Conoley’s been at the heart of a number of disputes in DeBary, and long discussions about them and his opinions, at City Council meetings. We’ll just have to wait and see whether his resignation is due to politics or personal life.

The City Council meetings will probably be shorter now. Let’s see who’s appointed to replace Conoley.

Some fear information they provide on the forms will be used against them in some way – given to creditors, government agencies or the like. This is not so, the U.S. Census people said. Information will be kept strictly confidential.

At the other end of the pole, some genealogists have been worried that data from the census will be destroyed and unavailable to future genealogists.

That’s not true, either, the government people said.

While phone numbers will be removed from the forms after the data is collected, the digital forms will be locked into the National Archives until 2082, securing the privacy of now-living people who completed the forms.

After 2082, the forms will be released. The 1930 forms were just released, a bonanza for roots-tracers.

I’m wondering if the news that phone numbers would be destroyed led some to think the whole forms would be destroyed. To the contrary, they will be available to future generations.

Read more here.

Some of Bacon’s ideas aren’t so far out. Setting term limits for senators and representatives, for example, has had a lot of support over the years. Currently, each rep in the House serves a two-year term. Senators are elected for six years. To implement Bacon’s idea, of four and eight-year caps, Senate terms would have to be reduced from six to four years, with one reelection before the clock runs out.

Caps of two six-year terms for the Senate and three two-year terms for the House of Representatives might be better. It takes a year or so just to learn the ropes.

There are a lot of long-termers (lifers?) in Washington now. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia was first elected in 1958, and stakes claim to being the longest serving member of Congress in the country’s history. The House contains critters that have been there for more than 50 years. That seems a bit excessive, and does provide lots of opportunity for wheeling and dealing and graft.

Mica, in his ninth term, is pretty-well entrenched in Congress. He was first elected in 1992.

Not only Bacon, but Democratic contenders or anyone else who runs against Mica is looking at the barrel-end of defeat, however, unless there’s some major scandal between now and Election Day. Mica’s done pretty well for his district, and his office seems responsive to the concerns of residents in the 7th District.

Bacon’s idea of a sliding-scale-payment schedule for medical services isn’t whacky. It’s what some public-health clinics do already. I’m hoping some health-care coverage reform that will actually help the Average Joe will make it into law. We’ll see.

What Bacon may do for West Volusians is to get them thinking about and codifying what it is they want from Congress. Hopefully, Mica and the other members of Congress will be listening.

Photo from the Chilean earthquake, courtesy of U.S. Dept. of State:

The even worse news is, we’re in for more of this stuff. Earthquakes and tidal waves are being accelerated by global warming. As the ice sheets melt, pressure on the earth’s surface is released. The result – the earth’s surface readjusts, and brings about these quakes and tidal surges.

Read more from About.com’s environmental editor.

Maybe soon there won’t be much swampland left for developers to sell. A little shifting, and much of Florida will sink beneath the ocean. Remember Edgar Cayce’s prophecy?

I’d say, “Look on the bright side,” but things are definitely looking dark for the people of Haiti and Chile, as they struggle to recover. And they might soon be looking very dark in California and other earthquake-prone areas.

After the School Board dropped its squawk, Deltona was out there alone as the sole objector to the massive development plan. It would put another city on top of Deltona.

Roads and increased traffic and environmental are all part of the objection the city lodged with the Volusia Growth Management Commission. We suspect water and utility questions may have added fuel to the fire.

Now, Deltona watchers are wondering how long it will take city commisisoners to cave, under the persuasive ministrations of Glenn Storch and Ty Harris, who are meeting  with (or “tag-teaming,” Deltona-watchers are calling it)  each commissioner separately,  in their lobbying efforts.

Deputy City Manager Dave Denny and Planning and Developmment Director Chris Bowley are still firm in their opposition to the Farmton development plan. The word is, Acting City Attorney Skip Fowler has been lobbying pro-Farmton.

Fighter Pilot University

It’s awesome. Thanks go to my cousin Gary for the link.

