Letter: Observations from the Port

Dear Editor:

“Thank you” to the folks at Historic City News for publishing my personal observations from the Port and Waterway District meetings each month — I invite the public to attend our meetings; but, if you can’t, I want you to be informed.

A couple of annotations that will be of interest to port observers; beginning with our treasurer’s report that we now have $1.8 million in the bank. Your new ad valorem property taxes for the Port and Waterway District are proposed to be $6.14 for every hundred thousand dollars in valuation.

Engineering:

Bids will go out for replacing Salt Run channel markers 4 and 15; FWC Officers Zukowski and Pedonti will mark fallen marker 15 with a float this evening; thank you to them.

Summer Haven River progress on core samplings is still held up by nesting bird colonies.

The energies of the residents there is unflagging, but businesses are suffering.

Devil’s Elbow Fish Camp sees diminished tourism. The Kangaroo just south of Matanzas Inlet is closing.

Linda Ginn and company are meeting with Congressman Mica, Representative Proctor and County officials to work on grants for their 501c3.

The goal is to gain the permitting; then remove some 250,000 cubic yards of sand.

The Summer Haven River was originally the main waterway for Pellicer Creek. Nature’s water dynamics created clam beds, oyster beds and great fishing.

The District has committed to help, but we are told we have limited resources …

Our resources are expanded by $500,000 since the Army Corps of Engineers is no longer offering to dredge Porpoise Point. Port’s contribution of $500,000 for that work is cancelled.

Porpoise Point is NOT the inlet. Attention to the inlet, and the shoaling that’s taken place there, MIGHT come from with assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers’ small dredge that will be working over Ponce Inlet this Fall.

Ultimate responsibility for marking a safe passage for boats from the St. Augustine sea buoy to our sheltered inner harbor lies with the U. S. Coast Guard. Our channel is uncharted — on no chart will you see the locations of markers you might follow religiously to gain safe entrance.

The Coast Guard doesn’t publish them because the inlet passage is subject to too many changes. November 2010 saw that system fail; however, buoys remained fixed, shoals grew where safe water once was, and boats ran aground.

Our community must ask the Coast Guard for better vigilance. We get to wait a month or so because their buoy tender is in dry dock somewhere in VA. Until then, and always — “Boater Beware”.

FWC report:

Shell fishing is closed for July and August.

One owner of a white elephant antique boat offered to turn it over to City, city accepted, and it’s gone.

An erstwhile ocean adventure is on the beach north of Vilano. The sailors succumbed to seasickness and took the shortest route to shore. We’re left with an eyesore and a chore.

Public comment:

Speaker, Betty Jean (B. J.) Kalaidi, 8 Newcomb Street, stated that a proposed Locust Street kayak launch was a “want” — not a “need”.

As always, you’re invited to view the official minutes at www.staugustineport.com. They’ll appear on our website along with budget considerations after their approval at our next meeting August 16 2011.

Jay Bliss
U. S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain
St Augustine Port Commissioner Seat 5