Submitted by Faith Ross
January 26, 2015 1:00 a.m.
On Thursday afternoon, January 22 at 3:30 pm the Planning Advisory Board met with various members of the public concerning the use and storage of certain hazardous materials. However, in my opinion, the meeting should have been about the industrial vision for Amelia Island. A vision does not just include a pretty picture, but how do we see our island and Nassau County sustaining itself economically?
What should the public be asking our Economic Development staff? Is “energy” the only industry that can be offered to Nassau County? With automation in the energy business, very few jobs are created. So do the few jobs outweigh the risks? What are the other possible industries that would work well with our tourism?
How do we begin to look for other industries? Generally, the resources of an area dictate its industries. Similar to Nassau County’s water resources, Wakulla County, Florida has decided that aquaculture is its future match. With South Australia as a model, it is presently taking steps to pursue Australia’s $948 million aquaculture business. With a world population of 9 billion by 2050, international food organizations agree that we must produce 70% more food by 2050 to feed an estimated extra 2.3 billion people. There is a market.
With an eye to the future, the Australians have taken aquaculture to a science that guarantees reliable, cost efficient results. From growing oysters for food or pearl production, to tuna for sushi, they have also found that the Asian markets will pay for prized fish. The aquaculture industry is so highly regarded in Australia that aquaculture workers are given preferential treatment to immigrate to Australia. They are highly sought after employees in the land of the Down Under.
With a long history of seafaring, seafood, and abundant water resources, it would seem to be a natural transition for Nassau County. The Port Authority could initially utilize a few of its warehouses to house aquaculture projects along with still making its shipments to the Caribbean. It could also continue shipping paper. The Port’s access to funding could train aquaculture workers and further move projects to industrial parks or ponds. With Florida’s new legislation already in place, saltwater projects could be leased. The already proven industry of column or long line oyster production could be implemented. Producing pearl oysters would be an additional tourist attraction if resources allowed. Like Australia, we could also produce the high end edible fish for fine dining that brings cash to its coffers. Why can’t we do any of these things?
Rather than talk about future investment in facilities that produce harmful chemicals, we need to start talking about what we can bring to Nassau County that enhances our way of life and produces real jobs. How about getting another $100,000 grant in prize money for the best ideas in new industry and job creation for Nassau County? Listing our resources and criteria, offer the contest nationwide and advertize it. With new ideas and incentives, my guess is that a new Master Plan for the Port of Fernandina/Nassau County would happily write itself with everyone’s approval.
Do we really need to talk about how we are going to keep industry from destroying us? Or can we put a real effort into finding a way to keep us all working without killing or maiming anyone?
Editor’s Note: As an educator and reading specialist, Faith Ross has taught in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. She and her husband Chip purchased their home in Fernandina 6 years ago and are now residents. Faith enjoys reading, walks on the beach, and dining at the many downtown restaurants that are within walking distance from her home. She also enjoy telling her frequent visitors and friends from out of town that Fernandina is an amazing place to live!
You speak wisdom, but to the choir in the City of Fernandina Beach that now has apparently little influence over Kinder Morgan. Time to see just what Aaron Bean and Janet Adkins have to say about the Port Authority and it’s “authority” that has presently been contracted out – as judged by their actions during this legislative session…. Ron Sapp had an interesting opinion in the News Leader about our lack of meaningful representation. Perhaps our local representatives could change the Port Authority Charter to give the City a 3-2 majority on its Commission.
Faith, I feel that aquaculture is a wonderful idea to peruse for Nassau County, We do have an abundance of water both fresh and brackish. Unfortunately until we, ( This Town and our island) can get Kinder Morgan and their Commissioners and their attorney under control, aquaculture or any other industry is off the table. As Robert said in his comment. Our State representative and our Senator need to harness in these people at our Port. Why haven’t we heard from our Convention/ Tourist council? how about The Hotels and Restaurant folks, the small business and B&B people. Does every body have their heads in the sand. At the moment, Kinder is working on The Palmetto Project a pipeline from Belton SC to Jacksonville Fl. It’s to carry Gas, Diesel and Ethenol in the planning stage to find Shippers who would handle the products. I’m sure you’ve read Clyde Davis Opinion in the News Leader last Friday. If their was any question in anybodies mind as to what Kinder Morgan and their minions ( the Commissioners ) Will import or export out of our Port. I was answered. Energy Products, And i’m not talking Wind Turbines and Solar Panels. We will have a Toxic Fossil Fuel Terminal in our Town. I forgot Mr. Davis told Tammi Bach that The Port of Fernandina is Not in the town.
Add this to your information. According to last week’s Wall Street Journal, Kinder Morgan just purchased Bakken shale oil assets for $3 billion. The Port Authority’s charter powers were changed in 2005 to give them the power to acquire, build, construct, etc an oil refinery. Needless to say, no tax revenues would be received by Nassau County or the City if the Port found enough acreage to build a refinery, or “related facilities”.
Faith, your correct, Richard Kinder just purchased 1,218 miles of collector pipeline in the Bakken shale fields. Plus 480 miles of delivery pipeline. Kinder Morgan only like Midstream business. Add that to the over 80,000 miles they own or control. I’m sure KM also added a couple more Terminals, to go along with their 180 existing ones.
“Our State representative and our Senator need to harness in these people at our Port.”
One more time.
The port has absolute power – it is protected/excluded from state, federal and county “harnessing” of any kind via their exclusive, statutory powers. Our port is structured like Vatican City/Italy – situated, as it is, right in the middle of Rome, yet lying beyond all scope of outside interrogation, protected from Rome’s inquiry, economy, government, people. Except for tourism.
My question: are our executive/commissioner port personnel exempt personally from outside [state/federal/local] interrogation, oversight and accountability?
These people, are they too protected personally by the port’s broad unaccountability pass: http://portoffernandina.org/ohpa-executive-team/
And these people, are they too allowed to profit/prosper personally under cover of the port’s federal/state/local pass: http://portoffernandina.org/development-team/
Regarding each “development” opportunity that makes its way to contract, to what extent must each participating port partner/functionary divulge extra-contract, non-taxable, non-reportable income? Is the exclusive autonomy of the port working hand in glove toward a godfather economy? Or is this question too late.
I don’t know one registered Republican in my circle of friends who is not outraged at the Adkins/Bean party bloc stunt pulled last week. I challenge us all to ask any Republican you know and see if he/she isn’t morally outraged that these two state reps sided against upholding long-standing statutory law. Adkins/Bean acted that night on the fly in concert with each other, they did NOT act in concert with their party at large, or with their local constituents.
Mrs. Hunter, just as clarification, the FL state legislature gave OHPA its powers when it created its charter. Likewise, the legislature has the authority to increase or diminish those powers (or kill the charter all together). Not an easy task and one that would not happen without the support of the local legislative delegation, but not impossible.
Thank you for that clarification, I appreciate it Mr. Lott. You, the FO and this tight forum of intelligent citizen commenters are educating the rest of us, bit by bit.
We do not need aquaculture in Nassau County!
Take care of the natural resources…we presently have…including but not limited to shellbeds (Oysters & Clams).
Protect our marshes from any/all future development. That has been one of my priorities since making Nassau County my home more than 40 years ago.
Including saving old Nassau Sound Bridge from being blown up and made into artifical reefs.
Stay tuned there is more in near future.
God Bless
Janie Thomas