Since this episode began, the Gateway Golf & Country Club has refused to admit they damaged Wetland 47 and have even suggested there was no violation at all. Easy for them to do when they are not holding the permit of the land, the residents are. And, when the agency regulating the permit tells us it was damaged and we are about to be fined. So I did what any on-the-ball reporter would do. I tried to get the truth from the horses mouth. I must continue to bring justice to the people of Gateway and America-at-large. As you'll see, SFWMD attorney Douglas MacLaughlin mistakenly calls me Mr. Ryan giving me much more respect than I derserve. Feeling all chest-puffy from my new and respectful friend, I got right to the heart of my querry. I asked him to tell me point blank whether there was a violation, because I told him, the Country Club is calling you a liar. Well, I didn't really tell him that, but I wanted to. Here is his response.
Mr. Ryan:
The South Florida Water Management District would not initiate an enforcement action unless it had evidence that a violation had taken place. In this case work had been done adversely impacting an area that was to be preserved as mitigation for impacts allowed under a permit for a development. This activity is a violation as described under Section 373.430(1)(a) and (b), Fla. Stat.
Douglas MacLaughlin
Attorney for the South Florida Water Management
District (561-682-2153)
