn't automatically mean anti-development. Look, just because we can find something that is wrong with most anything 99% of the time, doesn't justify automatically dismissing it. Not only that, if you have ever tried to get, or was involved in, getting a SWRMD permit, you would know some of what they require and what you will do to offset the environmental impact. Dr. Pruitt already has had to revise his plans because of environmental standards, and now he has passed. I think we can trust that his project will be monitored closely and things will be done right. Common sense would say the good out ways the bad. My opinion.
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In reply to the sentence "Common sense would say the good out ways the bad." Common sense says NOT to build on the coast - Do you remember the storm of "93" and common sense says there are more storms to come.
And when storms hit these developed areas along the coast who always gets to pay the cost. Common sense says we all do. Do the law officers, emergency disaster teams, cleanup crews etc. get paid by the development folks who built in harms way? What about insurance cost which gets past on to all homeowners that do not wish to build in harms ways but have to suck up and pay for those "uncommon sense condos and homes" built in harms way.
Common sense says not to build on the coast or on low land. "Uncommon Sense" says build there and get flooded or blown away but then don't expect the common sense folks to bale you out.
When my "Nature Coast" gets hit by the storm and it gets ravaged by its forces that is natural, I will replant my trees naturally and repair the damages to my land naturally as my forgotten "Mother Nature" has done since the beginning of time. Remember this my friends, if you build on unfriendly land "Mother Nature" will make you pay for using "Uncommon Sense"! So there.........
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My concern is for our/my coast, Taylor County, and Taylor County ONLY! This is where I was born and will die, so other places and what they destroy is their business. We are a gem worth saving. And there is plenty of high ground here to build homes and new "clean" industry upon. I am not your typical tree hugger. I am the voice of reason that is in all of us. We can do what others with coastal land are not willing to do, save and treasure it. We can still attract people and green industry if "we" are willing to think, plan and act "Green" ourselves. And my "Mother Nature" will thank us with beauty for all to enjoy.
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Quick run for the caves everyone, no place is safe to build!!
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T Mac.........Just think....100 years from now...the nightime image of Florida and all the lights are bright along the coast.......but....what is this....in the Big Bend of Florida the coast line is dark....just that one little line......on the coast where I had lived and died........And just think.......100 years ago those dumb rednecks (yes...one of the was me) was kind enough to leave "Mother Natures" coast as she had made it.....
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And all the children of Taylor County will have moved out of town to find something better and we will have no decendants from you or any residents in Perry right now... yeah lets save natures coast and lose our children..
Good Job naturecoastboy... you just destroy the best thing about Taylor County and the fact that there has been over 100 years of generations living there...
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Skipper-do you really know lots of ambitious high school graduates (or ambitious drop-outs) who want to stay in the town where they were raised? Everybody gives this same argument as if it's the gospel. I've never met a teenager who wanted to stay, before they had a chance to get away a bit and see what other places have (or don't have) to offer. No one in my graduating class of 450, in a city of 85,000, wanted to stay and there were plenty of jobs. We all wanted to get away from our families, at least for a while. So let's don't use the kids as an excuse to support every development idea that any old carpetbagger brings to Taylor County. Tmac thinks people who care about God's earth are against everything-of course that's his comfort zone, either for or against-no compromising. He, and many of the bloggers, are FOR ANYTHING that smacks of easy, quick money for the owners of gas stations and motels and minute markets (many of whom don't live here anymore.) Tree huggers call them greed-heads. I don't hear a thing about long-term consequences. If the development idea comes from somebody rich from someplace else, many people act like its a gift from God instead of looking at the long-term unanticipated consequences.
Why isn't anybody pressuring the local TCDA and local governments to go after new business and development? Why do we have to wait for south Florida to find the last undeveloped place in the state? They want what we have very badly and they will pay, and hop through any hoops, to get it. Make sure the ideas for development make the kind of long-term common sense naturecoastboy is advocating. Or is it ok to sacrifice your children's children because you want more places to spend money?
