July 24, 2003

By Dave Russell

daver@cfi.net

Next Tuesday the County Commissioners of Collier County will meet and make a decision on an important issue.

The county roads in an area called the Southern Golden Gates Estates, an area encompassing some 40,000 acres, is part of the 'Everglades Recovery' program.

Most all of the owners in this area have been forced to sell to the state or to environmental organizations, at a fraction of what their property was really worth.

'Environmentalists' from the Florida Audubon Society, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and the Florida Wildlife Federation are putting enormous pressure on the Commission to turn all the roads over to the state, which could well be used to freeze out the remaining owners and force them to give up their property.

There is also the matter of compensation, what and who will be paid for these roads. There are miles and miles of roads in question.

Naturally, the environmentalists want the roads turned over to the state. That would make it easier for them to get the roads closed.

Just as the environmentalist have close friends in federal government agencies, these groups have their own cronies in the state agencies that would facilitate the final closing.

For more than 15 years our organization has been helping the hundreds of property owners in the Golden Gates Estates fight to retain their property.

Back in the 1950s and 60s the Governor of Florida was touting the Golden Gates as one of South Florida's best buys. The future of the area was here.

Miles upon miles of canals (one estimate was that more than 600 miles) were dug and small parcels were laid out in the area. Hundreds of people bought with the intent of making this their dream home.

Unfortunately, along came the environmental zealots, and -- having tons of money -- they were able to prevail on both the state and federal government to take this area as part of the Everglades Restoration.

Now they are after the roads that provide access to the few remaining owners.

I have no doubt that if the County turns the roads over to the State, the environmentalists will immediately begin a campaign to close them to ALL TRAFFIC, including property owners.

They have already begun to deny locals the right to enter the area to fish in ponds within the area.

In a conversation with one of the Commissioners today we were informed that they are getting 13-15 emails a day (from environmentalists) urging them (the county) to give up the roads.

I hope we can do as well or better to offset the pressure.

Some of the Commissioners seem to be leaning against the transfer.

What we need to do is stiffen their backbone.

I would appreciate any of you who can to send email letters to the Commission whose addresses are below.

Please be polite, ask them to delay the turnover until further study has been done, and that a reservation be included in any transfer documents that would allow citizens of the county to retain use of these roads for access to the remaining parcels owned and for recreational purposes.

There is no urgency in the transfer -- except in the eyes of the 'environmentalists.'

Urge the commissioners to do their duty and represent ALL THE PEOPLE OF COLLIER County, not just the special interests that have big bucks behind them.

So far, the Commissioners and the planners have heard only from those wanting to take over the entire area.

I feel that this will eventually happen, as Congress and the State have appropriated $8 BILLION dollars for this project.

That is a lot of pork -- and the organizations that stand to receive a bunch of this are working hard to get the people off the land.

This is another RURAL CLEANSING job.

The biologists and others who will work on this project are also pushing it -- for it means lifetime employment for them.

The addresses are: jimcoletta@colliergov.net;  tomhenninng@colliergov.net;  fredcoyle@colliergov.net;  donnafiala@colliergov.net;  frankhalas@collieirgov.net.