Letter from Governor

[jlawson435]

The Florida Department of Transportation leases the old bridge structures (at no cost) to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as a State Park.

We have contacted Peter Krulder, Park Manager and shared your concerns. Mr. Krulder provided the following summary:



“The day to day operation of the piers including the bait shops is privatized. There is a staff member on duty 24/7 to maintain the bathrooms and pick up trash. That individual starts at one end of either the north or south pier, completes that pier and then moves on to the other pier and completes cleaning that. Then he goes back and does it all over again. I have personally witnessed this myself on a busy night and seen that by the time he gets back to where it started it is a mess. The lights are an ongoing maintenance issue. The harsh conditions being right over the water result in a much shorter life span for the lights components and the wiring for the system. It requires the use of a 50’ lift to make many of the needed repairs and this can only be done during calm wind conditions. If you are familiar with the piers, you know that these conditions do not exist throughout most of the winter and spring months. I will be getting with the concession manager to address some of the citizen’s concerns.”



The future of the remaining Skyway Fishing Piers will be further discussed with local and state stakeholders over the next several years as decisions will be made for the best use of tax payer dollars.



Thank you for your suggestions and if you have further concerns, please contact Jim Jacobsen, P.E., Assistant District Structures Maintenance Engineer at [e-mail] or 813-975-7586.



Sincerely,



Donald J. Skelton, P.E.

District Seven Secretary

Florida Department of Transportation

[jlawson435]

So after reading this The future of the remaining Skyway Fishing Piers will be further discussed with local and state stakeholders over the next several years as decisions will be made for the best use of tax payer dollars.

you know they will say the best use of tax dollars in this case is to let let fall down and close it. After all how many politicans go out and fish the piers. They don't look at it as a tourisum spot and how it could be used and promoted. They will probally go and do something stupid with the tax money some good old buddy of theirs and then sit back and tell you how great it is and that old fishing pier no body wanted or used it. It was just an eye sore and now look at this beautiful park or shopping center we have given you. That no one will go to but it's nice

[montylfl]

nice post.

I think it is time we all have some fun. Mr Skelton was kind enough to leave his number. I say we make April 1 2011 call the fool day ops i mean call mr skelton day.

Let's bombard his v-mail with all our concerns about the state of disrepair of the pier.

[dadflyer]

to : Peter Krulder, Park Manager

Re:

The lights are an ongoing maintenance issue. The harsh conditions being right over the water result in a much shorter life span for the lights components and the wiring for the system. It requires the use of a 50’ lift to make many of the needed repairs and this can only be done during calm wind conditions. If you are familiar with the piers, you know that these conditions do not exist throughout most of the winter and spring months

I would suggest a subscription to "Triton RADAR ", available on commercial channel TV , as they seem to know ,days in advance, of ' foggey days '(read as :no wind).

DADFLYER

[eaglesfanguy]

Yea they will properly distribute the funds........... into there pockets.

or maybe they will repave the sidewalks of the friendship trail at Gandy.......... thats been closed for 3 years.

oh wait....... Someone just did that.