Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Brooksville applauded the BOCC for acknowledging the importance of maintaining the health of natural lands and the springs/waters of Hernando County. However, they expressed concern that the BOCC has considered ending the ESL Program on schedule in 2018. (When the resolution passed in 1988, it was determined to have a 30 year cap.) They estimated that each taxpayer contributes less than $6.00 annually into the ESL fund, which translates into approximately $58,000 in revenue for the program.
In honor of Earth Day, the Sierra Club Adventure Coast Committee expressed their support for the ESL program. The newly formed committee’s top priorities are wildlife corridors and habitat protection. Citing overwhelming voter support of the ESL program, the committee chair called upon the BOCC to reinstate the ESL Committee of technical experts, which was recently dissolved.
The Gulf Coast Conservancy seeks to establish connected corridors of wildlife preserve habitat to enhance genetic diversity. A recent NOVA program described the scientific needs and benefits of wildlife corridors. Hernando County is fortunate in that there are already established “patches” (Croom, Richloam, Weeki Wachee preserve, etc.) and a revitalized ESL committee could help connect these patches with corridors, creating “a true nature coast” between Hernando, Citrus, and Pasco Counties with increasing benefits to tourism, economic growth, and quality of life.
Nature Coast Conservancy presented a letter asking that ESL funds continue to be used only for true ESL projects and not for dredging or boat ramp issues, and not for removal of invasive species on right-of-ways. Environmentally knowledgeable ESL committee members are essential to help maintain and restore natural balance, and restoring the funding is also needed.
Hernando Native Plant Society and Hernando Audubon stated they have supported ESL since its inception in 1988 and asked the BOCC to take a “long range view” of the program.
Proponents of the committee state that increased tourism dollars are benefits of the ESL program which goes beyond the scope of preserving and maintaining natural resources. Preserving plant and wildlife diversity, including rare birds such as the swallowtail kite, is an important part of ESL. Without it, Hernando County is at risk of increasing urban development like Pinellas County.
Tampa Bay Executive Committee of the Sierra Club presented a letter describing their long history of preserving natural lands and the purposes for the establishment of the ESL in 1988. The letter enumerated some of the guidelines of land acquisition and how they purchased land in cooperation with other programs which have benefited the county. The local Sierra Club requested that Hernando County reinstate the ESL Committee and refrain from using the funds for projects that do not adhere to the guidelines.
Citizens also addressed the BOCC with their individual concerns. One resident noted that Florida is unique and different from anywhere up north. This area is the southern end of the range of species from north Florida and the northern end of the range of species from south Florida. “We get the best of all Florida,” she stated and spoke about the volunteer committee members who are knowledgeable, concerned, dedicated, and ethical.
Linda Prescott, former committee member, requested the BOCC to attend cleanup at Cypress Lake on 5/6/16 and 5/13/16. Judith Simpson asked for both the tax and committee to be reinstated and referred to a commission hearing in 2015 in which the BOCC considered recruiting members to sit on the committee. ESL lands “are the jewels of the Adventure Coast”.
By way of response, County Administrator Leonard Sossamon stated he has assigned a staff member to conduct her own research as to how monies were spent from the ESL funds in the past. Mr. Dukes stated the ESL program has not stopped, as the County Administrator’s office is now overseeing it. The BOCC previously decided against purchasing additional lands, but it may change in the future. Dukes has asked that Hunter’s Lake be considered for preservation under the program. Any request follows a process and the county attorney reviews each request. Residents voted to end the tax, and the account has approximately $5.6 million available. Dukes responded to the comments about wildlife corridors by recalling that the county’s desire to provide a freshwater lake for families to enjoy was blocked by claims that the area was a wildlife corridor. However, he stated that there are roads on all sides of the area and that there are weekly reports of animals that are killed there. Dukes advised that the program is alive and will be as long as he has anything to say about it.
Nicholson stated that there are plans to re-form a committee for the ESL program and hopes they will be able to finalize the guidelines and areas of expertise needed. Once the guidelines are announced, it may be difficult to get volunteers to apply and to remain on the committee once their two or four year term ends. Holcomb stated his issue had been having an unregulated group in charge of buying land, not accountable to the people. He is proud of the way things are set up now and how the BOCC is responsible to the public. Rowden disagreed with Holcomb, stating that at no time did the volunteers make any decisions or purchase land, nor were they out of control. The highly educated and knowledgeable volunteers served at no expense to the public, except when staff went out at their recommendation.
Assistant County Administrator Ron Pianta addressed the BOCC on the issue, stating that after his meeting with Nicholson on 4/28/16, he began to work on guidelines and requirements to present to the BOCC as a policy. He used the minutes from a previous BOCC meeting to determine that they will need seven volunteers who could serve two consecutive four year terms, unless there was no one to fill the position. Adkins requested that the information be available for the 5/24/16 BOCC meeting. Once the BOCC approves the policy, recruitment of the volunteers may begin.
Pat and Shirley Miketinac expressed concern about maintenance of woodlands around Chinsegut and the destruction of hardwood trees (oaks, magnolias, dogwoods, hickory, elm) in favor of the pine trees from the forest in the Snow Memorial Highway and Lake Lindsey Road area. There are currently almost 50 trees marked for cutting near the Nature Center. The topographical map appears to show the land is not sand hill, but hardwood hammock and the trees should remain (reference p. 1053 of the agenda packet). The prescribed burning of local forests to allow the pines to flourish so they can be harvested by private companies is detrimental to the health of the environment, including the wildlife. In other parts of the world, prescribed burns are considered deforestation. George Washington stated, “Labor to keep alive in your heart that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.” It was suggested to use the fire of conscience to fight back.