• Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Jacksonville resident Hans Tanzler III to the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board. Tanzler, 56, is a lifelong resident of Northeast Florida and is president of Marion Equities Inc., a family holding company. In addition to being a certified public accountant and a member of The Florida Bar, he worked as an assistant U.S. attorney, an IRS attorney, an attorney in private practice and a senior corporate executive. Tanzler will represent the Lower St. Johns River Basin on the Governing Board, replacing Duane Ottenstroer, who served nine years.
• Speaking of the Water Management District, it just announced a campaign called “The St. Johns: It’s Your River” to raise awareness about the river’s health. A District release states, “the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the lower St. Johns River exceeds the amount the river can receive and maintain its health, which in the past has led to harmful algal blooms.” The District is currently undertaking a two-year, $1.5 million study into the effects proposed water withdrawal projects could have on the river’s health. Despite the science still being out, the District was ready to approve a permit for the first withdrawal project before legal action was filed by environmental groups, the City of Jacksonville and others.
• Speaking of that legal challenge, the City’s and St. Johns County’s petitions for a hearing have been dismissed. In Monday’s court order, the administrative law judge said neither case sufficiently alleges “an injury in fact which is of sufficient immediacy and is of the type and nature intended to be protected by this chapter (of Florida Statutes).” The governments have 10 days to refile a petition. The St. Johns Riverkeeper’s petition was not dismissed, and attorney Michael Howle said this is not a victory for the District or for Seminole County, where the disputed withdrawal project is planned. “We’re all going to be there in October when the hearing starts whether Seminole county likes it or not,” said Howle.
• After 17 years as an assistant United States Attorney and chief of the Jacksonville Office, Brian Kane retired back in early January. Kane had been with the office since 1990 and said he could have stayed but it was “just time” to move on. Says he’s traveling and enjoying retirement.
• A reminder that JaxPride’s “Ideas & Actions” forum luncheon is today from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. City Council President Daniel Davis will present awards to participants of JaxPride Week, and the audience will be able to interact with guest speakers through electronic polling. For more information, contact Susan Harrell at 356-2846 or [email protected].
• City Council member Art Graham is doing his part to help some of his constituents. Graham is seeking $4,300 from his district’s bond account for a new backstop, batting cage and center field fencing for the baseball field at Seabreeze Elementary in Jacksonville Beach.
• Speaking of Jax Beach, the Taco Bell on Third Street has been torn down to make way for a new, improved version. No word on when it will be done, but the walls are going up.
“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”
– Marian Wright Edelman, U.S. author