|
THE
VOICE OF NOKOMIS
Newsletter of the Nokomis Area Civic Association
Vol. 9, No. 3, July 2004
Next NACA General Meeting
Tuesday, July 20, 7 pm, Nokomis Community Center, All Welcome!
"Meet the Candidates for County Sheriff"
Bill Balkwill, Dave Gustafson, Ray Pilon, and John Simpson will each give a
short presentation and then answer your questions. You won't want to miss
this!
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
John Ask, NACA President
Dear Nokomis Neighbors:
Hopefully, you're having an enjoyable summer wherever you happen to be!
Our Voice of Nokomis travels throughout the country during this time of year.
We have much to be grateful for here in Nokomis and we also have some
challenges; let me review some of each below.
We've recently received outstanding news on the progress Sarasota County is
making in repurposing the abandoned railroad tracks through Nokomis into a
"Rails to Trails" jogging, biking, walking path. Best of all,
due to intra-governmental cooperative efforts, the projected completion timeline
is approximately three years versus the expected ten years.
The Albee Road project is moving along as expected; it encompasses road
widening, utility-infrastructure installation, sidewalks, lighting and
landscaping. The result is an improved and beautified access and gateway
to our beaches and waterfront; it also means much needed county water for our
residents.
One of our challenges also exists along this corridor: we have vacant land and
abandoned properties for sale that are an eyesore and serve to diminish our
community. Hopefully, we'll be able to attract developers willing to
invest in Nokomis Revitalization and promote quality development along this
area. Some of this property is in our identified commercial corridor, some
is in moderate-density areas. Please, if you have ideas regarding what
you'd like to see done with these properties and you believe that they are
financially viable, please communicate your thoughts to me or other NACA Board
members. We do have opportunities to communicate with investors and
developers, and are willing to share your thoughts.
Our centerpiece Route 41 road-widening project has been a challenge, to say the
least, and it's central and critical for the future of Nokomis. It is
essential for vehicular traffic and marine safety, pedestrian sidewalks, utility
infrastructure (including water and sewer), landscaping, and overall
beautification. In my view, the quality development of our many vacant and
dilapidated properties along Route 41 won't occur without the completion of this
project.
What has occurred up until now is history and there's no point in beating this
dead horse. What is important is that our Sarasota County Government, the
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the U.S. Coast Guard are still
collaborating on a solution that will get this job done!
Nokomis neighbors, it's possible that you may be surveyed regarding this
project. Please include in your response that compromises must occur that
foster a solution. What we don't need are hardened and unreasonably
self-serving positions that pit neighbor against neighbor, which results in a
stalemate, keeping the project on hold, or, worse yet, its cancellation.
Thanks for considering this request regarding our current #1 community
challenge! Let's work together for the benefit of all!
We are fortunate to work with competent, accessible, and caring county officials
for the maintenance and betterment of our community and county. The record
is long and clear of our county officials-- elected, administrative, and staff
being accessible and willing/able to work with us. I never take this for
granted as I know that this isn't always true everywhere else! In my view,
it is an essential responsibility of NACA to do whatever it takes to perpetuate
a strong and effective working relationship with our various government
officials and departments.
In the spirit of perpetuating strong and effective County Government leaders,
NACA is hosting an open forum and debate involving the candidates for Sheriff of
Sarasota County during our next quarterly meeting, July 20th, 7:00 p.m., at the
Nokomis Community Center (234 Nippino Trail). All residents are invited,
and especially our NACA members!
Come with questions IN WRITING for our candidates, and know that the format will
allow give-and-take among all present. We will collect written questions
upon arrival. Hope to see you on the 20th!
SHAKETT CREEK/DONA BAY BRIDGE-HEIGHT ISSUE UPDATE
Don Lewis, NACA County Government Liaison
BACKGROUND
A few months ago, the FDOT had planned to go out for bids to widen US 41 from
the current four lanes to six lanes, starting from SR 681 north and south to the
bridges. The hope was that the "raise the bridges" issue could
have been resolved by the end of this year so bids for the widening of the
Shakett Creek/Dona Bay bridges to six lanes could have been received in time to
complete the entire six-lane project without interruption from SR 681 south to
the US 41 Venice Bypass. This has changed.
CURRENT PLAN
On April 30th, the Coast Guard and the Fla. Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) met
to agree on a plan of action. First, the Coast Guard agreed to take
responsibility for conducting a navigational survey to include residents east of
the RR trestle not considered before. Second--and of MAJOR
significance--they agreed that the FDOT would review the bridge design in their
January 2003 permit request, which called for increasing the current bridge
heights by about 2-1/2 feet, to something higher than that within the parameters
of their original design and with a reasonable added cost they could absorb.
STATUS
FDOT engineers have evaluated this and have submitted their judgment for a
possible added height at a reasonable added cost to an FDOT consultant for its
assessment. Results are expected by early August. If all the
"what if's" are judged "doable" and the Coast Guard is
satisfied the added height meets their navigational requirements, the only
remaining event would be a public workshop to explain the plan to increase the
bridge height even more and hear the public's response. If positive, it is
conceivable that the project could begin after the FDOT redesign for the
increased height is put out for bid.
