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Source: Associated Press
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Head of Spill Response Visits Tyndall
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Sallie Mae Employees to Possibly Work for BP
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Coastal Community Bank Taken Over by FDIC, Arkansas Bank
Source: FDIC
Panama City Police Searching for Burglary Suspects
Source: Panama City Police Department
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A public works project stands in the way of boating for several residents on the Massalina Bayou. For years, dirt and sediment has built up at the bottom of the bayou, blocking many residents from using their docks. Now, their hopes are high as they reach one step closer to a dredging project they say will help.
“It’s been a fantastic place to live and I have had very little difficulty up until recently operating my boat,” said Joe Pospisil, “I think that over the years, the silting up of bayous has probably contributed to things not being quite as healthy in the bay.”
He’s one of many residents who remember the bayou very differently.
“Until several years ago almost everyone here on the bayou could operate their boat,” he said.
The dirt and runoff adds up despite a previous dredging project in 1997. Workers came back in 2001 and installed new piping intended to help, but residents say they only cause more wash-out. Requests for projects in 2007 were rejected because of budgetary concerns.
“There are some people that are very frustrated and downright angry but we also understand that there are financial issues the city has to deal with,” said Pospisil.
Those residents showed up at the Panama City Commission meeting Tuesday to explain their issues. City leaders say they are requesting priority for the project and considering alternative solutions.
“I’m glad the ball is rolling,” said Pospisil. With 10 other dredging projects on the list, Public Works Director Neil Fravel says they are meeting with an engineering firm Friday, and addressing the Massalina issues.
“There’s a lot of people that believe that there are other projects that would benefit more people,” said Pospisil, “my response to that is, keeping these bayous healthy and keeping the bay healthy benefits all of Panama City.”
Fravel says it could be two years before dredging gets started, and they are also considering policy to have residents pitch in for the finances. Pospisil and others say they wouldn’t mind paying for parts of the project.
Joe Pospisil said “He’s one of many residents who remember the bayou very differently. ‘Until several years ago almost everyone here on the bayou could operate their boat,’. . . ” Sorry Joe, but having lived in the Cove beginning in 1935, and at 366 Massalina Drive beginning in WW-II, I do not agree. The topographic map of the area circa 1950, shows only two docks in “Sudduth’s First Addition to PC”, Blocks 17, 19; 20 areas. One was the Raffield Boat Dock off Block 20 Lots 17 or 18 at the “point”, and a small boat dock in Block 20 off lots 13 or 14. The head of Massalina Bayou in the Blocks 17, 19; 20 area was very shallow circa 1950, even mud flats at low tide. The area seems to be returning to its natural state before any dredging was ever done there. Sorry!
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I wrote “One was the Raffield Boat Dock off Block 20 Lots 17 or 18 at the “point”. It may have been the Knowles Boat Dock. I graduated from Cove Grammer School with both Bille Jeann Knowles and Ann Raffied in 1948.