Tom Pellham visits Polk

Tom Pelham, Secretary for The Florida Department of Community Affairs visited Polk County on Wed. The meeting took place in the Lakeland City Hall and started about 12:45pm and ended sharply at 2:15pm.

Senator Paula Dockery had been the driving force to get him there and opened the meeting with a brief speech and a welcome.

Local city and county officials (I saw Commissioners English, Wilkerson and County Manager Mike Herr there), as well as an attorney for the Lakeland task force were each given roughly up to 5 minutes each to address Pelham with a statement and possible questions. Bob English addressed Pelham for the county. Most didn't ask questions, except Tony Otte, Lake Wales City Manager. Nancy Daly of Lake Alfred stressed concern over her failing road system even though it was not in direct line of CSX traffic, but would get overflow traffic, as well as the need for well paying jobs in the county. Bartow was present, but didn't have a statement. What I noticed most was Winter Haven and even Eagle Lake missing from the beginning lineup especially since Plant City and Ocala weighed in with their concerns. I can only suppose that they have no concerns at this point.

An interesting side note. Ocala mentioned they had come in late on the project, at the tail end, but had secured state funds for overpasses. When Dockery asked when they had been made aware of the Winter Haven site, Ocala replied in 2006. This seemed a shock to some of the cities in the room, as well as Dockery. Most have only become aware of the project in their own county in the last few months.

Residents were given a chance to speak after the officals were finished. A few did, such as my neighbor, Eldon Tipper. Also Wally Krouson from Lake Ashton, residents of Traditions in Winter Haven, Sue Nelson (alternate on the county planning commission), along with David Dickey from the City of Winter Haven. He didn't seem to have a speech, but did want to assure everyone that Winter Haven was excited to be taking part of the DRI process and that Winter Haven had not tried to hide the project or downplay it in any way. (Dockery actually pointed out to him that it in fact was not well publicized and out in the open because even she, a senator hadn't heard about the site for a long time.)

I have to admit that the last statement of David's was a little too much for me and I had to get up at that point. I pointed out to Dockery and Pelham, that if it weren't for myself and my neighbors, as well as Billy Townsend from the Tribune and Tom Palmer and John Chambliss from the Ledger, the additional acreage would not have come to light and there would be no DRI for Winter Haven to be thrilled with.

The day wrapped up quickly due to Pelham's flight schedule.

I don't know if it was the temperature of folks in the room or another fast approaching appointment, but I will say that the CSX and the Winter Haven people got out of Dodge immediately. One person was within 10 feet of them, trying to catch them for a quote and couldn't get to them before they dissappeared.

If you'd like a play by play blow, Chuck Welch at Lakeland Local was blogging as it was happening. God bless laptops!