I am posting this for our Keystone Heights correspondent.

By ANNE SPONHOLTZ

My Clay Sun correspondent

A proposed county ordinance calling for a 3-mile Military Zone around Camp Blanding, has property owners upset, and they came out in force to a meeting held Thursday at McRae Elementary School.

More than 180 people, many standing through the two hour meeting, cheered, clapped and at times gave standing ovations as property owners opposing the wide scope of the ordinance spoke.

The crowd and speakers, many of whom owned property near Camp Blanding for generations, made it clear to military and county officials present that they were patriotic, respected and revered the military and had little problem with Camp Blanding as their neighbor. But they also made it clear that infringing on property rights beyond Camp Blanding’s border was unacceptable, and if the county passes the ordinance as proposed, they would be willing and able to take the matter “all the way to the Supreme Court.”

Their main concerns were having their property designated as a military zone, which they said would decrease property values, and other restrictions such as limiting the number of homes within the Military Zone to one home per 10 acres. And speaker after speaker said the county’s proposed ordinance was taking a state statute that mandates counties to address compatibility of development with military installations too far, as the only mandate is to have an ex-officio non-voting representative from Camp Blanding on the county’s planning and zoning commission.

Former Clay County Sheriff Jennings Murrhee said that although “you don’t physically take my property,” such a move was reaching into his pocket by devaluating his property. And when County Attorney Mark Scruby said that Murrhee and others were wrong in their interpretation of the Florida statute and that the ordinance must address criteria as well as having a representative on planning and zoning commission, Murrhee took to the floor again.

“I was sheriff for 24 years and I know how to read the law, too,” Murrhee said, reiterating that such criteria beyond a representative on the planning commission was too far reaching and not in keeping with the statute.

Scruby said the County Commission was looking for input from citizens and urged those present to channel their efforts into “helping us establish the criteria.”

Clay County Property Appraiser Wayne Weeks, speaking as a private citizen, also raised concerns about the designation of a military zone decreasing “the value of your property.” Weeks said the military zone would encompass 68,000 acres, close to the present size of Camp Blanding.

“We already have a Blanding Boulevard, we don’t need a Camp Blanding County,” Weeks said.

County Commissioner Chereese Stewart, who called the meeting, tried to remind those present that, “I care, too. We are not done with this issue. It is very much on the drawing board.” She was at a loss, however, to explain another questioned asked again and again: “Where are the other commissioners?”

Col. Benny Nelson, representing Camp Blanding, also thanked the residents for attending the meeting, emphasizing the importance of the role of the military, especially following 9/11. However, he did little to answer exactly why the military zone and restrictions were needed, and did not address the concerns expressed by several speakers who questioned if this was perhaps a preamble to more intense military activities planned for Camp Blanding.