Sheriff Marine Patrol Enforcing Waterway Rules

Sheriff's Deputy Corporal Mike LaRoche reported on Marine Patrol activities over the Memorial Day weekend:
"Deputy Lawless and I have been aggressively enforcing waterway rules in the Gulf Harbors and other waterfront communities and made several solid marine resource cases in addition to boating safety violations," he reported. On Saturday (Memorial Day), Marine Deputy Lawless stopped a personal watercraft coming into the Gulf Harbors community. Upon contacting the male operator, Dep. Lawless immediately detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on the person. He conducted a dockside boarding of the vessel and after performing standard field sobriety tasks, the subject was subsequently arrested for Boating Under the Influence and transported to Land O' Lakes jail. The vessel was secured for a short time at the Gulf Harbors Yacht Club until the defendant's family could retrieve it."

GULF WATER TEST AS BASELINE

We thank Pasco Sheriff's Deputy James Lawless, Special Operations--Marine Unit & Special Weapons and Tactics, for this firsthand report.

The Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico has raises many concerns for not only residents of Texas and Louisiana, but also for residents of Florida.

Recently it was brought to my attention there would be initial water sampling done here on the West coast of Florida in an attempt to detect any oil that may have came from the northern Gulf area. On Wednesday (6-16-2010), I transported four representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, and another representative from a private company to test the water and sediments of the earth in three separate locations. These locations were carefully picked by these two separate departments as places where they believe the oil would first land should we receive any.

UPDATE

FGUA Lindrick Utility System

FGUA Lindrick Utility System

Thursday, June 10, 12 Midnight-4AM
Advanced Service and Boil Water Advisory

Mandatory service interruption will repair key valves serving community

 The Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) is issuing an advanced service interruption advisory for required service repairs in the FGUA Lindrick Utility System. Service will be interrupted for customers west of U.S. 19 in New Port Richey effective Thursday morning, June 10 from midnight to 4 a.m. The FGUA will be replacing two key valves serving the major water mains serving the FGUA Lindrick Utility System.

Customers are being advised of the interruption in advance, using electronic billboards posted on U.S. 19 at the intersections of Floramar Terrace, Marine Parkway, Cross Bayou and Main Street and through distribution of this advisory to Home Owners’ Associations in the community. A media advisory has also been provided to local media outlets.

 As a precautionary measure, immediately following completion of the repairs, we advise that all water used for drinking or cooking be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used.

The Precautionary Boil Water Notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink. A boil water rescission notice will be distributed pending the satisfactory completion of the survey. The FGUA anticipates the boil water notice will be rescinded by Friday afternoon, June 11.

If you have any questions, you may contact the FGUA Pasco Utility System Office at (727) 372-0115.

Interagency Meeting at St. Petersburg Coast Guard Station
Deepwater Horizon Oil spill - Gulf of Mexico
 May 4, 2010

[Marianne Korosy provided these meeting notes.]

About 40 agency and organization representatives attended the meeting including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), DEP, FWCC, Hillsborough EPC, City of Tampa, Clearwater Marine Aquarium,Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council's Agency on Bay Mgmt, Pinellas Environmental Mgmt, Pinellas Emergency Mgmt, Manatee County, SWFWMD, Friends of Tampa Bay NWR, Audubon, and Sierra Club. USCG is setting up Incident Command post on May 5th at the St. Petersburg USCG station to govern all oil-spill related activities in the area from the Fenholloway River (Taylor County) southward.

Up to date information can be viewed on this website: www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com 

The form of crude oil that makes landfall on Florida's SW Gulf coast is unknown at this point and may range from floating oil to "weathered" crude oil. "Weathered" crude oil has lost the volatile components and because of mixing with water and suspended solids (sediment, algae, and also water) it becomes entrained as tar balls. The tar balls may have a coherent, globular, dense consistency or may be gelatinous, poorly-formed "patties". Form affects cleanup methods and efficacy. Tar balls will continue to come ashore over a timeframe that cannot be predicted but may be as long as two years or longer. 

Special Needs Fishing Day 2010

Once again and for the sixth year in a row, GHCA and the Fishing Club hosted the annual Day of Fun and Fishing for young adults with very special needs. 

Everything was taken care of:
-busses to bring the new fishing crew to the boat ramp,
-fellows with muscles to hoist the wheelchairs on board,
-fishing tackle baited and ready to go,
-marine escorts by the Sheriff and USCG Auxiliary,
-Tow Boat US emergency vessel,
-seaplane flyover
-plenty of sun and good weather
-a terrific buffet lunch to feed 100
-and even Santa Claus in his summer boating attire!