Joe Jaynes, former County Council member, told the County Council why they should vote no, and like other speakers at the Feb. 18 Farmton hearing, was insulted for his concerns.

It’s smart growth, County  Chair Frank Bruno said.

Jaynes responded in a e-mail, “Smart growth? Oh yes…the type of “smart” that means to feel a sharp, stinging pain or to suffer keenly from wounds! This type of “smart” growth is the kind that will leave every resident and taxpayer of Volusia County smarting from the stinging pain and wounds of untold environmental impacts and increased taxes to support the most atrocious example of corporate greed and urban sprawl yet seen in Florida. The cloak of “smart” growth must be seen for what it is, the kind that hurts and causes pain, leaving the corporate land owners, bankers and lawyers laughing all the way to the bank with their pockets full of money, having fooled the politicians and public with a clever package of fancy footwork and terminology. They can cloak urban sprawl and environmental destruction with the term “smart”….but some of us can see “the emperor has no clothes on!” 23,000 new homes, 69,000 new residents, millions of square feet of commercial space, no infrastructure, no roads, no schools, in the middle of nowhere? Smart? More like crazy smart. Here, take a dose of this “smart growth”….Ouch…that hurts!”

Conservationist and Soil & Water person Michelle Moen took the council members to task, writing them:

February 22, 2010

Re: Miami Corporation Farmton Local Plan Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment

Greetings Volusia County Council,

I am a landowner and resident of Volusia County. Please enter my comments into the public record.

From the February 18, 2010 county staff report:

On October 15, 2009, the County Council voted six to one to transmit the Farmton Local Plan amendment to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for compliance review and the Volusia County Growth Management Commission (VGMC) for a consistency determination.

County Ord. Sec. 90-78.  Comprehensive plan amendments.
(a)   After September 30, 2007, all local governments who desire to adopt a comprehensive plan amendment shall, in accordance with this article, include a finding of school adequacy provided by the applicant prior to transmittal of said amendment to the VGMC and the department.

Proposed amendment FG 6.2:  At the time of adoption of the Farmton Local Plan, the Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facility Planning (ILA) recognizes that there is no school capacity.

The Volusia County Council unlawfully transmitted the amendments to VGMC .

Moen’s arguments could have interesting implications.

In a more forceful manner, she wrote:

Dear friends,

We, the taxpayers of Volusia County, have been ripped off by our government.
Corporate Greed  will feed in Volusia for decades!

Approx. 30,000 new homes
80,000-100,000 new residents
4.7 million square feet of commercial

On Thursday, February 18, our elected Volusia County Council betrayed us. They did not lead but followed the direction of Corporate Greed.   They were not courageous  but knelt before Avarice.   They partnered with deceit and abandoned the public good.

BROKEN PROMISES

Councilwoman Joie Alexander
Councilwoman Pat Northey
Chairman Frank Bruno
Councilman Josh Wagner
Councilman Jack Hayman

When they needed our votes, they all promised protection of our essential Natural Resource Management Area (NRMA) from  urban growth.

But on Thursday, February 18, they all drooled and quivered in anticipation of fulfilling Miami Corporation’s profit plan to destroy 15,000 acres with a direct hit and the rest of it with the pollution and cars of 100,000 new residents.

THE CRIMES THE LIES  THE FOOLS
AND THE DANGER!

Crime: Negligent waste of tax dollars

Our Director of Growth Resource Management, Gregg Stubbs, stood before our elected Volusia County Council and admitted that county staff had expended 1500 hours  promoting this ludicrous and dangerous project.

And the 1500 hours was just a drop in the bucket of tax dollar waste!

It did not include hundreds of hours of county legal staff!

It did not include the pre-application process lasting another year.

We are losing jobs.  We are losing our homes.  Our schools cry for funds.

AND OUR COUNTY SPENDS OUR MONEY  AND THEIR TIME CATERING TO MIAMI  CORPORATION’S GREED!!

