FRANK'S BLOG

2012-02-15T17:56:00.000-05:00

PELICANPOINTE 2012 DIRECTORY OF ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS AND E-MAILS IS NOW READY FORSALE AT $5.00 per copy. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE BEFORE AND AFTER THE UMBRELLAANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16^TH AT THE NORTHCOUNTY LIBRARY AND ALSO FROM:

KITTY WHIDDENPH. 388-3560 5780-2 MARINA DRIVE AND FROM SUE KEANE PH. 589-2185, 5735-1 MARINADRIVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

2012-02-11T23:54:00.000-05:00

REFRESHER ON FIND ACTIVITY NEAR PELICAN POINTE

GO TO THIS LINK: http://findinvestigation.com/2011/12/09/sebastian-critics-find-project-not-necessary/

THERE WILL BE A FIND MEETING ON NEXT SATURDAY AT WHICH WE HOPE SOME PELICAN POINTERS WILL ATTEND TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT FIND'S PLANS TO CHECK THE SEDIMENT FOR TOXIC MATERIALS SUCH AS MERCURY, LEAD, PBC'S ETC.

THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN PORT ST. LUCIE ON FEB 18, 2012 AT THE SPRING HILL SUITES, 2000 N.W. COURTYARD CIRCLE. GO TO FIND WEBSITE TO SEE AGENDA AT

www.aicw.org

HAL GOFORTH, OUR TEAM MEMBER, WHO IS A MARINE BIOLOGIST, AND HIGHLY EXPERIENCED IN SEDIMENT TESTING IS VERY CONCERNED THAT FIND IS NOT GOING TO DO A PROPER SEDIMENT SAMPLING AND TESTING PROGRAM. THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO HIS OFFER TO HAVE A THIRD PARTY EXPERT SUCH AS DR. JOHN TREFRY OF FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, WHO IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE PREMIER EXPERT ON THE INDIAN RIVER SEDIMENT, WHO HAS AGREED TO DO HIS REVIEW ON THE SEDIMENT SAMPLING AND TESTING PROTOCOL FOR FREE (PRO- BONO). FIND HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THIS OFFER WHICH IS DISCONCERTING IF THEY CARE ABOUT THE CITIZENS WHO WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE CONCENTRATION OF THE DREDGED SLUDGE HERE IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THIS DREDGED MATERIAL DUMP SITE JUST NORTH OF PELICAN POINTE ON US-1.
THE DIRECTIONS TO THE MEETING PLACE CAN BE VIEWED AT THIS LINK:

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?q=SPRING+HILL+SUITES+200+N.W.+COURTYARD+CIRCLE,+PORT+ST.+LUCIE,+FLORIDA&hl=en&cid=9343113290295120536

2012-02-11T23:14:00.001-05:00

2012-01-29T15:27:00.001-05:00

HELP NEEDED FROM INDIVIDUAL WHO

ACCIDENTALLY PUT A GOLF BALL THROUGH

THE REAR WINDOW OF PATRICIA RYAN'S

HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAN 29.

IN THE PARKING LOT BY 5685 MARINA DRIVE.

PLEASE CALL PAT AT 388-0234 AND CONFIRM YOUR

INSURANCE COMPANY WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

MANY THANKS.

All virtue is summed up in dealing justly.
QUOTE FROM: Aristotle

2012-01-19T18:21:00.000-05:00

NEW PELICAN POINTE ACTIVITIES LISTING

NOW AVAILABLE

DEBBIE FIELDS HAS PREPARED AN NEW INFORMATIVE LISTING

SHOWING THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AT PELICAN POINTE, IN SEASON,

AND THE INDIVIDUALS TO CONTACT TO JOIN A GROUP IN WHICH YOU ARE INTERESTED.

GO TO THIS LINK TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/33746426/PP%20Activities%20updated-2.doc

You can download this with Microsoft Word or Open Office Word.

On behalf of the membership we thank Debbie for her work on this.

2012-01-16T09:13:00.000-05:00

REMINDER TO ALL PELICAN POINT II UNIT OWNERS

OUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW,

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012 BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM

IN THE MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE

NORTH COUNTY LIBRARY ON CR-512

PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY TO ALLOW CHECK IN.

