Letter to the editor : TCC proposal shows a lack of thought I am perplexed that, with all the talent and expertise TCC has at its disposal, the development proposal for Cherokee Sink at Wakulla Springs was so sketchy, ill-founded, and undocumented. A one-and-a-half page letter and a rudimentary drawing for a proposal as huge as this one is inexcusable. I wonder if TCC or WEI reps have even visited the property. TCC/WEI says development of the RV park would increase revenues to Wakulla Springs Park. Yet none of the rental revenues from the 60 RV sites and the yurts they propose will go back to the park. That money will be used to pay off a $3 million development loan. The 50-year sublease on the $5 million publicly owned parcel will return only $300 per year to the park. TCC/WEI says the sinkhole is closed and swimming is prohibited due to lack of restrooms. Not true. People swim there daily, despite the fecal coliform readings that frequently exceed safe levels. The sinkhole has a low natural water flow that does not allow it to flush rapidly. It will likely never be able to support a multitude of swimmers generated by 60 RV sites. TCC/WEI states that all septic tanks will be removed from the park. However, there are only two septic systems remaining in the park, one of which is 4 miles from any possible sewer hookup. TCC has promised that no development would be done on top of the caves, ignoring the fact that that polluted runoff can reach the cave system anyway. TCC/WEI avers that, since the state bought the property in 1999, no restoration has been done on those areas clear-cut by St. Joe years ago. Not true. At the public workshop, a former park staffer described several completed restoration projects as well as prescribed burns and location of gopher tortoises. How can we have any confidence in TCC’s ability to be good stewards when this proposal is so flawed and poorly done? TCC says educating future forest rangers is its goal, but this can be done at Wakulla Springs without building 60 RV pads to profit business owners. Is this really about education? I don’t think so. ANN BIDLINGMAIER annbid@embarqmail
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 16:30:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015