Yesterday, the developers’ minions on our county commission voted to eliminate our EPC’s wetlands protection program.
I was there, although I was not allowed to speak because of some bogus rules Brian Blair made up as he chaired the meeting. I’m still reeling from the vulgar stench of corruption.
Ever since it was created in 1967, developers have wanted our county’s Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) out of the way. They have always whined that it is too costly and that it duplicates state wetland protections. The Tribune laid out the issues clearly ahead of time, and tried to warn the commissioners not to fall for that “old ruse.”
The county’s wetlands ordinance is tougher than the state’s rule and was adopted precisely because state regulators were allowing the piecemeal destruction of Hillsborough’s natural systems. … the program is a good investment for taxpayers, as the wetlands prevent flooding and erosion, filter and store water and sustain wildlife.
Unlike the state, Hillsborough protects wetlands smaller than one-half acre, which can have great ecological value. The rule is reasonable, and allows wetlands to be destroyed if their preservation prevents the reasonable use of a property.
But when that occurs, local regulators are far better able to monitor [local mitigation] projects.
Commissioner Kevin White, brimming with haughty audacity, made the motion. The Tribune reports today:
White said he heard [developers'] complaints during his campaign last year and that’s why he made the motion to get rid of the wetlands regulators.
As he made the motion, I heard gasps in the audience. I was knocked back in my seat, aghast at the spectacle of our leaders selling us out. The citizens around me looked to each other for confirmation that this surreal nightmare was really happening. We rose silently at our seats in protest. We remained standing together through the bullsh “discussion” until the vote. Read the transcript only if you have a strong stomach. The whole sham is covered well in the Times, which has been following the powerful developer Steven Dibbs’ role in this and his personal vendetta against EPC.
Ken Hagan seconded the motion. Brian Blair & Jim Norman joined them to carry the motion 4-3.
The developers’ flunkies didn’t even know they can’t legally eliminate our wetlands protections without a public hearing. EPC’s attorney explained that they will have to listen to us at a future hearing, before they can have a final vote. They voted anyway (just ’cuz) but not before Mark Sharpe tried hard to bring some sanity to the circus, pointing out that EPC’s Director, Rick Garrity, had worked out an innovative proposal that would offer developers one-stop-permitting, cut out state duplication, and save everyone money.
This is exactly what the developers had pretended they wanted, but what they really want is no rules. And this commission is giving them whatever they want.
This isn’t the first time these puppets have danced to the developers’ tune without listening to the public. We have to regain control of our county:
If we can’t make these flunkies believe that we won’t re-elect them if they stick to this vote at the final public hearing, then we deserve to lose our wetlands.
cooter
2 years ago
OKAY, sounds to me like we’re sufficiently outraged in our denunciation of the 4 Sellout Criminals on BOCC. So, from now through JULY 19th and beyond, watch and listen to the four commissioners backpedal, gainsay, demur, while attempting to self-aggrandize their motives. Blair and Norman are the busiest of little bees carrying honey back to the development comb, and they have just got to go. Hagan and White are lightweight thugs who have to shuffle off behind them. They’ve just got to start realizing that their long-reigning jig is up. Hear this, developers?
Nature
2 years ago
This is what happens when we don’t get out and vote.
The people that I vote for give prudent thought and have the basic skills and intelligence to make good decisions at this level. I don’t know these 4 individuals so I will not get derogatory, but they sure don’t think like a representative of the people & County should. I’d say background checks of these 4 are needed. This issue should have never come up to a vote and never again. NOT IN FLORIDA. Wetlands must be considered worthy of monumental status in the State of Florida.
Wetlands are synonymous with Florida and should be 100% protected. In such an ecological area, being allowed to develop on them in the first place is ignorant.
The County would be better off & natural if we built around wetlands instead of over them.
Keeping Hillsborough County beautiful means understanding the symbiotic relationship between wetlands, the animals and expansion. This is the wrong direction. In fact, I would expect that the County would double the number of Wetlands Agency employees from 29 to 58. I would think as the land becomes more precious; development gets tougher. We need these local people. They keep the playing field level. It should be a tug of war between those that want the land versus those that preserve it. Not only does this agency help regulate the flow of permits; they also protect all wetlands from being defaced and that happens.
