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EDITORIAL QUESTIONS ACCURACY IN SENTINEL REPORTING ABOUT LAKE STUDY - 1/17/07

W O TIMES EDITORIAL ASKS WHY DOES THE SENTINEL WANT WINDERMERE ON SEWER? 08/01/07

WINDERMERE AND COUNTY SETTLE DOCK DISPUTE- 06/09/09

WINDERMERE FACES TWO COURT CHALLENGES- 07/01/09

READY MARKET UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT - 07/22/09

WINDERMERE HOLDS TAX RATE AND JULY COUNCIL RESULTS- 07/14/09

CONTINUED RAIN BRINGS FLOODING AND AUGUST COUNCIL RESULTS- 08/11/09

LOOKING AT OUTSOURCING BUILDING PERMITS AND SEPT COUNCIL RESULTS- 09/08/09

BUYER OF DOWNTOWN DISCUSSES PLANS - 10/14/09



News: Top Stories Azzouz sells land, cancels his plans for downtown Windermere By Kathy Aber Jim Karr, a 39-year Windermere resident, and a business partner, Jim Gissy of Cypress Point, have purchased a major portion of Windermere’s downtown business district from Kevin Azzouz of Kosta Holdings. The price was not disclosed, and Azzouz was not available for comment. In his original PUD request submitted in December 2006, Azzouz had proposed a 63,000-square-foot development project called Main Street Shoppes. The size and scope of the project was controversial and unpopular with many town residents who said it was not scaled for Windermere and would bring too much additional traffic. Azzouz had scaled it back to 50,000 square feet, rejecting a Town Council request to reduce the PUD further to 30,000 square feet. Negotiations between the town and Azzouz on a final developer’s agreement have been at a standstill for more than a year. “Our scale will be a lot less than the previous developer’s proposal,” Karr told The West Orange Times on Monday. Although the partners have no definite development plans at present, Karr said he would like to see something that supports the needs of the local people. “I’d like a decent full-service restaurant, a bank and a hardware store,” he said. Karr, who lives on Second Avenue, is the owner of Land Plus, a commercial real estate company with offices in the Suzi Karr Realty building at Sixth and Main streets in Windermere. He and his partner plan to develop the property themselves. Karr said they have only briefly reviewed the town’s PUD ordinance and speculated that they might use some of Azzouz’s plans but “may do it all over again ourselves.” “We’ll study what makes sense. It’s premature to have any game plan,” said Karr. The lease arrangements with the current property tenants will continue for the foreseeable future. No one has been asked to move, Karr said. The land deal includes approximately four acres along Main Street and Oakdale Street that currently has 19,480 square feet of mixed-use development. The properties include the Suzi Karr Realty office, the former Windermere Union Church, residential lots on Oakdale behind the business district, a former dentist office and the McMurtrey building. Town Manager Cecilia Bernier told the Times that Azzouz still owes $38,000 in developer’s fees. “Before anything can happen on this property that has to be paid,” said Bernier. She said Karr had talked to her briefly about buying the property and is aware of the bill. Karr told Bernier the development would be smaller and in keeping with the town. According to Karr, Windermere Baptist Church has expressed interest in purchasing the former Windermere Union Church property. “We’ve offered it to them, and they’re considering it now,” said Karr. “I think they’d like to do a study to see if it makes sense before putting it to the congregation.” Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn told the Times: “The town residents consistently sent a message that what was proposed was going to have a dramatic impact to traffic and their quality of life. I’m sure Mr. Karr will work with the town’s elected officials whenever he decides to move forward so that the development is something we can all appreciate. I believe having an owner who has lived in this town all of their life is someone who will have an understanding of what is appropriate for our downtown.” “I think the sale of the Windermere downtown district property to a resident of the town will be a very positive thing,” said Town Council Member Cecil Robinson. “I am hopeful that when the property is developed, the character of our small town will be preserved.” Former Town Council Member Jennifer Roper, who was in favor of limiting the Azzouz plan to 30,000 square feet, said this week: “I wouldn’t say I am thrilled about the sale of the downtown property to another developer, although I was pleased to hear that the buyer is a lifelong resident of Windermere. I am very happy, though, that construction never began and we were saved from having a partially built project.” Town Council Member Richard Irwin said Monday he is very pleased longtime town resident Jim Karr was able to acquire the downtown property. “Jim knows our community and has a personal relationship with town residents, which are critical for the approval of this project,” said Irwin.