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We'll be leaving a whopping 85% of our coast in its natural, pristine condition. Developing only 15% of our coastline will be enough to make us stand out as a shining example in 100 years.
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How much of the tax payers money is spent to keep prison inmates from suing the state, in Taylor County? Is it $45,000 per month? Once again making the citizens pay for “mistakes in judgments” by whom? $750,000 to improve Rocky Creek’s Hampton Spring, $750,000 to build a parking lot? Why? To remove the Rocky Creek from the impaired waters list? And who does this help?
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But RazzleDazzle, this $750,000 is doing what you recommend in other posts, preserving nature right. You're not speaking out of both sides of your mouth are you.
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The bottom line reads like this, the answer is “water” the massive consumption of water for free is history and anyone depending on free water should go home now.
Why? Because it is over, finished, and the end of the supply chain. If massive consumption of water is necessary for the production of product the cost is going up. The same amount of water used to produce consumer products can be used to sell as a consumer product. Water sells with out waste or waste water disposal would benefit the collective/citizens by less use of natural resource, with out waste or waste water disposal necessary to produce consumer products damaged and degraded river, creek, springs, and gulf could be reclaimed and restored. In other words the water is worth more to the collective than the plant which consumes fifty (50) million gallons of water per day and produces fifty (50) million gallons of waste water for free. Industry’s deal to low cost production which is also known as the “sweetest deal on the planet.” to those business persons in the know and laughing at the poor decision making from inept decision makers.
Rationalization and justification can no longer sustain overuse and abuse of a valuable commodity growing scarcer each day. Failure to recognize the value of our collective resources through “considerations for and exemption of” special interest needs to produce profitability of projects are no longer viewed as prudent leadership decisions. These decisions are better described as deliberately obtuse decisions made by individuals with more power to decide than skilled ability to make these important decisions.
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Could be wrong, but it seems to me that for alot of those opposing the development, that it is more about people moving in and their little undeveloped area growing than it is about the environment. If that is the case, it happens eventually to most. I didn't like my neighborhood growing, people moving in, traffic going up, but that's life and I had to get over it.
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The one who has told you the truth here is Razzbaboo.....whom I'd like to nominate for Mayor, my County Commissioner, or Governor, whichever Razz prefers!
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Growing up we all bought or was given things, baseball cards, maybe a Barbie doll, a comic book, the first Beatles album. We all had something of this sort. Some thirty, fourty or more years later most of these things has found their way to our landfills. But what if we had kept our things in pristine condition. If we could just take a step back and hold, touch or feel of this special item all the time keeping it clean and pristine. What would they be worth? Some of these items are now worth thousands of dollars to collectors or museums... Imagine... We can't get those things back now. But we can have a coast like no other in our country. Just like nature intended. And there will always be people here who will be good stewarts of this gift from "Mother Nature". And we will still be working and thriving in Taylor County with clean and "Green" industry if that is where we set our sights.
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Very nice post, very true.
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Having a coastline that's 85% undeveloped will put Taylor County in a class by itself. That's good enugh for me; I'm willing to trade 15% for increased economic prosperity. What's the good of having 100% of the coastline preserved if no one who lives here can find a decent job?
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I'd like to see Sweetwater cause an economic boom in Taylor county...who wouldn't? And I agree developing this bit of coastline is not going to kill us all. BUT...a development of this scope on our coastline is like a diamond in a donkeys butt. Look at the condos that are already down there, they are generally deserted. A good portion of the houses and lots at the beaches are for sale and have been for the past two years with very little movement. One house has sold at KB in 2008. Is there really a market for a development of this size? If he builds it, will "they" come? Will Pruitt market to trout fishermen, or retirees? Who will shop in these shops initially? the people who will fill these condos will not come all at once, will the shops just sit open with no customers for a year/s? What Pruitt is doing just doesn't make economic sense. He's wanting to build a small city in the middle of nowhere. I see it panning out as a few roads initially built, then a few houses and then things will stop.
