Transportation Dollars Needed in Clay County

Transportation and the lack of growth management seems to be the big bugaboos in not only Clay, but the Jax area, in general. In an area of this size & population, I am still amazed at the low level of public transportation.

Growing up in Chicago and having lived in places like D.C., areas that have excellent public transportation systems, the need for a PTS (public transportation system) in our area seems like a no brainer.  The greater JAX area is tailor made, geographically, for  a PTS.  We have a beltway, north-south east-west roadways into and out of the city of Jacksonville that would be ideal for something like light rail.  Imagine going from JIA to Green Cove, Middleburg or the beaches on a PTS.  I've been on systems like that & they work very well. I think it is a combination of over all lack of vision and driver reticence that keeps us on clogged roadways. 

Unfortunately, any movement must start with the people.  As long as people are willing to stay on clogged roads, pay through the nose for rising gas prices and put up with road rage, we are going to continue being stuck with the antiquated system we have now.

RichK

I wanted to attend the cameo appearance of Senator Nelson but was out of town. I find it curious in this report that someone asked about potential transportation funds and he responded "nobody asked". I wouldn't take that at face value. A couple of months ago i sent a pre-written letter to Senators Nelson and Martinez, Congressman Stearns and Governor Crist regarding bills protecting children. I received responses from Congressman Stearns and Senator Martinez. Apparently either Senator Nelson can't be bothered or his office is in complete disarray. I suspect Governor Crist new in his office suffers from temporary confsion also. So, just because Nelson doesn't know of any transportation requests doesn't nean there haven't been any. 

As for transportation funding in general, I suspect we have passed the point of no return on that issue. The Powers That Be have already sold out the county's future to developers. Where would one put a light rail system? There is no point in funding buses as I have found, buses just don't go where people want to go. Plus, they will be sitting in the same traffic we all sit in already. No, because of uncontrolled growth, the two main corridors in and out of Clay are clogged as badly as a McDonald's connossieur's arteries. 

I would suggest that in the future we all support only those candidates who will vow a minimum moratorium of ten years on any new building. I realize that as unfortunate as it is, many ill conceived building plans have already been approved and may have to be honored but that doesn't preclude taking a hard look and trying to find any plans that could be rescinded. After all, the commissioners can not claim they need more funding for essential services on one hand then turn around and fan the flames of growth by increasing the very same need for more services on the other hand. This is just plain stupid. Does anyone have any suggestions as to who they think would make a good commissioner in the next elections? As I understand it (and I may be wrong) the only declared candidate, "My Way" Rutledge, will be seeking the office and that the other four are retiring.

Lily's Lore

Lilyslore,

I hope that you're wrong @ being past the point of no return.  But you're thinking only @ surface transportation.  I'll give Chicago, my home town, as an example.

Chicago has had a PTS for over 100 years. It is a combination of surface, above surface and below surface transport.  It has the usual bus system.  No matter where you live, you never have to walk more than a couple of blocks to get a city bus, which, if you just missed, will only have to wait @ 15 or 20 minutes for the next one.  These buses, in turn, can connect you to the subway(which is underground as well as above) a commuter train or outlying suburban bus system. You can, for instance, get on a commuter train in Gary, Ind. that will take you into downtown Chicago.  From there, you can either walk, take a bus or taxi @ a mile west, catch another commuter train that will take you to Milwaukee, Wisc. and points in between.

The subway system runs above and below ground and in some cases, on the median strips of the interstate system just like I-295.  So while the traffic is jammed on the streets & expressways, you are on your way to your destination.

Is it easy? No.  Is it inexpensive? No.  Only if you take the long view can you see the benefits. That is something we seem to be missing here in the JAX area.

RichK

My husband would make a great County Commissioner! 

1.He is a registered Independent so there would be no bending to party issues.

2. He's got a Masters Degree in business, and has met the educational requirement for PhD, but never bothered to pick up the paper.  He is a retired, and highly decorated Naval Officer, Pilot, and Air Traffic Controller.  He has been a College Professor, President of an Airline, and an owner of a Cargo Airline.  He has employed up to 450 people at a time. 

