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PrairieZeke
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Posted: Thu Aug 7th, 2008 03:23 pm |
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ideascubed wrote: .....
They used to be maintained by Coquina until they got the letter from the attorney general. ...
The "letter" from then Attorney General Charlie Crist was nothing more than an opinion. Everyone likes to make this letter out to be something that was legally binding but it wasn't.
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designdiva
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Posted: Wed Aug 6th, 2008 04:49 pm |
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ideascubed wrote: BTW, where is Coquina's office? Maybe we should start posting pictures of what our complaints are?
Visual aids are always a good idea so people can " see " what you talking about....For most it's a haul up to the Viking to " see " what the complaints are, so yea pics would be great.......Diva 
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ideascubed
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Posted: Wed Aug 6th, 2008 04:35 pm |
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| BTW, where is Coquina's office? Maybe we should start posting pictures of what our complaints are?
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ideascubed
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Posted: Wed Aug 6th, 2008 04:25 pm |
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Thank you so much for passing on the info. I checked various tax bills for the past few years and every lot in the Viking area is assessed by Coquina and for the fire department.
Do I understand this correctly? Coquina is only for water management in the Viking. They maintain the canals and the canal roads. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mile roads are public roads. They used to be maintained by Coquina until they got the letter from the attorney general. The county commission says that they did not accept maintenance of the roads. All the other roads are private.
Checking the tax rolls, I can see why there are problems. Somebody owns a valuable piece of property - fair market value is over 700,000. Taxable assessed value was like 12,000. Tax paid - 200 dollars. It said exemption -none. So, how does this person, who doesn't live in Okeechobee, has 50 acres or so, and pays just a little bit. There was no fire assessment or anything. Going through the tax rolls, there was example after example of such things.
It does look like our taxes will be going up again. The millage rate has been increased. It will be interesting to see if the assessed value decreases.
Sigh, {head bonks on keyboard} I wonder what would be good solutions. It does look like this will have to be addressed by the county attorney and the county commission.
Thanks for letting me vent.
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Dragonlady
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Posted: Wed Aug 6th, 2008 10:53 am |
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The next meeting of Coquina is just around the corner. I suggest anyone interested attend and ask your questions or voice your concerns.
NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE COQUINA WATER CONTROL DISTRICT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR COQUINA WATER CONTROL DISTRICT WILL HOLD A MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2008 AT 9:00 A.M. IN THE ADMINISTRATION ANNEX BUILDING, OKEECHOBEE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE, SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM, 458 HIGHWAY 98 N., OKEECHOBEE, FL. A COPY OF THE PROPOSED AGENDA MAY BE OBTAINED UPON REQUEST FROM THE UNDERSIGNED. IF ANY PERSON DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION BY THE BOARD WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT SUCH MEETING; THAT PERSON WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND FOR SUCH PURPOSES THAT PERSON MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS, WHICH INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED, IS MADE. ANY PERSON WISHING TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING MUST HAVE THEIR NAME AND TOPIC PLACED ON THE AGENDA ONE WEEK BEFORE THE DATE OF THE MEETING. ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, PERSONS NEEDING A SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION OR AN INTERPRETER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRECEEDINGS SHOULD CONTACT THE DISTRICT'S OFFICES BY CALLING (863)763-4601 AT LEAST TWO (2) DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE MEETING. NOTICE: COQUINA WATER CONTROL DISTRICT HAS AN ONGOING AQUATIC SPRAYING PROGRAM, DISTRICT WIDE. THE 2008-2009 BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED AT THIS MEETING. WILLARD M. BYARS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 17429 NW 242ND STREET OKEECHOBEE, FL 34972 (863)763-4601 OR (863)634-3166 284169 ON 8/4/08
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dixifriedgirl
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 07:55 pm |
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| Just being behind and trying to catch up on some of this mess. I thought that if the roads were considered public then it was the county's job to keep up with them. Again sorry if its redundant but im new to this. thanks
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 07:45 pm |
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unhappy Viking wrote: Fla Girl sounds like you must be related to coquina, because it sounds like you are all for them and you are sticking up for them. Insults will get you know where, I am not sticking up for them< I have been thru everything your expressing and the county is the only one that can chamge anything now, they do mow 4 times a year, they have already mowed once that I know of. unless your willing to spend thousands of dollars that most out here dont have to waste then I would suggest , you start writing letters thru the proper channels....
