Peter Schorsch
Back in my semi-innocent FSU days in Tallahassee, we were always looking for a distraction from homework and a break from the heat. Wakulla Springs was a frequent destination, not just because it was close and the water was consistently cool and refreshing, but because I’d never seen anything like that before – crystal blue waters, as clear as glass. Literally, a huge river poured from a giant hole in the ground that you could clearly see a hundred feet below the water’s surface. Swimming there was like floating in air.
It was “awesome” in the way that word was originally intended, you know, before it was applied to deep dish pizza.
All these years later, the memories are still clear as that water. That’s why it’s amazing that anybody – much less Wakulla County Commissioners – could do anything to threaten this international treasure. But that’s what’s happening — and all for the price of a convenience store — and it needs to be stopped.
The news out of Wakulla County is hard to fathom: A majority of Wakulla Commissioners are racing ahead with zoning changes — while stifling public comment — which will allow a gas station to be built on top of one of the amazing underwater caves which supplies the crystal-clear water that makes Wakulla Springs so special.
The awful plan calls for 16 gas pumps and petroleum storage tanks placed on top of a limestone cave that could collapse into a sinkhole at any time, spilling its contents into the pristine waters of Wakulla.
One gallon of gas can poison a million gallons of groundwater.
This is insane.
There is a long list of people who can stop this insanity:
Wakulla County Manager David Edwards
Edwards has been caught with his pants down. He told commissioners that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said, in a meeting with him, that they wouldn’t approve more stringent regulations for spring protection. But a DEP spokesman said essentially the exact opposite of that, in a statement to the Florida Phoenix. DEP never ‘rejected’ the county’s proposed ordinance. Edwards has been busted and needs to immediately walk this whole thing back.
Wakulla Commission Chair Ralph Thomas
If Edwards won’t do the right thing, Chair Ralph Thomas should. Thomas presided over an embarrassing commission meeting on July 17th where dozens spoke up, but many were denied a chance to speak and, somehow, respected Gulf Specimen Marine Lab founder and director Jack Rudloe was removed from the meeting and issued a trespass warrant.
What kind of leader goes to the mat over building 16 gas pumps on top of a fragile cave that flows into the county’s most prized natural resource?
State Rep. Jason Shoaf and Sen. Corey Simon
This is a state matter now. And if the locals in Wakulla can’t make it right, the state should. Wakulla Springs is home to a state park and Edwards has floated the idea that the recent pre-emption law is what is preventing the county from protecting the property (Florida Association of Counties director Ginger Delegal probably winced at that one). If Shoaf and Simon step in strongly here, this will quickly be resolved.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton
Hamilton has been at DEP for 16 years and knows the importance of Wakulla Springs. Nobody wants to see a construction accident rupture the cave on their watch. And nobody wants stories about a 20-year-old tank leaking into the springs to include that it was pushed through under their tenure. DEP can make this right and shouldn’t wait around to see if others succeed.
Governor Ron DeSantis
It’s been a rough few weeks for Florida’s governor, but this is a layup for him to score points back in his home state. DeSantis has always been a stalwart champion of water quality and protecting the environment, and he’s stood up to powerful special interests to make good on his pledges. Does he really want to put his legacy at risk over a gas station built by a company from Bainbridge, Georgia? One tiny little whisper into the ear of an aide and you can be sure this gas station will never see its first drop of fuel.
That’s a lot of smart, important, influential people. Any one of them can solve this problem. Any one of them can protect this incredible resource.
Any one of them can save Wakulla Springs so that the next generation of college kids, locals, and thousands of tourists can enjoy the magic of this unique Florida treasure.
30 comments
Idiocy in action
July 29, 2023 at 9:57 am
Sad to see Republicans being begged to do the right thing. Will voters ever figure out than when they vote for these people they get a whole lot of ideological nonsense and insanity they don’t want along with the ideological nonsense and insanity they do want?
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Ty Jefferson
August 6, 2023 at 3:27 pm
This kind of sums up the problem with present-day GOP politics. They’ve got their voters so worked up over culture war issues that policy has become a non-factor in election campaigns. So while they end up with a guy who is, for their tastes, sufficiently against women’s right and gay people, he’s also utterly owned by moneyed interests and will do their bidding and side with them over regular Americans every single time. Short-term profits over the well-being of Americans and our communities.