3. His involvement in the ACUZ (Air Compatibility Use Zone) resulted in one of the highest decorations given by the Navy.  His expert testimony before Congress was instrumental in determining where HUD and the VA would guarrantee their loan programs.

4. My husband was the reason the area around Cecil Field and another area out of state Willow Grove was not developed for so long.  He was even instrumental in busting up some corruption that was going on in relation to those events.  He has been up against developers on several occassions and beat them.  He was even offered a job by one after he retired from the Navy because they wanted him on their side with his knowledge and abilities.  He declined. 

5. He holds the expertise to understand the impact that development has to the enviroment, infrastructure and quality of life. 

6 Our current business as Residential Appraisers started out Appraising Aircraft.  Due to the nature of our current business we have to maintain a distance from anything that can be construed as a conflict of interest so we're not investors of any sort and we have no personal relationship with any builder or developer, nor do we hold any connection to any lending institution. 

7. Although not an attorney he has acted as his own on many occassions and has won cases up to 11th Circut all on his own so he has a tremendous understanding the of legal system and how it works.

8. He feels as so many do, development in the county is out of control, and it cannot be fixed with a one year moratorium.

9 I have never known a man with more persistence, he was once nicknamed "Fearless"  I should know he chased me for five years, long after the average guy would have given up  haha.

10. Although he has lead an incredible life he is a no fuss kinda guy, always has a cool head and always see's the larger picture. 

The down side is that since he is not a politician and has no desire to be one he would not be a good "Campaigner"   

Sometimes I am his biggest critic, not his biggest fan. But,  in this instance he would get my vote even if he wasn't my husband.  

Marsha,

Have you checked with your husband about this idea?  As far as being a politician goes, I don't see where that is a problem.  Personally, I'm sick of "politicians", which to me means the ability to speak out of both sides of your mouth, and never committ to anything (it'd be heck to actually be held accountable for what you say you believe).  The resume you present looks good.  St. Johns County just elected "real people" candidates and let the professional, and highly financed, politicians hit the streets.

Lily - at the Nov. '08 election, Districts 1,3,& 5 are up for re-election along with the 2 new at-large seats.  One of the at-large seats will actually run for the position of Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.  Add that to the presidential race, and other congressional and state races, it will be a busy election season.  I am looking forward to the bloggers on this site helping to educate each other.

Marsha - keep us posted about your potential contender.

Yes Baxley, we have spoken about the potential a number of times.  If we hadn't discussed it or didnt believe him to be willing I would never have put anything in here about it.  

There is more to his resume, I just hit the highlights. 

Baxley,

I would suggest the MPO which is a regional planning commission who's sole directive is to prioritize and maximize transportation budgets. I could be mistaken but I want to say that includes federal $'s available...

As far a a local lobbying effort, I would imagine it would have to come from the Clay Legislative delegation. Municipalities regularly ask this body to represent them in the state budget but it could also lend its substantial weight at the federal level. If you're willing to do a little leg work, I bet members of the Clay delegation would be able to answer your question.

Let me know what you think about these suggestions.

I bet you are correct - the MPO is probably the correct answer, but, my real question has more to do with how it is that the region is supposedly so far in the hole transportation-wise, yet a federal senator visiting our fair community says he has not received a request for federal transportation funding.

Lily suggests possibly that Sen. Nelson is wrong, and "we" have in fact asked for federal funding, and Sen. Nelson either doesn't realize it, or has forgotten, or just plain misstated the facts.

Either way, I am going to do some leg work and get to the bottom of it.  I'll keep you posted.

Just a thought but do some of you remember what the county did to Buddy Griffin when he was a County Commissioner. He did not play ball with the powers that be. Always questioning what they were doing and trying to the right thing for the people of Clay County.

There were false charges, lies to HRS, The State didnot prosecute thoes people who were involved.

So Marsha although you husband is a upstanding person and may be well qualified for the job, if he goes against the establighment be prepaired to have your llfe go into a dark hole.

It makes me sad to see how the county is being sold out to the developers.

I better quit now or else this is going to turned into a tome.

