Yesterday, I reported that the city had not held a public hearing on the Government Street Stormwater project for Tanyard residents.
A reader pointed out an article from July 11, 2014 that previewed such a meeting that was to be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. Read PNJ.
However, we can’t find any reports on the hearing.
We do know that Tanyard residents protested the pond on Friday, July 18: “A dozen protesters turned out Friday afternoon in front of Pensacola City Hall objecting to plans for a new stormwater retention pond they say is too close to a downtown park where children play.” Read PNJ.
I will adjust my earlier post.
I find it odd that the guy whose property stands to gain the most in value by this pond hasn’t said a word. What I find even more odd is that not one community leader (Spencer, Merrill, Kerrigan, Reeves, Robinson, etc….you know all those white guys with money that sit on all those important BOCC, UWF, PSC, CMP boards, etc.) has spoken up once about this issue.
I’ve always noticed in the past that if you want to make something happen in Pensacola you have to get the blessing from a Rat Packer, Irish Politician or someone of that caliber of political clout or else nothing happens. We do not live in a Democratic city….It is and always has been an Oligarchy.
CW,
The fence we are in need of is not AFTER the park is open it is NOW while they are working next to homes where children play. It took very loud voices to stop the city from construction running nearly 24 hours a day. We shouldn’t have to request the site to work according to OSHA, FDEP, county and city regulations – look around at other sites in the communities next to or surrounded by a construction site – the rules and regulationd are in place and are being enforced.
You like so many that are not impacted by: the terrible air we are breathing including Methane, and H2s gases, diesel fumes 24/7 from trucks and pumps.. try riding your bike in that all day, or grow a garden in the toxic air..
We live here with our children and pay taxes.. but what separates this site from the other sites that are following the rules is as clear as black and white.
Thanks Rick–I stand corrected.
Thanks, Christian. It looks the protest was three days after the hearing.
Rick–I attended two public meetings at City Hall in summer 2014 that were designed to solicit public comment on the pond, and there were quite a few neighborhood residents there. The meetings were run by the consulting firm Atkins, though I recall that City staff from engineering and other departments were there as well. For as much as this project appears to be a mess right now, they seem to have done a good job of incorporating concerns from the residents voiced at the meetings. The two big concerns I recall were: 1) a fear that children would get into the water and be harmed or even drown, and 2) the possibility that the existing basketball court at the park would not be replaced. Residents wanted a fence around the pond, which the consultants resisted because it would not be attractive and it would be a maintenance issue as it would trap trash and debris and thus require labor to clean. While Admiral Mason Park was shown as an example of a pond without a fence around it, in the end they and the City relented, as the current plans show a fence. And the basketball court is also shown on the plans, so that was included based on pushback from the community. I do not recall whether anybody at the meeting said don’t build the pond at all, though clearly those who protested weeks later did not want it.
Yet, two and half years later no one has asked the residents what they want! Still no fencing, tanks still there and oh the MUD!