Ocean Joe
July 29, 2023 at 10:51 am
Governor does not care about you. Down in Key West the giant cruise ship’s dock owner donated a lot of money, then Spencer Roach was behind a bill to dissolve the city of Key West (according to our then State Rep) to eliminate opposition.
The loss of home rule is a major tool for developers. Red Florida will look like Gary, Indiana (where boat loads of them came from) before it’s all over.
Dont Say FLA
July 29, 2023 at 11:21 am
Underwater chainsaws are quite effective at removing docks, and there ain’t no surveillance cameras underwater around docks (at of yet).
JD
July 29, 2023 at 12:26 pm
WTF is Roach in everyone’s business when his home base is in Lee County? He sticks his nose in Key West as well as Orlando at Disney?
Is his real name Karen Spencer Roach?
More Red douche baggery.
Doug Hay
July 29, 2023 at 11:10 am
Is this another case of good ole boy politics ready to sacrifice the greater good for short-term $$$?
Dont Say FLA
July 29, 2023 at 11:20 am
If one gallon of gasoline can poison a million gallons of aquifer, there’s no sense in worrying.
Florida is still full of Florida men who go to the far end of the back yard and pour out the old gasoline and the old oil and the old transmission fluid and the old coolant and whatever all else might get old and be drained from a motor vehicle.
Practically speaking, proceed with the gas station. Given the circumstance of “Florida,” it matters not one whit.
Trying to provide a positive role model, sure, don’t build the gas station. But then again, what gas station in Florida is NOT build over limestone? The only reason Florida is above the sea is limestone.
Terrye Bradley
August 1, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Please do not approve the gas station. We cannot afford to take a chance to spoil the water in the Spring!
Lanedemontmollin
August 4, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Well said. Build baby build, drill and frack too.
Onlyrightislegalright
July 29, 2023 at 12:13 pm
This is a moral issue ti be addressed with a legal standard. Perhaps the author can do his post research since he failed to do the pre- post research and post this legal standard set in case law?
JD
July 29, 2023 at 4:45 pm
Like the current GOP follows case law. If they did we’d not have such a big budget line item to defend the recently passed legislations.
JD
July 29, 2023 at 12:28 pm
I love that the Red Right Mafia is willing to rape and pillage the natural splendor of Florida. It’s a good tagline for their campaigns.
F*cking amateurs.
My Take
August 1, 2023 at 7:06 am
“From Eden to Sahara: Florida’s Tragedy”
Book published in 1929.
Dont Say FLA
July 29, 2023 at 12:43 pm
The GOP platform, for as long as I can remember, has always been “Rape and pillage and point fingers at The Others for the raping and the pillaging.”
Only thing different as of late if the GOP pretending that “The Blacks” (as Trump refers to some folks) aren’t “The Others” anymore and now “The Others” that are coming for your wives and your children are … drag queens, lofl.
Jane Simpson
July 29, 2023 at 4:50 pm
Enough already Let our natural lands survive. People are too greedy. There are certain treasures on earth that money cannot buy
Alejandro Rojas
July 29, 2023 at 6:55 pm
Florida’s pollution problem has everything to do with who we elect, their priorities and keeping campaign promises. Gov. DeSantis and our legislature give the marching orders and our Department of Environmental Protection dutifully passes out the permits, unfortunately, like candy, in the face of sprawl, endangered and polluted waters.
Another problem, again politics, DeSantis and theRepublican legislature, once encouraging home rule to allow cities and counties to enact laws that address local problems. Now the legislature is aggressively preempting municipalities and county governments from addressing local problems, especially pollution, water, and anything that might slow down developers and unbridled growth. And, I should add, campaign contributions from wealthy individuals and corporations
These preemptions from the legislature and Gov. DeSantis, are exceedingly broad, horribly vague and, as they are drafted, they completely remove the ability of cities and counties to protect water, ensure there is sufficient quantity of water, prevent illegal dumping, regulate litter, bottled water, waste tires and animal waste, or even manage fertilizer on lawns and for agriculture, or prevent the proliferation of algae blooms,. These are only a few of the things our elected representatives have done to rule our lives and protect special interests, preventing our locally elected official from addressing pollution and many other problems from being addressed.