I think things are different in Clay County now with regard to the Buddy Griffin situation.  He was indeed unfairly and illegally attacked by "the powers that be".  The issue was pursued in the courts and Mr. Griffin was victorious.  Those who attacked him most were members of a family that is no longer in power.  Being a maverick is never easy - that's why most mavericks are praised - at first.  Its a short trip from maverick to nuisance.

That being said, public service, which absolutley requires politics (it goes with the territory), is not for the squeamish.  Gaining the office requires competing with others who want it.  Competition can be ugly - election, football, or beauty pageant.  Once elected, every decision is second-guessed; every action attributed motives.  Fair or unfair, that's the reality of politics.  But, for the person who is motivated by helping others, and being a leader, I think public service is a high calling.  That is why I disagree with those that want to further reduce commissioner salaries from $42K to $37K.  If we keep cutting salaries, why would a person put themselves through the abuse that is a given fact of life?  Yes, there should be some self-satisfaction that comes from serving your fellow man, but the majority of us are going to make sure that the elected official is constantly brought up short for virtually every action they take.

Marsha's husband is a retired Navy pilot (from her provided resume above).  A profession that has its own high level of stress.  He is independent - to me an ideal mindset for serving others. Retired - implies a level of maturity that is essential for serving.  Obviously there is much more to learn and see about Mr. Marsha, but I hope he gives serious consideration to running.  Clay County is at a point where it needs strong, independent leadership.  The county commission is adding 2 at-large commissioners to the existing 5 single-district commissioners.  Every Clay County voter needs to be aware of this and learn as much as possible about those who are going to run, and then go to the polls and VOTE.

Good Luck Clay County.  There is a lot going on, and a lot more coming our way.  We need to be very thoughtful about those we elect to lead us into the future.

I completely disagree with this statement from Baxley:

That is why I disagree with those that want to further reduce commissioner salaries from $42K to $37K.  If we keep cutting salaries, why would a person put themselves through the abuse that is a given fact of life?  

We have volunteer firemen that work for nothing other than to be a service to the community. In many of the areas in the county they depend on these volunteers because they are so far from the fire dept. We have an all volunteer military and if you want to talk about underpaid segment of people some of the enlisted members have families on food stamps because the pay is so low. Yet everyday they get up and put their life on the line so we can blog. Many of these young men and women come back with disabilities. Many of them never come back. Many retired and others visit hospitals and work with terminately ill patients and get no pay. They do it to serve a greater cause than themself. It is called public service for a reason. We have volunteers who work with the Sheriff's Office. We have volunteers who work with kids as mentors such as sports leaders, big brother and big sisters, and the list will go on for longer than this blog.

What big salaries do is cause people to stay and that was why we needed term limits. So it doesn't become a career but remains a public service. They get benefits that most average workers would only dream of having. These federal career politicians are acting like 5 year olds holding money from our military to get a polictical advantage.

I can see from Mr. Marsha's resume he can do well and make a lot of money in the private sector. If it about making money he should stay in the private sector. If it's about being a service to the community and helping make Clay County be the best it can and deserves to be then the money should not be a problem. I imagine you could talk to some of the guys who have come back from Iraq and ask them if they would rather be abused ( as you call it) by someone complaining about the garbage not be picked up or shot at everyday and avoiding road side bombs. You might then see how trivial your statement is.

There is something wrong when a county commissioner gets paid more than: 1) a beginning firefighter 2) a rookie policeman 3) a beginning teacher.

Many years ago I met a person who was astounded to hear that school board members receive a salary.  They indicated that where they had lived, school board members made $1 a  year.  That it was an honor to serve as an elected official.  I dare say that we would get people genuinely interested in our government if all the positions on a local level were paid $1 a year.  

We have allowed our government to dictate its own terms.  Whoever heard of anyone getting a pay raise from legislation passed by another elected board?  Geez, these guys protect themselves.  I think we have lost the meaning of the word public servant.  Most politicians, once elected, are self servants.  The basis of their every action is to get re-elected.   Have you ever seen a politician with his hands in his own pockets?   It does appear in Clay county that developers have had too much influence on all our elected boards.  The quality that attracted many people to Clay county is quickly disappearing.  The current urban sprawl we have in Clay has resulted in urban crawl on our highways.  And, guess what?  We just keep building everything but roads!!  What elected elected official in Clay do you see serving the public? 

