Commentary by Linda Dean Cooper
The liberal mob continues to attack local farmer Ryan Thomas with lies and disinformation through social media and liberal news outlets just weeks before his February 6 continuance of his public hearing for his sand-digging permit. Who’s next when they finish with Thomas? Will it be the companies that build roads or concrete plants that provide cement for building homes or another farmer? It never stops with these radical libs. The liberals ignore the facts and spin the truth to meet whatever fits their current agenda. They will throw tantrums in public that would turn a toddler’s head to get their way.
The woke mob’s method of operation is to scream, lie, rant, and rave to achieve their goal. The local liberals have joined up with the University of Florida “stargazers” to whine about dust and light pollution at the Rosemary Hill observatory. Dust is a by-product of farming, especially peanut farming. Why can’t the brightest and smartest UF faculty and students find a way to protect Rosemary Hill observatory equipment if it truly needs protection? UF pays no taxes for any of the Levy properties they own including two prime waterfront properties in Cedar Key and another 78 acres donated in the ’60s for the observatory.
Regarding light pollution, the sand pit would not operate on weekends or after 6 PM so very little to no light pollution. Buffers and water systems are required to minimize the dust from the digging. When land is cultivated, there will be dust. Ever seen a peanut crop being harvested? Lots of dust. Do those complaining liberals and UF want us to stop peanut farming or driving on lime rock roads to end the evil spread of dust?
Lies and Distortion of the Truth by Liberals
A paragraph from an online story circulating about the sand pit says that “ a county map was sent to Thomas’ neighbor that shows that Levy County Coordinator Wilbur Dean owns the land that would be part of the sand mine.” WRONG! If you look at the Levy County Property Appraiser website it clearly shows Dean sold that property to Thomas in 2005. It’s all public information. Why lie? It doesn’t fit their narrative, that’s why. The problem may have been with staff sending out erroneous information if an inaccurate map was mailed to residents. If so, Dean should address that issue with his staff.
Another misconception thrown around at the December hearing was that only one person benefited from this sand pit. WRONG. Another untruth. Independent truck drivers with CDLs haul sand to homebuilders, cement plants, and road-building contractors. Many dump trucks are locally and independently owned and operated. They pay their fair share of road taxes. They pay $500 annually in federal heavy highway use tax, $1,000 or more for an annual tag, $35 overweight vehicle blanket permit, an annual $240 specified blanket permit, $24.3 on every gallon of fuel federal tax, plus state fuel tax and I’m sure county fuel tax. They pay for the roads they use.
Another interesting fact that came out in the public hearing is that the county planning staff stated they mailed TWO letters to 2,800 residents within a two-mile radius concerning the sand pit, NOT FOUR. BUT residents received four letters. Two of those letters were not from the county. Someone went through a lot of time, expense, and trouble to misrepresent themselves as the county planning department to gaslight the residents.
Bronson resident Robbie Blake publicly attacked Commissioner Mills with falsehoods and innuendos during public comments that Mills refuted. The No Sand Mine FB page had Commissioner Mills as Williston alumni. WRONG. Mills is a Bronson native who graduated from Bronson High School. Thomas is a Williston alumni so I can only assume the FB group was trying to connect the two for nefarious reasons. That FB post is no longer available.
The whiny libs will have a meltdown should Thomas sell out to developers to build 1,000s of homes instead of growing peanuts and watermelons. How will the UF observatory like all the lime rock road dust and light pollution from the 1,000s of new homeowners? Then there’s the issue of the water supply and septic pollution from the new homes. Peanut farming and digging sand doesn’t sound so bad now, does it?
Thomas met all the criteria set by the federal and state government agencies as well as the county’s additional requirements imposed on him, but the commission did not have the backbone to do their job at the December 6, 2023, public hearing. The BoCC has another chance on February 6, 9:00 am regular meeting to get it right and do its job properly and legally, and approve the permit.
If you dislike farmers, hunters, truck drivers, guns, religion, conservative values, or the rural life we love here in Levy County, please move and take a friend. Move to Alachua County, or better yet, north of the Mason/Dixon line!
I have a lot more to say, this is only a warm-up piece.
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Posted January 4, 2023
