published: Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Training center foes speak to commission

By ED BALDRIDGE

ed.baldridge@newssun.com

SEBRING -- Highlands County Commissioners decided to a last minute delay to the public hearing on the Eagle National Security Training Center at the board meeting on Tuesday morning.

With close to 20 residents and concerned environmentalists in attendance, Chairperson Barbara Stewart announced that the hearing would be delayed until the October meeting.

"That's OK, it just gives us more time to organize and gather more people to come to that meeting," said Ellen Peterson, board president of Save Our Creeks (SOC).

The state's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) raised several issues about the proposed training facility in August of last year, and the county was scheduled to discuss Stipulated Settlement Agree-ment that county staff had reached with DCA.

Along with environmental issues, Peterson raised questions about the use of the training facility by "mercenaries" for training.

"The government is getting out the business of training mercenaries to train here and return to their own country to maim and kill their own people. That relieves the government from that responsibility," Peterson said.

Other members of the group insisted that the new facility would negatively impact the environment.

"This construction will impact the head waters of Fisheating Creek," said Helen Dixon, a member of SOC.

"I am concerned about the impact on the wildlife in the area of Fisheating Creek, especially the swallow-tail kites. How are the flight paths going to be effected by the noise and the changing of the landmarks? What are they planning for the air space? How will this new facility impact the water supply? I would just like to learn more about this project," said Amber Brats, also a board member of Save Our Creeks.

Other environmental clubs were also in attendance for the meeting, including members of the Audobon Society, and the local Sierra Club, Calusa Group.

Although the county opted to delay the public hearing, many citizens stayed to comment on the subject until the end of the meeting.

Leonard Bryant, a resident of Lake Placid, voiced his displeasure over the planned facility.

"It seems that Avon Park has a 100,000 acres for their facility. That is a better buffer than the site proposal in Venus," Bryant said.

"How many more (deputies) are we going to need to police the 1,000-plus people who are going to be out on the weekend after shooting guns. We have a lot of questions and not enough answers," Bryant added.

Stewart addressed the public concerns by pointing them to the actions already in process.

"The public needs to understand that the two actions the county will be addressing, the remedial actions required by the stipulated settlement agreement between Highlands County and the owner applicant.

"The second action is the proposed re-zoning of the property for a planned development," she said.

"Our planning staff, would be able to provide more information, and the DCA documents are available from the DCA Web site (www.dca.state.fl.us) ... I would encourage you to contact the SFWMD, they were involved with DCA in reviewing this and including a number of issues," Stewart concluded.