It's an altruistic concept but not realistic. Commissioners spend 20-30 hours per week in the county offices responding to public inquiries, in meetings and networking with other agencies.

In my mind, if a commissioner is paid $1 per year, then here in the southeast, the only people who would be able to afford to serve would be the wealthy. No one else would have the time or energy to put into the job what the job needs. We are all too busy commuting.

And while I like the idea of paying commissioners a dollar per year, city and county governments are where the rubber meets the road. These are the government entities that are closest to the people. I'd rather pay quality individuals to do the legwork necessary to set good public policy. The commission is intended to be a legislative oversight mechanism. When engaged, they should set policy and then ensure policy is being followed.

While I'm not a developer and was not asked to be their spokesperson, I do feel I should draw attention to the fact that the residential housing market is the only real economy this county has going for it. Were it not for builders and sub contractors, some of us on this blog would not be enjoying the fruits of their labor. If the housing industry shut down for a year - as many people drool about happening - other service businesses would go out of business and this county could find itself in dire financial circumstances.

Is there a balance? Sure. But right now, I don't think we can afford to bite the hand that's feeding us. What we need are industrial and commercial sites to diversify our economy. (One site in Green Cove Springs looks particularly attractive because of the railway.) We need to attact clean industry. The Clay County Chamber is working on doing just that. Our support of their efforts is critical.

My two cents.

In order to prevent him from being referred to as Mr Marsha...lol I will tell you that his name is Fred, you can call him Fearless if you like (again I am being humorous here)

For the record we both signed the Petition to lower the Commissioners Salaries.  If it were "all about the money" you are right Angela, as an Entrepreneur he has made  more money then being a Naval Officer and the potential for income is really limited only by himself.  I can assure you that any interest he has, has nothing to do with the money, he would be just as interested if the job paid 6k a year.   

Whitewolf I am not familar with the gentleman you spoke of who find his entire life a target by those who enjoy the status quo of the good ole boy system.  I don't know if I wasn't living in Florida at the time or whether I just wasn't paying attention.  I have NO political savvy here people, I would be willing to be that the entirety of the population within the MCS community ALL have superior political intelligence to me.  I would not consider myself even qualified to try to initiate or run any sort of campaign for my husband. 

Whether it is my husband, or anyone else that is not part of the two party system it would be most difficult if not impossible to get anyone Independent elected.  It would have to be a grass roots movement, it would have to be a large group of people behind one person willing to get involved to compete.  Campaigns are expensive, even at a local level.  

Getting a large number of people who agree that are not Republicans agreeing with Republicans or Democrats agreeing with Democrats would be very difficult if not impossible because people in general look for what is different to argue about rather then what is a common issue to agree upon. 

I may not be politically intelligent but all it takes is common sense to see that the reason this country is so divided is because people are so busy arguing and debating.

The one thing EVERYONE could do is sign that petition that puts a vote before the public to take back some of the control from a chosen few and give it back to the people.  Would anyone care to take a bet on whether it even gets to the ballot?  It has been mentioned here several times since the site started, I would like to have a vote to see how many here have signed it. I will bet that it doesn't even make it to the ballot, because the majority of people would rather argue.  When you are operating with the mindset of debating the differences rather then coming together over some basic issues it leaves very little room for any positive changes. 

Baxley you and Whitewolf both pointed out some signifcant food for thought so far as what life in public service is, I don't think it has always been that way but it surely is that way now.  To be honest I would really have to think hard about putting any of us through that.  I don't like mean negative people who cannot find anything positive to say about anything and just always want to gripe, moan and complain.  Even if they were made ruler of the world and could have it the way they want they would still find something to complain about.  I don't know that I want to fill my life with those people, they are hard enough to stomach here. 

