Published: Jun 30, 2018
The CEO's of two of Marion County's leading business-centric associations, the FTBOA and CEP, welcomed the news today of the receipt of a letter from Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Dew to numerous elected and community officials including Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn. The letter confirms that the highly controversial "Coastal Connector" proposed routes through some of the state's most prominent and valuable horse country would be postponed indefinitely.
"At this time, the Department will postpone the recommendations from the Coastal Connector planning study and increase our resolve to implement the I-75 task force recommendations. . ."
The FDOT letter comes one week following in-person meetings on June 22 in Tallahassee with FDOT Secretary Michael Dew and senior staff, as well as other government officials, with FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell, CEP President and CEO Kevin T. Sheilley, FTBOA past FTBOA president and road builder George Russell along with FTBOA lobbyist Matt Bryan.
"This is fantastic news for our community and industry," enthused Powell of the Ocala-based statewide FTBOA. "We cannot thank the Secretary and his senior staff enough for his quality time and consideration of our collective concerns during our visit. His appreciation for and understanding of the economic importance of the horse industry to our City, County and State made for a very cordial and productive discussion. We also want to thank the Governor and Agriculture Commissioner and their professional staffs for their considerable efforts and work with us."
"The postponing of these recommendations coupled with no funding and its complete absence from the 5-year plan effectively sidelines this project indefinitely. Opposing these connector routes in a politically-strategic and impactful fashion has been a top priority of FTBOA on behalf of our members and farms from the day they were unveiled this past spring and as outlined in our May 14 letter to the FDOT. I believe that message, as well as our immediate needs for our leadership, were bolstered by FTBOA and CEP working together as evidenced by this recent Tallahassee meeting," said Powell.
Powell continued, "From a governmental perspective, it makes a very powerful statement when you have the leading spokesmen and policy makers for the area's top equine industry sector as well the respected association charged with serving the City and County's business community and partners sitting down at the same Tallahassee table on the same page. We also really appreciate the CEP's Board of Directors joining the FTBOA in taking an official position of opposition of the Coastal Connector routes as proposed while highlighting the economic and jobs impact the equine industry has on Marion County. Both organizations are committed to joining elected officials and staff in working with FDOT and others."
"As one who served on the I-75 Relief Task Force, this renewed focus and investment on this integral transportation corridor is good news for our community and the local economy. It is equally exciting that our local $2.6 billion equine industry can now move forward confidently," said Sheilley, CEP President & CEO. "This process [for the Coastal Connector] worked as it should-FDOT brought forth ideas, the public was able to provide feedback, and the Department can now go back and use this information. We greatly appreciate the work of Secretary Dew and the Department and we are committed to partnering with them in the future along with our equine community and elected officials to ensure safe, viable transportation corridors."
"As a community, we know that great things can happen when we partner together. The CEP appreciates the leadership of FTBOA on this issue and partnering with us, the Department and our elected officials," added Sheilley.
Sheilley and Powell also commended the efforts of the County Commission and chair and vice-chair Kathy Bryant and Michelle Stone, Mayor Kent Guinn, Senator Dennis Baxley, Representative Stan McClain, Representative Charlie Stone and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam as well as numerous other members of the community and industry for their support in making every possible attempt to oppose these proposed Coastal Connector routes while offering to work with FDOT in the planning of possible future initiatives.
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