	News: Top Stories Windermere looks at outsourcing building permits process By Kathy Aber Orange County currently issues building permits for Windermere and handles inspections during construction. The process can be cumbersome and confusing for residents and contractors and often has created unnecessary time delays. Since January, the Town Council has been amending its ordinances to allow it to look to other contractors to administer these services. At its meeting last Tuesday, the council unanimously approved a Request for Qualifications for building inspection services. The RFQ will be advertised next week, and the council plans to consider a short list of qualified providers at its November meeting. Applicants may also be interviewed at that time. The council could decide to continue its contract with Orange County for building permits and inspections, or it could opt to use another municipality or a private company to handle this work. The town’s contract with Orange County has a 90-day termination clause, so ample notice would be required if Windermere decides on another provider. The scope of services includes providing a licensed building official and other inspection and plan review staff to administer building permit application review and building inspection services, as well as salaries, wages and compensation for these employees. After a provider is selected, a contract for fees and compensation would be negotiated. No additional town staff is anticipated, and the council would set the building permit fees. In other business, the town council: • approved a request by the Parks and Recreation Committee to purchase additional banners for the downtown business district. • agreed to allow beer and wine to be served outside the Ready Market for the Arts and Crafts Fall Festival on Oct. 24. • heard a final report from John Fitzgibbon on the STAG grant drainage work that was done in Johnson Park. He also reported that work will continue at Oakdale Street at First Avenue and at Twelfth Avenue under an HMGP grant. • issued a proclamation honoring Roberto Sanchez, a town employee, for 25 years of service. • recognized the week of Sept. 17 as Constitution Week. • declared Sept. 8 as a Day to Honor America’s First Responders.