LYING to the people who elected them and  pay their salaries. This is what we have been told for over one year:  If we don’t allow Corporate Greed to build an unincorporated city in the wet woods,  they will build ten acre ranchettes  over the entire 47,000.
But when confronted with the truth by EDGEWATER CITIZENS’ ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH,  (ECARD)  our county legal staff  admitted that ranchettes are an OPTION.

FOOLISHNESS: The taxpayer should be grateful to Corporate Greed.  If it wasn’t for Corporate Greed, we would never be able to buy this land for conservation. Corporate Greed is willing to cut us a deal “Give us a city and we will give you conservation lands – lots of it”

THE TRUTH:   24,323 acres of this land lies within the wetland mitigation bank.  They cannot develop that.  Even if they wanted to take it out of the mitigation bank, it is just too sodden.  That is why it is called a WETLAND mitigation bank. That leaves about 23,000 acres left to develop.  They are legally entitled to 2,300 clustered homes on 23,000 acres. And under our own good law, those 2,300 homes must be clustered or grouped together out of environmentally sensitive areas (like the WETLAND mitigation bank) and near existing infrastructure.

FOOLISHNESS:  County Council: “The taxpayers will never be able to buy the land!” Well, the  fools we elected  made sure of that. Thanks to them, they have increased the value of this land beyond comprehension for the benefit of Corporate Greed.

MORE FOOLISHNESS:
WATER
ROADS
SCHOOLS

THIS IS WHAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS HAS TO SAY:
. .   no additional infrastructure is planned to serve the proposed development through the Capital Improvements Element, the Future Transportation Map and the ten year water supply plan of the County and/or potable water and sewer providers.
Furthermore, the size of the development areas, their sprawling configuration across one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the county, their fragmentation of the natural environment, the lack of meaningful and predictable development controls to achieve the desired urban form, and the lack of planning for public facilities, result in the amendment not meeting the requirements of Ch. 2008-191, Section 2, Laws of Florida

County Response: There are no capital improvements necessary for the Farmton Local Plan

Seriously, that is their response.  I am not joking.

This is  a plan that is not planned.  It can be condensed into the following statement:

“We will figure it all out later”

DANGER TAXPAYER! DANGER!
Our elected county council has set a treacherous path for us. Not only have they wasted our money and will waste so very much more they have set a Precedent for other bordering landowners to follow.  Landowners who salivated in anticipation, represented by the same attorney who represents Corporate Greed.  They know, and our elected know, that once this door is open, there will be more new unincorporated cities for us to build.

LURKING DANGER. While  Corporate Greed will begin building Phase I ASAP, the major new city would not begin until 2060 –  OR when the market revives - bank on that date getting revised!!!

MORE DANGER!   This property is dangerously low lying. Over half of it is in the floodplain.  By destroying it, our elected is placing us all in harm’s way!

WHAT CAN I DO?

Send money. This is the most immediate and best action you can take. This will be a court case.  Without money, we have already lost.

If you have already donated, donate more.

Ask your friends and family to donate to:
ECARD
465 Wildwood Drive
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168

Good luck Volusia!
Michele

I had never been able to capture their unique call until last week. Check out my video.  I understand this warbling in unison is a mating act. Maybe we’ll have little sandhill cranes running around soon.

I lived in Charlottesville, Va., for several years. That’s home to the Univeristy of Virginia. My neighbor was a grad student in the theater program, so I always knew what was coming up, and saw a lot of quality shows — from Agamemnon to Blithe Spirit.

The amount of talent here, at Stetson University, is phenomenal. I’ve seen two outstanding shows in just the past weeks. One, a collection of Broadway music featuring Stetson students, and the Heart for Haiti fundraiser, featuring both students and faculty.

Watch The Beacon’s Calendar section for upcoming performances. Here’s what’s coming in the next week or two:

Feb. 12 – TONIGHT! — University Symphonic Band concert, Bobby Adams, conductor, 7:30 p.m., Elizabeth Hall

Feb. 19-21 – Puccini Operas: “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” two one-act operas by Giacomo Puccini; featuring Stetson Opera Theater, Russell Franks, director, Anthony Hose, university orchestra conductor, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 20, and 3 p.m. Feb. 21, DeLand High School Auditorium, 800 N. Hill Ave. $10 general public, $8 senior citizens and area students.