If anyone here is interested in speaking to my husband I have no doubt he would be glad to converse.  I'm not here to campaign for him, I just know he is beyond qualified and has the right principles to do the right thing, and if he had enough support he's got the backbone to take it on.

Whitewolf, I don't think I actually drew my point to a conclusion. The point is, right now housing development is all the economy we really have (outside the OP Mall). A county that is so heavily weighted in one industry is going to have a lot of influence because they're the only ones here. It would be the same if it were coal mining. We'd be overwhelmed with their influence everywhere we looked.

It comes back to a balance of industry and residential development. Someone is always going to want or need to influence government decisions. That is the system.

Chamber of Commerce- I have lived here for many years and I don't feel the Chamber is anymore effective now than they were then. Because if they were effective we would already have industry here. I don't think I am the only one with that opinion. Here is part of an email and news story from Commissioner Bush where he refers to them as useless.

Where is that useless chamber group on helping this go to Camp Blanding? 

Navy plans don't fly with folks in North Carolina
Critics in this pro-military state say a proposed jet landing field would threaten property rights and the environment.
By David Zucchino
Times Staff Writer

May 7, 2007

PIKE ROAD, N.C. — The Navy wants every last one of Gerald Allen's 1,168 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat along the T.G. "Sonnyboy" Joyner Highway.

It wants all 1,000 acres of C.E. and Maurice Manning's rich blacklands, farmland their great-grandfather first plowed and planted in the 1880s using a horse and a mule as collateral.

The Navy also wants the flat coastal land where Donald Stotesberry runs an air park that provides crop-spraying planes for local farmers. It wants his house and yard too.

The federal government seeks to seize this and much more, 30,000 acres in all, for a pilot training facility in rural eastern North Carolina — swallowing up family farms and threatening the tranquillity of the vast Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

In raucous protest, farmers recently drove their tractors and combines to a Navy-sponsored hearing on the proposed 8,000-foot runway, which would be used to train F/A-18 Super Hornet jet pilots to land on aircraft carriers.

"The Navy's acting like a bully," said Dennis Bowen, 47, who stands to lose 100 acres of farmland cleared by his grandfather half a century ago.

Joining the farmers in opposing the plan is an unlikely alliance that includes conservative property rights advocates, liberal environmentalists, the National Rifle Assn., the NAACP, hunters, bird-watchers and retired military veterans.

"We got everything from tree-huggers to gun nuts," one farmer joked.

The proposed site is five miles from the Pocosin Lakes refuge, winter home to more than 100,000 migratory water birds. The area encompasses the world's only wild population of endangered red wolves, as well as bald eagles.

Environmentalists say potential collisions between big migratory birds and Super Hornet jets threaten both the birds and the pilots. Noise and pollution from the Navy's projected 32,000 practice flights a year, 24 hours a day, would degrade animal habitats and foul waterways, they say.

Other opponents say the Outlying Landing Field, or OLF, would undermine a struggling local economy by threatening family farms and a growing ecotourism industry. They say it would lower the quality of life for hunters, anglers and residents along the "inner banks" estuaries west of the Outer Banks.

The Navy says it needs the runway for deployment responsibilities that have expanded since the Sept. 11 attacks. To properly train pilots, it says, it needs large expanses of thinly populated land with few lights to interfere with nighttime landings and takeoffs.

The Pocosin Lakes site best meets the Navy's needs among the five it has considered in the region, the service says. "Why not go to a different site? Show us a better site that meets the Navy criteria," said Navy spokesman Ted Brown.

The proposed landing field is roughly halfway between Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia, where Super Hornets are now based, and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, which would get 24 of the jets under the OLF plan. Pilots train now on an 8,000-foot runway at Fentress Naval Auxiliary Landing Field in Chesapeake, Va., near Oceana. Creeping suburbanization and "light pollution" made expanding that site unworkable, the Navy says.

Even in this pro-military, Republican-leaning state that is home to two major military bases — Ft. Bragg and Camp Lejeune — the twin threats to the environment and property rights have ignited a grass-roots rebellion.

"You've got the NAACP and the NRA on the same side," said Roy Armstrong, a retiree who lives in tiny Bath, N.C. "The only people for it are the Navy, and nobody's buying their bull."