THERE WILL BE AN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING TO WHICH ALL ARE WELCOME

2012-01-14T21:23:00.000-05:00

FIND to negotiate contract for sediment tests in Intracoastal Waterway near Sebastian

By George Andreassi
Posted January 13, 2012 at 2:41 p.m.
GO TO THIS LINK TO SEE FULL ARTICLE: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/jan/13/find-to-negotiate-contract-for-sediment-tests-in/
LET US ALL HOPE THAT OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WILL AVAIL THEM SELVES OF THE ASSISTANCE OFFERED FOR FREE BY EXPERTS IN THE SEDIMENT COLLECTION AND TESTING FIELD TO EVALUATE THIS PROPOSED TESTING PLAN.

2012-01-07T20:43:00.001-05:00

Pelican Pointe UmbrellaBoard

Is looking for persons who are

Interested in filling a Director position for2012-13

Ifinterested please submit the following

Name:

Address: Unit #

Date:

In addition:Please consider, but not required to submit, a Statement of Interest describingyour: (not to exceed 1page)

· Background

· Qualifications

· Love for community

· Any other relevant factors

To:

PelicanPointe Umbrella Association Office

Attention:Susan Lynch

By: January 15, 2012

Drop your submittal in the office mail box slot or mail to :

PELICAN POINTE OF SEBASTIAN UMBRELLA ASSOCIATION

5885 MARINA DRIVE, SEBASTIAN FL 32958 or,

e-MAIL to these addresses: golfsuegolf@yahoo.com

peliumbrella@yahoo.com

cc the e-mail to Bill Miller at : propmaster1927@aol.com

or, Fax to: 772-539-9004 for the Umbrella and to 772-778-9273 for management company Keystone Property Management, Bill Miller.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR ASSOCIATION

2012-01-06T20:26:00.000-05:00

LATEST ATTEMPT TO GET ACTION FROM OUR

ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT FIND'S

PLANS IN OUR COMMUNITY- SEE HAL GOFORTH'S

E-MAIL BELOW:

From: Hal Goforth

To: debbie.mayfield@myfloridahouse.gov ; tom.goodson@mymyfloridahouse.gov ; haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov ; negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov

Cc: Dustin.paulson@myfloridaahouse.gov ; jflescher@ircgov.com ; bsolari@ircgov.com ; pobryan@ircgov.com ; wdavis@irc.gov.com

Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 5:16 PM

Subject: 12 months and inadequate progress on FIND's Sediment Sampling!

Sebastian area Elected Officials,

Our State and County elected officials have been well-informed by the media and citizens, through out the year about FIND's failure to properly sample and analyze the IR-2 sediments.

The latest "effort" by FIND was a sham. Three 3rd party experts say that the RFQ eliminated highly qualified bidders and the proposed sampling design would not properly characterize the level of toxic contaminants in deepest layers of muck. (below please find History & Problems that require action)

History: FIND was approved to dredge the Indian River section IR-2, in 2006.

Approval was based on sediment data collected and analyzed in 1997.

FIND tried 3X to properly collect and analyze sediments and failed.

Their latest attempt is a sham. In Dec.they advertised a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that excluded all but their "good ole boy" network of contractors (e.g., Taylor Engineering).

Historical Problem: Dr. Bruce Taylor, founder of Taylor Engineering, has been employed by FIND since 1997. Potential conflict of interest ? The Florida State Ethics Committee will be informed and asked to investigate this obvious appearance of conflict of interest. State or County elected officials have historically turned a blind-eye to this... even after they were provided the facts about Dr. Bruce Taylor and contracts to Taylor Engineering by FIND. Because the failure for any official to intervene, there most likely will be another contract to Taylor... because very few companies could even qualify to bid on this RFQ due to the "taylor-made" specifications.

More History: The RFQ advertised in Dec.by FIND was limited to companies who performed the same type work, 5 times over the last 5yrs. They also required inflated and unnecessary qualifications /certifications,limited the bidding to 20 days during the Holidays (great timing Mr. Roach). What's amazing is that Roach took from early July to December to develop this very brief and inadequate RFQ...How dumb does he think the public is??

Problems: This December, the Sebastian area citizens had 3 highly regarded third party experts in the field of sediment sampling review FIND's latest RFQ. All three agreed the sampling plan was flawed and inadequate and would not properly characterize the sediment to be dredged from the proposed ~2.5 mile section of IR-2.

