by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
An administrative hearing today in Tallahassee could go a long way toward determining if the City of Jacksonville owes Seminole County a little over $1 million in attorney’s fees. Those fees, according to Jason Teal of the Office of General Counsel, stem from a lawsuit Jacksonville and the St. Johns Riverkeeper filed against Seminole County and the St. Johns River Water Management District over the withdrawal of 5.5 million gallons of water a day from Yankee Lake, a tributary of the St. Johns River.
Teal told the Jacksonville Waterways Commission Thursday that Seminole County alleges Jacksonville “put them through what they claim was a worthless effort.” The hearing is in the Fifth District Court of Appeals.
At the prior level, Teal said the judge indicated the Water Management District was correct to issue the permit. The judge admitted there would be some harm, but “not enough to hurt the river.”
Teal said the Water Management District voted 5-4 to grant the permit. Jacksonville appealed that decision and lost.
“Basically, Friday the judge will figure out if the City and Riverkeeper filed solely for unreasonable delay or if the withdrawal will hurt the river,” said Teal. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
Teal said if the judge rules against Jacksonville and the Riverkeeper today, the next level of appeal is the state Supreme Court. However, he said, that appeal is unlikely if today’s ruling is a “slam dunk” against the City.
The Waterways Commission also discussed a proposal to bring the U.S.S. Adams to Jacksonville as a maritime museum and attraction. Bert Watson and his partners have been talking about the proposal for a year. Watson says the Navy has reviewed his 1,000-page application and is willing to give Watson the ship provided he can demonstrate two things: adequate funding and a location to moor the retired ship.
Watson originally proposed mooring the ship adjacent to the Acosta Bridge. That plan would require a new pier, permits and dredging at a cost of about $6 million. His second proposal was to moor the Adams at The Shipyards at a cost of about $3 million. However, The Shipyards property is currently in foreclosure and bankruptcy proceedings after LandMar failed to develop the site.
Waterways Commission members Rick Hartley and Lane Burnett met with Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ron Barton Tuesday to discuss the project.
“He (Barton) said it will be 24 months or longer before the City takes title (of The Shipyards),” said Hartley. “He is not optimistic about a quick settlement.”
Watson insists he can make the project work and raise the necessary funds regardless of the site. What he’s seeking now — and what he claims is key to raising money — is assurance from the City it wants the Adams in Jacksonville.
“This organization will do the least amount of damage to the City coffers, which is zero,” said Watson, adding the project is more likely to succeed Downtown. “We are looking for a home.”
Waterways member Steve Nichols isn’t sure the project will work anywhere Downtown.
“The Shipyards is not available, so we can take that off the table,” he said. “I have grave concerns about the Acosta site. I am not sure either site is permittable or viable.”
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