Road plan irks citizens

            On Nov. 27, the board of the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority met at the courthouse in Apalachicola to hear public comment on the proposed evacuation route to be constructed north of US 98.

            What they heard was not music to their ears.

            Residents demanded more information on proposed road construction and refuted the Authority's procedures and data during the meeting.

            The evacuation route, as depicted on their website and on pamphlets distributed by the Authority, includes a corridor through Tate's Hell from St. Teresa to Eastpoint through the relict dunes just south of the existing power lines. Also proposed is the conversion of West Bayshore Drive to a through street joining the corridor north of Eastpoint.

            Citizens are concerned with the environmental impact of building a high-speed two-lane road through state and federal park land and that the northern route will funnel tourists away from the county. Residents of Bayshore fear their quiet residential street will become a shortcut for tourists.

            About 40 Franklin County residents were on hand. At their last Franklin County meeting held in Carrabelle, the Authority brought slick flyers and out-of-date maps to present their case to the public. This time they brought nothing but an agenda.

            When attendees requested to see a map of the proposed roads, they were told to consult the Internet.

            "How can we intelligently discuss this when we have nothing to discuss?" asked one woman.

            "Nothing has changed except we're lining up some federal and state bureaucrats on this project," said Chairman Randall McElheney.

            The board discussed earmarking tolls from a portion of the road for environmental mitigation and prepared to vote on the issue.

            "Can there be some public discussion on this before you vote?" asked County Commissioner Pinki Jackel.

            Looking nonplussed, McElheney answered, "We have a protocol that we ask the public to wait on their comments until the board completes its discussion, but we can table this vote until after public comment. We don't want the discussion to become segmented."

Jackel disputes point of procedure

            Next the board prepared to vote to approve the invoices. One bill was from HDR Engineering of Panama City for a feasibility study of alternative routes and strategies in Franklin County. McElheney said he would recuse himself from the vote to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest, leaving only four members available to vote, less than a quorum.

            Ray Reisner, project manager and employee of HDR Engineering approached the board with a cell phone and McElheney announced that Maurice Langston, the board member from Wakulla County would be voting over the phone to break a tie.

            Jackel asked if this procedure was allowed and Mike Duncan, general council for the board, said he had researched the question and it was allowed.

            Vice Chairman Jay Odum, of Okaloosa County, said that "In abundance of caution, we'll just wait until the next meeting."

            Jackel then produced a copy of the "Government in the Sunshine" manual and read a passage stating that telephone voting was only allowed if there was a quorum present, in extraordinary circumstances such as illness, and if the voting member participated throughout the meeting over a speaker phone or other electronic device that allowed the member to hear and be heard by the public.

            A member of the audience pointed out that if McElheney recused himself, there was no quorum present.

Environmental and economic Impacts?

            McElheney said beginning with the new phase of the project, there will be at least one environmental impact meeting each year for the next five years.

            "At environmental impact meetings, we'll show everything from the last meeting and what's happened in the interim," he said.

            Reisner said environmental impact studies have been funded $8 million through 2009. He said the Authority will study economic and property impacts in addition to the environment.

            He said that in addition to the corridor from St. Teresa to Eastpoint, other options like armoring US 98, beach renourishment and offshore barriers would be considered.

            "This whole process is to determine what's going to happen," said Odum.

            Riverkeeper Andy Smith asked if the only issue being considered was evacuation and return.

            Reisner said that was correct. "There is no intention to increase capacity," he said.

No need for additional evacuation routes?

            Gathana Parmenas of Carrabelle, a Red Cross volunteer active with local mitigation strategy for eight years, told the board that has served on the state hazard and mitigation task force, gathering regional information.

            "Their study does not show any problem with evacuation in Franklin County. There are limited post-event issues, but they involve State Route 65 and County Road 67," she said. "I would like to see some data supporting the need for an east-west evacuation route."

            Frank Venable of Eastpoint said he would like to see "some proof that the substantial objections you have heard here today are being passed on to the governor. We have no need of additional evacuation routes. Ms. Parmenas just said it. Hurricanes are a non issue. How can you justify the tremendous cost of people who have been on the payroll for years?"

            Reisner said, "We're not advocating building a road from one end to the other. We're encouraged by the DOT to consider offshore breaks to protect the road. You have given us some real good reasons that that blue line should be disqualified. We're going to look at something different than just piling rocks on the shore."

            An audience member displaying an Authority protested. "You show the road on your map," they said. "If it's important enough to put on the map that must mean something."

            McElheney said the Florida Department of Transportation "can give you plenty of history on the existing US 98. It washes out every time there's a storm. All we're trying to do is take a regional approach. If there was a Katrina type event, 98 would be gone."

            Venable said, "We didn't invite you here. All of you are outsiders. The one person who should be here to represent us is absent. That's very telling and it's very telling that this project is designed by The St. Joe Company and it's through their property. This is an insult. Where is the evidence that you passed the public input on to the governor?"

            Norris asked "What's your recommendation? The roads get damaged every time there's a storm."

            Venable replied there is an offshore barrier at Two-Mile that has protected the road.

             "There has got to be a process that determines what is best," Norris said.

An exercise in futility

            Green Guide and environmental advocate Lesley Cox of Carrabelle said, "I want to go on the record as a no build proponent. I am appalled that we would even consider putting a road on the relict dune system. It's a fragile ecosystem. If a Katrina type storm came it would wipe out 98 and any road you build above it. This is an exercise in futility."

            Marilyn Hogan of Eastpoint asked that "the people here who object to this to stand up now." About 30 members of the audience stood and stared silently at the board.

            Joe Eckstine of Eastpoint said, "Let me add my voice to those who stood or raised their voices with Frank. I am very opposed to an escape route coming off the bridge, making a sharp left turn. While it will be an escape route, it will be there permanently."