Citizens Bombard County Commission with More Calls to Deny Mosaic Expansion

Thursday's meeting had to be continued because so many citizens had signed up to give public comment against the application that the board could not hear them all, despite a full day dedicated to the item. In the second day of testimony delivered to the Manatee County Commission from concerned citizens stating why any further phosphate mining should not be allowed in east Manatee, board members got more of the same. In addition, more than 1,200 emails showered the commission over the weekend with 95 percent of them requesting commissioners to deny a zoning change and Resolution for a Master Mining Plan to mine 4,341 acres.

Of the 114 signed up to speak, 94 were against the proposed request and 10 were in favor (five of which were employees, three who were heads of organizations that receive annual donations from Mosaic and two neighbors). The level of professional expertise that accompanied the presented arguments were on a level not seen in the almost six years I have been covering the BOCC, save possibly the Long Bar Pointe controversy.

Scientists specializing in hydrology, geology, earth sciences, environmental sciences, economic professors and mechanical engineers, all knowledgeable of the process and repercussions of mining phosphate gave public comment to the board.

Monday's meeting started out where Thursday's meeting left off and continued with more than five hours of dialog; not counting a 90-minute lunch break. The county staff had recommend approval of Mosaic's application, but the enormous number of professionals opposing the plan cited errors in their math and interpretation of the Comprehensive Plan and land development codes.

Attorneys cited case law and the principals used by the mining company to conclude their reasons for special approvals and excuses to destroy wetlands. Citizens were also at the top of their game. They came with regulatory documents stating compliance errors that led to the recent sinkhole disaster at the Mulberry phosphate facility in Hillsborough County, and some citizens revealed citations for Mosaic's failure to file the necessary reports.

One would have to watch the video for the story that is told by the looks on the faces of the commissioners as the public slammed many of the phosphate company's claims. Not since Long Bar's epic meeting had there been so many challenging an applicant's testimony.

While a people power fueled victory seemed eminent, despite the phosphate giant's record of getting their way, the long roll call of speakers again led to the meeting being adjourned well past 5 p.m. without board discussion or a vote having been made. Hence, the meeting was again continued, this time to February 15, 2017, at 9 a.m., at which point proceedings will be wrapped up and the vote will be taken.