What really makes economic sense to me is a development like "The Mill" and I was saddened to see it canceled. Developments like these (walkable communities inside existing city limits) are the way of the future, not condos out in the marsh.
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I agree that it seems strange that so many people would be interested in moving here. But Dr. Pruitt is clearly a pretty bright guy, and he must be doing something right because he appears to be very financially comfortable. One can only assume that he has done his share of market research before making this decision.
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I have just one ?...
How many of you all either work at or have someone that is really close to you that works at Buckeye... They are making a good living for their family and are very happy with life...
Did you all oppose Buckeye and the growth that it brought... Do yal want it to leave town now after everything that it has brought Perry....?
Just a thought...
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Your joking? Right. Do you really expect me to agree to poisoning my community for my neighbor or some person I barely know to have a job?
Those ladies out on US hwy 19 aren't the only people in Perry who sell out to poison themselves.
If they(Buckeye workers) are so happy why the inflated use of alcohol and drugs in the workplace?
The reason the children leave is because they do not want the "baggage" or "labels" that go along with being from Perry. Ask the children what they think or think for them? All I know is somebody's best ideas got us to where we are. Want more?
Opinions are like other things, every body's got one and some people are one.
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RAZZBABOO, you say that the children want to leave not to have the "baggage" or "labels" on them from being from Perry... what do they have when they leave, just that...
And I wander where that comes from... Not having a community with any pride... What does this community talk PRIDE in... the only thing I can think of is being the Tree Capital of the South and we celebrate that with the Florida Forest Festival... want to know who started that Festival and who was responsible for making it what it is... that would be Buckeye... Perry needs change, Perry need growth, Perry needs Help... without growth, where do you want to get that growth from...?
As for your last statement... I would guess that you are one...
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Arguing with a Tree Hugger is like pulling a pig out of the mud. Eventually you figure out the pig likes it.
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Amen and if they would take some more time realizing that we need growth instead of arguing with me then we might get somewhere in this community...
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Name calling and whining will offer what solution? Call that toll free number. 1-800-cry-baby cause "Fat Cats" are to scared to fight and to fat to run.
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I am still looking for the dragon I hosed...anyone seen it ??
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Razzbaboo or boohoo?
You have someone giving you very bad information. Someone has told you a whopper of a lie.
I have been a Union Steward at the mill for ten years representing all operators under the US Labor laws for any disciplinary actions received for wrong doing and I have never represented a operator for as you stated "inflated use of alcohol and drugs in the work place".
I am one who does not see eye to eye with management on a lot of issues, but this is one we are on agreement on. Alcohol and drugs have no place in our working environment.
you have done a terrible disservice to me and my fellow employees for even typing this false rumor.
The men and women who work at the mill do so for their family as well as yours. Yes even though you do not wish to admit it we do. The Pulp we produce 24 hrs a day 365 days a year go to make Rayon for clothing, Tire cords for your tires, coatings for over the counter and prescription drugs, food additives and casings, Paper for the US Dollars that you spend, feminine hygiene products and the list goes on and on. So to make a statement that we sell out to poison ourselves, is a Lie and just more of your hateful and disrespect for very hard working people.
We have spent millions to clean up a site that the US and State government did not care about until it was almost to late for the environment. Yes it is never to late until they plant you in the ground. We work hard to be better today than we were yesterday and to do it safer and cleaner. We (Operators at least and a few managers) live here also.
I have a question or maybe a suggestion. If it is so bad here why are you here? Why stay? Why Poison your self with this air or water etc?
To add to your statement if I may about opinions, they are like what you inferred and they all stink and some people are one. People who post misinformation and lies represent the last two parts of that ditty.
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Super post!! Way to hose the whimpering dragon!