When you vote next time please consider how much clean water and a good environment count in your and our children’s daily lives. How pollution, sprawl, traffic, red tide, and fouled lakes and rivers harm our tourist economy and quality of life..
Robert Jones
July 30, 2023 at 1:55 pm
This article is full of inaccuracies.
1. Commissioners did not stifle any discussion. There were two spot for citizens to speak on ANY topic. One was at the beginning of the meeting and one at the end. Roberts Rules of Order, if there is no 2nd, there is no discussion. Something should not get a 2nd simply to hear from the public. Again, they could speak on this subject at the beginning or the end. Had this received a 2nd, they could have spoken then as well. And like always, citizens can email, call… No one shut down any voice of any citizen.
2. “Trespassing warrant”? You meaning trespassing warning? If people want to be heard, they need to follow the rules. Having people stand up and shouting over everyone else is not how to get things done. That is called being a bully. This usually results from losing an argument or discussion so you pull your final card, the “I will be the loudest, most obnoxious, and not follow any rules” card. Go stand in the gallery of a legislature meeting in Tallahassee and make a scene, watch what happens…
3. The fact is there is NO survey (that would stand up via Florida law) that would work in preventing this gas station from being built. Commissioner Thomas asked for a survey and not a single person could provide a legal survey (not a map) that would stand up to the law.
4. The Damons (who are leading he charge for clean water) have a LONG history of attacking commissioners, disguised as issues and papers with no author information (which I am pretty sure violates election influencing laws)… This is one of those times, as they desperately try to get people to turn on Commissioners they do not like, with the hopes of getting them out of office.
Word is, Ms. Sue Damon is on Septic at Shell Point Beach… and that beach gets closed quite a bit with bacteria from septic bacteria present in the water. Yet she claims to be about the environment? Wants to save the springs, but says nothing about the springs being on septic? The Damons claim this is about the Wakulla aquifer but will not acknowledge the fact that the ENTIRE state is on one the world’s highest producing aquifers.
The bottom line is this. OUr county (and other counties) have been sued when development was blocked without a legal reason. People point fingers at zoning changes… the commission is following the comp plan and allowing zoning changes to match that plan. Having an opinion on the matter is not enough to stop a development by law. If these people cared so much, then why do they not buy the land and protect it? Surely they have enough people to make this happen?
Not a word from these people about all the steps taken to lower nitrogen levels in the springs (which are now at historic lows). This was, in part, thanks to county leaders working with Leon County to make changes. Yet, they claim the commissioners are the enemy,
Peter, given your track record of being paid for political hit pieces, this stinks to high heaven.
George Washington
July 31, 2023 at 12:19 am
You’re a slave to 🤑
Bob nesmith
July 31, 2023 at 6:56 am
So you are the guy building the gas station or the one getting the check for bribing the Commission?
Earl Pitts "Generational Wealth Expert" American
August 1, 2023 at 11:13 am
Good points there Robert Jones,
The gas station is being used by the most powerfull group in Wakulla County like a giant pimple on a teenagers face to take the public’s eye off the real travisty in Wakulla County.
The most powerfull group in Wakulla is not who you think it is and not who you would like it to be. The most powerful are the well funded, deep pockets, unlimited cash, enviornmental extreamist groups who threaten to stop ALL development on private lands in Wakulla County by tying the property owner’s and their families up in court for generations to come. And that my friends is the real crime occuring in Wakulka County.
Again the gas station is just a political football which is being kept alive by the enviornmental groups to steal the property rights of Wakulla’s honest citizens who were counting on sub-dividing portions of their family land as a part of their retirement income.
To be more specifuc:
Many of the families are being cheated out of their “Generational Wealth” which their Grandparrents, Great Grandparents, and in some cases Great Great Grandparents purchased back in the day so their families could have “Generational Wealth” by sub-dividing portions of the family property over the years to provide a higher standard of living to their beloved grandchildern.
Many of these Wakulla County families are Black and trace their heritage back to pre-civil war days.
And that my friends is the Real Crime being committed in Wakulla County.
But wait theres more:
Modern septic systems, sewage lift stations, and new small development small yet very effective spray field technology virtually eliminates any chance of properly planned new sub-developments ever impacting Wakulla Springs. And that, not the political football gas station, is what the environmental groups are stealing from the mostly Black Wakulla Counties citizens.