I live in Lutz and there is plenty of development going on. The developers sure don’t need any help. I am sick of seeing dead raccoons and other wildlife everyday as they have limited safe havens. The animals deserve better and who represents them? It’s this local wetlands agency – they try their best.
If the County wants to save money, it should start by walking out the 4 individuals and get this on the right track. There are much better ideas than removing value added services. This sure is not in line with what I would expect from a Hillsborough County representative. Not really in tune with Nature or the county they live in.
EPC has already bent to allow mitigation for the developers, but that’s not good enough.
Now the developers want more. Mitigation IS NOT THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL.
The reason the developers complain is because the agency “does their job” plus they take a lot of adversity too. It’s a 2 way street. Instead of removing the agency, lets get rid of the developers. This place is already over developed.
Dog
2 years ago
Mrs. Kerr was suspended for 2 weeks today by the Director of the EPC, Dr. Garrity. It also looks like the Director is ready to cut a deal with the developers and the Commission to gut the Wetlands Division to save his own job. It is time for the citizens of Hillsborough County to stand up and put an end to this crap!
GKR
2 years ago
My apologies for sending out the barbarous “neandertal in speedos” Blair link.
A pic is worth a thousand words.
Mariella has placed a new blog on Sticks of Fire:
http://sticksoffire.com/2007/06/26/blair-protects-his-wetlands-not-ours/
Karin Arden
2 years ago
Ron, love your poem of sorts from yesterday. What’s so ironic is that our lovely BOCC really don’t care one way or the other about the wetlands, and will make recommendaitons only when it impacts their pockets. I have a neighbor (who heavily paid Storms for her support of their personal issues) that is destroying my wetlands behind my home that the EPC says is a ‘protected wetland, natural spring, breeding ground for soon to be extinct frogs. I was told never to touch anything within 30′ of the water or else. Well, my neighbor has dug out the wetland, pulled out all the vegetation around it on his side, dumped sea shells around it, built an island in it with a palm tree, added a bubbling fountain to it and fish. . He’s doing this to gain land to his landscaping busines that is in the middle of a single family home community (Thanks to Storms, Norman, Hagan) and knows EPC and Code Enforcement will look the other way because they were told never to listen to complaints against this landscaper (thank you again Storms, Hagan, Norman). It makes me so mad they have so much power by just their word. This has to stop before our county all goes to hell.
Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » Blog Archive » comment on sticks leads to suspension
2 years ago
[...] the weekend, it seems she found some hope within the outrage on Sticks of Fire. With over 30 comments at the time, there were others incensed at the comm…. Here there were real people – local citizens – and she reached out to [...]
4aBetterPlace
2 years ago
Facts are the enemy of truth. Jadell cashes her paycheck, freely choosing to work at the pleasure of the commissioners. Policy and budget matters are not hers to decide. Surprising that a bureaucrat is against reducing government! Why doesn’t Jadell run for the commission?
The assertion that wetlands are not equally protected by state law is false. SWFWMD is legally empowered, and does in fact protect wetlands with equal vigor. Hillsborough County is the only County in SWFWMD’s jurisdiction which duplicates wetland permitting. The repeated dire predictions of environmental catastrophe are NOT supported by looking at development in thess counties. To the contrary, claiming agricultural impoundments and drainage ditches and the likes as protected wetlands often contributes to choppy inefficient us of land. Poor design lowers density and intensity, promoting urban sprawl, congestion, and development in the well and septic areas of the county. Beware of statistics generated by a government agency to justify it’s own existence. Well designed live work centers with the density/intensity to support future mass transportation hubs will require thoughtful design. We need positive solution oriented government!
Florida Cracker
2 years ago
Well, finally! A developer has weighed in. “facts are the enemy of truth”? say wha…? That one has me scratching my head, so I’ll just leave it alone. Did Yogi Berra say that?
Beg to differ, 4aBetterPlace, but SWFWMD does NOT protect wetlands with equal vigor. If it did, you guys (and gals) would not want them in charge of wetlands. And state rules as to which wetlands can be filled are weaker than EPC’s which regulates wetlands of 1/2 acre. State gives them a pass.
