by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
After members received more than 40 e-mails each, the City Council may take a position regarding the old Fuller Warren Bridge.
That stance comes after the Florida Department of Transportation recently proposed to dismantle the crumbling structure, letting a portion of the debris sink to the river bottom.
A permit to move forward with those plans remains stalled until the St. Johns River Water Management District votes in July.
According to recently filed legislation, “there are serious questions about the environmental, marine safety and aesthetic impacts of disposing of bridge debris in the St. Johns River . . .” The bill was filed Friday by Council member and Waterways Commission chair Lynette Self, and will appear as a last-minute addition to tonight’s Council agenda.
“Disposing of the bridge debris in the St. Johns River without a thorough analysis of the short and long-term impacts is unwise, inconsistent with permitting requirements of the State and federal programs and contrary to the public policy of government . . . to improve, not degrade, the St. Johns River.”
Self said the bill “makes a statement.”
“There is a segment of the community, including me, that is very concerned about what’s being proposed and what the Water Management District may allow,” she said. “Environmentally, I’m worried there could be some serious damage.”
Council president Lad Daniels said emergency action would be taken on the bill.
“We’re looking at a tight time frame here because we know the Water Management District is going to make a decision on this pretty soon,” he said. “I oppose any plans to let that debris just sit there at the bottom of the river.
“I don’t know if that’s going to make it more expensive to move it, but that’s not the City’s problem. The Department of Transportation needs to deal with that.”
FDOT spokesperson Mike Goldman said he was aware of the forthcoming legislation, but offered no comment regarding its potential impact.
“You’ll have to talk to the Water Management District,” he said. “We’re still waiting on two permits; one from them and one from the (United States Army Corps of Engineers) before we can do anything.
“We’re just waiting to hear on how we can tear it down.”
In April, Mayor John Peyton said he’d like to see the old bridge — “an eyesore” by his definition — gone before Jacksonville hosts the Super Bowl in February.
Earlier this month, Goldman said that time frame would be difficult to adhere to but possible, depending on the WMD’s vote.
Calls to the WMD were not returned. Self said a special Waterways Commission meeting has been scheduled July 8 to further discuss the permitting issue.