Eagle Training Camp  (by: w. CAREY  -   9/28/2009)

WHERE IS YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY// WAS HE NOT PRESENT WHEN YOUR ZONING DEPT. "SNAKES" VOTED ON THE ZONING WITHOUT THE ADJOINING RESIDENTS BE NOTIFIED? SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD LAWSUIT TO ME!!!!

Eagle Camp  (by: Karol Johnston  -   9/28/2009)

I would just like to know which congressman or senator hid this little project in one of the infamous "pork" projects? Fox News is checking it out - maybe we'll know.

County Commissioners  (by: Damn Tired  -   8/18/2009)

What will you do today, will it be money, or love of your fellow man that affects your decision?

Think ,..Folks...............  (by: Tom  -   8/18/2009)

We are going to have a mercenary training camp in our neighborhood, do you have children? They get paid to kill people and don't give a damn about this place. This is our home, land, our future, our kids future, come on think this through. Kim, the only thing eagle national securities and their client give a damn about is money. They did not grow up here, they don't know us nor will they protect us. Honey they are here to take NOT give.

Eagle National Training Center  (by: Ellen Peterson, Pres. Save Our Creeks  -   8/13/2009)

I can't say it better than this Quotethere is such a huge and long-term public investment in natural public lands for critical habitat and T&E wildlife, around this very area, which will be destroyed with this intrusion of this specific function/use into that same locale. To their credit, many landowners, agricultural and community leaders are seeking green businesses, carbon sequestration benefits, organic farming and other sustainable lifestyles and industry. This area is actively seeking that green development with watershed quality, and it is seeking ecotourism which requires a high degree of natural sanctuary. We are only now formulating those plans and Fisheating-Okeechobee is the primary focus of that larger regional ecotourism and natural areas plan. Likewise, the Caloosahatchee Headwaters is involved too. Legacy: SOC is focused on water and habitat quality impacts potentially resulting from this large potential project. Rightfully so having fought so hard to win the creek for public access. Other local entities are addressing other aspects of the development. Wilderness: the paramilitary complex's footprint is large and will impact the Middle Creek, which is one of the few pristine Wilderness areas Florida has left. Impacts: will take the shape of low and medium level aircraft flyovers, along of the pristine creek corridor, the most visible feature in the landscape from the air (simple to line up on and where else would approach runs be). This will regularly disrupt wildlife, T&E species, and the natural tranquility of the natural areas for visitors and residents, folks who moved there for rural character. It is nearly inconceivable their bombing range will be so close to Fisheating and other riparian areas. There will most likely be other disruptive vehicular devices traversing the landscape over time as well. Swallow-tailed Kite: this is "the" stopover for the Kite on their way south, and back. It doesn't take much to disrupt their feeding pattern which ranges throughout that area. We saw them on the Caloosahatchee on the Swamp Cabbage boat run. This would be deadly for many Kite in this areawide sanctuary, perhaps the only possible place left for them. And, there is high economic benefit in their presence, for the Lake O Birding Festival and others planned as a budding ecotourism culture. Visual and Noise: not only will this be visually ominous, but their noise decibel contours will extend far and wide, disrupting all. I have experienced this before. Field Exercises: most likely, they will be training and ranging out in personnel groups throughout the landscape doing wilderness exercises. Rural: the rural area of Venus will be changed forever.

Any common sense there?  (by: Mary  -   8/9/2009)

As an outsider who frequently travels to Highlands for its natural beauty and serenity, I just want to say that this will be a HUGE MISTAKE FOR HIGHLANDS COUNTY! Lake Placid will not be so placid! The eco-tourists who hike and bike and paddle in your communities will not be too happy and will avoid this area. I cannot undertand why a community that thrives on the natural outdoors would even want this nearby. And not to mention the threats to the Peace River, Rainey Slough, and Fisheating Creek! What shortsightedness on the part of the County Staff and Commissioners. So sad.

Training Center in Venus  (by: Carole Fields  -   8/7/2009)

Yes, what about the eagles living there now ? Doesn't Avon Park have all this. allready ? This sounds like a scheme and a scam to me. Carole Fields, Lake Placid

Why ruin more of Florida's Natural Beauty?  (by: carol ellis  -   7/28/2009)

Wouldn't it make sense to locate such a facility at the under utilized Homestead Air Force Base? Great location, centrally located near our vulnerable Atlantic and Caribbean neighbors. HUGE! property. Excellent runway. Let's re-develop our resources that are already concrete and steel...