Just being nosy me I found this link whichs is to Minutes from the Okeechobee Board of County Commisioners. in the middle of the minutes it talks about coquina releasing the roads to the public. It states that a letter was sent to coquina but I couldnt find anything stating they responded to the letter. dont know if it helps but I thought I'd try.
http://www.co.okeechobee.fl.us/Agenda_Minutes_Action/Minutes2007/04262007a.bcc.pdf
yes I know there a year old but I thought it would be a start
Yes, this was done some months ago, but if you call the county attorney, Mr John Cassels , He will inform you that the ecxhange was for only law enforement to be able to run the 1234& 5 mile to enforce laws with the ATV`s, the county did not except them for maintenance....also coquina only had deeds to the 1234 & 5 mile if you live on any other road, its private property,,
I am not argueing with you I am stating facts that I have found over years of digging into this mess, you get enough people to come together and our state rep Frank A will come and speak with all, but it has to be a majority of home and land owners, there is over 25 square miles out here.... good luck in your venture
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dixifriedgirl
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 07:03 pm |
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Just being nosy me I found this link whichs is to Minutes from the Okeechobee Board of County Commisioners. in the middle of the minutes it talks about coquina releasing the roads to the public. It states that a letter was sent to coquina but I couldnt find anything stating they responded to the letter. dont know if it helps but I thought I'd try.
http://www.co.okeechobee.fl.us/Agenda_Minutes_Action/Minutes2007/04262007a.bcc.pdf
yes I know there a year old but I thought it would be a start
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 06:36 pm |
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| Fla Girl sounds like you must be related to coquina, because it sounds like you are all for them and you are sticking up for them.
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 06:31 pm |
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Fla Girl, it wouldnt bother me one bit to give up my 30feet of road, its not like I have anything belt on it anyways.
We pay 234.90 an year to coquina, we payed over 3300.00 dollars in property taxes last year out here, so you might see as to why we would be a little upset.
All I know is not enough people care this is nothing but hot air, nothing will get done, let the grass grow, and grow and grow, they are supposed to mow 4 times a year I was told they havent mowed once. Everyone say's this and everyone say's that, so I have come to think really no one really knows what is going on or what they are talking about.
Im just going to set back and watch, and if I have to take care of my road I will take care of it, im not going to be in a war, on who is right and who is wrong, if we cant all agree on wanting to see about getting someone to maintain our roads, then why waste my time.
But like im saying I cant even see out at the end of my road what is coming down the pee-vine, ok I guess im supposed to go out there and mow that too not.
And what about when the grass gets so high the mail lady wont even want to deliver the mail dont say that wont happen who knows.
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 06:23 pm |
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Yes Jaycee I agree with you 100%.
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Tue Aug 5th, 2008 12:27 am |
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jaycee wrote: Fl Girl how long you living out here??? I own this land 11 yrs live here over 9 don't live off pevine either....prior I lived in royal palm when it was like this out there....never had to complain for them to grade the roads.....they came down regularly so don't tell me about you being a coun try girl.....Coquina is slacking off not doing their job...I will be damned if I go sit on peavine in the morning and waiting for them,I am not getting paid to do that but I can tell you this if they don't start shaping up they all are going to be out of jobs mark my words.....I called this morning before 7 and at 7 and still no one answers......
I moved out of royal palm because it got so built up not looking for that to happen here,but gee come on we don't have to live in mud and ruts!And kill our vehicles on top of it....As for getting a lawyer from Okeechobee ha ha....got to be nuts to do that... but seriously we do need to shake some people up in this county don't you agree everyone?
Ok to answer your questions, I have lived out here for almost 6 years, and have had property here for 14 years.... as for the grading, this is what you dont understand, its not Coquinas place to grade they do it as a favor for us, being on there case will get you know where, Coquina does not own the roads nor are they a road department, the county only owns the pea-vine and 101 no other roads, big write up in paper about the agreement that the county is going to try and back out of for maintaining the 5 mile about a week or so ago...Coquina is a drainage facility, call SFWD they will let you know that also, allison is very knowledgeable about them.... If you are going to go after someone you need to hit the county commissioners and make them take over the roads, remember once you do you will lose 30ft of your property, you will only have a acre then, your deed states either 1.25 or 1.5 acres the road is included in this so you actually own the road, if you wanted to get technical you are responsible for the road not coquina, deed states a 30ft easement for coquina so they can clean ditches etc not roads, the only way the roads are even getting anything done with them is they had found a gray area , that states they can maintain for the purpose of keeping there employees safe, call coquina attorney have them send you the copies as i did you will see it in black and white,
as for the guys jobs, well lets put it this way , when your friends with your boss , you pretty much have job security.. I have fought the battle for 3 years I have several very good attorney friends that basically stated if the county does not except the roads for maintenance you are screw to be blunt and the county will not except them for maintenance
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jaycee
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Posted: Mon Aug 4th, 2008 10:46 pm |
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Fl Girl how long you living out here??? I own this land 11 yrs live here over 9 don't live off pevine either....prior I lived in royal palm when it was like this out there....never had to complain for them to grade the roads.....they came down regularly so don't tell me about you being a coun try girl.....Coquina is slacking off not doing their job...I will be damned if I go sit on peavine in the morning and waiting for them,I am not getting paid to do that but I can tell you this if they don't start shaping up they all are going to be out of jobs mark my words.....I called this morning before 7 and at 7 and still no one answers......
I moved out of royal palm because it got so built up not looking for that to happen here,but gee come on we don't have to live in mud and ruts!And kill our vehicles on top of it....As for getting a lawyer from Okeechobee ha ha....got to be nuts to do that... but seriously we do need to shake some people up in this county don't you agree everyone?