And EXCELLENT idea…Jadell running for commissioner! Thank you for putting that idea on the table. If she is fired for telling the TRUTH and shaming the devil, then I’m thinking there will be about…oh, say…FOUR seats open for her to choose from. How will you like THAT? I like it a lot!
I think she would make a GREAT commissioner. But then almost anybody would be a vast improvment over these bozos. (Excepting Rose and Mark)
And what we need is HONEST government above all…honest FIRST..then maybe you’ll get some of that “positive solution oriented government” that you say we need. Let’s just get us some of that HONESTY-oriented govt. FIRST!
I’m just sayin’
Y’all come back now, hear?
Mr.G from Dover
2 years ago
I think 4aBetterPlace should get shim’s facts straight. Hillsborough is not the only county that shares wetland protection with SWFWMD. This developers friend should realize that the collusion that transpired was to help the only special interest that the board works diligently to satisfy – the developers lobby.
The line that reveals 4aBetterPlace’s true affiliation is in this part of shim’s sentence…”Poor design lowers density and intensity”. If you want to get a developer mad start talking about lowering density. They see their lives flashing before their eyes!!! Shim can spout all the justifications that the developers lobby spews out but the fact remains that we need more protection for our wetlands. Developers care about maximizing profit and if that means filling in wetlands they’ll do it in a heartbeat. If we let them they will destroy this county and then when it’s not so nice a place to live and they don’t have as good a market to sell all of these cookie-cutter houses they’ll just move on to another county and infect their county leadership until the rules and oversight get knocked down. And when that county gets destoyed they’ll move on again. And so on…
Hey shim, is there a builders blog that you normally frequent. You are starting to remind me a little of Kevin “Judas” White. They sent him to do the dirty work just like they told you to get on Sticks and see what they’re talking about and report back to us.
Go back and tell them that this thing is really mushrooming and the commission may not be successful in fixing things for the developers.
Shim (4aBetterPlace), I’m putting the curse of low density on your builder’s career. Every project you work on from now on will end up being low density. Oh, the SHAME !!!!!
tommy
2 years ago
To: Mr. G From Dover
We welcome ALL comments here at Sticks of Fire. Please don’t suggest that anyone is not welcome. In this case, I specifically asked to hear from those with another viewpoint.
Having said that, I think 4aBetterPlace makes some valid points.
tommyduncn
Mick
2 years ago
somebody out to inquire about a little trip Commissioner Bumblebee Blair took, all expenses paid, on a private jet, to go hunting in Mexico with a bunch of developers the likes of which included Carl Lindell, Ed Oeshlager and Ron Rotella.
wannaknowmore
2 years ago
Mick ==
do you know when approximately this trip took place? this year? last year? any other people on the trip?
any other info?
anon
2 years ago
Mick:
If you don’t or can’t leave more info here, then I would encourage you to contact Mike Vansickler of SP Times, 226-3402. As long as he can corroborate the info, he is the best at protecting his sources.
We must continue to expose the unscrupulous dealings of our County Commissioners before the damage is beyond repair.
This entire County is enveloped in a shroud of fear…fear of retribution…black listing, job loss, and more. Please do not become part of the problem by not providing those that can help with the information.
Thanks for speaking the truth!!!
tommy
2 years ago
Just so you readers know….
“Mick” likes to leave accusatory statements here at sticks of fire now and again, but never leaves an email address, never offers proof, and has used at least five different screen names.
4aBetterPlace
2 years ago
“Those who know don’t have the words to tell, and those with the words don’t know too well…” Bruce Cockburn, “Burden of the Angel Beast”
I always liked this quote, kinda cuts both ways!
Mr.G from Dover
2 years ago
“A lie told often enough becomes the truth”, Jerome K Jerome
release - » Wetlands Policy and Sticks of Fire Do Not Mix
2 years ago
[...] Commission, has been suspended for two weeks from her six-figure job with the county due to comments she made on local blog Sticks of [...]
4aBetterPlace
2 years ago
Behind the fear of change lurks the question “What is the next right answer”. Before we turn and look forward lets indulge the “activists” (people who know only what they are against) and debunk the bald assertions that (1) wetlands will be lost with the elimiantion of EPC wetland division because SWFWMD and DEP regulations do not provide equal protections for Hillsborough’s environment (2) SWFWMD and DEP allow wholesale filling by Developer’s of any wetland samller than ½ acre.
