Letter: APAC asphalt plant draws renewed interest
Teresa Doyle
Publication Date: 01/30/08
Editor: Our current county commissioners inherited many daunting and multifaceted issues from the previous board, some of which may take years to resolve.
One of the most frustrating, in our opinion, is the placement of the APAC asphalt plant on State Road 207. This plant is located in a community comprised of Osceola Elementary School, St. Augustine Little League fields, Williams-Young housing for developmentally disabled adults, Southern Villas, subsidized housing for the elderly, St. Augustine Health & Rehab Center, a nursing home, and many blocks of single-family residences located behind and adjacent to the plant.
Last week without fanfare or political posturing two of our county commissioners demonstrated their leadership ability by writing to the ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) in Atlanta requesting a public health assessment of the affected community.
These commissioners received reports from neighbors and business owners' of increased incidences of upper respiratory distress, shortness of breath, pink eye, skin irritations, headaches, dizziness and nausea ever since the plant commenced operations and as their representatives took action.
County Commission Chairman Tom Manuel and Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson, vice-chair, listened to the people and more importantly showed their genuine concern for the health and wellbeing of these residents.
These commissioners have shown the citizens of St. Johns County that district lines do not matter, that voices are heard and that "we the people" does work.
Teresa Doyle
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