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Mon Aug 4th, 2008 02:04 am |
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unhappy Viking wrote: Ok we are all in-titled to our own opinions, some are right some are wrong need I say anymore to this.
you are correct we all are entitled, but some of us have been here alittle longer and have been part of the fight, and been on the side lines, unless you can get Charlie Crist to step in , in which they will tell you its a county thing not a state thing and they have no jurisdiction over them,,,, We all have had the same complaints as you, guess you really just need to live with it... this is chobee, cowboy/redneck heaven no one really cares about the city life you will that after a while, and this statement is not ment offensive to anyone
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 05:32 pm |
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Ok we are all in-titled to our own opinions, some are right some are wrong need I say anymore to this.
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 04:32 pm |
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unhappy Viking wrote: Well like you I too was raised in the country, and moved out here because I love the peace and quite, yes it has improved a little as the 4 wheelers go. But will they stay on it, is the question. Yes, progress takes time, but progress is what people dont want to see I guess. why should I have to put bleach in my ditch when with the taxes we pay we should be having someone spraying for the misquotes. We have been out here for 5 yrs, and we live on the east side of the pee-vine, and as I recall you were wanting to move from here. Not due to any of this, I have lived in Fl all my life and I want a change
If coquina isnt in charge of mowing then we need to get together and find out who is, and if no one is or what the heck is going on is my point. Coquina subs them out they pay for it to get mowed 4 times a year , sure they can be mowed more but they are trying to keeps taxes low enough so the no so fortunate can still live also
Don't you care, where your taxes are going, and what is being done with them, I do. well, lets see the 3 mile has been fixed the roads get patched when needed, the canals drain when its time for the flood gates to open, come on you pay 100.00 a year to coquina per lot basicly for round numbers, how many lots do you own, I have 7 and I know people with more and some with less, if you want al the comforts of the city then I would suggest moving closer to town, and really you have seen nothing, 10 years ago there were no bridges over the canals you had to drive thru the canals, tax dollars at work, also the drainage was alot worse then than what it is now, again tax dollars at work, all of this sib-division is private property, so the only roads at this time that the county has right of way to is the pea-vine and 101 aka east and west grades, also please remember people that own homes are the only ones that pay for fire and garbage not lot owners or atleast thats the way it was, so figure roughly 500 homes out here some big some small, tax dollars for vacant land are really not alot depending on the property
I'm paying taxes, so I don't have to put bleach in my ditches, and so I don't have to take my lawn mower out to the road and mow. If you check your taxes this is chobee, I dont know where you came from but this county does not have the funding for this and besides your in the woods it would be useless to even try, Coquina sprays the canals and thats the best your gonna get
I am beging to feel all of this is for nothing we all want to talk but with no action.
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 12:51 pm |
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Well like you I too was raised in the country, and moved out here because I love the peace and quite, yes it has improved a little as the 4 wheelers go. But will they stay on it, is the question. Yes, progress takes time, but progress is what people dont want to see I guess. why should I have to put bleach in my ditch when with the taxes we pay we should be having someone spraying for the misquotes. We have been out here for 5 yrs, and we live on the east side of the pee-vine, and as I recall you were wanting to move from here.
If coquina isnt in charge of mowing then we need to get together and find out who is, and if no one is or what the heck is going on is my point.
Don't you care, where your taxes are going, and what is being done with them, I do.
I'm paying taxes, so I don't have to put bleach in my ditches, and so I don't have to take my lawn mower out to the road and mow.
I am beging to feel all of this is for nothing we all want to talk but with no action.
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 11:49 am |
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unhappy Viking wrote: I agree with you jaycee, I would love to get a group of people together, and we need to start now. Yes, we have had some police coverage but not enough, they must have had yesterday off, or they think they have it under control because they weren't out here, as far as I know and we had 4 wheelers running up and down our road, after all the rain and as bad as our road is, that was the last thing we needed, and of course it was someone close by us that had invited their friends over with their 4 wheelers to go out riding.
I have looked at other areas, Fellsmere is one they are still dirt roads, but they are grated and maintained very nicely in most areas. Yes, we are paying high taxes, we have the right to have our roads maintained and our main road mowed, just take a look at it. What am I going to have to do take my lawn mower out and start mowing on the pee-vine myself just so I can have it look better.
Its important to keep it mowed, to those who think we are just hot air here, do you like all the misquotes, well due to lack of keeping the high grass down in areas and proper drainage, we will keep the misquotes, and personally I am tired of having big bites all over me. And what about your mail boxes do you want to get bit by a snake because the grass is so high you cant see what is there.
Just because we wanted to live in the country doesn't mean we don't deserve the same for our taxes as others.
So, to those who care and want to get on the ball please suggest times and places that would be good for meetings, and a list started for names of those who wanted to get together someone needs to be the head of this thing, we all come in here and voice are opinion which is good, it helps us feel better but we don't want anyone to know who we are so we need someone to get this thing together.
We need a good leader, and who knows maybe in time we can get enough people together to afford a small time attorney.
