Lake Kissimmee West Side Boat Ramp Mtg. 1/16

[N. Cook]

A public meeting with information and open for public comments on the planned new boat ramp on the west side of Lake Kissimmee with access from Rt. 60 will be held Weds. January 16 at 6 pm at River Ranch. UW-F has worked hard with other groups to get this ramp approved by the SFWMD and Polk County. It will replaced the closed Shady Oak ramp.

River Ranch is located just west of the Lake Kissimmee "dam" south off Rt. 60.

[N. Cook]

Byron Maharrey represented UW-F at the meeting. A large contingent of the Kiss. airboat club and the FSCA were on hand.

Byron reports the amenities of the facility are very good...with lots of nice attractions and three separate areas for airboats, kickers and paddlers to launch...

BUT THEN THE PROBLEM...Polk County has agreed to manage the facility...BUT AS A PARK. Since Polk County Parks are only open dawn to dusk and FIREARMS ARE NOT ALLOWED...the plan is unacceptable to all of the sports groups.

UW-F will not support the project as now proposed.

This will be a hot topic at the forthcoming SFWMD WRAC Recreation Meeting...which just happens to be at River Ranch not too far from the site.

I will be contacting the District tomorrow to discuss how anyone there could have even thought that negotiating such a deal with Polk county would be accepted by the user groups....

Polk county representatives got an ear full, and suggested a "committee" of users could be formed to study the issue. To give them the benefit of the doubt, they may have not been advised by the SFWMD that the ramp was to be used by duck hunters and others who need 365/24 access and will be carrying firearms.

Stay tuned!

[Converted]

When I got the meeting briefing my first thought was the Duval County boat ramps and their attempt to ban firearms. I believe the State Legislature has declared that they have authority over firearms with only a couple exceptions. The waiting period is one, I'll need to look up the other. I understand that Lane Stephens and Marion Hammer have been alerted to the situation.

Word has it there there were nearly 200 in attendance with 90% being airboaters. :icon_thumr

[duckmanJR]

That is TOTALLY UN-acceptable! If we need to lets flood the Polk Co. commissioners with E-mail like we did to Duval Co.