The National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People is involved because Washington County, where 80% of the site would be located, is 50% black. And 20% of county residents live below the poverty line.

The state's senators, Republicans Elizabeth Dole and Richard M. Burr, oppose the plan. So does Democratic Gov. Michael F. Easley, who has asked Congress to block $10 million in funding for the project, saying "wide swaths" of North America would be affected because the waterfowl migrate from Alaska and western Canada.

The director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has raised objections. Hundreds of North Carolinians have signed petitions, organized protests and created websites in opposition. Protest signs have sprouted on yards as far away as Chapel Hill, 150 miles from the site.

At two recent standing-room- At two recent standing-room-<wbr>only hearings in Washington and Plymouth, the biggest North Carolina towns surrounding the site, residents and elected officials con

"A snow job," Washington Park Mayor Thomas Richter told the officers, referring to the Navy's public relations offensive.

"Unbelievable arrogance," said Tommy Thompson, a Beaufort County economic development chairman, as the officers shifted in their seats.

"Shame on you," Plymouth Town Council Member Mary Ann Byers said, staring hard at the officers. "You've truly disgraced your uniforms."

Tony Price, a retired Air Force veteran, said: "I'm embarrassed for you good people … and I'm ashamed of your bosses."

Some opponents say Congress members in Virginia, pressured by well-heeled Tidewater residents weary of jet noise and pollution near Fentress, have outmaneuvered North Carolina politicians.

North Carolina state Sen. Fred Smith, a Republican military veteran running for governor, told the hearing that the Navy plan "would improve the lives of some Virginians, but would destroy the lives of many North Carolina families."

Al Klemm, a Beaufort County commissioner, added: "Virginia is doing an excellent job of exporting its noise and pollution to North Carolina."

The Navy's 2003 designation of Pocosin Lakes as its "preferred site" was challenged in federal court by three environmental groups in 2004. In 2005, the courts ordered the Navy to conduct a new environmental impact study. The recent hearings were held to present the new plan to residents.

In color-coded handouts and elaborate display charts, the Navy detailed "ambient soundscape measurements, In color-coded handouts and elaborate display charts, the Navy detailed "ambient soundscape measurements,<wbr>" "waterfowl noise response evaluations" and "BASH management" — for bird-aircraft strike hazard. It concluded that the runway's effect on airspace, pilot

In addition to seizing farmland and homes, the plan would forbid farmers to grow soybeans, corn or wheat — staples that are choice waterfowl feed — on 25,000 acres surrounding the site. The plan also refers to using fireworks, dogs, traps, poison or guns to control waterfowl and other wildlife that might interfere with the Super Hornets.

Farmers complained bitterly about the crop restrictions, and references to gunfire and poisons enraged environmentalists, bird lovers and residents.

"The mere mention of toxins to manage wildlife is obscene," said Adam O'Neal, mayor of the tiny Pungo River town of Belhaven.

Brown, the Navy spokesman, said opponents had taken the poison references out of context. He said that the plan mentioned poison because it was used to control birds at other airports, but that its use at the Pocosin Lakes site was highly unlikely.

"Lethal controls would be used only as a last resort," Brown said.

In the farm-based communities around the site, the talk is of economic devastation if the plan is approved by Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter.

The Navy is offering to pay for farms and homes, but residents say no amount of money can compensate for their losses. "I built my house to die in, not to sell," said Richard Boyd, a farmworker whose brick rancher sits next to the site of the proposed runway.

Allen, 64, who farms 2,300 acres, served four years as an Air Force jet crew chief. "It's not about hating the military," he said. "It's about hating the politics — bringing noise and disruption down here because people in Virginia don't want it up there."

Dozens of farmers would go out of business under the plan, Allen said.

Ronnie Gibbs, who sells seed and fertilizer to farmers, said the economic effect of the runway would ripple through local communities that relied on farming.

