Franklin County's legislative delegation hear local concerns

Franklin County’s legislative delegation was in Apalachicola Monday night to hear from local leaders and residents.

The purpose of the hearing was to let residents speak up about local issues in the hopes the legislature will address them when they convene in on March 14thy.

State representative Leonard Bembry and state senator Bill Montford heard from residents on a number of issues ranging from jobs and wages to reopening the work camp in Apalachicola.

School superintendent Nina Marks asked that the state find more money so the local school can provide more vocational training, especially in the areas of child care, marine studies, medical, and Junior ROTC.

The local health department also discussed many of the health issues facing Franklin county residents, including weight issues, tobacco use and dental care.

The health department does have a dental clinic in Franklin County but they say it not being used as much as they had hoped.

They also said obesity is a real problem in Franklin County – currently two-thirds of adult residents are overweight or obese, while one-third of high school students are.

But what the legislators heard most was the need to help local oystermen who are struggling because of the poor state of the oyster crops on the winter bars.

A number of oystermen asked that the legislators work to reopen the summer bars for at least a short amount of time, because they say there are more oysters on the summer bars and it would help local workers make some much needed money during the Christmas season.

If not that then oystermen would at least like to see a shelling program so that oystermen can earn some money while helping restore the bay for future harvests.

Concerns were also raised about the management of the bay.

County commissioner Smokey Parrish said he is concerned that too much regulatory and management control of the bay is going to the Florida fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Commissioner Parrish said he doesn’t have a problem with the FWC, but he does have a problem with any one group having too much power over the bay especially when that group does not answer to anyone.

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