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REMARKS   15 Total remarks on this post. Add your own remarks below

• May 16th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
  sam killebrew

  I hope Senator Dockery doesn’t take a dislike to our Chain of Lakes project. I did notice that the LEDC gave a presentation showing the 100’s of thousands of addtional sq. ft. of warehouseing that goes with the millions of sq.ft of warehouseing now in place and the million sq ft predictied for the next 5 years. I hope Senator Dockery doesn’t attack the increased truck traffic in the Lakeland area and stop any of Lakeland’s econimic growth.

• May 16th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
  Max

  I wonder how much “exhaustive research” was done on Doc’s ill fated bullet train. Bet “Hey Hey Paula” was singing a different tune about that though.

• May 16th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
  Howard King

  The letter is another example of Senator Dockery’s propensity to be short sighted. The economic stimulus the ILC brings gives Polk County the opportunity to afford the infrastructure that will preserve the very aesthetic qualities we all enjoy about living in Polk County. Why is it she believes that Polk County citizens lack the intelligence and camaraderie to work cooperatively together creating a better place to live? Is she not aware that the expeditious, affordable and efficient movements of materials and products have shielded many cities from recessions and blight. Senator Dockery is inhibiting the synergy of a united Polk County while promoting stagnation with her divisive activity.

• May 17th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
  Thibault

  I am just a long time resident of Polk County, no agenda here. I’m neutral.

  When I read the recent CSX DRI information, I noticed on an average, we can expect 821 trucks a day and 250 cars on our Polk County roads.

  CSX claims no traffic impacts on SR 60,
  US 27 or US 98.

  CSX will only pay $2,649 in “Transportation Impact Fees” because “they” state no impact
  to roads.

  Tom Patton said in the last BoCC meeting that currently they do not have ANY companies lined up for the ILC portion but assured the commissioners that if we build it they will come.

  My question is:

  How long will the “residents” of Polk County have to endure traffic congestion until “enough money” is generated from the ILC to pay for adequate roads?

• May 17th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
  Ron Tomlin

  Thank goodness Senator Dockery is digging into the ILC situation. It is obvious to everyone who loves Polk County that it is the last thing this county needs. The roads cannot handle the traffic we have now and this facility is only going to make it worse. The jobs it may bring are not the kind we need. We have plenty of warehouse jobs with all of the distribution centers that already abound. We need to diversify our economy with high tech jobs and eco-tourism jobs. Anyone who thinks it will add to the aesthstic value of the county has never looked at a rail yard. We need to preserve the natural qualities of our county. I am a lifelong resident(AKA Native) and am tired of folks from other areas trying to make Polk County look like what they left behind. If they want a rail yard as part of their community, let them go to oOrlando or to Alliance, Texas.

• May 17th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
  Kimberlee Thompson

  I read Senator Dockery’s letter and I am confused how encouraging a thorough investigation of the impacts of this project is a bad thing. Wouldn’t it be prudent to do just that? Isn’t it the responsibility of our elected officials to make well informed decisions? I am a Polk County Citizen. I don’t recall anyone from CSX, the city, or the chamber for that matter caring about my cooperation to make a better place to live. Currently for me that would be directly next to Monster ILC with no remediation other than a 10 foot berm. (WOO HOO). I don’t believe her letter addresses anything regarding the intelligence of Polk Countians, but your analysis does beg the question: Did State or city Officials believbe that Polk County residents lacked the intelligence or comaraderie to make informed decisions when they hatched this plan behind closed doors, and without the beneifit of a public forum?

• May 18th, 2008 at 9:25 am
  Bob Gernert

  The DRI process is the State’s mechanism for a “thorough investigation” of any project involving more than 320 acres (and some smaller ones). If Senator Dockery want to encourage the DCA to be diligent in its duties, perhaps she should do that for ALL Polk County DRIs.

  Terms like “rail yard” and “monster ILC” stem from a fear of the unknown. Alliance, Texas is a perfect example of why this “sky is falling” rhetoric is neither accurate or productive.

  Polk’s historic economic engines such as agriculture and phosphate are in transition. Projects such as this integrated logistics center offer the opportunity for this area to be something more than a “bedroom” community.

  If we truly want this to be a place where our children return to work and to raise their families, there has to be a variety of economic opportunities. As we work to diversify our economy, there will always be a need for those who produce and deliver the consumer products we all demand.

  Once again, we believe we have the brains and the talent to do make this a model for the future.

• May 19th, 2008 at 7:36 am
  catawampas

  Bob, I have to express concern with your latest response as this type of attitude from the beginning seems to be a big part of the reason that has bred and continues to breed opposition to this project. When people have expressed their concerns,be it a local citizen or senator, they are met right out of the gate by someone with the “you are overreacting”, or “it’s all your imagination” attitude”. People take offense to this first response, especially when they are intelligent,well informed people with legitimate concerns. I still think this could be turned into something positive for the area however it needs to be handled in an inteligent and proffesional manner and not like “John Gotti” or “Louie the finger” as it has been up to now.

