Legislators hear about local needs, Apalantis and Fracking

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 it convenes in January.

State representative Halsey Beshears and state senator Bill Montford heard from residents on a number of issues including a request that the state oppose any move to allow fracking on National forest land in Florida.

Amy Dent with the Environmental Caucus of Florida said Franklin County is especially vulnerable because over 80 percent of the land in the county is owned by the state or federal government.

She pointed out that there is already a permit request to drill some test wells in Calhoun County which should already be sending up red flags.

One resident also asked for state support for her plan to open a multi-language and aquatic center in Franklin County called “Apalantis.”

The idea is to open a world-class Olympic size swimming pool in Franklin County and open it up to professional swim coaches from around the world.

It would be funded by providing a resort style location for foreign language students to

Better their English while taking on-line classes.

Local oysterman Darren Turner asked the representatives to take a closer look at the barge shelling going on in the bay.

He pointed out that the money used on barge shelling wasn’t helping local workers and he would like the legislature to divert that money to help supplement the manual shelling program that is helping employ hundreds of local people.

Seafood Workers Association president Shannon Hartsfield said he also feels the legislature should be looking at more ways to help the local oyster industry, not through hand-outs, but in other ways that can keep local people working.

A number of local government officials also spoke to the legislative delegation – county commissioners asked that the legislature continue to provide funding for small counties; commissioner Cheryl Sanders added that she would like to see more money go to maintain roads in the state forest.

Clerk of the Courts Marcia Johnson said she hope the legislature will provide more money for clerks offices statewide – recent budget shortfalls have required clerks around the state to implement furloughs and even lay-offs which impacts the services those offices can provide to the public.

The City of Apalachicola asked that the legislature forgive the state’s revolving loan to the city which is becoming too expensive, and the City of Carrabelle asked the legislators to make sure the state’s derelict vessel program is funded because derelict boats are a growing problem in the Carrabelle River. 

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