Candidates for Ocean Highway & Port Authority respond – Expansion and Charter

October 19, 2016 1:00 a.m.

Editor’s Note: The Fernandina Observer posed five questions to the two remaining candidates for Ocean Highway and Port Authority. During this week we will post their responses.  We provided Candidate Robert “Bob” Sturgess an opportunity to update his responses previously posted beginning July 25 in the Fernandina Observer.

The Fernandina Observer will hold its 5th annual Candidate Forum Thursday, October 20 at 6:45 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at the corner of N 2nd and Ash Streets.  Candidates for City Commission and OHPA will appear.  Please join us.

coleman-langshaw
Coleman Carnegie Langshaw OHPA Candidate


Coleman Carnegie Langshaw
District 1

How should OHPA expand its county involvement west of Amelia Island?

As stated before, we need to look at working with the private sector (railroad, truckers, mills) and the County to explore developing an off-island, inter-modal transfer facility (such as was the intent of Cargo Transfer Services…but on the wrong side of the bridge), a chipping facility and warehouses. The land is wide open west of I-95 and intelligent, sustainable planning will benefit not only people living on the west side, but help citizens on the island being overburdened by the increasing truck traffic.

 

How would you go about crafting a master plan for the Port of Fernandina?

First, crafting a Master Plan for the Port, must and should involve the City of Fernandina Beach- no ifs, buts or maybes. Second, we should draw from the experience and knowledge of other ports and from the resources of the state such as the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) that overseas Special Districts and Port Authorities. The DOE states that one of the purposes of the Uniform Special District Accountability Act is to improve local government comprehensive planning, while not creating or altering the respective rights of counties, municipalities, or special districts to provide public facilities or services to a particular geographic area or location. Ports and communities have co-existed in Florida for years, and we should draw upon the experience of such entities, when crafting a master Plan.

Robert "Bob" Sturgess OHPA Candidate
Robert “Bob” Sturgess
OHPA Candidate

Robert “Bob” Sturgess
OHPA Candidate
District 1

How would OHPA (the Port Authority) expand its county involvement west of Amelia Island?

First, the question presumes the Port Authority has the ability to expand. According to its 2015 financial statement, the Port Authority is not only broke, but in the hole almost a half-million dollars. It has used its property as collateral to borrow money from Kinder Morgan to make its annual bond payment. The Commissioners take half-pay (which is fine with me) because, as they will explain, the Port has no money.

If and when the bond is paid off, however, the Port Authority could have well over a million dollars a year to spend. I would consider simply distributing funds to the County and municipalities. The west side of the County, for example, needs improved infrastructure, and the County Commissioners have already prioritized it. The Port Authority’s expanded involvement west of the island should, if any, be only in coordination with the county’s and cities’ wishes and needs.

How would you go about crafting a master plan for the Port of Fernandina?

Section 311.14(2) (Florida Statutes), states, “Each port shall develop a strategic plan with a 10-year horizon.” Such a plan is also a prerequisite to FDOT / Florida Seaports Council funding. The statute clearly sets forth how to “go about crafting” a strategic or ‘Master’ plan, including the requirement of components related to increasing business, infrastructure development and improvement, intermodal transportation facilities, etc. The task would require consultation with, and input from, innumerable resources.

In addition to following the statutory requirements, I would also follow the recent Advisory Committee’s recommendation, which states, “Goals that are not reasonably achievable or which have not been formally adopted by the Board [of Commissioners of the Port Authority] should not be included in the current or future Master Plans.” I agree the Master Plan must be based on realistic goals rather than the current plan for unconstrained growth.

Finally, I believe the citizens themselves should be consulted in process, particularly those in District One, where the port is located. The current Master Plan is deficient in that it refers to properties and property owners as “constraints” on the Port Authority’s unilateral power to condemn land, install toll booths, build casinos, construct and lease an oil refinery, and all other such nonsense. We citizens are not “constraints” on the Port Authority. We are the Port Authority’s intended beneficiaries.

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Steven Crounse
Steven Crounse (@guest_48038)
7 years ago

What a breath of fresh air, Both considering the needs of our Island Community. in any Business decisions in the Port Area that would affect our City and Island. Thank you Both for Running.