R.I.P. Scottsmoor – Man Versus EELs

Scottsmoor, the last little community in very north Brevard, Florida, will gasp its final breath and be laid to rest August 5, 2008 if the County Commission approves the vast Scottsmoor EEL purchases. The dreams of any future small business and jobs in Scottsmoor will be dead on arrival as a result of the Board’s actions.

The proposed 1,500 acre purchase will eliminate the majority of any possible business locations.The Commissioners will cause the demise of the little town, as they, in lock-step, and with no genuine concern for the human population, hand over Scottsmoor’s future to the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program (EEL) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

This is exactly what will occur when EEL purchases a land area many times the size of the adjacent community. The blatant indifference shown by EEL/TNC, their 35-40 usual minions and the Commission toward Scottsmoor, plus lack of compassion for the impact such a purchase will have, is contemptible.

Failure to discover any endangered plant or creature on these properties did nothing to slow the forward ush by EEL to purchase them as “endangered lands”. Mike Knight, Director of EEL, has admitted no scrub jays were found. Even the decades of dumping treated sewage from Titusville on some of the “endangered” property is no problem. Why bother with incidentals, right?

Gone forever will be the pasture land on which the cows graze once the “restoration” plan is complete. Gone forever will be most public access or any future businesses on the vast acreage planned as a scrub jay re-location area.

Some might remember that in the not too distant past, scientists were stating re-location of these birds just didn’t work and was harmful to the species. Mr. Knight stated, in a surprise visit to the Scottsmoor Community meeting on July 28, 2008, that their scientists were now having to “rethink” this theory. It seems science can be manipulated to suit the occasion.

The $20 million proposed EEL purchases are obviously about empire building, stopping even minimal growth and what many believe is just another bailout of developers who own the property and are faced with hard economic times.

The magnitude of the purchases will forever impact the Scottsmoor community, causing it to be even more isolated. When a small town has no economic future to aspire to, historically the town dies off.

The younger people leave and soon the older ones pass away; that is what lies ahead for Scottsmoor. It is one thing to live in a nice quiet community that possesses some vitality and hope of possibilities; it is quite another to live in a community without hope.

The approximate 1,500 acre purchase Options (Options, so that TNC can get their share) swallows whole an entire I-95 exit ramp (5-A) on the South side, all the way to U.S. 1. TNC is apparently getting a U.S. Fish & Wildlife grant for the Saddle Brook area and will “donate” it to the county, “managed” by EEL. Of course, it will be a “gift” from one taxpayer entity to another government entity; in other words it’s just our money switching hands. TNC is in the real estate business, they do not “give” away anything.

It appears another large purchase is being pieced together by EEL/TNC along the same Interstate exit, (5-A) on the North side. Much of that property is apparently under the Trusteeship of a former state TNC Chairman. A convenient coincidence? The purchase of this additional large acreage along 5-A exit will be the final nail in the coffin for Scottsmoor. Interstate exits are primary areas for business and job possibilities, not “conservation” areas. No other example of an Interstate entrance/exit being entirely gobbled up for eco purposes was found.

We were told by Mr. Knight that all these lands are needed to establish a connected corridor for critters from the St. Johns eastward to the Indian River Lagoon/Merritt Island. So the question arose – do we then build tunnels under I-95 or count the critter carcasses as they get smashed on the interstate getting from one side to the other?

Mr. Knight stated that he had been advised that DOT monies were available for passageways and they should be large enough to accommodate large animals, such as bear or horses. Many folks in Scottsmoor would be happy just to have funds available to pave their roads.

Then, of course, there is always the money worry.

The EEL program is spending its 10s of millions very quickly and one day in the not too distant future, the bonds will all be used up. What then? Rumor has it plans are already being formulated in the eco movement to draft and push for yet another bond referendum in about two years or when EEL I sunsets.

Again, what utter contempt and disregard for taxpayers already struggling to “keep the wolf from the door”. What blatant arrogance to place epayment of these bonds on our grandchildren’s backs.

Commissioners should be mindful that while a large percentage of voters approved the EEL II referendum, folks are now catching on, getting educated about the who, what, where, and when of the concept. Had the press and county leadership done its job by giving voters the entire picture and TNC not put in $50,000 of its own money to influence the outcome of that referendum from which they have personal gain, the EEL II referendum would have gone to the shredder.

Property values are continuing to fall. The best informed opinions in the real estate investment world are saying it will be 2010 before the nation begins to see improvement in value. Brevard County, however, will just be getting hit with a new round of real estate bubble bursting as layoffs at the Cape come to fruition. It is in the best interest of the taxpayers for Brevard County Commissioners to postpone these proposed purchases. The properties under Option are not going anywhere. Development currently is not an issue. Time is not of the essence.

It is time for EEL/TNC to reign in their “wants and desires” and set aside the remainder of their referendum money for the future years of required maintenance on all the existing properties. It is time for EEL to adhere to “best management practices”and sound fiscal policies. It is time for the County Commission to save the little community of Scottsmoor, not be the cause of its demise.

This article published courtesy of the Brevard Insider, a subscription only publication published five times a week except holidays at 1106 Ramblebrook St., Malabar, FL 32950. If you are interested in subscribing, please e-mail Ed Clark at ESCMC@aol.com or call (321) 956-0815.