BOTTOM LINE
The above scenario is potentially a win-win-win situation. The Coast Guard
wants higher bridges for navigational purposes. NACA wants this six-lane
project completed ASAP so that our Revitalization of Nokomis and the
"beautification" of US 41 can proceed. The FDOT wants to do the
right thing to satisfy the general public.
THE RAILROAD TRESTLE ISSUE
You may have seen the front-page story on Wednesday, June 23, in the Venice
Gondolier Sun: "COAST GUARD SAYS NOKOMIS RAILROAD BRIDGES CAN STAY."
This clears the way for Sarasota to pursue a 13-mile $12-million "rails to
trails" linear-park project between SR 72 on the north down to Venice and
Caspersen Beach. The Herald-Tribune also had a story on Friday, June 25,
in the Venice Section: "HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL AT LEAST 3 YEARS AWAY."
A complex purchase agreement has been clouded by the Coast Guard's threat to
force the removal of the Curry Creek and Shakett Creek RR Trestles. It now
appears that a five-way deal that will secure public ownership could be resolved
by late summer or fall. Ultimately, the state will buy it from the county.
The trestle over Shakett Creek will require major alterations to safely
accommodate pedestrian traffic that will use it to cross the creek down to
Venice. Also, the Herald-Tribune article reports the Shakett Creek Trestle
"will have to be built as high as a US 41 bridge the state plans to
replace" (four lanes to six lanes).
The Trust For Public Lands has structured the agreement and says, "The
Coast Guard has been reasonable, understanding and accommodating."
County Administrator Jim Ley said, "This is a partnership that will allow
the trail to be built in three years instead of ten." Keep your
fingers crossed, everybody!
NACA NEEDS MORE MEMBERS!
Tom Bartholomay, NACA Secretary
Remember the jail that was proposed to be built just east of Nokomis? It
would be there today if it were not for the Nokomis Area Civic Association and
its leadership! NACA is your VOICE to the county government. Much
has been done for roads, water, security, health, and the fire department.
Membership is our strength, and we must have strength to have influence to
accomplish what needs to be done in our community. Please know that should
you wish to have more information on NACA at your Association Meeting, a board
member would be available to speak to your membership, to inform them on NACA's
activities.
To solicit a new member, just take this Voice of Nokomis, with the membership
application, and contact your prospect. Dues are only $5.00 a year!
For membership information or request for speakers, call Tom at 484-7396.
THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE BLOWING
Patrick McCarthy, NACA Waterways
The last few months have seen the folks on Curry Creek get mobilized in the
effort to maintain the navigability of their watershed. A maintenance
project will require a concerted effort on the part of the residents and local,
state, and federal agencies. Thanks to Sarasota Board of County
Commissioners for the recently completed report on Curry Creek/Roberts Bay.
It's a step in the right direction.
As a follow-up on the Loreto Court Bay Access Park improvements, the dock is now
completed and the ramp extension is awaiting concrete to make the extra
segments. We should see that done soon.
An update on the US 41/Bridge/Trails and Trestles issue is addressed elsewhere
in this newsletter.
Reports of a very large (14 or more) pod of Manatees in the area of Shakett
Creek/Dona Bay are coming in weekly. So keep a good lookout and put on
your spf 36 and go boatin'!
NOKOMIS REVITALIZATION NEWS
Bruce Dillon, NACA Revitalization & Nokomis Revitalization Advisory
Committee
CORRECTION
In early June, I learned that the timeline I reported in the last issue of The
Voice of Nokomis for the public hearings on the two assessment districts needed
to fund the construction of the waterlines for the revitalization district and
surrounding neighborhoods, including the Baypoint area, would not be met.
Work continues at the County's Utilities Department to complete the needed work
before passing the issue to the Board of County Commissioners. The public
hearings are not likely to occur prior to the Commissioners' August break.
PROGRESS IS BEING MADE
Funding for the design-work phase of the waterlines for the four surrounding
neighborhoods also included in the Revitalization Assessment District was
approved recently by the BCC. Work by the Parks and Recreation Department
continues at Baypoint Park, Lyon's Bay Canoe/Kayak Access, and at the Loreto
Court Bay Access. Utility extensions and sidewalk have been approved near
the Nokomis Community Center.
The Revitalization Advisory Committee has been taking input on the Arts and
Office Overlay District located between Nash Avenue and Martha Lane, including a
portion of Nippino Trail. The district would serve as a transition area
between the commercial area along US 41 and the residential area to the east of
Nash Avenue.
IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP CURRENT?
Your membership is current through the year on the far right of the first line
of your mailing label. Check right now to see if you are paid up.
Anything earlier than "'04" means you've expired and it's time to
renew.
Please send our Treasurer, B. J., your dues if it's time to renew. Feel
free to pay a few years in advance to save yourself the trouble of doing it next
year. (It's also easier on B.J., our treasured Treasurer!)
Thanks for your support of our local, all-volunteer community civic
organization! We value your membership. Get your neighbors to join
so they can keep current with our local concerns, too. There's strength in
numbers.
|