More Problems: Dredging toxic sediment will cause re-suspension of contaminated particles into the water column and ...these will be taken up by filter and deposit feeding animals and ... the contaminants will end up in our Indian River food chain.

These (potentially) toxic contaminants must also be properly treated and placed in containment sites that will have no possibility of release into the Indian River (via the weirs and/or the ground water and wells).

Solution: The bottom line is that FIND has yet to provide or advertise a sediment sampling plan that 3rd party sediment experts can approve. This is after endless months of negotiations and communications with our elected State and County officials. You know what to do...however, there appears to be a significant deficit of will.

Open Question: What do the citizens do now? Do we continue to allow conditions to be business as usual with FIND while we watch our environment and tax dollars be used without public oversight and/or input? Who is looking out for us?
If the answer is "no one", then I am living in a very different state than when my grandfather took me on vacations to the Driftwood in V.B. and we walked the beach looking for shells and sand crabs. And the state where my other granddad drove us from Orlando to the ICW and taught me about the Indian River as we fished for speckled trout near beacon #52.

How can we sit by quietly and let our shorelines, water, physical and biological environment be contaminated and misused without being heard and respected. What about our grand kids ....and their kids ??? What legacy are we leaving them?

Contrast this with what your parents and grand parents left you. Can any of us honestly be proud of what we will leave for them?

Conclusion: This letter includes several very specific recommendations that are required to protect the Sebastian area citizens from a very powerful and under-regulated juggernaut, that is literally cramming (un-analyzed and potentially toxic) sediments down our throats, in the form of.potentially contaminated clams, fish, shrimp and crabs. We must have the sediments properly sampled and analyzed ..how many times do we need for sediment experts tell us this???

How many times do the citizens have to pass this information on to our elected officials of this "representititive" form of government?

This sediment issue has not been scientifically addressed, ever since FIND began this work (in the last hours before the Governor's moratorium) a full 12 months ago.

Sincerely,

Hal W. Goforth, Jr, Ph.D.

Sebastian, Florida Resident

2012-01-03T10:50:00.000-05:00

NEWS ABOUT TRASH PICK-UP TODAY AT PELICAN POINTE

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 9:13 AM

RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL FROM:

Stephanie McCorkle

Assistant to Lynn M. Heberling, CAM

Elliott Merrill Community Management

835 20th Place, Vero Beach, FL 32960

772-569-9853 ext. 125 / Fax: 772-569-4300

Good morning all and Happy New Year,

FYI - I received a call from Waste Management this morning that the route is running very late today due to break downs. If they cannot get there today, it will be tomorrow.

Thank you!

2011-12-31T09:11:00.000-05:00

TO ALL PELICAN POINTE OWNERS & RENTERS:

WE WILL SOON BE ISSUING THE 2012 PP DIRECTORY OF ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS.

AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES (IF YOU WISH TO HAVE THIS IN THE DIRECTORY.)

IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY CHECKED YOUR LISTING ON THE DRAFT LISTINGS

WHICH ARE ON THE TABLE BY THE ENTRY TO THE KITCHEN IN THE CLUBHOUSE,

PLEASE DO SO OR SEND YOUR LATEST INFORMATION TO BOTH :

KITTY WHIDDEN AT: pkwhid2@bellsouth.net

FRANK MARSHALL AT: franmaur@yahoo.com
We are aiming to complete this directory listing and get it printed early in January so please try to get your corrections made by January 6, 2012. Thank you and Happy New Year to all.

2011-12-30T23:25:00.000-05:00

MORE ON FIND:

-NOW, THE LEGISLATORS FROM MARTIN COUNTY HAVE AGREED THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHOULD HAVE SOME SAY IN WHAT FIND DOES IN THE COUNTIES

GO TO THIS SITE ON THE SCRIPPS MEDIA SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE SITE TO SEE ANOTHER GOOD ARTICLE ABOUT FIND. WRITTEN BY GEORGE ANDREASSI, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER WAS IN THE PRESS JOURNAL A FEW DAYS AGO. WELL WORTH READING AS MORE LEGISLATORS JOIN OUR VIEW POINT, ON LOCAL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES GETTING SOME CONTROL OVER WHAT TAKES PLACE IN OUR COUNTY.

