Lee County approves controversial boat ramp

LEESBURG — In spite of an impassioned plea by Alachua Lane resident Don Windham during a public hearing prior to the vote, the Lee County Commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to move forward with plans for the construction of a boat ramp on U.S. Highway 19 near the Lee/Dougherty county lines.

Design and construction of the ramp is to be provided by the state Department of Natural Resources.

Leesburg Commissioner Betty Johnson, who voted against the controversial measure, told the board during discussion that she was concerned about maintenance of the proposed facility and traffic safety in the area.

“Chief Lewis Harris (with the Lee Sheriff’s Office) compiled for me statistics on (U.S. 19) wrecks from Cedric Avenue to the Dougherty County line,” Johnson said. “In 2007 there were 39, and in 2008 there were 37. So far this year, there have been 54.

“The more traffic we have in that area, the more wrecks we’re going to have.”

Windham, who ccompiled a list of concerns from citizens who live in the area near the proposed boat ramp, said after the meeting he was disappointed with the vote.

“It felt terrible; it felt like I did a whole lot of work for a real good cause and it didn’t do any good,” Windham said. “Like Ms. Johnson said, accidents out there are out of control, and it’s only going to get worse once they put that ramp in.

“Just look at it: You’ve got a 20-foot truck and a 25-foot pontoon boat trying to make it out into traffic on a busy highway. You have to wait sometimes five minutes now to get out into traffic; imagine what it’s gonna be like when you throw boats into the mix.”

Commission Chairman Ed Duffy, who asked that his opposition to the project be noted for the record although his vote was not needed on the measure, asked County Administrator Alan Ours if the county would have a say on the facility that is actually built.

“From my conversation with a representative of the DNR, they have relayed to me that they are willing to work with us on this issue,” Ours said.

Century Commissioner Rick Muggridge, in offering a motion to approve the project, said the board would be following policy established by a previous board (in 2004).

Smithville/Chokee Commissioner Dennis Roland seconded the motion, and he and Redbone Commissioner Bill Williams voted with Muggridge to approve the matter.

During the public hearing prior to the vote, Windham went over some of the 18 concerns he and his wife Linda had compiled after conversations with others in neighborhoods near the proposed boat landing. Among their concerns were traffic congestion, security, clean-up, the possibility of attracting gangs and lack of maintenance.

“It’s like playing chicken right now trying to get out into traffic,” Don Windham said. “If this thing gets built, it’s going to be a gamble.”

Johnson said after the meeting she hopes the county’s involvement in the project keeps it manageable.

“Alan (Ours) said the DNR is willing to work with us, so hopefully we’ll be able to get something that doesn’t become a major safety issue,” she said. “Those stats by Chief Harris really drove home the point a lot of people have been making.”

Also at the meeting, Roland was appointed as the county’s statewide Water Management Plan representative, and the commission approved bids on a motorgrader, mounting sloper attachment, track excavator and front-end loader for the Public Works department.

The board also approved Southern Concrete’s $58,990 bid to repair a bridge and culvert on New York Road.