After a few hours on the water, the fleet returned to port for a terrific lunch and awards ceremony.

Special Thanks to Kathy and Richard Trentch for their unending efforts to make this event such a success!

This picture really says it all but if you want to see more please visit our Photo Gallery.  Use the hot link near the top of the homepage for easy access.

FGUA PURCHASE OF LINDRICK:  UPDATE No.7

This is the seventh in a  series of periodic reports that FGUA Counsel, Brian Armstrong, has offered to give us. Check back regularly for the next update.

              March 10, 2010

IT'S DONE!!

FGUA now owns the Lindrick Water System. 

We once again thank Brian Armstrong for his continued assistance in keeping us informed.

FGUA PURCHASE OF LINDRICK:  UPDATE No. 6

This is the sixth in a  series of periodic reports that FGUA Counsel, Brian Armstrong, has offered to give us. Check back regularly for the next update.

               Feb. 26, 2010
FGUA is just about set to issue 30 year bonds to close on the purchase of the Lindrick System during the week of March 8, 2010.

They are pleased that 30 year bonds are available instead of a short term bank loan given the volatility of interest rates and other factors being experienced in the financial markets.

We once again thank Brian Armstrong for his continued assistance in keeping us informed.

FGUA PURCHASE OF LINDRICK:  UPDATE No. 5

This is the fifth in a  series of periodic reports that FGUA Counsel, Brian Armstrong, has offered to give us. Check back regularly for the next update.

               Feb. 4, 2010
FGUA is continuing pursuit of financing for the purchase of the Lindrick system. At the last FGUA board meeting in late January, an amendment of the purchase agreement was approved which extends the date of closing to as late as March 15, 2010. However, the parties will close before that date if they are able to do so.

In the meantime, the Lindrick office move to 4516 Seagull Dr, #207, New Port Richey, is consistent with the movement of both buyer and seller toward closing on the purchase. The move is expected to be temporary since FGUA will switch all customer service, billing, etc., services to the existing FGUA office in Pasco upon closing.

We once again thank Brian Armstrong for his continued assistance in keeping us informed.

FGUA PURCHASE OF LINDRICK:  UPDATE No. 4

This is the fourth in a  series of periodic reports that FGUA Counsel, Brian Armstrong, has offered to give us. Check back regularly for the next update.

               January 7, 2010
New drafts of bond documents related to the Lindrick purchase have been distributed to rating agencies and bankers. FGUA representatives have meetings with rating agencies in New York Friday, Jan.8. It likely will take 2 weeks for ratings to be issued after those meetings.

Another "due diligence" physical plant inspection of the Lindrick facilities will be done the first week of January. FGUA, represented by Government Services Group and US Water personnel, will be continuing preparation of documents necessary for closing and will review the Lindrick operations and recent improvements during the remainder of this week.

There are many, many documents involved in the purchase of the Lindrick assets, and just as many documents involved in the financing of the purchase price and capital improvements. The FGUA board will receive these documents at its Board meeting 1/21 for consideration and approval so that the Chair or her designee will be authorized to sign all of the documents on behalf of the FGUA.

FGUA representatives and the City of New Port Richey representatives need to finalize a water purchase agreement to allow purchases from the city (primarily to meet additional water needs if growth starts to occur in any material way in the future). The closing can occur without this agreement, however, since the water supplies from the city are not imperative.

Additional note: FGUA purchased the five smaller "Consolidated Systems" on 12/23/09.

FGUA PURCHASE OF LINDRICK:  UPDATE No. 3

This is the third in a  series of periodic reports that FGUA Counsel, Brian Armstrong, has offered to give us. Check back regularly for the next update.

               Dec. 3, 2009
The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the FGUA purchase of Lindrick on December 1.
The FGUA signed the purchase contract Dec. 3, 2009.
Closing should occur before January 31, 2010.

Necessary engineering, financial and other reports and information are in the hands of the bankers now. FGUA is hopeful, and are attempting to do everything possible, to get an "A" rating from rating agencies. An "A" rating will provide FGUA with the lowest interest rates possible.

FGUA is doing final review of all documents, making sure all regulatory agencies are informed of purchase and working with the county and all others concerned to actually complete the purchase as soon as possible.