DRI Explanation (CSX Stuff)

I was recently sent this website, which simplifies what a DRI process is all about. It doesn't explain everything and every detail, but it does give us some idea of what's going to happen.

http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/DRIFQD/dripres.pdf

The question I have is---This is for a regional review, who's looking out for us locally?
On the local level, Winter Haven will do what's best for Winter Haven, but what about the thousands of county residents without a vote on local issues?
Any thoughts or ideas?

Famous Concert Violinist Visits McLaughlin Middle School

As Reported By Kylie Chiavuzzi

On Friday, Sept.28, McLaughlin Middle School in Lake Wales had a very distinguished guest. It was Mark O'Connor, famous violinist and composer. He is appearing at The Lakeland Center this week.

Mr. Monacelli, the orchestra director at McLaughlin, did an amazing job getting Mr. O'Connor to come to the school to teach a master class. The students were lucky enough to play for Mr. O'Connor and have him give tips and pointers.

Then Mr. O'Connor played for the students and teachers. Local violinist even came to hear him.
He was like amazing, we were all like "Oh my God!".


This is a piece from his website at www.MarkOConnor.com

Violinist and composerMark O'Connor is widely recognized as one of the most gifted contemporary composers in America and surely one of the brightest talents of his generation.





The New York Times calls his "one of the most spectacular journeys in recent American music."

FL Bipartisan Meeting Held

While CSX was closing on their Winter Haven site, Pam and I were guests of the FL Bipartisans of Lake Wales.
The meeting was held at the Perkins on SR 60 and about 20- 25 attended. It was a great question asking crowd.
We explained the basics of what we knew and believe it or not pointed out the good as well as the bad with a project this size. Our key point when we've talked to anyone is that, yes, this affects us directly, but it affects everyone in the county in one way or another. As well as the people of the state, with state tax dollars being given to CSX.
One suggestion we heard was why not put this on old mined property south of Mulberry where there are literally thousands of acres, dozens of rail lines, and an abandoned rail yard? We didn't know, but the member who suggested it was going to look into this further.
I guess what is so shocking to me is that most people have no clue where the site is. Most think it's in Eagle Lake or Auburndale. One answer was that if it were so close to Lake Wales, they'd have heard of it.
We did let everyone know that their Lake Wales government is looking out for them. Lake Wales sent a letter to the DCA in support of the county's letter asking for CSX to undergo the DRI process and the review process has come about. They were pleasantly surprised.
If anyone would like to become involved with the FL Bipartisans, I will next week be posting contact info.

CSX Buys Winter Haven Site

It's all the headlines this Friday afternoon. CSX purchased the 318 acre tract of land from Winter Haven at 10am this morning. The property is for the first stage of the CSX ILC. The property for the road access was closed on in December 2006.

Now CSX has to apply for and go through the DRI process before building the hub.
And I'm sure everyone knows, I'll be keeping a close eye on that process!

Correction About Dockery Meeting

I do have to make a correction to the Dockery/Pelham meeting story.
I said that the City of Winter Haven didn't get up and speak with the other cities and David Dickey spoke with the general public.
I spoke to David at the town hall meeting last night and David let me know that Winter Haven actually was not invited to speak with the other cities. I didn't know this and I don't think most other people did either.
So I wanted to correct it. When I make a mistake, and someone catches me on it, please let me know. Thanks David.

Town Hall Meeting- The Follow Up

Wanted to apologize to everyone for the time mix up on the town hall meeting. It was 5-7, not 6-8pm. Hope everyone that wanted to come made it.
The meeting was to show the area residents the new Thompson Nursery Rd. alignment and answer any questions.
I have to say kudos to the county. It wasn't set up like the last town hall meeting with county commissioners taking questions. It was more of a road workshop with a brief video, lots of clear maps around the room, lots of county road employees answering questions, project road engineer there, as well as head guy Wade Allen. Most folks were just curious to see where in their backyard the road may go. Some were relieved and said they weren't touched, some realized it was definitely taking away their house.
There were people saying this was being done for CSX. Wade did stress to me that this project was not because of CSX coming. He said it has been in the pipeline along time, as most roads are and was just at this stage of the game. I told him that I understood that, but if you are not "in the know", it looks rather odd. I will say from my own experience (and I have my own issues with CSX) that I have to say he's right and it takes years to plan a road.
All in all it was an imformative meeting, at least I thought so.

Town Hall Meeting Thursday Night

I have been told there is a town hall meeting 6pm Thursday, 9/27/07 at the Chain of Lakes Elementry School on CR 653.

The topic is the widening and rerouting of Thompson Nursery Rd.