(1) Protected wetlands are uniformly determined in accordance with Florida Administrative Code chapter 62-343.040 Formal Determinations of the Landward Extent of Wetlands and Other Surface Waters, which can be read at:
https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=2243627&type=1&file=62-343.040.doc
Any agency empowered to determine the extent of regulated wetlands is legally required by Florida Statute to use this methodology.
When an impact is justified the required mitigation is calculated in accordance with the, Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method Chapter 62-345, F.A.C., another statewide law applicable to all agencies, including EPC wetland division.
(2) I believe that the erroneous assertion that SWFWMD and DEP allow “developers” to fill all wetlands less than ½ acre may originate as a distortion of the following notice general permit exemption. The basis of this permitted exception, which I encourage you to follow the link and read, is to protect “reasonable use” of the property of a single lot owner, in accordance with long standing common law doctrine protecting property rights.
https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=2240038&type=1&file=62-341.475.doc
The following are excerpts from this statute:
62-341.475 General Permit for Minor Activities.
(1) A general permit is herby granted for the construction, alteration, maintenance, operation, abandonment and removal of the following minor systems:
(f) A single family residence, proposed by the applicant, as long as it is not part of a larger plan of common development, including the associated residential improvements such as a driveway, garage and an on-site sewage disposal system, provided:
See numerous conditions at included link and limitations…….“shall not exceed 4000 square feet” (less than 1/10th of an acre not ½ acre.
This law protects property rights of individual citizens and specifically does not apply to“part of a larger plan of common development”. Reasonable use doctrine legally requires EPC to allow the same exceptions.
Or restated sarcastically for Mr. G, can you send me a copy of the law and/or rules which allow “filling in wetlands” by “developers” since “they told you(me) to get on Sticks and see what they’re(Mr. G) talking about and report back to us(the vast conspiracy)”,………..and Mr. G, I’m gonna need this in writing to get the evil devils to believe me……………………com’n enough ranting, bust out the facts man!
Hope this information lends credibility to the fact that EPC Wetlands division is an unnecasry duplication of bureaucracy. I look forward to your responses.
voxpopuli
2 years ago
4abetterplace ! Why on earth would anyone here waste time responding to your red herring arguments??
LOL !!! the fear of change
LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope I don’t sound rude.
Much.
voxpopuli
2 years ago
Mel Martinez has dropped by to post, I guess.
As the head of the Housing and Urban Development lots of people ‘in fear of change’ were extremely rudely ripped off by those whom Mel favored and who were the only ones allowed to buy foreclosed homes.
And, for the record: No, I was NOT one of them.
voxpopuli
2 years ago
Well, in THIS case, Mick is correct.
Lindell and co are extremely involved in the doings which surround my property. That makes perfect sense for Blair.
OF course, Dick Greco works for Lindell and I think the world of Dick so this is painful to say.
Mr.G from Dover
2 years ago
It’s neat to quote pontificate aobut the laws on the books, but there is a problem with doing that. That assumes that the laws are followed. That’s like saying there are laws on the books about driving while intoxicated or under the influence so we don’t have problem with it. Or that we have laws on the books that deal with immigration, so we must not have a problem with it and there are no legal immigrants here in this country. If you don’t want to be treated like a pinata, you’ve got to come up with better arguments. They must be able to give you something more plausible to base your arguments on.
I can quote the Florida statutes governing our long range growth plans that say the public must be included and provide vigorous input before a decision is made by the local BOCC, yet I can site case after case where the public be damned, the BOCC makes decision without proper input from the public.
There are truckloads of laws on the books but in many cases they are overlooked or subjectively not enforced. I’d rather rely on a local agency to enforce the laws. If the state was totally proficient in doing everything we would only need state police to provide law and order. 4aBiggerPlace might opt for letting the state do everything. I’ll stick to local enforcement of wetlands protection. The county needs to get the 1/2 mil back that it’s forced to pay the state and continue providing protection tht we would otherwise not have. Quoting laws doesn’t mean a thing. Enforcing the laws consistently and effectively is what makes the difference. There must be a reason why Steven Dibbs and his ilk have gone to great lengths to dismantle the EPC.