		News: Top Stories Continued rain brings flooding to Windermere By Kathy Aber “Houses are flooded…streets are flooded…phones are ringing all the time,” Town Manager Cecilia Bernier told the Windermere Town Council last Tuesday. “This is a huge issue we all need to sit down and talk about. We don’t know who to go to first.” Bernier prepared a map and report for the elected officials that showed major stormwater improvements that have been completed recently with grant funding and 16 other areas in town where untreated stormwater flows directly into the lakes. These areas have been identified for future work that currently is not funded. The map also highlighted 10 new areas with chronic drainage problems after several months of consistent and heavy rainfall. Some of these locations have had continual stormwater issues for many years, and others are new areas recently identified by either staff or residents, the town manager said. In some cases, there are maintenance issues and the town needs to open and clean out older culverts and swales so they function optimally. Bernier said old pipes are mostly undersized and need to be replaced. She explained the town does not have the ability or the funds to fix all the newly flooded areas with the continuous and almost daily heavy downpours. Bernier gave the council an overview of several areas of immediate concern. After a steady rain, water has been coming close to the front door of a home on Bayshore Drive. She said “a very preliminary” estimate for an interim fix involves obtaining two easements, creating swales in the right-of-way and constructing an inverted “v” driveway at a cost of approximately $10,000. At a residence on Lake Butler Boulevard, Bernier said, the rainwater has flowed down through the house from the front door to the rear. At times, the water has been “knee deep” on Forest Street between First and Second avenues. And “at Pine and First streets, there is an unbelievable amount of water there,” said the town manager. Also on the list of recent drainage concerns are: • Oakdale Street at Third Avenue • Butler Street and Sixth Avenue • Main Street at Eighth Avenue • Oakdale Street at Ninth Avenue • Tenth Avenue and dirt Main Street, and • Sixth Avenue (Conroy-Windermere Road) at Ridgewood Avenue. Bernier proposed several questions and considerations for the council to discuss: “Where do we go from here? How do you want to go about identifying which properties are a priority? “Stormwater needs in the town are compounding daily. Grant funding for future projects is going to require the necessary funding mechanisms in place to maintain any new infrastructure installed under the current grant. The town’s ability to maintain swales on the dirt roads or the proper grading on the roads needs to be addressed, as that requires the right equipment. Can it be contracted out? Yes, it can, but that also needs funding.” The council initially discussed holding a workshop Aug. 25 to look at remedies for the flooding problems. When the members learned Public Works Director Craig McNeal would be on vacation, they considered other dates or combining a workshop session with a regular council meeting. To allow ample time for a thorough discussion of all the issues, they settled on holding a workshop for 7 p.m. Sept. 22. In other business, the council: • heard an update from project manager John Fitzgibbon on the stormwater drainage work under way in Johnson Park. He said the work is 90 percent complete and would be finished by Aug. 31. Next, the same contractor will begin work at First Avenue and Oakdale Street. Fitzgibbon said the shop drawings for the installation are complete and the pipe has been ordered. He said crews would need to enlarge the existing drainage pond and install sufficient pipe and filters for appropriate treatment and outfall of the stormwater, especially along First Avenue. This work is being accomplished with grant funding and will be accomplished in approximately 60 days. Following this, drainage work will begin at Twelfth Avenue and Oakdale Street. • approved a request from resident Retha Puvogel to hold a silent auction on the sidewalk in front of Tim’s Wine Market on Oct. 24 from 7-9 p.m. The approval requires the proper permits be obtained by Tim’s Wine Market. The fund-raiser will benefit Orlando Pug Rescue and Adoption Organization. • accepted the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Committee to hold a seven-week Quick Start Tennis Program Sept. 26 through Nov. 7. A banner will be posted to announce the program and an open house at the town tennis courts on Sept. 19. Marcelo Gouts will be the instructor. The council also approved the committee’s request to use the Town Hall March 13 for an all-day boat safety class presented by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The fee will be $35 to cover the cost of workbooks, with a discount for additional members of the same family. Those who successfully complete the course will earn Coast Guard certificate and a state of Florida boating ID card, which is required for anyone under the age of 21 who operates a boat with more than 10 HP. • learned from the town manager that employees will have a new health insurance plan beginning Sept. 1, which will save the town $100,000 during the next fiscal year. The deductible has been increased but, as part of the new plan, the employees will each have a $1,000 health savings account to use for deductibles, co-pays and medicine. Aetna will continue to be the insurance provider. • authorized the purchase of a 31 HP Kubota mower with a diesel engine and six-foot cutting width for $9,000. The Public Works Department had budgeted to purchase a 23 HP mower with a 52-inch cutting width for $8,000 in the next fiscal year. • on the recommendation of the Development Review Board, granted a variance request for property owners at 502 Jennifer Lane to allow an exception for portion of the basement that conflicts with current codes. The variance was approved by a vote of 3-1, with Council Member Burns Hovey casting the dissenting vote. • under the consent agenda, approved a bid of $6,320 from Datson Fence to install split-rail fencing in Central Park, reappointed Mayor Gary Bruhn as a town representative on the board of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and reapproved the current list of home occupational licenses for another year.

