My Thoughts on Jackson/1-75 Overpass
January 15th, 2011
I almost feel I can breathe now. The paper this morning has taken off alot of animosity that has been going on throughout Collier County since the day they announced the plans for Jackson Lab.
I have not written about the whole subject because really I want what everyone wants. A vote for the lab to see where the community stands, I think we all know the answer on that, but to also have the lab here in The Estates and not have to pay for it. Obviously that is never going to happen.
With the states $3.7 billion budget shortfall, it's a pretty good decision for Barron Collier to withdraw it's offer on the 50 acres. Making a good point that Tampa and Sarasota may offer better opportunities. I would have to agree on that one too.
I know the deal is not dead, but it might as well be. The only thing I see that could change this is that after the meeting with Governor Rick Scott, the Jackson Lab will submit a new application requesting less funds than the initial $50 million. Will that make a difference in how everyone feels about the lab? Doubtful.
So with all of the changes, maybe Barron Collier can focus some money on the 1-75 interchange that is much needed out here in the Estates. Yet, once again, we have more controversy on that as well. I had no idea the red tape that surrounds this county was so thick. Everyone wants it, but the "where it's to be built" and "who is going to pay for it" is going to keep this lagging forever. I'll pay for it for goodness sake, "Where's my checkbook!"
Everglades Blvd. at this point already has the imprint and to me that's a no brainer. The Big Cypress Community east of Desoto has been set aside for years due to the economy so we cannot expect them to foot the bill any time soon. That whole idea will just hold up the overpass even more.
Just as a man by the name of Cosme Perez commented the other night on how can such poor countries pull together, make a decision and build an overpass in less than five years? Here we have not only been working on it for ten, but expect ten more before it is even completed!
Commissioner Coletta's response, " They have common sense."
Then there are people out there that felt the 1-75 overpass has every thing to do with Jackson Lab even though the overpass has been on the table since 2001. If it were true, so what!
Now we just have to wait a couple more years for the IJR (Interchange Justification Report) and the CEE ( Cumulative Effect Evaluation) to make it to the PDE (Project Development and Environment). Which by then, they can begin design and permitting. I hope I got this all correct from the meeting or I
may end up in the LTTE (Letters To The Editor) :)
With all of this said and done, maybe now we can come together some more and not only realize we may not have funds for Jackson, but may be able to concentrate more on the other two issues here in The Estates. Number one in my book, Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park, and number two, the overpass.
I almost feel I can breathe now. The paper this morning has taken off alot of animosity that has been going on throughout Collier County since the day they announced the plans for Jackson Lab.
I have not written about the whole subject because really I want what everyone wants. A vote for the lab to see where the community stands, I think we all know the answer on that, but to also have the lab here in The Estates and not have to pay for it. Obviously that is never going to happen.
With the states $3.7 billion budget shortfall, it's a pretty good decision for Barron Collier to withdraw it's offer on the 50 acres. Making a good point that Tampa and Sarasota may offer better opportunities. I would have to agree on that one too.
I know the deal is not dead, but it might as well be. The only thing I see that could change this is that after the meeting with Governor Rick Scott, the Jackson Lab will submit a new application requesting less funds than the initial $50 million. Will that make a difference in how everyone feels about the lab? Doubtful.
So with all of the changes, maybe Barron Collier can focus some money on the 1-75 interchange that is much needed out here in the Estates. Yet, once again, we have more controversy on that as well. I had no idea the red tape that surrounds this county was so thick. Everyone wants it, but the "where it's to be built" and "who is going to pay for it" is going to keep this lagging forever. I'll pay for it for goodness sake, "Where's my checkbook!"
Everglades Blvd. at this point already has the imprint and to me that's a no brainer. The Big Cypress Community east of Desoto has been set aside for years due to the economy so we cannot expect them to foot the bill any time soon. That whole idea will just hold up the overpass even more.
Just as a man by the name of Cosme Perez commented the other night on how can such poor countries pull together, make a decision and build an overpass in less than five years? Here we have not only been working on it for ten, but expect ten more before it is even completed!
Commissioner Coletta's response, " They have common sense."
Then there are people out there that felt the 1-75 overpass has every thing to do with Jackson Lab even though the overpass has been on the table since 2001. If it were true, so what!
Now we just have to wait a couple more years for the IJR (Interchange Justification Report) and the CEE ( Cumulative Effect Evaluation) to make it to the PDE (Project Development and Environment). Which by then, they can begin design and permitting. I hope I got this all correct from the meeting or I
may end up in the LTTE (Letters To The Editor) :)
With all of this said and done, maybe now we can come together some more and not only realize we may not have funds for Jackson, but may be able to concentrate more on the other two issues here in The Estates. Number one in my book, Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park, and number two, the overpass.
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