GO TO THIS LINK:http://findinvestigation.com/2011/12/23/martin-county-officials-activists-want-local-control-of-find-projects/

WHILE AT THIS SITE EXPLORE THE MANY OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST ABOUT FIND'S

ACTIVITIES AND HOW THEY ARE SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS

NOTE THERE IS INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTACT YOUR GOVERNMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES WHICH WE URGE YOU TO DO AS WELL AS WRITING TO THE MEDIA.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Quote from Margaret Mead

2011-12-28T12:10:00.002-05:00

VIDEO OF VISIT TO MANATEE POCKET DMMA SITE IN STUART, FLORIDA OCTOBER 2010

LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE NEWSPAPER IN STUART OF THE BAD SMELL COMING FROM THE DUMP SITE WHICH IS OPENLY LOCATED ON US-1

WE VISITED THE AREA AND INTERVIEWED SEVERAL PEOPLE TO CONFIRM THE ODOR PROBLEM THAT EXISTS. THIS PROJECT WAS HANDLED BY DICKERSON BUT WAS HEAVILY FUNDED BY FIND.

click on arrow pointing to right to view, to see a larger version click on the You-Tube symbol at the
bottom of the picture on the right side, then on you-tube, click on the box on the lower right to see in full screen mode.

2011-12-21T13:01:00.000-05:00

LATEST ARTICLE ON FIND ON

FRONT PAGE OF PRESS JOURNAL

ON DECEMBER 21, 2011

WE NOW HAVE LOCAL LEGISLATORS SHOWING INTEREST.

HERE IS THE ARTICLE:

Two state legislators: FIND, other tax districts should go before voters

December 20, 2011

By Jonathan Mattise

A pair of Treasure Coast state lawmakers contend that the Florida Inland Navigation District — and other special taxing entities — would be held more accountable if voters periodically decided if those districts should keep existing.
And one of them — Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart — would favor giving local governments more say when FIND wants to build storage sites for the sediment it removes from the Intracoastal Waterway’s depths.
Negron and Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, both agreed residents who pay into special districts should get to vote every few years whether those entities should keep getting their tax dollars. Or at least, districts should be discontinued, or should “sunset,” if they’re not renewed by the Legislature over a certain time period, Negron and Snyder agreed.
Snyder said he spoke with a representative at the state Auditor General’s office, who said the office only audits districts like FIND for proper bookkeeping, not appropriateness of spending.
“There’s no legislative oversight,” Snyder said. “Having them schedule sunsets or have voter referendums, one of those two is the policy that I would support. That would add the necessary oversight.”
FIND Executive Director David Roach has said the agency welcomes the legislature and Gov. Rick Scott’s scrutiny.
FIND is the state partner of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in dredging and maintaining the Intracoastal, and owns plots of land up and down Florida’s east coast where it stores sediment dredged from the Intracoastal. The agency also hands out grants for various projects promoting access to the Intracoastal — piers, riverwalks and the like — and pays for outreach events along the coast before its commission’s monthly meetings.
Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, cautioned against quick across-the-board changes to districts like FIND, an agency she praised for its economic and recreational contributions for taxpayers. She said each district should be looked at case by case, which Scott has proposed to do during the upcoming session.
“We don’t want to throw out the baby with the bath water,” Harrell said. “If there are things going on in FIND that are inappropriate, let’s look at them, and make sure we make whatever changes are necessary. But I certainly would not have a blanket elimination of them at this point.”
The agency has spent more than $203,000 on travel and meeting expenses over the last two years, sending its 12 commissioners to meetings from Jacksonville to Miami. Commissioners also have traveled to Tallahassee and Washington for lobbying.
Roach said the organization books hotel rooms at $121 a night on average, but some beachfront and Washington reservations cost $250 to $450 a night, agency records show.
“That’s out of line with reasonable business travel,” Negron said.
A group of Indian River County residents is also concerned over a nearby Intracoastal dredging project and a sediment storage and processing facility off U.S. 1 in Sebastian. The $1.6 million dredging is expected to start in late 2012, or in 2013, depending if the federal government helps pay for it, Roach said.
The Concerned Taxpayers of Indian River County members fear the sediment facility will smell, hurt property values and threaten public safety if a major storm breaks the dike and sediment pours out. So they’re asking state lawmakers to give county commissions more say about whether FIND can start building sediment facilities in their backyard.
Negron said he supports more local power over those projects. But his focus is on moving more special districts toward renewal by voter referendum.
“Just as citizens of a county have a to get permission from a government to construct in the county, a special taxing district shouldn’t have carte blanche to do any project it wants inside the boundary of a county,” Negron said.
Rep. Debbie Mayfield, the Vero Beach Republican representing the Sebastian area that hosts the dredged material storage site, cautioned FIND to be careful in its spending, but didn’t go into any specifics.
“FIND, just like every other special district, should be held accountable for how they spend taxpayer money,” Mayfield said. “I remain committed to safeguarding public dollars and ensuring that all governmental entities are properly fulfilling their core missions. As FIND carries out its dredging responsibilities to ensure that our waterways remain safe and navigable, they need to do so without unduly burdening citizens in the process.”
Roach has defended the agency’s spending. He points out the district spends a small percentage of its budget on administrative costs and travel expenses.
Because of continued federal budget woes, FIND also has paid for more than $69 million in dredging duties since 1997 that are the Army Corps’ full responsibility, FIND documents show. But Negron said he doesn’t fault the agency for doing what is “part of their core mission.”
U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, said it’s a local decision whether or not to pick up the slack for those projects, “given the reality of the current situation” with federal funding issues.
But U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, stressed that it’s ultimately the Corps’ job.
“Congressman Rooney believes the Army Corps of Engineers has a responsibility to fund and complete waterway projects under its jurisdiction,” Rooney spokesman Michael Mahaffey said. “The decisions regarding funding are made solely by the Army Corps of Engineers, and Congress cannot direct the Corps to fund specific projects under new rules prohibiting earmarks.”