		News: Top Stories Windermere holds line on millage rate By Kathy Aber For years, Windermere held bragging rights for the lowest millage rate in Orange County. It might just be vying for that privilege again this year. Town Manager Cecilia Bernier prepared the budget proposal based on the millage rate of 3.2280, the same millage rate adopted by the council for the 2008-09 budget year. When the Town Council met last Monday in the annual budget workshop, it looked at a budget that reduces the cost of town operations. The budget for the current FY (2008-09) totaled $4,517,355 including $3,357,675 for the operating budget and $1,159,690 in grant funding. For the coming year, FY 2009-10, the budget totals $4,026,557 with $3,233,139 for operations and $793,418 in grant funding. The council voted 4-1, with Council Member Cecil Robin-son casting the dissenting vote, to continue the current millage rate, 3.2280, for another year. The gross taxable value of real property in Windermere for operating purposes is estimated to be $522,888,956 — a decline of $15,212,393 from the 2008-09 budget year. If the council had used the rolled-back rate of 3.4084, it would have generated an additional $89,614 for the operating budget. Robinson told The West Orange Times he voted against the budget proposal and millage to give the council more flexibility when it holds the public hearings on the budget in September. He said there is no room in the proposed budget to allow for changes after getting input from citizens. Once the millage rate is established, it cannot be raised. In addition, Robinson is concerned about the condition of the Windermere’s paved roads. Funds have not been set aside for repaving Sixth Avenue or Main Street. “We’re going to have to do something about it sooner or later,” the council member said. Bernier said she prepared the budget knowing that the council wanted to cut back. She said the budget will not give the town much of a cushion and has no funding for capital improvements. There are no merit increases or cost-of-living raises for town employees. Only line items for essential costs, such as electricity, gas, pest control and other contractual expenses, were increased. Bernier said Council Member Richard Irwin suggested during the budget workshop that the council review the financial picture after six months to evaluate if it could afford some additional pay for staff. It would require $26,000 to provide a two percent increase for all town employees. The proposed roundabout at Park Avenue and Main Street will be under construction after Oct. 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year, with FDOT grant funding. Stormwater improvements already planned and also funded with grants will continue. Budget Fund 2 with a balance of $760,918 will cover these projects. Windermere expects to take ownership of the Butler Bay Recreation Center on Park Avenue in the near future. The title transfer also includes $25,000 that will be used to start necessary renovations on the property. No other funds for this project are included in the budget for the coming year. By adding health-savings accounts to its employee health plan, the town was able to save approximately $100,000 in the 2009-10 budget. The budget includes the purchase of one new piece of equipment, a zero-turn mower for $8,000. More than eight months ago, Bernier said the town started cutting costs on office items such as paper and ink and employee overtime. The cost of Parks and Recreation programs such as the 5K Run Among the Lakes, Halloween party, Christmas Walk and tennis event are included in the budget as Fund 3. The tentative budget meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, and the final budget hearing and vote will be Monday, Sept. 21. Both meetings begin at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. At last week’s Town Council meeting on Tuesday, the elected officials: • approved the installation of four lights at the roundabout proposed for the intersection of Main Street and Park Avenue by a vote of 3-2. Council members Burns Hovey and Molly Rose cast the dissenting votes. • by a vote of 3-2, agreed to post three stop signs at the intersection of Butler Street and First Avenue to address citizens complaints of repeated speeding incidents. Council members Irwin and Norma Sutton voted no. • listened to the town manager explain that the FDOT funding for the roundabout at Windermere Elementary School still requires the governor’s signature before the bid process can commence. She also reported some flooding had occurred on Bayshore Drive and PEC would evaluate the situation under its contract for continuing engineering services. • unanimously adopted a resolution supporting SunRail, the Central Florida Commuter Rail Project. • proclaimed July as Windermere Police Appreciation Month. • under the consent agenda, approved three bids from Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants Inc. for material testing at Down Drive and Down Court, at First Avenue and Oakdale Street and at 12th Avenue and Oakdale Street for $2,030, $2,630 and $6,305, re-spectively. The vote was 4-1 with Council Member Rose voting no.

