There they go again!

[76 diesel]

 NO major improvements and stop spending unless it's an emergency is a great idea, especially at a time the economy is in the dumpster and we see money being wasted on such things as more stop signs and giant speed bumps.

  All you folks that say you are willing to pay more, you moved into a swamp  then you  become worried about flooding and want everyone to pay more to fix the problem.  You should have worried about flooding before you moved in here. 

We live on a fixed income and struggle to buy food, gas, and pay utilities, the last thing we need is another increase in taxes.

Read my lips, NO NEW TAXES!

[pleeman]

Welcome Diesel,

We are open to everyone's opinion here but you have to remember that paying a little extra now might mean:

1. Avoiding a catastrophe like New Orleans or Iowa.

2. If we fix it before new flood maps are drawn we may not have to get flood insurance

3. Right now we pay to dredge dirt out of the creek which is like shoveling money out the door

4. The way the local government is set up is to elect people who will do right by us, these people have vision and foresight,
they are trying to SAVE you money in the long run which if you had vision and foresight you could see.

5. The plan also has paving so that emergency vehicles can make it to EVERYBODY!

6. Why did you move somewhere that could have a local government charge you more to make things better?


 

[LittleOne]

Why did you move somewhere that could have a local government charge you more to make things better?

Unfortunately no one knows the mental caliber of the governing body when they purchase property out here.

[76 diesel]

I've been here for over 10 years and I knew it was a swamp but  I moved here because it was cheap and I was escaping just what is happening here now.  You are so eager to pay more in the name of safety but what you are doing is opening the door to a slippery slope. 

Where I came from taxes were very low, $300.00 per year but then more and more people moved in and wanted this, that and the other and within an 8 year period taxes went up over two thousand dollars.  That was over 10 years ago, today that has grown to well over three thousand. 

You have a good thing going here now don't screw it up for everyone in the name of safety.  You knew this was a swamp when you moved here, don't try changing mother nature now.  Its amazing how people will buy a house near an airport then complain about  the noise.  If you and the others are that concerned about flooding then go door to door asking residents for a donation to fix the problem but don't strap us with new taxes that will just increase every year because someday it might flood. 

You mentioned flooding in Iowa, they did the same thing years ago in the name of safety and spent millions to build levies.  What happen, the levies broke and flooded the city anyway.  Don't try changing mother nature!

P.S. You are located in a swamp I suggest flood insurance is a good idea whether its required or not.

[pleeman]

Well Diesel since you know the drill where to next?

You know progress only picks up steam... as babyboomers get sick of South Florida charging 6 grand for a quarter acre in taxes and 4 grand for insurance pretty soon the "swamp" starts sounding good!

Only problem is when enough people move into F.E. pretty soon the groundwater may not be able to handle the sewage load. Yes that means you could be showering in your neighbors waste!

The people who make the laws in Tallahassee in their infinite wisdom thought to take rural communities such as this and give them a self governing body to do right by the people now and to come.

They are paid by us and most live here too. I salute you for being a long timer, you may have seen the best years this place had to offer as YOU like them, but consider those who welcome the winds of change

rather than your 10 year old septic breeze!  Property values will naturally eventually increase and fund your next move, but when you can have a acre + and a livable structure for under 150K you can't

expect 

to keep this a secret forever. Be glad you bought in for 2-5 grand a lot and take your profits. Its not personal - just business.

 

[76 diesel]

"Well Diesel since you know the drill where to next?"

If people really want to move into a swamp and a boom is expected then double or triple the impact fee.  But with Democrats in charge of the U.S. Congress 7-10 dollar gas will become a reality in the near future all in the name of global warming.  With high fuel prices, increasing unemployment, a weak dollar, and  out of control inflation, a weakening economy will only become weaker and hard times may result for several years.  A weak economy will slow FE growth so a wait and see approach at this time would be wise. 

[sweetpea]

If people really want to move into a swamp and a boom is expected then double or triple the impact fee. 

Diesel,

The impact fee has already gone up at least twice that I know of for moving out here.

We didn't move out here because it was  a swamp or cheap.

We moved here because this area offers more than being in St. Augustine or Flagler Beach. I came here from Flagler Beach when Palm Coast began to get a little 'too big' for her britches. I've lived in town, St. Augustine too. Not either for me. I'm a 'country' gal and that's what I like about here. I can sneeze in my home with the windows open and my neighbors don't hear me and say "God Bless You"!!!  I along with many other families out here like privacy, the 'woodsy' look. I also like growing my own food, some is grown in the dirt some are not.

This isn't a swamp technically the area is called FLATWOODS. Big difference. Swamps are covered with water, have no drainage, tons of mosquito's, alligators you name it. Flatwoods only flood occasionally. Out of the years I've been here, I've only seen it flood twice...Both times due to hurricanes of which we have no control over.

The people along the Mississippi never thought they'd flood. But seems to me that if you live in an area lower than the level of the water, there's gonna be a problem sooner or later. Same thing with New Orleans, LA, Biluxie, MS, parts of Alabama all due to hurricane Katrina. There 90% of the land was well below sea level and had been sinking for decades!!!