VISIT :www.findinvestigation.com

to learn more about the FIND investigation--stories, photos, searchable databases, dredging documents,

interactive graphics and videos. Very interesting material to get a better understanding of this issue.

2011-12-20T12:29:00.000-05:00

ANOTHER ARTICLE ON FRONT

PAGE OF PRESS JOURNAL ON FIND

GO TO THIS LINK: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/dec/19/some-treasure-coast-residents-surprised-at-how/

TO SEE THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE.

NOTE THAT THE FIND DIRECTOR FROM

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, ATTORNEY BRUCE BARKETT MADE AN INTERESTING COMMENT REPORTED IN THE ARTICLE. THIS PORTION READS AS FOLLOWS:

"Bruce Barkett, who represents Indian River County on FIND's board of commissioners, defended the district's spending decisions, but conceded they may need to rethink plans to dredge a 3-mile stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway in northern Indian River County because it is not as shallow as once thought"

SO WE NOW HAVE SOMEONE ON THE FIND BOARD WHO RECOGNIZES THE INFORMATION WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTING TO FIND, OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND OUR LEGISLATORS. HALLELUIAH !!!

2011-12-19T23:27:00.000-05:00

MORE NEWS ON FIND AND THE DUMP SITE

BELOW IS THE VIDEO CREATED BY WPTV NEWS TEAM AND FILMED AT PELICAN POINTE AND THE IR-2 DMMA SITE NORTH OF US.

IN THIS VIDEO MR. DAVID ROACH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FIND BELITTLES OUR CONCERNS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PROCEED ON THE BASIS OF ONLY ONE SAMPLE OF SEDIMENT TAKEN 15 YEARS AGO IN THE 8 MILE REACH WHICH THEY HAD CHEMICALLY ANALYZED AND WHICH SHOWED EVIDENCE OF MERCURY. SO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR CHEMICAL ANALYSIS SHOWED MERCURY. THIS WAS IN A SMALL QUANTITY BUT THE SAMPLE WAS ONLY TAKEN FROM THE TOP OF THE SEDIMENT NOT THE LOWER LAYER WHERE EXPERTS ADVISE THE HEAVY METALS SUCH AS MERCURY SETTLE. THE MUCKY SEDIMENT AT THE NORTHERN SECTOR OF THE REACH TO BE DREDGED IS ABOUT 4 FEET THICK SO FIND AND WE CITIZENS DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE LEVEL OF MERCURY ACTUALLY IS UNLESS PROPER SEDIMENT SAMPLING AND TESTING