Ok guy/gals, coquina works from 7.am to 3:30 pm Mon- FRi, as for the roads they are contracted out, coquina does not mow them, Jaycee & unhappy Viking how long have you lived out here? For those of us that have been here for a while , we have seen alot of improvement, not saying that anymore is not needed, I live where the biggest mudhole is out here other than the northwest corner and I can tell you that noise has calmed down alot, I use to have to sleep mon- fri and stay up all night with noise on the weekends....This is what you will run up against it sounds like you both live on the pea-vine side,most of the riff-raff is on that side of the viking, most dont want anything done because of property taxes being raised and unless you have alot of residence , not lot owners, you have no leg to stand on
If you knew what it was like before you bought why complain now, thats what they are going to tell you, as for an attorney you better get one thats not in chobee, most of them will not touch it , as for those pests called mosquitoes, welcome to florida woods during rainy season even mowing the grass only helps a little, with all the rain we have had the canals and ditches are loaded with babies just waiting to use their landing gear on you, I found that pouring alittle bleach in the ditch will help kill them, I bought out here because I was raised in the country and love it, well before the northerners turned my little town into a large city with concrete everywhere, I personally dont want the raods paved, due to the fact that means more building, more neighbors and alot less peacfulness,
I know how you feeel but its a battle that has been going on for ten years or more 
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 11:22 am |
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| Yes, Jaycee very interested, like I just posted im so tired of this, personally me and my husband our ready just lot us know how and when.
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 11:19 am |
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I agree with you jaycee, I would love to get a group of people together, and we need to start now. Yes, we have had some police coverage but not enough, they must have had yesterday off, or they think they have it under control because they weren't out here, as far as I know and we had 4 wheelers running up and down our road, after all the rain and as bad as our road is, that was the last thing we needed, and of course it was someone close by us that had invited their friends over with their 4 wheelers to go out riding.
I have looked at other areas, Fellsmere is one they are still dirt roads, but they are grated and maintained very nicely in most areas. Yes, we are paying high taxes, we have the right to have our roads maintained and our main road mowed, just take a look at it. What am I going to have to do take my lawn mower out and start mowing on the pee-vine myself just so I can have it look better.
Its important to keep it mowed, to those who think we are just hot air here, do you like all the misquotes, well due to lack of keeping the high grass down in areas and proper drainage, we will keep the misquotes, and personally I am tired of having big bites all over me. And what about your mail boxes do you want to get bit by a snake because the grass is so high you cant see what is there.
Just because we wanted to live in the country doesn't mean we don't deserve the same for our taxes as others.
So, to those who care and want to get on the ball please suggest times and places that would be good for meetings, and a list started for names of those who wanted to get together someone needs to be the head of this thing, we all come in here and voice are opinion which is good, it helps us feel better but we don't want anyone to know who we are so we need someone to get this thing together.
We need a good leader, and who knows maybe in time we can get enough people together to afford a small time attorney.
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Dragonlady
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 05:09 am |
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jaycee wrote: after numerous trys to get coquina on the phone,I went to their"Office"...of couse no one was there....however their road is well maintained,their grounds are mowed,they have huge piles of fill to fix roads....their equiptment was parked.and they have a nice building..and it looks like no one inhabits the place..what is this a front to imply they are there just to collect money from the county?????check it out some time...
If you want to talk to anyone at Coquina, you need to call before 7:00 am. You can also sit on the Peavine, eventually someone will pass you with a piece of equipment. There's nobody in the office all day because they are all out working @@ That's what they told me.
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jaycee
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 01:29 am |
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| after numerous trys to get coquina on the phone,I went to their"Office"...of couse no one was there....however their road is well maintained,their grounds are mowed,they have huge piles of fill to fix roads....their equiptment was parked.and they have a nice building..and it looks like no one inhabits the place..what is this a front to imply they are there just to collect money from the county?????check it out some time...
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 12:05 am |
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designdiva wrote: Dragonlady....thanks for clarifying that for me...... I would then suggest that maybe you all get a petition signed by the majority of the land owners out there and go present to the commisioners and Paul May asking for their assistance with this..
And for all the naysyayers.....YES they chose to live out in the sticks just like I did BUT we are all taxpayers into the county coffers and should be able to recieve the same level of services as those closer to town...especially with regards to law enforcement and the way out of towners butcher their land on weekends with their 4x4's and what not.....We dont worry about the lack of law presence here as everyone knows we all have multiple guns here and you will be leaving in a body bag should you try to gain entrance here illegally...... Best of luck to you guys and gals out there.... I am on your side for sure........... Diva 
Diva, I agree with you , but all you have stated has been done so we now have 2 deputies for our area which includes ft drum also, whoa Paul Mays knows the issues out here it has been a fight for atleast 10 years now, as for the gates, the road is not a state road it is a county road , there at one tine was gates here, and you dont have to be an HOA to put up gates unless chobee is different from martin county with that issue...I have trash that lives to close to me they have been run out of everywhere else they have lived and now of course they are on the Viking, no surprise on that, we have had numerous meetings at different locations including my home, I also $itch slapped a woman for being down right stupid about it all she wanted to turn our wonderful woods into PB county, I told her to remove her yankee a$$ from my property or I was going to remove her my self, dont play the games.... Hopfully the market will turn around soon so I can sell and getthe He$$ out of here
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designdiva
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Posted: Sat Aug 2nd, 2008 04:21 pm |
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Dragonlady....thanks for clarifying that for me...... I would then suggest that maybe you all get a petition signed by the majority of the land owners out there and go present to the commisioners and Paul May asking for their assistance with this..
