Post by Chuck McCue on Jun 28, 2023 7:17:05 GMT -5
From Rene of the NEW Neptunestrong activist group:
"Thanks to everyone who showed up at the AB Town Hall Meeting tonight to discuss a "potential water system expansion into Neptune Beach". There was a good crowd, several from NB (thank you!), and quite a few speakers. Each expressed the same sentiments: How can we approve this if we don't even know what the project is; and, if it is to benefit the citizens of Neptune Beach we're in favor, but to benefit a developer, not so much.
I think all the NB residents in the audience were touched by the support and backing of the AB residents towards us, their neighbor. It was actually quite emotional. In fact, we were stopped outside Commission Chambers by a tearful AB resident who ran out to thank Shellie Thole for her powerful and germane comments.
Staff had prepared a slide show that seemed to point out all the reasons to approve the request, but that didn't go down very well. One gentleman said he was insulted by the presentation, that it was a sales pitch. Another asked, "Who's next? Shad Khan and the Seahorse Motel?" Applause erupted from the audience when it was pointed out that it's not even a request by the NB City Council, but a letter of no objection.
What it boils down to is FIRST: Allowing water service for emergency fire suppression at Publix #2, which will allow them to ditch the Big Green Monster, making the residents who have it towering in their backyards happy campers. And SECOND: Well, we don't really know about second. There are multiple parcels involved. Who the owners are and what they have planned is vague, at best (top secret).
Commissioner Mike Waters boiled it down, saying we need to approach this in a logical and legal manner, with numbers and facts... and that it's going to be a very lengthy process if we're going to get it right. I expect more Town Hall meetings on the subject before it's brought to the Commission for a vote.
Side note: We learned NB pays double what AB pays for water service. How do we not have money to keep our water system in good repair and AB does? An AB resident commented that, "Neptune Beach is going through a hell of a lot. Yes, we are and it's embarrassing."