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My intention is not to blame the News Paper. I just want the people of Taylor county to know about the way we are treated as employees. We made 72% of the profits for this company last year. We received 0% of a bonus. We work around the clock 365 days a year. Every holiday, birthday and anniversary. I believe we deserve a fair and equitable contract. Good benefit's, a raise over the life of the contract, language that supports our efforts and awards our hard work and a better retirement package for the retirees. Is this to much to ask for? Have we not earned it? With the hours, effort and commitment we put forth daily its time we are rewarded for it. This community can raise its head with pride with the knowledge that we produce a high quality product that is in demand around the world. We have done it in a sustained professional way all the while meeting and exceeding all standards as well as making new ones. I will state again, We've earned it!
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wantsafairdeal wrote:
No they did not come right out and ask, I believe its against the law for them to do so. The thing that is funny is we as well as they are not supposed to bargain inside the mill. The reps for the company has been in the mill asking questions of operators and telling them what we have heard is un-true. I told them if they come by again, ask them to prove it. Tell them "Pretend that I am from Missouri, Show me"! I say the Union should take $600, put a full page ad in the paper. 1/2 the page is the salary of the big wigs and the profits info and total sales as of today (all public records). The other 1/2 is what they have offered us so far. All of it everything. The people can see what they have offered and see the B.S. for what it is.
Speak and stand up people. Thank you
You want a fair deal for who? You? Those who say hooray for your side? If they do not deal fair with the employees do you really believe what other B.S. they tell you? Now I am not saying you are lying..I am just saying you have continued to talk after the truth runs outs
Tickles me, but I repeat myself.
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Just before we die will we remember what we destroyed or what we saved? I think I'm going to try to save my naturecoast.......
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You tree huggers just dont get it...
Where do you go to vacation?
Where do you go to work?
Where do you live?
You vacation on developed land, you work on devloped land and you live on developed land.
Basically you all are hypocrites. Living one life and talking another...
And yes I am right... Without developement in this world we would all still be living in caves...
Im not saying destroy everything that nature has giving us... but give up we have to grow to survive... thats life... But go ahead comment back saying that you vacation in a rain forest and live with the animals, that you work in a green business, and that you live in a tree with the birds... if you do allthese things then I will give up and agree with you that we shouldn't have developement in this community but until someone can show me they do all these things... then stop crying...
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Good point.
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Dear Skipper, and Danny2, This pig does like like the environment God gave us, and I like the earth and the clean air and clean water I grew up enjoying. I want my children and grandchildren to enjoy the same. I don't vacation, I live in the woods and I do work in town. And I am very happy! How did you greed heads decide tree huggers are against all development? What if we want intelligent development, putting people first, not low-wage jobs. Talk to the county about trying to get the so called Development Authority to bring in clean business and workforce housing.
Not being born in this company town, I don't feel I owe allegiance just because someone hired me, or spent money helping the community I live in. Big corporations do that so the natives will like them and buy their product! Wasn't the Forest Festival started so locals would stop burning the woods/the product?
At any rate, Skipper, why is it either/or with some folks? Why can't we have intelligent growth and keep what is valuable about Taylor County? There are many lots in town on which houses and apartments need to be built so struggling families can have a decent place to buy or rent. If a developer wanted to buy any number of parcels and attract tourists and rich folks to spend money here, that would be great, let's do it. Growth without thought is not a good deal for our kids. Did you go to any of that Vision stuff to help plan for our future? Besides, are your kids growing up to wait tables and clean motel rooms or work at WalMart or are you encouraging them to reach higher, maybe get more training or education? All work is honorable work but some parents help their kids do better than we've done. Soometimes that means they leave and come back to visit and ride the woods and catch crabs and go scalloping and eat at Deal's. (10years is so honest) Just watch, when Foley Timber starts selling off their land, you'll love the growth. First there will be a gas station on every corner that intersects with 19, 27, Jefferson and Center Streets. You will love the new traffic signals and the traffic and the long lines and the people you've never seen running the stores and the county offices and the schools. There will be so many service jobs all the kids can stay with their mamas and daddies.
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I do wish for my children to reach for the stars, and want something more than work at walmart... but if they reach for the stars and fall in the clouds and walmart is what they choose then ok... at least walmart gave them that choice...
Have you seen any other growth developement propose... nope... because people in Perry don't want growth so the wont propose anything else...