“He who knows nothing, doubts nothing”
ladybug
2 years ago
Amen and Amen, Mr. G. You got that right!!!
Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » Blog Archive » statewide connections in county EPC fight
2 years ago
[...] that attack on our EPC, as in the current attack, county commissioners acting as the EPC board, sabotaged the very agency they are charged with [...]
Ron
2 years ago
To “anon”
You’re right, I better check how I’m figurin’ these things out. Mr. Blair,of course, is a wetlandsexpert. Actually, successful mitigation is rare, from what I’ve read and heard from the real experts. Many mitigation sites are not even sited in an area that can, based on soils, plants, and topography, retain water very well. I wish I could remember the article I read, and in what publication it was, but it was fairly recently and it spoke of the mostly failed attempts to establish mitigation sites.And the ones that “work” look like a square cut out of the earth with uniform sides and monocultural plants (cattails, primrose willow, things like that). Oh boy! What a future awaits our county if these boys have their way.
…”Facts are the enemy of truth” –really?… Lord, HELP US…
Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » Blog Archive » piggies on the county commission
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[...] Bozo’s,” by local artist Dee Hood. It’s her take on our county commissioners’ sellout of our wetlands to [...]
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[...] to save the wetlands division of our EPC from the county commissioners who are trying to eliminate it, Director Rick Garrity has crafted a proposal which he will present at the next EPC meeting, July [...]
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[...] can find Jadell Kerr’s complete unedited comments on a post about the county commission selling out our wetlands. There is also news of [...]
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[...] the “challenges and propaganda” Blair claims he’s had to face (poor him!) while he tried to eliminate our wetlands protections. Oh excuse me, there goes another “distortion” — he was only trying to make the [...]
Anna Marie
2 years ago
I bought a piece of property bordering the wet lands 3 1/2 years ago. 2 years ago a land developer filled in 15 Acers of wet lands. My property at first was flooded then they had to put in a reservoir and my property water went way down.. The snakes and other wild life had no where to go. So they moved to my front lawn. For two years I have had to battle water moccasins in the children’s toys. Our dog was killed by an alligator. When the children got to scared to even walk to the mail box I rented out my home and moved into an apartment. I think someone should have to pay for driving me out of my home. But I have no idea who to call… can anyone help me?
Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » Blog Archive » planning commission to get developer-friendly?
2 years ago
[...] Hung Mai, engineer for developer Stephen Dibbs, who spearheaded recent attacks on local wetlands regulations. Last spring, Hung Mai himself spoke out against a Comprehensive Plan amendment that would [...]
Lori Lane
2 years ago
We are in the same situation as what i have read in your colum. We have corruption involving the epa in columbus,any suggestions would be helpful. If there is any thing I could do to help in your situation please send word
Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » Blog Archive » should we change the mix of the EPC board?
2 years ago
[...] don’t forget: not only did our BOCC/EPC recently vote 4-3 to eliminate our local wetlands protections, only to have to back down in the face of massive public outrage; but before that, last spring they [...]
Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » Blog Archive » hillsborough wetlands now threatened by state
2 years ago
[...] that would have gutted the agency (it died when Gov. Crist promised to veto it), and this year they tried to gut the EPC themselves, but this time they are standing up for our local wetlands protections against this state bill. (We [...]
Tampa Is…? » Blog Archive » times wrongly slams epc
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[...] summer, special interests almost succeeded in getting our county commission to eliminate EPC wetland protections. Citizens had to work feverishly to snatch the agency from the flames. Innuendo from the Times [...]
Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog » Blog Archive » developers attempt to weaken epc yet again
1 year ago
[...] summer, citizens stood strongly against the attempt by four county commissioners to eliminate our wetlands protections, so the commissioners backed down and accepted the “Hybrid” proposal offered by EPC director [...]
Could 16,000 Hillsborough residents really be dumb enough to vote for Blair? | Daily Loaf
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[...] Here are the stats: 16,462, to be exact. Blair has tried to kill our local wetlands regulation (as the chairman of the EPC), he has launched an attack on gays and he thinks the [...]