And for all the naysyayers.....YES they chose to live out in the sticks just like I did BUT we are all taxpayers into the county coffers and should be able to recieve the same level of services as those closer to town...especially with regards to law enforcement and the way out of towners butcher their land on weekends with their 4x4's and what not.....We dont worry about the lack of law presence here as everyone knows we all have multiple guns here and you will be leaving in a body bag should you try to gain entrance here illegally...... Best of luck to you guys and gals out there.... I am on your side for sure........... Diva
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Dragonlady
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Posted: Sat Aug 2nd, 2008 04:12 pm |
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designdiva wrote: Fla Girl...you can only gate your roads when you become a HOA....Go talk to Bill in planning and zoning about this.......Being an HOA is not a bad thing...IH is one and one of the reasons back in 96 I chose to buy land here and build vs the "praiire".Now after hearing all the horror stories I am SO GLAD I bought here...... Diva
The paved roads lead to the main State Park entrance. Somehow, I don't think the state would allow any blockage of those roads. I don't think we need gates. I just think we need a bit more law enforcement out here, especially on the weekends. Of course, if code enforcement took a ride around and did thier job, it would help a lot. I'm lucky, since I'm on the paved road, I don't have the problems that others out here do. My place is very quiet, I don't have problems with 4-wheelers, drunks, etc. Just an occasional lost soul looking for directions.
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designdiva
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Posted: Sat Aug 2nd, 2008 04:06 pm |
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| Fla Girl...you can only gate your roads when you become a HOA....Go talk to Bill in planning and zoning about this.......Being an HOA is not a bad thing...IH is one and one of the reasons back in 96 I chose to buy land here and build vs the "praiire".Now after hearing all the horror stories I am SO GLAD I bought here...... Diva
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Sat Aug 2nd, 2008 11:15 am |
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| The problem out here is to much riff-raff, there are not alot of eople here who make decent money most live from payday to payday, IF they have a job, there are some who still live in campers on the 2 mile with temp poles that the code enforcment has allowed to happen, I say we turn it into a gated sub- division just to keep out more riff-raff, not a home owners assoc by any means, this away we can keep out the un wanteds and our roads will not get trashed, also when someone builds we need to have something for here stating that if there construction causes damage to the roads they are responsible for fixing them correctly.....I also would add if you bring family out for the weekend and they ride atv`s they should pay a fee of somesort, only the people who own land here should be able to ride here....or as someone else had stated incorp had become our own little city, then we could get rid of the riff-raff for good and turn this place into decent country living, not paving the roads but bring them up to standards have electric gates at both sides with a keypad for park goers, and charge them for using our road to get to the park like an admitance fee of some sort, but again money would be the issue ,.....anyone have any ideas
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ideascubed
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Posted: Sat Aug 2nd, 2008 12:30 am |
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I'm confused by the road issues as well. I understood what we were buying into. It's rural land, after all. We bought into the Viking area a few years ago. Our taxes and assessments have gone up over 500% since then. The local papers claimed in 2003 that there would be road improvements in the Viking area (asphalt) to the tune of several million dollars. (The reason for the special assessments and higher taxes.) Then nothing happened with improving the roads. And nothing more in the papers.
I've read in the papers that Lorida was supposed to get a new racetrack. That the racetrack land was bought by one of central fla.'s theme parks and will be developed. I thought that might be the reason for the Viking's land sales and tax increases.
Rumor also has that the FBI that was looking into Palm Beach County commissioners misdeeds was looking into Okeechobee's administration, but that is just conjecture on a neighbor's part. I do wonder what they would find tho' if they went digging.
I, too, am frustrated by the incredible amounts we have paid for our taxes and really, there isn't much to show for it. Police and fire protection is practically nil. Perhaps it's time the Viking incorporated into a city. In Palm Beach County, Loxahatchee residents demanded an accounting of the tax monies collected prior to incorporating.
Thanks to everybody who posted information and updating us on everything that happens in the prairie!