But don't worry when its time to pack your childrens bags i will come and help... because the way Perry is going I want all the children to leave so they can get a non-sheltered view on the world..
Good Luck Perry!!!
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Great reply skipper....What people do not realize is there is no such thing as a "green" development..The carbon credit philosophy is yet to be proven... Why would you want to buy a carbon offset?
When you travel, by air, car or any other form of transport you can, in theory, neutralise your emissions of carbon dioxide – the principal gas involved in man's contribution to global warming – by buying a "carbon offset."
So why are they controversial?
Some say they are the modern equivalent of the medieval practice of paying for indulgences. In other words, it would be better to work out a way of not sinning at all – by avoiding flying in the first place.
How much does it cost?
Between £2 and £19 a ton of carbon, according to a recent study. There is a market for emission reduction credits so the price can increase or down.
How many tons of carbon will I emit on my holiday or in my business?
A ton of carbon is emitted when you travel 2,000 miles in an aeroplane, drive 1,900 miles in a medium size car or 1,350 in a large 4x4, or switch your computer on for 10,600 hours.
What will the carbon offset company do for the money?
Offsetting is achieved by buying emission reduction credits generated by projects that have reduced carbon emissions anywhere in the world. Principally this can be achieved by planting trees but also by doing a multitude of things, from installing solar panels or making biofuels from chip fat, to burning off major emissions of greenhouse gases from industry that would otherwise have been emitted straight into the atmosphere.
Is there a catch?
Yes there is. At present, experts say that it is not possible to be sure that buying any carbon offset from any company will neutralise the damage that flying, driving or your business does to the atmosphere.
So what's the problem?
The market is unregulated and has no commonly agreed standards – something the Government decided to rectify yesterday with a relatively bureaucratic, though voluntary code.
At present, many companies calculate the emissions for different routes in a different way.
A further problem is that it is difficult to establish for certain whether the credits you are buying have been sold before.
Is that all?
Not a bit of it. The biggest problem is ensuring what is called "additionality."
That means something that achieves genuinely additional savings to what a company would have done anyway, that is a direct result of the money you spent.
Environmentalists say the problems with offsetting are so major that they should be a last resort after you have reduced your emissions by other means.
Will the proposed new system work?
There is no reason to suppose that it will not. But the Government has chosen to leave out a large market in credible voluntary emissions credits that are not, or cannot be, certified under the Kyoto Treaty.
So the price is likely to go up. If the voluntary market manages to get its act together and set its own standards, there is a d
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Nice copy from the January 20, 2007 Telegraph.CO.UK, "Pros and Cons of Carbon Offsetting".
Carbon offsetting, purchasing carbon credits and/or mitigation, in my opinion, is just one way of trying to convince the public that "a good deed is being done". Once a piece of land is destroyed or the air polluted you can never replace it. Buying "air" in South Florida to pollute the air in North Florida does not make a bit of sense to me. Buying mitigation credits for wetlands/marshes/springsheds in another location sure as heck does not retain those areas here, along the Nature Coast -- from Cedar Key to Panama City to help protect the fragile ecosystem for the fish/shrimp/clams/scallops that so many enjoy. Not to mention to be Natures Barrier against tropical storms.
Next subject -- jobs needed oh Yes, they do. With a new Walgreens, Holiday Inn Express, and a new Bar-B-Q restaurant slated to be built there will be some employment. Construction workers needed, most likely, is the work force here or will they come from out of town? Three business have recently closed. Will someone replace them? If an Ecomonic Developer/Planner, not a businessman, were sitting at the table of TCDA you might have seen (over the past years) industry starting to trickle in. We have the industrial parks -- what is wrong with this picture? Longing for a lost coal plant is not the solution. How about a plant that manufactures solar panels, or those blades for windmills, electronics, we have the rail lines to ship them out or a telemarketing company (I hate speaking to India). Send YOUR ideas to the ears that need to hear them.
Crime -- did you attend the meeting last night hosted by Mayor Kettering? Voice your opinion?