• May 19th, 2008 at 7:54 am
  Bob Gernert

  Catawampus,

  It i our goal to work with any one that has concerns about this project to get answers and find the right ways to make this opportunity a reality. I do not believe my previous response to be heavy handed. Those who are using terms like “monster ILC” are overreacting. From the beginning, a small group of vocal opponents have repeatedly made outlandish claims with no basis in fact. When they do we call them out. And we will continue to present information based on the actual matters at hand. Matters that are currently being evaluated through the DRI process.

• May 19th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
  Kimberlee Thompson

  Overreacting? I have to disagree Bob. The State (specifically FDOT)has called this project “the mother of all railyards”. Are you suggesting that they too are overreacting? I also have to disagree with your claim that there have been a small number of opponents. I would ask that you check the poll from the Tampa Business Journal that you asked your readers to respond to. Looks like there are as many in opposition to this project as are for it. Regardless, noone said you were heavy-handed in your response, just simply that your response evokes the same attitude those of us with concerns have been met with….No answers, no proof to the contrary, just claims that we are unreasonable or uninformed. How can anyone’s concerns be “worked with” if you aren’t willing to take them seriously? It is my understanding that some folks in opposition have asked for public debate on the matter in order air their concerns and offer evidence to support their so called “outlandish claims” and that you have not responded to that invitation.

• May 19th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
  Bob Gernert

  Ms. Thompson,

  I am currently in Alliance, Texas with 20 other Polk citizens with a variety of interests (elected officials, City staff, business folks and Chamber leaders/. We are attempting to learn first hand what the scope and impact of a properly planned intermodal terminal might be. We have visited a clean, well landscaped, carefully planned facility that would be the envy of any locale. This direct visit and information gathering will help many to make a better informed decision.

  I’m not sure what a public debate will solve that the DRI process cannot. We want a well-planned facility and we believe we are entirely capable of doing just that.

  On one hand we could stay in Winter Haven and imagine the worst possible outcome … or we can make the investment in learning what the opportunity holds for us and working toward a successful outcome for the greater good.

  We have chosen the latter.

• May 23rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
  Rick Hemenway

  Bob:

  Keep up the good work. This project is so important for our community. You will never get everyone to agree on any major project but the good this will do far outweighs the bad.

• May 30th, 2008 at 6:58 am
  Poindexter

  Bob - the close-mindedness of people is staggering. At best several of the bloggers on this thread are ignorant of the process that this project is currently undergoing. They continue to keep their head in the sand and thereforer aren’t burdoned with the facts. I would invite them to become educated on the DRI process and what regulatory agencies are reviewing the project. I continue to hear about the traffic problems associated with the ILC. Lets do a nose count on who is reviewing the project from a traffic stand-point: 1 - the Florida Department of Transportation; 2 - The Central Florida Regional Planning Council has hired its own transportation consultant; and, 3 - the Polk County Transportation Planning Organization. Can anyone argue that there is going to be a transportation stone left unturned?

  Point is folks, before you argue a position check your facts.

  Thanks Bob.

• June 5th, 2008 at 11:18 am
  John Halley

  We are still gathering all the pros and cons about this project, have not established an opinion yet. We have lived and traveled in the good old USA for many years. One opinion that we have become very much aware of is this: the various Chamber of Commerce’s that we have observed never seem to care anything about the impact on people’s lives or environment! Their collective thinking is to support their dues paying members, irregardless of the consequences to the general public! So we view anything that the Chamber supports with a great deal of suspicion. Anything for a buck, eh, Chamber? Thank you Ledger

• June 28th, 2008 at 8:14 am
  jim

  I agree that the ILC will bring opportunity to the area and yes I want families to stay here and without innovation like this families won’t stay as there are fewer career opportunities here and with agriculture industries decreasing and construction jobs decreasing even the manual labor jobs are decreasing. I just want to make sure that the people along the tracks are taken care of. If CSX says they will buy land along the tracks then can we address this issue for our concerned land owners adjacent to the tracks. Some say those tracks have been there for a very long time and folks who bought land next to the tracks took their chances. A fair appraisal of their land is all they deserve and the squeeky wheel may potentially get bought. Some say that folks are using the CSX issue as a PR campaign to help their own personal gain but that is what makes this country great. We all have the freedom to express ourselves. If we could buy a video of the texas intermodal operation and maybe at a public forum somewhere invite the public to come watch it or just put it on utube maybe this would help. A video on utube guys. simple. polk folks can see it for themselves. bring us the visual. hire a camera person to go out there and bring it home to us! A picture is worth a thousand words. I think its fear of the unknown. Its human nature.

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