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Thu Jul 31st, 2008 08:21 pm |
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Diva, Most is correct, but the county has the option to except them without maintence, I have spoke with the governors office, the attorney general and also frank adkins our state rep, the problem here is that coquia is a water control district, not suppose to do the roads, the county only excepted the deeds so they can enforce for ATV`s acting stupid and distroying what is left of the roads,
If you contact coquinas attorney, they are trying to fix the roads with the extra tax we are paying ot them, The problem lies with alot of the people out here dont care if the roads are not fixed, so trying to get people together is hard it has been tried time and time agaain most can not afford to pitch in for legal counsel,
ANYONE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO HELP SHOULD CONTACT TED HARRIS he has been working on this a while and is very up todate with alot... you can find his number in the book, Jaycee I would suggest that you contact him, he is a very nice old guy,
look at your deed to your home it states coquina has a 30ft easement to maintain ditchs for water control and no one has the right of way, with no right of way , meansn no one has legally excepted these roads P.S. Roads is not the commissioner for here, Noel chandler and ray domer are Just FYI
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designdiva
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Posted: Thu Jul 31st, 2008 05:28 pm |
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Dragonlady.....if someone was to mapquest your address would it show ??? I do believe that unplatted private roads are not required to be maintained by the county UNLESS those roads are deeded to the county..... I live in IH and our roads are "private" ..you cannot mapquest my address..i do not get mailed delivered to my door...i do not have garbage pickup in my front yard...have to haul it to garbage dumpsters...etc........... Until such time as IH decides to dedicate the " easements" to the county we are in charge of maintaining our own ingress/egress path..... Also how does 911 emergency know how to get to you ????? If I was in your area I believe I would take this letter to the COunty Adminstrator and have him ask Mr Cassells for a legal opinion with regards to this........ Let me know what happens.. Diva 
Hope all is well at the ponderosa.........
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jaycee
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Posted: Thu Jul 31st, 2008 04:12 pm |
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See no one knows who should take care of things here thats why we need to contact an attorney and get this settled...we all can talk all day but thats not getting us anyplace....If I had the money (a) I would get a truck of fill and have my road graded (b)contact a lawyer and get on everyones rear in this county till we found out who is responsible for "THE VIKINGS" the counties forgotten child(till tax time)...
If I knew how to go about it I would persue this myself..however I may contact Charlie Crist and see what he can do.....
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Dragonlady
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Posted: Thu Jul 31st, 2008 03:28 pm |
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jaycee wrote: I just got off phone with county administrator..(roads) he says our problems lay with coquena! not county...
What we noww need to do is get on them.....as a group and get them to do what they contracted to do.....
I personally would like to get a group of people out here to get with me and we seek legal action.....its only going to get worse if we don't....anyone interested?
It's just passing the buck. Unless something has changed, Charlie Crist offered a legal opinion on the problem in 2003. Crist, as Attorney General for the State of Florida, offered the following legal opinion. I'm not an attorney and I don't understand a lot of the legal stuff, but it sounds to me like the state is saying that unless the statute is changed, then Coquina has no legal authority to repair or maintain the roads. Any attorneys out there? Anyone know if the authority has legally changed?
Number: AGO 2003-49
Date: November 3, 2003
Subject: Water Control District, repair of roads
Mr. William Selmi, Jr.
Attorney for Coquina Water Control District
306 Northwest Fifth Street
Okeechobee, Florida 34972-2565
RE: WATER CONTROL DISTRICT–SPECIAL DISTRICTS–ROADS-in absence of statute authorizing district to maintain and repair roads, district may not generally exercise such authority. Ch. 298, Fla. Stat.; s. 298.22, Fla. Stat.
Dear Mr. Selmi:
On behalf of the Coquina Water Control District, you ask substantially the following question:
May a water control district operating under the authority of Chapter 298, Florida Statutes, maintain and improve roads within the district's boundaries?
According to your letter, the Coquina Water Control District was created pursuant to a circuit court decree rendered under the authority of Chapter 298, Florida Statutes.[1] The decree creates the drainage district as a public corporation "under and pursuant to and authorized by the aforesaid Chapter 298 of the Florida Statutes" and provides that the district "is hereby granted and vested with all rights, powers, duties, privileges, immunities and franchises specified and provided in said Chapter 298 of the Florida Statutes."[2]
You state that the district is part of the non-platted Viking Subdivision in Okeechobee County. While the area was largely uninhabited, more people have been moving into the area. As a result, the roads require improvement and maintenance; however, the county does not maintain the roads. The residents of the subdivision within the district have asked the water control district to maintain the roads. In light of the provisions of Chapter 298, Florida Statutes, you question whether the district possesses the authority to improve and maintain such roads and to obtain funding for such improvements and maintenance.
As an entity created pursuant to statute, the water control district may only exercise such powers as have been expressly granted by statute or must necessarily be exercised in order to carry out an express power, and any reasonable doubt as to the lawful existence of a particular power sought to be exercised must be resolved against the exercise thereof.[3]
Thus the powers of a water control district are measured by the terms of the statute under which it is organized and it can exercise no authority that has not clearly been granted it by the Legislature or which is necessarily implied from the powers conferred.[4] While an express power duly conferred may include the implied authority to use the means necessary to make the express power effective, such implied authority may not warrant the exercise of a substantive power not conferred.[5] Any implied power must be necessarily implied from a duty that is specifically or expressly imposed by statute.[6]
For example, in Attorney General Opinion 85-43, this office stated that in the absence of any statutory provision authorizing the Indiantown Water Control District to expend funds to take preventative measures against the incursion of citrus canker within the district, the water control district could not exercise such authority.
While some water control districts have been granted the authority by their enabling special acts to maintain roads,[7] it does not appear that the Coquina Water Control District has been granted powers in addition to those specified in Chapter 298, Florida Statutes. The Legislature in section 298.22, Florida Statutes, has set forth the powers that the board of supervisors of a water control district may exercise. An examination of that statute reveals that the activities delineated therein relate to the "drainage, protection and reclamation of the land in the district." The board is authorized to construct, complete, operate, maintain, repair and replace any and all works and improvements necessary to execute the water control plan for draining and reclaiming the lands from overflow or damage by water. Subsection (5) of the statute provides that the board may "construct roadways over levees and embankments."
