FRANK'S BLOG

 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.