I hope everyone can attend because this ties in, you guessed it, to my favorite subject...CSX.
The employee entrance to the CSX site will be the N. Pollard Rd. and Eloise Lp./Thompson Nursery Rd. intersection.

Hope to see you there.

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!

Heartland 2060 Conference

The Heartland 2060 Conference was held at South Florida Community College, just off of Hwy. 27 in Avon Park. Although it was outside of Polk County, we were definitely included.

The conference was more or less to bring the "Heartland" or interior counties together as a region to discuss growth and planning opportunities. The idea is to start planning now for the shape of the future, not neccasarily for us, but for our children. Years ago and even recently cities, counties and regions haven't worked together. Sometimes compatibility happens for residents, sometimes not.

Pat Steed, Executive Director, Central FL Regional Planning Council, made a very valid point in one of her slide presentations about upward growth instead of urban sprawl. Cities elsewhere have chosen to limit the boundries of their towns and instead of increasingly growing out, build upward and compact their cities. I thought this was a very good arguement for efficient land use, as well as centralizing transportations systems, fire, medical, police and so forth.

Winter Haven City officials were there, as well as County Commissioners Bob English, Randy Wilkinson, Jean Reed and Sam Johnson. No Jack Myers. At least five other counties had representation there too.

It was nice to see the turn out, but my question still remains.

All the good planning in the world in wonderful, but if you can't hold cities such as Winter Haven to these efforts, then where do we go from here? Is there a way to change current regulations which give the county no control over cities and their annexation? If someone out there knows, we would appreciate the answers.

Adam Putnam's Aide in Ft. Meade

I spoke to Adam's office this morning and found out that it is not Adam who will be in Ft. Meade on the 18th, but a person from his office.
I'd still encourage everyone to go and meet and voice any concerns you may have.

Adam Putnam in Ft. Meade

I have heard that Adam Putnam is scheduled to be at the Ft. Meade Public Library at 1pm on September 18th. He is supposed to hear from local citizens who may have concerns and comments.
If I find out this has been canceled or rescheduled, I will let you know.

EPCAR Annual Awards Luncheon

Today was the Annual Awards Luncheon & Installation of FY 2008 Officers & Directors for EPCAR -East Polk County Association of Realtors. It was held at the Lake Region Yacht & Country Club in Winter Haven. There was a great turn out. Good food and good company.
Most offices there were from Winter Haven, although I did see a Haines City office, as well as Jimmy Seay and Julie Seay, broker, of Coldwell Banker Ridge Properties, Lake Wales office.

Chemical Tankers In Intermodal Freight

Not so very long ago, I spoke to a CSX offical, who assured me that intermodal freight, like that coming to Winter Haven never mixed chemical tankers. NEVER is a mighty powerful word and hard to live up to. I've found these pictures, as well as others, here in Florida. I didn't look outside the state because different rules may apply. I'm sure CSX has a very logical explanation for this.

Polk's Citizens Academy

Tonight began the new Citizen's Academy Class, sponsored by the county and Pam and I are in it.
It's a free class. (Although, enrollment for the class is full, I've attached a link to visit the county website. You'll find the info here to ask about signing up for the new class early next year.)

There was a little bit of everyone in our class. Some people work at the county, some are retired citizens, others are interested in politcal offices at city and county levels.

We met at the Polk Outpost 27, which is up near I-4, on the left side, coming from the south. It's our new visitors center and pretty cool. From the outside it reminds me of a Bass Pro Shop. Everyone should stop by when heading that way. I was impressed.

I will say that I was unimpressed with Tom Patton, with I believe, Economic Developement & Growth. Even when it was not on the agenda, and not a topic of discussion, decided to bring up CSX and it's potential. Then point out Pam and me, not once, not twice, but three times and tell everyone we were from Sundance and how we opposed it and so on. I was shocked. I guess, when I'm ready for a fight, my guard is up, but not in a classroom, lecture setting.

Aside from that, the evening was a success. We met lots of nice folks and learned a bunch. I think all Polk residents could learn and appreciate the Citizen's Academy.

Migrant Housing in Lake Buffum

I wasn't able to attend the Polk planning commission meeting today, but was told that an immigrant housing camp planned for the Lake Buffum area, right down from the Lake Buffum Baptist Church was voted down. A developer, Bentley Brothers was asking that a parcel be rezoned, in this very rural area, to some type of multi family housing for immigrant, men only, workers brought from Mexico on temporary work visas. But never fear, the American way prevails. The attorney for the developer was said to be seen with appeal in hand and running to file it at that very moment.

Welcome!

Welcome to the first Polk County Info blog!
Pam and I started this blog to post info on things we knew were happening in our area. Some may be old subjects, some new!
Feel free to tell us what you'd like to discuss!