	News: Top Stories Windermere store ready for new era By Michael Laval After 44 years behind the register, Larry Dunn has rung up his last customer. With his retirement last Saturday, the Ready Market — a downtown Windermere institution since 1969 — begins a new era under owners who have a vision of creating an upscale, gourmet cafe. Generations of Windermere residents remember riding their bikes as children to the Ready Market to fill up on candy and Icees. In the early 1980s, the store — then located at the site of Tim’s Wine Market — also served as the town’s arcade where youths spent countless hours hunched over joysticks playing Pac-Man and Space Invaders. For decades, it served residents and those working in town as the only grocery store within miles. “The town has basically remained the same,” Dunn said. “It’s all the outside growth that has changed things.” With several grocery stores and 24-hour drugstore pharmacies that have sprung up just outside the town’s borders in recent years, most residents stopped relying on the Ready Market for their necessities. Construction workers, Dunn said, who spent their days in town at new homesites and renovation projects were a significant segment of the store’s business. Construction crews, though, have become increasingly scarce in the town and at the Ready Market. Business also suffered, Dunn said, during the Main Street repaving project and hasn’t fully recovered since. Dunn said he’s ready to retire and is optimistic the store can thrive again under its new owners. “I’ve done my time,” he said. Business partners Steve DeLisle and Fred Miller spent their first official day as new owners — last Sunday — scrubbing and cleaning as they begin a gradual renovation process. Aesthetic changes will include fresh paint and new tile floors and shelves. The store will remain fully open throughout the transformation, which they expect to be completed by November. The store’s new official name will be Ready Market Main Street Cafe. “I think what Windermere wants is a nice cafe — an upscale, gourmet cafe — where they can come and relax,” said DeLisle, an 11-year Windermere resident. The new Ready Market, he said, will offer craft goods, beer and wine, a modern coffee bar and deli. Groceries to be sold will be based on customer demand and suggestions. Replacing some of the isles will be tables for sit-down service. That, combined with outdoor tables under the store’s 12-foot awning, DeLisle said, should accommodate seating for 30-40 guests. Bringing Windermere’s families and children back to the Ready Market is a big part of DeLisle and Miller’s plans. “Candy will definitely be a big part of what we’ll do,” DeLisle said. “We want kids to be able to ride their bikes here to get candy.” Behind the deli counter, soft-serve ice cream will also be dished out, usually by the owners themselves or one of their family members. “Fred and I will work all shifts here,” DeLisle said. “It will be a small, family-run operation.” Beginning this Sunday, July 26, the store will increase its hours of operation — now opening on Sundays and extending regular closing hours from 6 to 9 p.m. “We want to keep everything Larry’s done but expand it,” DeLisle said. “We will still serve workers and make them feel comfortable while also serving families.” A fall grand-opening celebration will be held upon the new store’s final completion in a few months.

		News: Top Stories Windermere faces 2 court challenges By Kathy Aber Andrew McCarthy, who lives at 915 W. Second Ave., has filed two lawsuits against the town of Windermere. The first is an inverse condemnation suit that is now pending in federal court. In it, McCarthy alleges that the town installed a berm that diverts stormwater onto his property. McCarthy told The West Orange Times last week that part of the berm is in the Second Avenue right-of-way and part of it is on his property. In the second case, he complains the town has limited his access to public records, hampering his ability to gather information for the first lawsuit. This lawsuit is expected to be heard in Circuit Court, the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orange County, in the next month or so, but a court date has yet to be set. McCarthy said he has been appealing to the Town Council for approximately 18 months to have the berm and drainage improvements removed. His co-plaintiff in the inverse condemnation suit is his grandmother, Faye Hood Stanford, from whom he is leasing the property with an option to purchase. At this time, McCarthy said he owns more than 50 percent of the property. In his complaint, he said “the asphalt curb-like berm had been installed along the road immediately in front of the property located at 903 W. Second Ave” in November 2004 by the town without the permission of the plaintiffs and against their will. The complaint says Stanford, since 2004, repeatedly asked the town to remove the berm. The plaintiffs allege the diversion of stormwater onto their property has resulted in a lowered property value in excess of $200,000. McCarthy and his attorney Tom Ross of the Orlando firm Akerman Senterfitt discussed this drainage matter with the Town Council, most recently, in May 2008. At that time, they told the elected officials subsequent drainage solutions installed by the town were not working or were aggravating the problem. McCarthy, who is also an attorney, told the Town Council he would to file a lawsuit the following day if the issue could not be resolved amicably and immediately. Town Attorney Tom Wilkes told McCarthy at the May 2008 meeting, he had provided no credible engineering evidence that water coming from town property was causing the problem. He urged McCarthy to get an independent engineer to analyze the situation. With the imminent threat of a lawsuit, the council initially responded by authorizing the town manager to obtain a topographical survey of the property and up to two properties to the east and two lots to the west and an engineering stormwater analysis. The council suggested the surveyor and engineer meet with McCarthy before they started the work to agree on the specifics needed to address the drainage issues. Council Member Sprick voted against the motion because he believed litigation was inevitable. After the vote, Town Attorney Wilkes asked McCarthy and his attorney if they were satisfied with the council’s response and would not proceed with filing the lawsuit. McCarthy and Ross did not give a definite answer, saying they would think it over. Six days later, May 19, council held a special meeting and, after a more thorough discussion of the surveying, engineering and legal costs and ramifications, the elected officials rescinded the action taken at the regular May meeting. McCarthy filed the first lawsuit in February. When the Times asked Town Manager Cecilia Bernier about the lawsuits last week, she deferred questions to the Orlando firm of Dean, Ringers, Morgan and Lawton that is handling the cases for the town and its insurance carrier, the Florida League of Cities. Attorney John Conner, who is representing the town, told the Times Monday his firm has filed a Motion for Protective Order with the court regarding the public records access complaint. The town motion addresses the plaintiffs conduct prior to and during the records inspection, his failure to act in good faith in scheduling the inspections and other issues. Conner also said the plaintiffs are trying to have the inverse condemnation suit moved from federal court to state court. He said the town will argue that U.S. District Courts have jurisdiction in all civil actions rising from the U.S. Constitution, such as McCarthy’s complaint that he has been deprived of his property without due process of law. McCarthy confirmed that he is trying to bring the inverse condemnation suit back to state court. He added that a lot of procedural maneuvering would take place before anything happens in this case.

