Re: “Without maintenance flooding could return” by Thomas Michalski Editor: In his article, the author has clearly presented the obvious – on-going maintenance of the existing storm water system is required.
However, the author has failed to state that the PPWMD is not the only body capable of mowing grass, removing debries, and monitoring water flows in the cannals. Furthermore, the article does not remind readers that the PPWMD has failed to produce specific reports that have been requested by the county. Furthermore, the author did not indicate that the PPWMD is pretty much just an administrative body - actual work is being done by expensive contractors.
The author failed to identify the fact that the County employes a very tallented staff of individuals who work with GIS (Graphical Information Systems) – detailed informational mapping software – on a daily basis.
The county’s GIS staff could easily assume monitoring responsibilities for the system. Aditionally, Pinellas County employes field staff who cut grass, remove debries, dig, pour cement, or whatever else might be needed on a daily baisis to maintain the system. For administrative work, Pinellas County should easily obsorb the additional work load that would be required to include the basin’s canals in with the rest of the county’s existing canal system.
I would be surprised if these canals aren’t already being monitored by county GIS staff. Alltogether, a cohesive, countywide approach to storm water management could easily be achieved. Such a system would provide the greatest long-term benefit to the taxpayers in Pinellas County providing the benefits of a countywide system along with reducing over-all costs required to maintain the system on a long-term basis. Pinellas County is clearly the best choice for long-term maintenace of the storm water system.
Regretably, Janet Long’s bill does not identify how on-going maintenance for the storm water system should be addressed. Perhaps this omision is by design due to the fact that that the PPWMD has failed to provide the reports that are needed to fully assess on-going requirements. An additional bill to identify who will be responsible for storm system maintainance and how these responsibilities would be funded may be in order.
At this point in time, I would simply suggest to your readers that they keep an open mind as to the future of storm water system maintenance within the basin area and that readers put pressure on PPWMD and the county for the additional information that is required in order for voters to make a sound judgement when the time comes – and it’s time will come. Regardless of what the dity of Pinellas Park or the administrative staff at the PPWMD wants, eventually Janet Long’s bill will be passed and local voters will finally get the opportunity to decide the fate of PPWMD.