Again these citizen’s Generational Wealth is being raped and pillaged by these enviornmental groups without even the mention of even one red cent of compensation.
To be clesr:
Nobody from the deep pocket enviornmental groups has even offered “Fourty Acres And A Mule” or any compensation for tying up in court for generations to come needlessy (as explained above) the mostly Black Wakulla County Citizens Generational wealth.
And to sum it up:
That my friends is the Real Crime being committed on the mostly Black citizens of Wakulla County Florida.
Earl Pitts “Generational Wealth Expert” American
Cymbia
August 2, 2023 at 7:41 am
Mr. Pitts – please, what are the names of the well funded, deep pockets, unlimited cash, enviornmental extreamist groups?
JD
July 30, 2023 at 5:45 pm
It’s been my experience, that when Peter get’s called out for supposed “paid for political hit pieces”, he’s usually struck some nerve of “big money”, “good ole boys”, or “good ole big money boys”.
Keep going Peter. We thank you for it.
Never give up
July 31, 2023 at 2:23 pm
This is true in general for Florida politics. They report on things that get attacked from all sides but somehow get accused of pay for play when it’s obvious accusers just don’t want it covered, period. This is one example of too many to name happening all around the state and no it’s not business as usual and to say it meets the standard of the law is to say well it’s a law so it must be good. That’s the same logic that held up Jim Crow, decades of environmental disasters, and pretty much everything bad that needs review and improvement. It’s lazy thinking and it’s rotting this state.
Jennifer Sullivan
August 1, 2023 at 10:40 am
Florida has plenty of gas stations and yes we are a land built on limestone. However, when a person finds that they own land directly over a cave in the network of Wakulla Springs then FOR SURE they should be able to find a buyer that does not hanker to build a gas station, of all things! What someone WANTS to do….. does not mean that they should be allowed to do it. That’s why we have zoning decisions based on rational and unbiased planning. If we decide to be random and careless we enter a scary place.
Earl Pitts "Most Loved Most Hated" American
August 1, 2023 at 7:43 pm
Jen its Not about Gas Stations thats just the political football. Its about cheating the mostly Black land owners out of the oppurtunity of enviornmentally safe methods to tap into their generational wealth by subdividing and building environmently safe subdivisions on their generational property which their familys have owned for many years.
That is who The Wakulla County Commissioners should be fighting tooth and nail for.
Again Its Not About A Gas Station…Not at All.
Do white leftists really think they know whats best for Wakulla Counties Black Citizens?
1. Let them [safely for the springs] subdivide.
OR
2. Raise Taxes and pay the mostly Black families millions to buy them out.
3. The tree hugging environmentlists are not being legal or fair by threatining to tie the …. again …. mostly Black Wakulla County land owners up in court forever if they [enviornmently safely] attempt to develop their own land. NOT RIGHT AND NOT FAIR WHITE FOLK.
Earl Pitts “Crime Fighter” American
Earl Pitts "Most Loved Most Hated" American
August 2, 2023 at 8:17 am
Good mornting America,
Look at how Earl Pitts American shuts down the leftist criminals with just one or two comments which 100% represent Truth, Justice, and The American Way. The Dook 4 Brains Leftists who are stealing their mostly Black citizen’s Generational Wealth have been shut down.
EPA
My Take
August 3, 2023 at 7:36 am
Just as an aside, 100+ years ago there was a pretty widespread rumor of an ACTIVE VOLCANO in Wakulla Swamp!
People can believe almost anything.
My Take
August 5, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Years ago a geologist in a nearby state showed me a gas station with a room-sized patch of new asphalt out at an edge of its paved area. A sinkhole had formed there, fortunately away from the underground gas tanks and gas-pressurized piping. Then filled in and paved over. Years later when traveling the nearby interstate, I stopped for gas or a drink. There were two new large aboveground petroleum tanks installed directly ON the patch!
Lesson — how soon the lesson is forgotten by operators.
My Take
August 5, 2023 at 7:06 pm
I was also showed a spring highly contaminated by leaked gasoline from a nearby station. Enough gas flowing out to be a fire hazard in the small spring and discharge stream. On church property, the spring had been used for generations for baptisms. Of course those had to be abandoned. And the spring actively avoided.. For many years now
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