This site is great for airing your thoughts and grievance I just hope they are being read by the "powers that be".
You will encounter what you expect if all you have are low expectations.
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Mayor Ketring needs to check her own group. The City is the most negative business organization in the county. Just stop in and speak to your city manager.
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I have missed hearing about the BBQ restaurant. Which one is coming here?
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if the grapevine is correct it is
Smokey's. Same as the new one between
Old Town and Cross City.
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I have eaten their when I traveled to South Florida...Has nothing on Goodman's and I bet it will be hard to compete with them. Hopefully they will branch out and give us something different and try to fill the gap with some Country cooking now that Pouncey's is closed...
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Ask the child that is ten years gone and this is what I know,I was borned here right there at the perry hospital. I went through all taylor county schools. I have life long friends here and abroad. I read the local paper, I visit when I can. But when I left I left running, I was tired of just surviving. The last hint for me to run and run fast is when I called my buddy to go to the dollar store and she couldn't because she was waitng for someone to come pay her five dollars they owed her. Since I was not a fortunate one who got the good job at buckeye, (maybe because Buckeye downsized over half the jobs in the 90's)my opportunities were limited. I remember thinking I could not live in a place where five dollars was so needed that a person could not afford the loss.So country kid moved to big city. I get paid well for the skills I learned in Perry. I encouraged all my friends to do the same. Some have gone yet others have stayed. This will always be my home. And my roots run deeper than any pine tree ever will. If you want cement and asphalt come to the city, but when I come Home I want long rides down county roads, fishing with a cane pole, crabbing at Hickory Mound, snorkeling for scallops, I also want Johnson's donuts, Grave's Drive in hamburgers and my gas pumped at McClellan's.I want to see my Momma, my family and friends, I want to eat fresh Mullet. But I can not return, to put my children in second rated schools, to worry about the high rate of drug and alcohol abuse,and to outsiders who want to bring caviar, to the fish fry. If you can not respect your world, you can not preserve ours. Where is the native American with a tear on his cheek and Woodsey Owl when you really need them. I bet they are living in a tree hoping somebody will hug the hell out of it.
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10-years: you might be just the one to tell us what to do-and not do. Do you see employment opportunities TCDA could go after? What about the schools? What makes schools better where you live? What parts of the county do we need to protect and what can we destroy 'because we need jobs?'Please give us some advice.
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Thia was a good read two years ago...and so much so now...thanks to whomever wrote this...and since this post Pounceys has closed, McClellans has changed hands, more empty stores, less jobs....yes we are still on the decline and if/when the oil gets here it will even get worse...but it will still be our home.
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Information on this project has seemed to have died off. Do they have a website to give out info or do they just leak it out as necessary?
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To ten years gone...How charming. It seems you remember the same things I do, but I am still here. You brought back such good memories. Again, I thank you.
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A retirement community at the beach. Isn't it what this project is all about?
A couple of problems that I foresee which will leave an empty structure and an overgrown gulf course when it fails:
1) Its too cold in the winter in Perry to make this a retirement draw.
2) Retirement communities like the Villages that sprung up south of Ocala are self sustained cities. There won't be enough down at the beach for these people to make it without driving into Perry. That's a lot of driving for old folk.
3) Everything at the beach is for sale right now. Without any factual data, just driving around and looking at the vacant condos and the for sale signs everywhere should be a big RED FLAG that this area is in trouble.
I like the quote that Pruitt is a smart man and must know what he is doing. Is the project stalled now with the collapse of the housing market? Its probably good it wasn't built last year eh?
Assuming the project is a huge success though...what processes are in place to prevent another project from coming in and doing the same thing on their "own" land?
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Good points, thank the TCDA and Shameber of Commerce.
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Sweet water or sweet oil sound like some one ups the lost to submit the cost and loss.
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The whole project is a joke and by the folks who were paid off last time and ultimately supported the project, it was apparrent that their was not an honest project going on. If you looked at the website you could see the list of crooks!
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