IS CARRIED OUT.
FIND HAD AGREED TO DO THIS BUT HAS ISSUED A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TO DO THIS WORK WHICH IS NOT ADEQUATELY DEFINING THE SEDIMENT COLLECTION AND TESTING PROTOCOLS TO BE FOLLOWED, AGAIN AS REVIEWED BY INDEPENDENT EXPERTS. PROPER TESTING MUST BE CARRIED OUT TO KNOW WHAT WILL BE DUMPED IN THIS DMMA SITE. PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT STAKE. THERE ARE PRIVATE HOMES SOUTH AND NORTH OF THIS DUMP SITE WHICH HAVE IN GROUND WELLS (NOT COUNTY WATER AS WE HAVE) METHYL MERCURY

IS A VERY TOXIC POISON WHICH CAN KILL OR CAUSE ABNORMAL BIRTHS.
FURTER THIS SITE IS NOT UPLAND WHERE IT SHOULD BE, AND AWAY FROM A POPULATED AREA BUT IS IN A FLOOD ZONE IN THE MIDDLE OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY. NOTE IT IS ONLY ONE MILE FROM PELICAN ISLAND THE FIRST NATIONAL PRESERVE SET UP BY PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT. IF THERE IS A SPILL FROM THE RECEIVING RESERVOIR OF MUCK IT COULD FLOW NOT ONLY ON TO US-1, THE HOMES NORTH OF SOUTH OF IT BUT ALSO INTO THE RIVER CONTAMINATING THE WATER, FISH, CLAMS, OYSTERS ETC. WHICH ARE EATEN BY THE PELICANS ANIMALS AND ALSO HUMANS. FIND HAD A SPILL OF TOXIC DREDGED MATERIAL (ARSENIC) AT IT SJ-14 DMMA SITE IN ST. JAMES COUNTY BACK IN 2006, THEY HAVE SPENT OVER $2 MILLION SO FARAND HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE CLEAN-UP. WHILE THIS IS BAD, IT IS NOT A POPULATED AREA SUCH AS WE HAVE AND IS NOT LOCATED ON THE WATER EITHER.

MR ROACH COMMENTS ABOUT THE SITES CONCEALED APPEARANCE.
WE ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF THIS SITE AS IT IS SHIELDED BY TREES AND NATIVE SHRUBS. THE SAMPLES DR. GOFORTH OF OUR TEAM TOOK THIS SUMMER WERE PHYSICALLY EXAMINED AND CONTAIN SIGNIFICANT ORGANIC MATERIAL. THIS IS WHAT ROTS AND CAUSES NOXIOUS ODORS WHICH WILL AFFECT TOURIST VISITS TO THE AREA AND MAKE THE LOCAL CITIZENS LIVE WITH AN UNPLEASANT AROMA.
THIS HAS OCCURRED AT THE MANATEE POCKET PROJECT IN STUART FLORIDA ON ANOTHER US-1 SITE WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THE TYPE OF TREE AND SHRUB SCREENING WE HAVE HERE. I INTERVIEWED SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THAT AREA ,WHO CONFIRMED THE OBNOXIOUS SMELL FROM THE DMMA SITE.

BELOW IS THE VIDEO, CLICK ON THE ARROW IN THE CENTER TO START IT,

YOU CAN GO TO GOOGLE TO LOOK UP METHYL MERCURY AND ITS DANGERS AND TO LOOK UP THE MANATEE PROJECT IN STUART. WE MUST GET THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS FIND OPERATION AND HOW THEY ARE FUNDING THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DREDGING WORK FOR MANY MILLIONS OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS (70% OF $98 MILLION SINCE 1997) DREDGING WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY CORPS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH SHOULD BE FUNDED BY THEM, NOT BY THE STATE WITH OUR TAX MONEY COLLECTED BY FIND.

2011-12-16T21:20:00.000-05:00

SCRIPPS MEDIA IS PURSUING FACTS ON FIND

THE MOST RECENT EFFORT IS THE FOLLOWING

ITEM ON FIND's LAVISH SPENDING GO TO:

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/contact-5-investigators-look-into-the-way-the-florida-inland-navigation-district-spends-tax-dollars

THERE IS AN ARTICLE AND THE VIDEO THAT WAS BROADCAST ON FRIDAY,

DECEMBER 16, 2011 AT 5: 33 PM ON CHANNEL 5 WPTV NEWS FROM WEST PALM BEACH

IN WHICH DAVID ROACH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FIND IS QUESTIONED

ABOUT THE LAVISH HOTELS AND PARTIES USED BY FIND FOR ITS MEETINGS,

AND THE GRANTS TO EXCLUSIVE BOAT CLUB FACILITIES AND OTHERS WITH OUR TAXPAYER MONEY-WITH NO INPUT FROM THE CITIZENS ON THESE GRANTS!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THERE WILL BE MORE IN THE PRESS JOURNAL

ON THE FRONT PAGE ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 2011, AND ON MONDAY,

DECEMBER 19, 2011.

