Help! Bulldozing on Bay Right Now

[Smiling JOe]

I can't believe that if someone operates heavy machinery in this county, they wouldn't make sure that the permits were in place first before they hauled their equipment to a job site. Or are they getting paid a bunch of cash to hurry in, do the work, and leave? I'm kinda thinking the bakhoe operator is just as guilty as the property owner.

There are at least 9 property owners, but only one was sited as not having permits. I still don't understand that -- just gov't shining through, I guess.

BTW, the track hoe is a rental from United Rentals. They do not require an operator's license to rent a piece of heavy yellow equipment. Jdarg, if you called United and asked to rent a track hoe, they would deliver it and give you the keys. They might even give you a few tips on how to operate it if you ask. That operator in this case could have had zero hours experience or many. Who knows which.

(Boss Man) "You think you can run one of them buckets?"

(laborer) "yep"

 

[Smiling JOe]

I guess they think the property will be worth more if they plant Palm Trees and remove the large Oak Trees.

Looks like they had an afterthought. (this one looks very familiar, like the one which washed out into the Bay at the other violation on Quiet Water Ln, just a mile or so to the east. )

Surely, they don't think this old silt fence filled with holes will pass as meeting code, do they?

 

[Jdarg]

That silt fence was hilarious- when Will and I were driving out last night we saw that, and pulled back there to see if it was a silt fence. Then we saw the condition of it- hope they didn't pay too much money for it.:roll:

We were turning around at the end when we noticed the little stop work sign. I assumed it was posted there because it was at the "end of the line" on that group of properties, and maybe that is where the operator was working last. I guess you did a good look around and there were no moe signs- just the one?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Yep, just the one sign posted on about lot 9, with the stop work order issued for lot 7, owner. . That sign was placed in front of one of the two places where the track hoe was accessing the beach/Bay.

 

[Miss Kitty]

That yellow thing looks like a body bag for the oak tree.

 

[DevFin]

Goodwitch#58,

You asked me to explain how the dredging will violate the environment. What do you think the impact will be? I believe many people on this thread are in a much better position to answer that, especially the ones who live in the area. Since the backhoe work performed resulted in strong emotions and concerns about the environment, I am sure they can share with you more scientific reasons than I for the impact of actually dredging 100's or maybe 1000's of feet of wetlands and bay bottom. I for one firmly believe that the impact will be immense when compared to what was recently done, no matter how many people are watching. From what someone said on an earlier thread there were gopher tortoise habitat in the area. If you live there I am sure you know the plants and animals etc. that will be impacted and have to be removed. I am in no way condoning what was done without permits, just stating my opinion.

I am also curious as to how some you, in addition to Smiling Joe, view the bay and canal dredging that apparently has begun.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Actually, Kevin C, what I was asksing is what is behind your statement? You seemed to have an intense concern, and I just wondered what it was.

I am familiar with the ecological impact of dredging and the DEP and Corps of Engineers permitting requirements. I wanted to know what your specific concern was that you would be so concerned with a legal procedure (albeit one that everyone may not agree with) and an obviously illegal procedure that no one was overseeing.

 

[Smiling JOe]

KevinC,

As for the Golpher Tortoise relocation in Daughettes, at least they are aware that the tortoise is on the property and willing to pay to relocate the tortoise. They could have easily pretended that they didn't see the hole, and saved the additional costs, by killing the Tortoise. I don't think the track hoe operator working in Grayton Bayou, working without propert permits, would even think about looking for a Golpher Tortoise hole. By trying to compare the two projects, one legal and one illegal, you are trying to take away from the fact that the unpermitted project was done illegally (without permits), according to Code Enforcement (Walton County). If you want to discuss other issues of dredging canals, start a new thread, so as not to confuse the two. It is good to discuss, but you are in the wrong thread.

 

[DevFin]

Goodwitch#58,

As for my concern being intense I think you are missing my point completely. I was merely pointing out that some of the people on this board were very quick in condemning the recent cleanup activities (as it turns out after the fact for good reason) for the sake of the environment. I am not going to argue with you over what constitutes greater degradation of the environment as it very clear.

I just find it intense-ly interesting that the same people who are condemning this work have nothing to say about the dredging, other than perhaps one guy who works for the DEP who I guess is none of you or he would have posted something. Am I missing something Goodwitch#58? Since you seem to know a lot about the DEP and the process, I suspect you know much more than I. Maybe you guys banned together and fought this for years alongside the DEP guy? As you state that you are familiar with the ecological impact of dredging could you please enlighten us as surely this would pertain to the backhoe discussion at hand.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Goodwitch#58,

As for my concern being intense I think you are missing my point completely. I was merely pointing out that some of the people on this board were very quick in condemning the recent cleanup activities (as it turns out after the fact for good reason) for the sake of the environment. I am not going to argue with you over what constitutes greater degradation of the environment as it very clear.

More than once, you have stated that you think it's good for us to post these issues of work without permits, only after the fact of it being posted by Code Enforcement as a violation. Do you not think it is appropriate to question these things, when the question arises, as opposed to after the fact?

Again, if you want to talk about other projects, illegal or legal, start a new thread. This one is about the work being done without permits in Grayton Bayou. Discussion on another thread is more than welcome, concerning the pemitted dredging of the canals in Daughettes. They are completely different issues, just like dredging the Gulf for beach sand is different.