"I'd pretty much be knocked out," Gibbs said. "So would the grocery stores, supply houses, all the people who work for farmers…. It would ruin us all."

david.zucchino@david.zucch

Angela,

I don't think the Chamber could influence this decision. It could weigh in on the subject but I think it would have to come from the Florida National Guard and I don't know that a Guard facility would be used by the Navy. I could be wrong. Living south of Blanding, I can tell you I'm not excited about 32,000 training flights, 24/7. We get the artillary noise now and like the way things are.

Alot of what the Chamber can do is dependent upon many factors which are controlled by other people: mass transportation, property ownership, development incnetives etc. Comm. Bush aside, I think there's a new attitude on the BCC which will support setting policy that encourages the type of industrial development the Chamber is trying to attract.

Plus, the county now has a $43k legislative coordinator who is also responsible for economic development. Let's give her a chance to build the relationships with the Chamber and other agencies the county needs to have.

Things are looking up.

Recently I saw Danita appear before the board and said they hope to get 10,000 jobs in the next 10 years. I had to laugh because the way they are building in the County we will have a population of about 230,000 plus by then. With only 10,000 jobs we better get some roads built soon. They will be having a special presentation I think at the next board meeting because they will be featuring a company bring 200 jobs. I say you can do better than that just build a few more Walmarts. Even still we will be driving to Jacksonville.

Your comments are why we can't get industry here nobody wants it in their backyard. Just wait until eminent domain starts to take out neighborhoods to get some type roads in here. We will be a bedroom community just like we are now for a long time to come and dependent on Jacksonville's economy. The idea to put some industry out toward Putnam County will be good for Putnam County because they could use some jobs too. Sometimes people make choices that end up to not be good choices. Some choices you can't change and some you can. The way they have designed the county seems to me to be one of those choices. I pay close attention to who they elect in Jax because I realize how dependent we are on them for the survial of our community.

Angela,

You're right. The choices we make today will absolutely determine our quality of life for the next umpteen years. And yes, Jacksonville's decisions can trickle down to us. It makes regional planning all the more important.

I know the folks over in the Clay Hill area are currently looking at options that give homeowners a voice in the development of a new DRI. The plans include an industrial park which is close to US 301. That makes sense. They've diversified the land use mix to help generate a commercial tax base. - Of that, I am appreciative. I don't know whether the County demanded this mix or the developer has been watching Clay County and understands the heavy emphasis on residential development and took it upon themselves to include it to make the DRI more attractive. It'd be interesting to find out. Here's another area of the county that could serve us well.

Retail businesses - like Walmart - do not have high income salaries attached to those employment positions and so, we would not keep any commuters at home by bringing those jobs to Clay County. The key is to keep our residents here to boost our economy while inviting outsiders in to spend money. The WalMarts of the world add jobs and sales tax revenue for the County but can't solve our problem.

You mentioned eminent domain. I don't think there's any higher public purpose than infrastructure, at this point. As a Clay Countian, I would hope - and I'm realistic - that anyone who is approached by the county, state or federal government would sincerely consider a proposal to purchase land at fair market value to help us all get out of transportation gridlock. The Outer Beltway will be a good testing point.

That will be sold to some investors across the pond and we will be charged for the communtes. The investors already own lots of the major beltways in lower Florida and they charge for the use of them as well. I am not a big fan of all the investors coming in and purchasing our highways and then charge us to use them. If these investors can build these roads and charges us for them evidently they do it for a profit. Then why can't we build our own roads because we definitely pay enough taxes. Just like you and your comments of not in my backyard. The people not wanting the military in NC in their backyards in the article above, and trust me people are not going to be lining up to release lands that have been in their families for years. I guess its nice to dream but sometimes dreams comes nightmares.

Marsha,

Sounds like your husband is worth a vote or two.

RichK

Ummmm, RichK, you can only vote once in Florida for any given candidate.  I know multiple votes are a tradition in Chicago, and I'm not defaming your ancestry, but when in Rome...  :>)

Lily's Lore,

You can take the boy out of Chicago, but you can't take Chicago out of the boy. Vote early, vote often.  Sic Semper Tyranis!

I was in rome once, for only @ 30 Minutes.  I loved it. Just another tip from uncle Rich.

RichK