IF YOU ARE AWAY FROM INDIAN RIVER COUNTY YOU CAN ACCESS THESE AT:

www.tcpalm.com

go to the Indian River section. also look at the link listed at the right of this blog for:

MMM-SCRIPPS MEDIA INVESTIGATIVE SITE ON FIND

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ON MONDAY DECEMBER 19, 2011 BETWEEN 5 AND 6:30 P.M. CHANNEL 5 WPTV WILL

BROADCAST AN INTERVIEW WITH 2 MEMBERS OF THE CONCERNED TAXPAYERS TEAM

FROM PELICAN POINTE TO GIVE A CITIZENS VIEWPOINT ON FIND's ACTIVITIES.

IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA YOU CAN WATCH IT ON THE TV, ON MONDAY EVENING

I WILL EXPECT TO RECEIVE A LINK FROM WPTV TO ENABLE WATCHING ON THE COMPUTER FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF TOWN

2011-12-10T23:10:00.002-05:00

GOOD NEWS -SCRIPPS TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS

HAS A WATCHDOG TEAM TO REPORT ON FIND

(FLORIDA INLAND WATERWAY DISTRICT)

SCRIPPS IS:

1.DEALING WITH MANY OF THE ISSUES OUR CONCERNED IRC TAXPAYERS TEAM

HAVE BEEN UNCOVERING IN CONNECTION WITH TRYING TO GET THE

DREDGING PROJECT OF REACH-1 AND USE OF IR-2 DMMA SITE TO BE PROPERLY EXECUTED FROM START TO FINISH AND AT REDUCED COST TO US TAXPAYERS.

2. LOOKING INTO SPENDING BY FIND WHICH DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SUFFICIENTLY RESTRAINED.

3. EXPLORING THE FIND "GRANT" PROGRAM WHICH PLEASES LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND VARIOUS OTHER GROUPS, WHICH HELPS TO AVOID OPPOSITION TO FIND'S PROJECTS IN THEIR AREA.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITES NOTED IN THE ADVERTISEMENT SHOWN BELOW

http://www.findinvestigation.com

www.tcpalm.com

THE REPORTS WILL BEGIN ONLINE ON DECEMBER 16, 2011

AND IN PRINT ON DECEMBER 18, 2011

NOTE ON THIS BLOG SITE THE LINKS TO OTHER SITES SUCH AS

THAT OF FIND. THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND THE NEW SCRIPPS

INVESTIGATIVE TEAM SITE. IT IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS BLOG SITE.

2011-12-07T09:50:00.000-05:00

AN ELECTION FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS OF PELICAN POINTE OF SEBASTIAN II CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION

IS SCHEDULED FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

YOU RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS WITH THE NOVEMBER 18TH MAILING. AS TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO GET YOUR NOTICE IN, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THE BOARD, PLEASE NOTIFY LYNN HEBERLING Or

STEPHANIE McCORCKLE TODAY AT ELLIOTT-MERRILL STATING YOUR INTENTIONS AND THEY WILL

TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO SUBMIT IN WRITING. CALL 772-569-9853

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 4 OPENINGS (FRANK MARSHALL HAS ANOTHER YEAR ON HIS TERM.)

4 VOLUNTEERS HAVE NOTED THEIR INTENTION TO RUN: DON McARTHUR, BOB CARR AND SUE KEANE, ALL CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE BOARD, AND NEW POTENTIAL BOARD MEMBER, JOE JASINSKI, OF PELICAN POINTE DRIVE. NOTE IF NO ONE ELSE VOLUNTEERS THERE NEEDS TO BE NO ELECTION UNDER THE STATUTES AND OUR DOCUMENTS SO PLEASE GET YOUR INTENTIONS TO RUN IN A.S.A.P. IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO RUN.