We've both been here a long time...Heck I shouldn't care about the people and the homes here that got flooded in the past, but I do. I wasn't flooded, just some parts of my yard, but technically we were high and dry!!

This isn't about you or me,,,,it's about what's best for everyone who lives here, swamp or not!.

As for us, belt tightening, refining my budget....all mean I can stay here.  At least I can see where my taxes go in FE.

Want to rebuke something stupid??? Well, then we all need to get on the bandwagon to get the charge off of our taxes that pays for St. Augustine to have CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FOR 8 WEEKS!

~Nanette

[76 diesel]

Nanette

Rather than raise your, mine, and the other long time FE residents taxes why not double or triple the impact fee.  The few that are worried about septic overload, flooding, and what ever else, let those people that are causing the problem  pay the price, the new arrivals.  There are new houses here where folks move in thinking its utopia, they clear the land, develop it then decide its not for them and walk away leaving it empty and open to vandals.  The house remains empty only to see  another new house pop up across the street.  If FE needs money triple the impact fee because these new houses are putting the greatest impact on FE.

By the way, FLATWOODS is just a politically correct word for swamp.

[pleeman]

Flatwoods - Areas in the coastal plain that lie in broad interstream divides where natural drainage systems are poorly developed.

I found this on the web.

 

[Jasmine]

FYI,

Impact fees charged by the County CAN NOT be utilized in Flagler Estates to give us better roads or fix our drainage issues . They have to be used on improvements such as resurfacing CR 13, which they did, and Building a Community Center on County owned land within FE, which they are going to do.  There are strict guidelines on how those funds can be utilized & disbursed throughout the county.

For more info on impact fees call St Johns County.

When the County funds a project that will help the FE Community we don't ask them what bank account it came from. We ask them How much money do they have for us, How the money has to be spent to help FE, and tell them "Thank You Very Much" for helping the FE Community.

[Tsikes]

All the time wated complaining on the net about the increase for $126, you must bored with nothing else to do...
And by the way long timers quit littering...

[76 diesel]

All the time wated complaining on the net about the increase for $126, you must bored with nothing else to do...
And by the way long timers quit littering...

$126. doesn't sound like much but they will want more next year, and the year after that and so it goes. 

What makes you think its the long timers that are littering?

[76 diesel]

FYI,

Impact fees charged by the County CAN NOT be utilized in Flagler Estates to give us better roads or fix our drainage issues .

If impact fees can't be used in FE then there is a rule that needs changing!

[Tsikes]

Old timers that live around me litter, if they don't their kids do .I pick up litter on my street the following week usually the same 2 mountain dew"spit bottles" reappear, few bud light bottles. empty cigarette pack and cups, also I notice the Mac Donalds trash usually gets dumped alond Cracker swamp and 204...When driving out from St.Augustine it's easy to find ya out here follow path of trash...There might be more liter out here than West King, great job taking care of the land guys...
 I just can't stand by and say nothing, I know they're are some people out here that care, but the abundance of people who don't, bring shame to them selves and they will reap no reward...Most of the time good things don't happen to bad people.
 I did my share of picking up litter along Cracker swamp and all around my area, but a week later it's back,  proud americans, probably not..

[pleeman]

Thanks Todd I know you have not had much to say on the assessment issue.

And rather than beat a dead horse you are picking up litter.

Fine example of leading with your spirit.

Godspeed!

 

[burrdrywall]

All the time wated complaining on the net about the increase for $126, you must bored with nothing else to do...
And by the way long timers quit littering...

$126. doesn't sound like much but they will want more next year, and the year after that and so it goes. 

 i believe  76 diesel  is right on point with this comment  we will not forget the $126 increase

[sweetpea]

Old timers that live around me litter, if they don't their kids do .I pick up litter on my street the following week usually the same 2 mountain dew"spit bottles" reappear, few bud light bottles. empty cigarette pack and cups, also I notice the Mac Donalds trash usually gets dumped alond Cracker swamp and 204...When driving out from St.Augustine it's easy to find ya out here follow path of trash...There might be more liter out here than West King, great job taking care of the land guys...
 I just can't stand by and say nothing, I know they're are some people out here that care, but the abundance of people who don't, bring shame to them selves and they will reap no reward...Most of the time good things don't happen to bad people.
 I did my share of picking up litter along Cracker swamp and all around my area, but a week later it's back,  proud americans, probably not..

Tsikes,
I am truly sorry you have SLOBS for neighbors...most of us FE 'old' timers DON'T litter because we remember why we came here...the pristene beauty of the woods. But, thank you for cleaning up an 'eye sore'. As for 204 and Crackerswamp, the county does have inmate 'road' crews that clean up the trash from the roads along with you.  It's really a shame that people feel the need to dump their trash out the windows of their vehicles instead of taking it home.
~Nanette

[4wheelingbrat]

FYI,

Impact fees charged by the County CAN NOT be utilized in Flagler Estates to give us better roads or fix our drainage issues .

If impact fees can't be used in FE then there is a rule that needs changing!

I think you need to re-read the post......what was stated was that impact fees can not be used for the roads and drainage in FE.