Feb. 23 – Faculty recital featuring Stephen Robinson, guitar, 7:30 p.m., Elizabeth Hall.

Feb. 24 – Jazz Ensemble recital, George West, conductor, 7:30 p.m., Stetson Room of the Carlton Union Building, 131 E. Minnesota Ave.

Stetson gets some of the most interesting thinkers and doers in the country visiting its campus.

Most recently, I got the chance to meet former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia. He’s a Stetson alum, who returned to campus for a book-signing.

Me and Max:

Cleland is also a Vietnam vet who got his legs and one arm shredded by a grenade blast. The Silver Star and Bronze Star winner came home, where he faced amputation of both legs above the knee, and he also lost his right forearm, at the age of 25. He went through a long night of the soul during a painful recovery.

He battled depression and pain, then went on to serve in the Georgia Senate and U.S. Senate. He’s also worked in a number of posts serving veterans. After expressing regret over his earlier support of the War in Iraq and disapproval of the Bush administration, Cleland was labeled “unpatriotic” by his opponents. The jab still hurts.

Cleland is an intelligent, savvy, engaging and charming man. It’s easy to understand how he was elected.

In his book, Heart of a Patriot: How I Found the Courage to Survive Vietnam, Walter Reed and Karl Rove, Cleland talks frankly about his climb out of depression, dealing with post-traumatic stress, and the highs and lows of public service.

He said surviving Karl Rove was the toughest of the list.

Last year, President Barack Obama appointed Cleland secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Cleland is still dedicated to serving veterans.

Here’s some more info from Stetson:

In 2007, Cleland donated his personal memorabilia from Vietnam and political life to Stetson. The university’s duPont-Ball Library holds in its Archives thousands of items from his government offices and campaigns, plaques, awards, DVDs, CDs, letters from U.S. presidents and prominent government officials, and nearly 5,000 photos, many of them autographed. The collection can be viewed online at the Stetson library’s Max Cleland Collection Web site.
Cleland’s political career included two terms in the Georgia State Senate (1971-1975) and four years as head of the U.S. Veterans Administration under President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981). He was Georgia Secretary of State from 1982 to 1996 and served in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2003. He also served on the 9-11 Commission that explored the terrorist attacks on the United States.

For some reason, I won’t be surprised if Cleland doesn’t run for office again.

At any rate, he’s one of those amazing people you never forget.

Back in June,1978, the DeLand Sun News reported the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was concerned about population growth and increased demand for water.
“Florida must increase freshwater resources and clamp down on water waste to keep up with its growing population,” the USGS stated in 1978.
The Floridan aquifer and other sources were producing at maximum capacity, but not at a level that would keep pace with the demand for water throughout the state.
The USGS noted state population increased 1.7 million between 1970 and 1975, and daily water demands jumped 30 percent.
The trend hasn’t quit:
• According to more recent data from the USGS, groundwater withdrawals in Florida grew from 2,787 million gallons a day (mgd) in 1970 to 4,242 (mgd) in 2005.
• In Volusia County, groundwater withdrawals grew from 30.77 mgd in 1970 to 97.02 in 2000 — more than triple the amount of water coming out of the aquifer. By 2007, groundwater withdrawals rose to 121 mgd, according to the Water Management District.
• The two biggest users have been public-water suppliers and agriculture. Suppliers drank up 590 mgd in 2007, and agriculture drew 347 mgd.

In the fall, when I found the old USGS warning , Volusia County’s population was expected to increase 83 percent over its 1995 figure of 403,353 by 2030, and the Water District expected water demand to grow by 30 percent during that period.

Now, those population projections have been scaled back around 20 percent. That’s mostly due to the economy and the bust in construction. Proper water conservation can decrease the need for water even further — we use twice as much water per person (149 mgd) as in parts of this county and in Europe.

Along with conservation, some real growth management will be the best thing for the aquifer, our rivers, open spaces and ecologically sensitive areas. How long can any economy depend on population growth?