Nowhere is the water control district authorized to expend monies to generally maintain and repair roads within the subdivision located within the district. While the district may determine that the maintenance of certain roads within the district, such as the roads it constructs over levees and embankments, is essential in order for the district to carry out its expressly authorized purpose, i.e., the drainage, protection and reclamation of the land in the district, the general maintenance and repair of roads within the district would appear to be outside the scope of Chapter 298, Florida Statutes. Moreover, the district's authority to levy taxes and issue bonds is limited to the purposes set forth in Chapter 298.[8]
Accordingly, I am of the opinion that in the absence of any statutory provision authorizing the Coquina Water Control District to expend funds to maintain and repair roads within the district, the water control district may not generally exercise such authority. The district, however, may wish to seek a legislative amendment to authorize the district to maintain and repair such roads within the district's boundaries.
Sincerely,
Charlie Crist
Attorney General
CC/tjw
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[1] See, s. 298.01, Fla. Stat., stating that it is the legislative intent that those water control districts established prior to July 1, 1980, pursuant to the process formerly continued in ss. 298.01, 298.02, and 298.03, may continue to operate as outlined in Ch. 298, Fla. Stat..
[2] See, Order, In re Southern Lakes Drainage District, No. 741 (19th Jud. Cir., Okeechobee Co., June 23, 1971), as modified by Order, In re Southern Lakes Drainage District, No. 741 (19th Jud. Cir., Okeechobee Co., October 10, 1973).
[3] See, Halifax Drainage District of Volusia County v. State, 185 So. 123, 129 (Fla.1938); State ex rel. Greenberg v. Florida State Board of Dentistry, 297 So. 2d 628 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974), cert. dismissed, 300 So. 2d 900 (Fla. 1974); City of Cape Coral v. GAC Utilities, Inc., of Florida, 281 So. 2d 493 (Fla. 1973).
[4] See generally, 28 C.J.S. Drains s. 12. And see, State ex rel. Vans Agnew v. Johnson, 150 So. 111 (Fla.1933), for the proposition that the powers of a water control district are restricted to those deemed essential by the Legislature to effect its purpose; Halifax Drainage District of Volusia County v. State, supra; State ex rel. Davis v. Jumper Creek Drainage District, 14 So. 2d 900 (Fla.1943), affirmed, 21 So. 2d 459 (Fla.1945); Rabin v. Lake Worth Drainage District, 82 So. 2d 353 (Fla.1955), cert. den., 350 U.S. 958 (1956); Roach v. Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District, 417 So. 2d 814 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982), affirmed, 421 So. 2d 49 (Fla. 1982), indicating that a water control district has only those powers which the Legislature has delegated to it by statute. Cf., Op. Att'y Gen. Fla. 83-44 (1983), concluding that the Florida Inland Navigation District does not have statutory authority to expend district monies to fund a special marine patrol troop, to provide funds on a matching basis and as outright grants for public information and education programs.
[5] Molwin Investment Co. v. Turner, 167 So. 33 (Fla.1936); Ops. Att'y Gen. Fla. 78-101 (1978), 78-94 (1978), and 75-299 (1975).
[6] See, Florida State University v. Jenkins, 323 So. 2d 597 (Fla. 1st DCA 1975); Op. Att'y Gen. Fla. 73-374 (1973).
[7] See, e.g., Ch. 81-481, Laws of Fla., creating the Flagler Estates Road and Water Control District (formally Sixteen Mile Creek Water Control District) as an independent special district created pursuant to Ch. 298, Fla. Stat., and authorizing the district, in addition to maintaining drainage improvements, to "maintain roadways and roads necessary and convenient for the exercise of the powers or duties or any of the powers or duties of said district" and to "maintain streets, roadways, and roads necessary and convenient to provide access to and efficient development of areas made suitable and available for cultivation, settlement, urban and suburban, and other beneficial use and development as a result of the drainage, irrigation and reclamation operations of the district." And see, Ch. 99-425, Laws of Fla., which sets forth the powers of the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District and provides that in addition to the powers provided in Ch. 298, Fla. Stat., the district has the authority:
"to maintain roadways and roads necessary and convenient for the exercise of the powers or duties . . . of the district or the supervisors thereof; and in furtherance of the purpose and intent of this act and chapter 298, Florida Statutes, to maintain roadways and roads necessary and convenient to provide access to and efficient development of areas made suitable and available for cultivation, settlement, and other beneficial use and development as a result of the reclamation operations of the district. . . ."
