WAFC Local News – June 05, 2026, 8:32 AM
Transcript
I’m Charles Murphy reporting. Henry County agreed to study a 10 acre site on Riverview Drive located in Glades County for a boat ramp. The land is owned by South Florida Water Management District. It’s an old nature park and has parking. Nearby residents, though, objected to the traffic problems the facility might cause. Labelle Commissioner Jackie Radica would like more details. Of approximately how many boat slips are we going to have there? Where the whole design is going to be so everybody can see what it’s going to look like. Is it going to be called the Henry County boat ramp? Because it’s going to be in Glades County. So that’s going to that draws that. What are we doing with the other existing boat ramp? Richard Delotta says it’s already dangerous on that road. You’re not dealing with standard passenger vehicles. You’re dealing with trucks pulling boat trailers, many of which will need to exit River Bend Drive and turn left onto State Road 29. That maneuver is already difficult. The South Florida Water Management District approved a payment for environmental services of just under 1.67 million to Mudge Ranch in Glades County. The 300 acre project is retaining water and runoff from the West Colusa Hatchie Basin on private property. They can store 630 acre feet of water every year on the ranch. Gil Smart says they’re not getting anywhere with water quality improvements despite these projects. Three decades after the cleanup effort began, the state’s own data shows a gaping divide between recent phosphorus pollution levels and the legally mandated water quality based effluent limit or WQL for water entering the Everglades. Kayla Newkamp says the Mudge Ranch is a good deal for everyone. By compensating landowners for storing water and reducing nutrients, the district can expand capacity in the northern Everglades without the time and expense of full public land acquisition or large scale infrastructure. Allie Pesena also thinks the Mudge Ranch deal will help water quality. We know we need more storage within the Colusa Hatchie watershed, and we are very excited to see the potential amazing nutrient reduction that would come from this. The South Bay City Commission approved a new travel policy that creates a budget for travel for each commissioner. This year, the city has got a total budget of $33,000 for official city business. The allotment for food would be $55 per day. The city will not pay for first class airfare. If a commissioner exceeds their budget for that year, they must get approval of the city commission as a whole to attend that event. Commissioner Barbara King questioned the policy, saying she will continue her crusade to improve local government. My role as a commissioner is to ask questions, review policies, examine finance and speak when I believe improvements are needed. That is not conflict. That is accountability. She says she thinks she’s being singled out. I just find it strange that all of a sudden, after my request, now a policy wants to be put in place. Mayor Joe Kyle says this gives the commission another route if they want to travel on city business. The manager can’t deny it. He can only say the money is not there in the budget. But you still have the right to come before this commission here and ask for your request in reference to attending that particular conference. During the budget process this summer, they’re expected to have a specified allocation for each commissioner to ensure greater clarity, equity and planning for attendance at conferences, trainings and other official engagements that benefit the city. I’m Charles Murphy, WAFC News.
Recorded from the WAFC daily newscast (Glades Media).