JB News

[wingman]

Just saw this posted on tds:

http://www.jcfloridan.com/servlet/Satellite?c=MGArticle&cid=1173351140593&pagename=J CF/MGArticle/JCF_BasicArticle&path=!news

County considers more diver-friendly approach

By DEBORAH BUCKHALTER
Jackson County Floridan
May 10, 2007


Divers who are certified to teach others will be allowed to use Jackson Blue Spring as their underwater classroom if a proposed county ordinance is approved.

The ordinance would also give the county administrator the authority to let divers use the Blue Springs Recreation Area during the same time swimmers are in the water.

Under current county rules, from May through September no diving is allowed from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and instruction is not allowed at all.

The new hours would open up new opportunities for divers during the entire Labor-to-Memorial Day season, when the recreation area is open to the public.

County Administrator Ted Lakey said the change of hours is being proposed because staff believes the divers would be working too deeply in the water to interfere with swimmers.

As for the proposal to allow diving instruction, strict rules would come with the privilege. Instructors must be certified and must not have more than four students per instructor in the water.

Cave divers and open water divers must check in with a designated county representative before entering the water, giving their planned entry and exit points, and leaving contact information. Cave divers would be required to check in when diving elsewhere in the county as well.

Cave divers must be certified for the activity to work any body of water in Jackson County.

The ordinance would also expand the area at Blue Springs that falls under county control, stretching the county's jurisdiction beyond the fence that defines the swimming area to the buoy line that lies beyond the fence.

The county will also establish the entire Blue Springs Recreation Area as a no-wake zone, with boaters restricted to running at "idle" speed.

The ordinance will get a public hearing on May 22 at the 6 p.m. meeting of the Jackson County Commission.


Bill

[Tegg]

"Cave divers would be required to check in when diving elsewhere in the county as well. "


and


"The ordinance would also expand the area at Blue Springs that falls under county control, stretching the county's jurisdiction beyond the fence that defines the swimming area to the buoy line that lies beyond the fence. "


-----------------------------

The problem is that they have no control where they don't own property.

This is a stretch by anyone's terms since the Mill Pond is not a State Aquatic Preserve and thus the property lines only go to the "mean high water" level.

Things will get interesting if this passes...

[wingman]

"stretching the county's jurisdiction beyond the fence that defines the swimming area to the buoy line that lies beyond the fence. "

The buoy line beyond the fence is where the twin cave entry platform is.

[grim reefer]

"Cave divers would be required to check in when diving elsewhere in the county as well. "




..

I don't like that one. The rest are good

[IowaCaveDiver]

I know Edd is really hot about this one... or at least he was when he heard the news over the phone a month or so ago... if you have the ability to vote against this, I would. They are proposing that anybody diving anywhere in Jackson County will have to check in at the sherriffs station with in/out times, dive specifications and next of kin notification... sounds like a huge pain. yeah, it will probably be tough to enforce, but just think about the mill pond in general... they want to charge the $25 entry fee as well... be careful supporting this one... sounds crappy.

-Matt

I know Edd is really hot about this one... or at least he was when he heard the news over the phone a month or so ago... if you have the ability to vote against this, I would.

Edd was still out of town yesterday morning when I was over there, but Stacy was talking to me about it quite a bit. There's a lot of anti-diver influence going on with all these procedures and changes.

It would behoove all of us in the general area to make an effort to be present at the hearing on Tuesday the 22nd; if only to remind them how much tourism their little town gets from us.

BTW. I didn't get out on the millpond to confirm, but Stacy mentioned that they moved the park buoy line to have Twin fall within it's bounds.

[resolute]

Sounds like there are many good points in the proposal (multi-day Pass, selling the annual pass for 1 person instead of 2, year-round diving at JB 24 hrs per day, etc.) - the only part that seems to be of concern is trying to enlarge the park jurisdiction and have people who aren't diving JB check-in and out.

Has anyone identified factually where this "anti-diver" sentiment is originating - if in fact there is any? If so, hopefully someone can go directly to the source and rememdy the problem (usually via education and presenting the facts one-on-one)..

We need to make sure that the Commission understands that many of the changes are positive and welcome, but there are some items of concern that will, ultimately prove detrimental to their local interests and economy if adopted across the board.

JB

[Kelly Jessop]

Has anyone identified factually where this "anti-diver" sentiment is originating - if in fact there is any? If so, hopefully someone can go directly to the source and rememdy the problem (usually via education and presenting the facts one-on-one)..

We need to make sure that the Commission understands that many of the changes are positive and welcome, but there are some items of concern that will, ultimately prove detrimental to their local interests and economy if adopted across the board.

JB

Edd has done a very good job developing a relationship with the county,and is a local tax payer too. It is good to speak directly to the source and see if a plan that can be developed that will result in a win-win scenario. Where we need to be cautious is we don't want to overwhelm the commission with questions/requests/demands like has occured in the past,because cave divers have left a bad impression in the past in this county over issues. Perhaps it would be best to direct support to Edd.

Edd has done a very good job developing a relationship with the county,and is a local tax payer too. It is good to speak directly to the source and see if a plan that can be developed that will result in a win-win scenario. Where we need to be cautious is we don't want to overwhelm the commission with questions/requests/demands like has occurred in the past,because cave divers have left a bad impression in the past in this county over issues. Perhaps it would be best to direct support to Edd.

Stacy was the one that mentioned to me a diving presence would be good. But yes, I agree that the presence needs to be civil and reserved... perhaps organized to a point where any comments/questions/etc goes through Edd at the public hearing since he's the most closely tied.

The presence should also be -informed-. They should be familiar with what is already on the books:

http://library1.municode.com/mcc/Doc...2811/1/102/104

(i.e. 70-34)

[resolute]

I couldnt think of a more logical choice than Edd in Jackson Co.. to represent our interests. Hopefully the finer points will get resolved to everyone's satisfaction..

JB