See also, Ch. 59-994, as amended by Ch. 89-462, creating the Northern Palm Beach County Water Control District and authorizing it "to construct, improve, pave and maintain roadways and roads" needed to access and develop those areas which are made suitable for settlement and development as a result of the operations of the district and to construct roads "for the exclusive use and benefit of a unit of development and its landowners, [and] residents," to "finance and maintain said roads and their associated elements as part of a water management plan," and to "construct and maintain security structures to control the use of said roads." Compare, s. 298.76(1), Fla. Stat., which states Ch. 298 is amended to provide that, pursuant to the authority granted the Legislature in Art. III, s. 11(a)(21), Fla. Const., there shall be no special law or general law of local application granting additional authority, powers, rights, or privileges to any water control district formed pursuant to this chapter, except this subsection shall not prohibit special or local legislation which, inter alia, authorizes the construction or maintenance of roads for agricultural purposes as outlined in this chapter.
[8] See, e.g., s. 298.305(2), Fla. Stat., authorizing the board of supervisors to issue bonds in accordance with s. 298.47, Fla. Stat., to pay the cost of the works and improvements described in the water control plan; s. 298.349, Fla. Stat., levying an acreage assessment for the payment of expenses incurred in making surveys of the lands in the district, assessing benefits and damages, and other expenses necessarily incurred.
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jaycee
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Posted: Thu Jul 31st, 2008 03:04 pm |
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I just got off phone with county administrator..(roads) he says our problems lay with coquena! not county...
What we noww need to do is get on them.....as a group and get them to do what they contracted to do.....
I personally would like to get a group of people out here to get with me and we seek legal action.....its only going to get worse if we don't....anyone interested?
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Thu Jul 31st, 2008 10:59 am |
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| FLTEACHER, I read the article,in which does not surprise me, I will tell all out here something, hang on to your shorts we are getting ready for a ride, due to these budget problems, and the price of fuel, we are going to see less and less done out here, The county will start going thru all the legal documents for the past few years to see what they can get out of being that the main person from Coquina is no longer with us
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flteacher
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Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 11:52 pm |
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| FYI: Article in today's Okeechobee News regarding the agreement between the county and Coquina concerning North Grade, the county does not want to continue maintaining the road.
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 11:22 pm |
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crackerjack wrote: why do you think the viking went undeveloped for all these years ? basicly because the land is worthless. You cant realy grow anything out there (but pot in a grow house mabe) and majority of the time it stays wet. Have you ever known someone trying to sell somthing to tell the absolute truth? Also if you notice going by all the roads out there that there are no culverts going across the roads to alow the water to flow. Instead it has to travel up the side of the road around the end and back down to the the main ditch running paralell with the pevine over and over again....
worse case you could always call FEMA
I live on the 101 side and the drainage here is fine, but like with this last month we have had over 18" of rain in 30 days, the core of engineers are the ones who tell coquina how much water can run thru the flood gates at a time to keep some one else from flooding or even flooding the farmers out, if you look at most roads peavine or 101 there are culverts that run under every road along the peavine and 101 then its taken to one of the larger canals whether its A,B,C,D and so on if the canals are full the water is not going to drain well, I remember about 8 years ago these roads had water during rainy season running like a river on top of the roads, the roads now are in good shape compared to then drainage wise, as for maintence you are correct they do need some help
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jaycee
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Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 05:33 pm |
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| Ha ha call fema....they don't even help hurricane victims!
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crackerjack
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Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 04:27 pm |
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why do you think the viking went undeveloped for all these years ? basicly because the land is worthless. You cant realy grow anything out there (but pot in a grow house mabe) and majority of the time it stays wet. Have you ever known someone trying to sell somthing to tell the absolute truth? Also if you notice going by all the roads out there that there are no culverts going across the roads to alow the water to flow. Instead it has to travel up the side of the road around the end and back down to the the main ditch running paralell with the pevine over and over again....
worse case you could always call FEMA
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 12:27 pm |
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| I dont want my road paved, I just want it maintained better, I wouldn't mind seeing the main roads paved like 1 mile through 5 mile, but the others they have gotten worse, and before long I will have to go strictly 4 wheel to all my vehicles to get down the road.
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unhappy Viking
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Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 12:21 pm |
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Yes I agree with you on this, we called coquina yesterday to find out why they aren't mowing. They blamed it on embarq, they said embarq had them stop mowing now does that make since to you.
I also noticed all the water just standing and not going anywhere, and its only going to get worse. Yes what is the big deal, they could drop off some dirt to help our roads, but the point is they don't care.
I love the country but I have been raised in country all my life and I have lived in low areas before also, the fact of the mater is if we had good management on what needs to be done things would be much better out here.
People say we knew what it was when we moved here well, it wasn't this bad its getting worse, and why do people just want to sit around and have nothing done about things that could be done to make a difference.
Just because we chose to live in the country doesn't mean we have to put up with bad road conditions, yes there are going to be some, but it shouldn't be this bad, but like I said before there isn't enough people speaking out at meetings if we are even still having meetings, and I haven't been able to find out where meetings are.
Which im still trying to find out, besides of having to try to catch it in newspaper which I don't get everyday
Are the meeting held in same place same time each month?
If there are meeting them please every body that has time to voice there opinion in here needs to get up and go to the meetings we need to get together on this not be cutting each other down on our opinions, lets get together and make this a better place for our children and us.
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FLA GIRL
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Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 10:02 am |
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