A.G. Gancarski
With state and federal money now committed to the JAXPORT dredging process, it would seem that the project would be full-steam ahead.
However, one Jacksonville City Councilman — former Mayor Tommy Hazouri — wants a fuller accounting of environmental impacts from the dredge to 47 feet for 11 miles of the St. Johns River, and “transparency” as to the costs he expects the city to have to absorb on the project in future budgets.
That transparency, Hazouri suggested, could come in the form of hearings of the Council.
The city’s ultimate cost, like the cost of the project itself, is up in the air; it could be as low as $47 million or as high as $150 million of the total estimated $484 million.
Serious costs. And for Hazouri, who had wanted a special Council committee on dredging, there needs to be a serious inquiry as to what the costs to the city will be, as well as what the environmental impacts will be to the river and its tributaries.
“Council hasn’t taken a position. We should have been involved early on,” Hazouri said. His goal: that a position is reached before city funds are needed.
While jobs — the big selling point of the project — are needed, Hazouri notes there could be a tremendous environmental impact also with the dredge.
“Now is the time for everyone to look at the mitigation issue … to address all problems that many say can or would happen,” Hazouri said.
With the city committing to waterway activation, an ambitious slate of projects including reviving creeks and making the river a central feature of the city’s marketing and development plan, Hazouri worries that a botched dredge could turn a “national treasure into a national disaster.”
Thus far, said Hazouri, JAXPORT hasn’t been “transparent”, especially regarding the environmental impact. And there hasn’t been a sober consideration of scientific evidence in the rush to get the project online. A “legit” third-party study, Hazouri said, would go a long way toward offering reassurance.
However, Hazouri said “the port’s not willing to do the study.” And as of yet, the port has not had the public meetings one might expect before committing to a $484M project without a recurring funding commitment from state and federal governments.
We asked Council President Anna Brosche her take, and she said that “Councilman Hazouri is welcome to schedule any noticed meetings he would like that he believes will help him accomplish his goals.”
