Then again, maybe they do understand and just don’t care about their county or think money is the only thing important in life. Manatee County Commissioners have an abysmal history when it comes to promoting a healthy environment in their area with money always at the forefront.
Then again, that sounds like Florida.
Mary Hampton of Manatee County has followed this issue and has written the following letter to Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge imploring him to do a minimum of self-education on the issues he votes on.
People who have taken on positions to represent the public on issues affecting them have the heavy responsibility of informing themselves of issues they vote on. It is not sufficient to say “well our district water scientists approve this, so I will too.”
We note that Mr. Ostenbridge is a realtor. The percentage of water users and abusers on county commissions and district water boards is huge. Here Mr. Ostenbridge has to choose whether to help preserve his county’s environment or possibly enhance his real estate sales by diminishing Manatee County’s wetlands. What was he elected to do?
Please read Manasota-88’s article and then the following letter from Mary Hampton, Manatee County resident who cares.
Our thanks to Manasota-88 for this description of wetlands and to Mary Hampton for her input to county authorities.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
HURRICANES AND WETLANDS
Wetlands act as buffers for wind and water, are valuable in reducing wave energy which can damage structures and cause deaths. Wetland buffers reduce flood damages by absorbing flood waters caused by significant storm events and rain. Wetlands provide a natural defense from flooding and storm surge.
The Manatee County Commission should abandon their efforts to weaken wetland protections in Manatee County. The County Commission recently voted to transmit changes to the Florida Department of Commerce that will gut many wetland protections and defer to weaker state wetland protection standards.
It is expected the Department of Commerce will rubberstamp the request and send it back to the County for final approval within months.
According to the EPA:
Wetlands: Protecting Life and Property from Flooding
Wetlands in many locations play an important role in flood protection. Nowhere is this function more important than along coastal areas. Coastal areas are vulnerable to hurricanes and other powerful storms, and the flat coastal terrain means that land and property can be exposed to the full power of these storms. Preserving and reconstructing coastal marshes can help reduce storm damage. Coastal wetlands serve as storm surge protectors when hurricanes or tropical storms come ashore. in the Gulf coast area, barrier islands, shoals, marshes, forested wetlands and other features of the coastal landscape can provide a significant and potentially sustainable buffer from wind wave action and storm surge generated by tropical storms and hurricanes.
The Manatee County Commission is stripping away many of the requirements for buffers around wetlands. During the County’s only public hearing to transmit the proposed changes to weaken wetland protection, Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge incorrectly identified wetland buffers as a “taking” of private property rights.
Requiring wetland buffers around wetlands is not a “taking”. Eliminating wetland buffers during development and phosphate mining proposals a “giving”.
It is giving developers and miners the right to develop up to the very edge of the wetland, even though landowners currently do not have that right. The County’s Land Development Code already allows for flexibility of the width of a wetland buffer on a case-by-case basis.
What is being taking away is:
- protection of the environmental integrity of a wetland,
- protection against flooding and storm surge,
- protection against pollutants entering public waterways,
- it is a taking that will impact the lives and property of every resident, and the ability of people to enjoy the waters free from pollution.
Wetland protection is one of the most significant actions the County Commission can do for the protection of the water supply, water quality and the general well-being and health of the citizens they represent.
Manatee County has allowed development in low and coastal areas which will result in catastrophic losses when a major storm occurs. In short, past Commissions and the current County Commission have taken far too little interest in preparing for and safeguarding against the next major storm event. There appears to be no consideration given to this problem when approving new development.
As the likelihood and costs of hurricanes continue to increase, Manatee County will need to adopt strategies to reduce the risks from storm surge and flooding. Eliminating wetland protections by reducing or eliminating buffers around wetlands is a significant step backwards in protecting the lives and property of people living in Manatee County.
The Hon. Kevin Van Ostenbridge,
As I listened to the Commissioners remarks it baffles me the actual lack of knowledge on the subject matter….. then there’s George Kruse, the most knowledgeable Commissioner on the Board. If you really listen to his remarks back up by FACTS there was no other choice but to vote it down. The rest of the board should be following George’s lead and reasoning. They need to look at Commissioner Kruse as a MENTOR not an adversary. When they do then this County and our Citizens would be way better off.
Sincere thanks to Our Santa Fe River, Inc., for helping citizens of Manatee County to publicize the fact that members of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted 6-1 to reduce wetland protection. OSFR has also helped to publicize the fact that ManaSota88, a 501.c3 non-profit organization has made it known that Manatee County Commissioner, Kevin VanOstenbridge was INCORRECT in saying on Aug. 17, 2023 at the County land use meeting that “…..wetland buffers are taking private property rights.”
At the Aug. 17, 2023 land use meeting, Suncoast Waterkeeper, Abbey Tyrna, Ph.D., offered to individually give education to EVERY Manatee County Commissioner regarding the most successful way to preserve our precious County’s wetlands.
Manatee County Board of Commissioners need to become much more informed about the need to protect and preserve our precious County wetlands. Every Manatee Commissioner has an absolute duty to perform, with full respect, the job he/she is sworn to perform on behalf of all present and future Manatee County citizens.
Sincerely,
Mary Hampton
Resident of Manatee County, Florida