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Cities reviewing complaints about November Ironman triathlon
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006 |
CLEARWATER – Not everyone was happy with the city’s Nov. 11 Ford Ironman Triathlon that officials say drew some 1,300 competitors to swim, run and bike over a 73-mile course in Pinellas County.
While competitors reportedly enjoyed the event and said they look forward to returning next year, some local residents seemingly weren’t all impressed.
The city’s public communications department recorded more than 150 phone and e-mail complaints about noise and traffic problems from residents in Dunedin to Seminole and most cities in between.
In Largo, police Chief Lester Aradi said that next year he will double the number of police officers assigned to direct traffic along the bicycle route through his city.
In Aradi’s report to the Largo City Commission on Nov. 21, Largo City Manager Steven Stanton said, “After debriefing personnel, as well as responding to public concerns regarding the disruption of traffic, it is evident that modifications based on lessons learned will need to take place ... the impact to the motoring public was extreme.”
Stanton said that one bicyclist in the race crashed in Largo and had to be taken to Largo Medical Center for treatment. This crash didn’t involve spectators or traffic, said police Capt. Glen Smith.
Smith said advance publicity on the race focused on Clearwater and that residents in other parts of Pinellas County didn’t receive the traffic warnings.
Smith said that next year more information must be relayed to county residents outside of Clearwater.
“The press did a very good job of advertising the event as it relates to the city of Clearwater,” he said, “but did little to address county-wide traffic changes and issues.”
A more serious issue came up, however, as Largo police activated the city’s reverse 911 system to alert 3,700 residents about the traffic problems during the race. Aradi said many ignored the alerts, mostly seniors, saying they were afraid it was some kind of telephone scam. Aradi admitted that people ignoring reverse 911 calls could be a problem when the system is employed in a more serious emergency.
Aradi estimated a cost of $5,000 to the city for the 20 off-duty officers assigned to the event.
During the event, the public’s complaints recorded by Clearwater. Many targeted the event’s planning and even the idea of holding it in Pinellas County.
“The planning for this event was ridiculous,” said Ronald Lowe, of Clearwater. “The inconvenience of thousands of citizens is not acceptable for an event that very few care about.”
Most complaints about traffic
Lacy Welch, of Largo, said in an e-mail, “I attempted to attend a gathering at my church last Saturday and finally, after an hour, returned home unable to ever reach my destination. This is outrageous to cause this kind of problem for residents.”
“I’ve never seen such utterly incompetent traffic control,” said Michael Condran, Indian Rocks Beach.
“I am a virtual prisoner in my home the day of the Ironman competition,” said Patricia Catallo. “Obviously the money this competition is bringing in is more important than the lives of its residents.”
A physician telephoned to complain that he was barred from getting to a medical emergency at Morton Plant Hospital. He said he only found a way through the closures when he found a sympathetic officer.
In one frantic call received by 911 operators, a frustrated resident was trying to deliver insulin to a diabetic relative and couldn’t get through the traffic.
“I don’t feel that it has been fair to fishing charters or merchants of Pier 60,” wrote Drew Sumpter in an e-mail. “Closing Pier 60’s parking lot for a week was too long and the road closures have been a nightmare to traffic.”
A manager at the Clearwater Beach McDonald’s reported concern about how her employees were going to get to work and later, that they were up to 90 minutes late.
“It took one hour and 20 minutes to arrive at a miniature show that I have been waiting a year to attend,” said Lee Silverstein, of St. Petersburg. “The dealers at the show also had a severe problem getting there.”
“All of us (were) left hopelessly stranded with no alternatives as every access to McMullen-Booth was either closed or just as inadequately prepared to accommodate the traffic volume,” wrote Charlene Costello.
Early morning noise bothered another Clearwater resident, Patricia Germer, who has competed in triathlons.
“I was awakened just before 4 a.m. by the announcers using the radio system,” she wrote. “The reason this is astounding is I live in Old Clearwater Bay, just east of the Intracoastal.
“My neighbors heard it, too ... To hear so much, so far away, suggests a severe noise problem."
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Article published on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006
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