Eagle  (by: D  -   7/27/2009)

The Eagle training facility should be more correctly called the Buzzard training center, because it will prove to be a big flop. It stinks already. Must be another stale Cheney-Republican scheme to "privatize" our U.S. national defense system, paid for by Federal money. Highlands County is playing up to a terrible mistake.

  (by: Ellen Peterson  -   7/24/2009)

Fisheating creek will survive tis with everyones help Save Our Creeks Meeting at the campground at noon on Sat the 25

Loss of Rural Character?  (by: Heart in Highlands  -   7/22/2009)

Highlands County is known for its beautiful natural resources and has much potential if all future development kept in scale with nature - the hills and lakes. A facility such as this would be much more appropriate where there is an existing runway, perhaps a decommissioned militray base site. To add all of this impervious surface to the watersheds is a crime. All of the agencies have problems with this project, see http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/Advisories/Highland%20Co%2008-2%20NOI.pdf Wake up, Highlands Co!

Eagle National Training Center  (by: Auntie Alias  -   7/19/2009)

I wonder if anyone would like a 6000 foot airstrip, helipad, 2000 acre free fire zone, 5 story buildings, 25 single family homes, a dormitory for 1000 trainees, 100 multi family residences, 2 - 250 foot training towers and 950,000 square feet of buildings for lodging, recreation, welcome center food and beverage and operational and administrative buildings up to three stories near them. If so the fellow who's property borders the proposed site has it up for sale. MAYBE THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THERE!. All within 3 watershed areas, some feeding Lake Okeechobee. Do we need more lead and other pollutants - i.e. oils and fuels - in our water? Also within 3 miles of known black bear and panther habitat. It doesn’t make sense that these type of activities would not effect the wildlife. What effect would this have in a rural agricultural area with cattle ranches? Finally, I do not believe this is in keeping with the County’s stated goal of maintaining a rural nature for the agricultural areas as outlined in the approved Future and Existing Land Use Plans.

AMEN!! Eagle National Security Training Center  (by: Kimberly Sheppard  -   7/15/2009)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMVcuGsNj98 http://www.angel9oh7.com/gbpolicemansprayer.html I WELCOME THE EAGLE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER,,7700 SECURITY, IN MY OPINION: THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE PREPARED EQUIPPED AND TRAINED FOR ANY SITUATION SUCH AS NATURAL DISASTER, TERRORIST ATTACK OR ANY LARGE SCALE EMERGENCY. THE TRAINING MUST CONTINUE. What about the person who asked about an environmental impact study? Was there one done on the effects of a major nursery, pesticides and drainage? It appears that the Avon Park Bombing Range has no impact on the animals. Arbuckle Management Area and the Bombing Range flourish with all kinds of animals and plant life. Would someone let me know the facts? I AM HONORED TO HAVE SUCH A FACILITY AND WILL SUPPORT THEM 110%. We should never be too relaxed and always aware of our surrounding. Crime, home invasions, etc. is slowing moving inland from Miami, Ft. Myers, Manatee County towards Highlands. There are many reasons why it is an advantage for our community and I will research my opinion.

Eagle National Training Center  (by: mbaker  -   7/9/2009)

Was an environmental impact study done or required before this was approved. Lead containation from the bullets, drainage and wetlands distruction, roads and other impervious area will be constructed, and certainly wildlife will also be affected. Because of the affect of water runoff, approval from the water management district may also be needed. Is there any issues concerning black bears, the Florida panther, gopher turtles, scrub jays, or any other endangered species that need to be addressed? Also, I really don't know if this is even an issue or not, but near by is a FAA navigation station used by small aircraft which channels small aircraft over the area. Is the type of firing being planned going to be dangerous to aircraft flying overhead and does the FAA need to be notified? If notification of property owners was not properly done, was anything else left out that needs to be addressed?

Lousy county commission  (by: J  -   7/9/2009)

Breaking or overlooking the ordinances/laws once again. "Hail Empress Stewart and Emporer Wright" Ignore the people of the county in favor of a dangerous and possibly militant training facility!

Eagle Training Center  (by: Concerned Citizen  -   7/8/2009)

What zoning issues??? What about the wetlands they are destroying? What about the rights of the property owners. Oops, They have no rights. Sure glad the county commissioners are looking out for the local property owners...

REAL ESTATE  (by: MARY JEAN SMITH  -   7/8/2009)

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION IN THE OFFING AT ORANGE BLOSSOM ESTATES