THE CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS WISHES TO THANK MARION CONLEY FOR HER MANY

YEARS OF VALUABLE AND EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE ASSOCIATION AS A BOARD DIRECTOR.

ALTHOUGH SHE IS LEAVING THE BOARD, SHE WILL CONTINUE HER IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A MEMBER OF THE LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE WITH PATRICIA RYAN. WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE VISITING AND LIVING HERE COMMENT ON THE EVER IMPROVING BEAUTY OF THE COMPLEX, WHICH IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THEIR HARD WORK. MANY THANKS!!!

2011-11-04T14:40:00.000-04:00

MORE NEWS ON THE DREDGING PLAN ON REACH-1 OF

THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON EAST OF SEBASTIAN

THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT HAS AGREED TO OUR

REQUESTS FOR PROPER SEDIMENT SAMPLING AND RETESTING OF

THESE FOR TOXIC AND ORGANIC MATERIALS!

GO TO THIS LINK TO SEE THE TCPALM ONLINE FRONT PAGE ARTICLE

IN PRESS JOURNAL BY GEORGE ANDREASSI

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/33746426/PRESS%20JOURNAL%20ARTICLE%20NOV%202%202011%20RETESTING%20SEDIMENT%20FOR%20DREDGING.pdf

Dr.Hal Goforth, one of our key Concerned Indian River County Taxpayers Group is following up on this article with our Representatives to urge them to be sure the organization chosen to do this proper sampling and testing is indeed indeoendent and qualified to do the project right this time.

2011-10-07T01:03:00.001-04:00

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE DMMA SITE

AND DREDGING PROJECT

Hello to all our neighbors.

SHORT TERM OBJECTIVE

We are making some more headway in our effort to find out what is really happening on the FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT (FIND) PROJECT TO DREDGE THE THE INDIAN RIVER TO THE EAST OF SEBASTIAN. They plan to dump this sediment on the IR-2 DMMA site on Us-1 just north of us. This overall site is 179 acres in size (equivalent to 115 football fields) and is on a flood zone.boardering on the east by the Indian River and on the west by US-1. They have not done sufficient sampling or testing of the sediment they plan to dredge and following our confrontation with them on this they have announced in local news media that they will follow the sediment sampling and testing program that Dr. Hal Goforth, Marine Biologist & Retired US Naval Captain has outlined for them on behalf of our Concerned Taxpayers of Indian River Team. One step forward to finding the truth on this proposed project. This is part of our short term objective. Once FIND, ACOE,our Legislators, County commissioners, the relevant STATE offices and we citizens learn the Chemical Makeup and Physical characteristics of the sludge it can be better determined if this material could be allowed to be stored in this densely populated community. Mercury, a highly toxic material was found in the one sediment sample chemically tested 14 years ago. This sample was obtained using a Ponar scoop, which only samples the top layer of sediment which is not acceptable. The samples must come from the bottom of the sludge using core sampling methods to get to the bottom layers where the toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead settle.We will also learn about the quantity of organic material in the sediment which is what decays and gives off a noxious odor in this process.If the sediment proves to be really bad we will need to prevail on the relevant State Authorities to do their jobs of protecting the citizens and environment of our area.

LONG TERM OBJECTIVE

We are making some progress on this as well. After our very brief presentation to the Senators and Representatives for our county Senator Joe Negron and Representative Debbie Mayfield suggested meeting around the table with our team and other concerned parties. We plan to follow up with such a meeting, We also presented a Draft Amendment to Fl Statute 374 (which gives FIND its basic charter and guidelines for operations) for the Legislators to consider for a change to this Statute, The Editorial in the Press Journal of October 6, 2011 HEARTILY ENDORSES OUR AMENDMENT PROPOSAL

Go to this link to read this:http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/oct/06/editorial-florida-law-should-be-amended-to-give/

This Amendment is needed to give our elected Commissioners some say in what FIND plans to do in our county. Currently they do not have any meaningful say to protest us from ill conceived plans that might do harm in the County. This is another case of TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION AND LACK OF LOCAL CONTROL(FIND HAS TAXING AUTHORITY AND TAXES OUR REAL ESTATE PROPERTY EACH YEAR)

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SUPPORT OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN THIS ONGOING STRUGGLE.