		News: Top Stories Windermere and county resolve dock dispute By Kathy Aber Construction of a fishing pier on Lake Down will begin soon. Orange County’s Environmental Protection Division had been holding up construction of a dock at the end of Fourth Avenue in Windermere by refusing to issue a permit. The county said the town was required to have a building permit for a primary structure on the site in order to obtain the EPD permit. In May, Windermere’s attorney advised the Town Council this law did not apply to municipalities. With the help of Orange County District 1 Commissioner Scott Boyd, the county removed its objections and issued the EPD permit. Boyd hand-delivered the permit to Town Manager Cecilia Bernier last week. Bernier told the Windermere Town Council at its meeting last week she was grateful to Commissioner Boyd for his assistance in the matter. Mayor Gary Bruhn also acknowledged how helpful Boyd had been in resolving this issue. Boyd told Bernier the county is in the process of revising its code to take the county EPD out of the permitting process for docks in Windermere. The county has already implemented this change for the city of Belle Isle. The dock design had already been put out for bids, and contractor Peter Fleck of Fleck Construction now has the go ahead to get the building permit and start construction. The project will include a fishing pier, dock and kayak launch on Lake Down at the end of Fourth Avenue as part of the Lake Street linear park. The installation is partially funded by a $150,000 Florida Recreation Department Assistance Grant. The town already has approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

		News: Editorial IN OUR OPINION Why does the Sentinel want Windermere to switch to sewer? It's curious why the Orlando Sentinel continues to carry the flag for a Windermere sewer system, and is understandable why some would question their motives. In a Jan.11, 2007 article “Lakes' health tied to town's septic tanks” compared the Butler Chain's problems to Lake Apopka and said the problem “could be fixed by switching the town's 800 households on septic to a sewer system.” In a letter to the Times, in January 2007, Ocoee resident Henry Morgan wrote, “Dr. Harper's report was in-depth, naming a number of factors which needed remedies. However, the Orlando Sentinel blasted out in headlines that ‘Lakes' health tied to town's septic tanks.' For the first nine paragraphs of the story, the reporter pounded on the septic tanks and their contribution to pollution.” Harper's report, which was commissioned by the Orange County Commission and presented to them earlier this year, made 21 recommendations. It pointed out that 70 percent of the developed areas within the Chain-of-Lakes basin use septic tanks (Windermere only makes up about 16 percent of the shoreline of the chain). One of the 21 recommendations is to “initiate a program to gradually replace the existing septic tanks with centralized sewers, beginning in the town of Windermere.” The Sentinel's latest “sewer” story, “Would sewer switch preserve Butler lakes?” once again compares the Butler Chain to Lake Apopka and says “to avoid the fate, the Butler study calls for Windermere's 2,400 residents to all switch from septic to sanitary sewer.” The study does not suggest that switching the 2,400 residents to sewer is the answer to the problem. Among the long list of suggestions is to restrict phosphorus content in fertilizer, which the Sentinel addressed in perplexing way. “Many residents point their fingers at the large golf courses outside Windermere that border the lake chain,” the story says. Sentinel writer Rich Mckay follows that with a quote from a Windermere Country Club spokesperson saying that they don't use fertilizer that contains phosphorus. But if Mr. Mckay reads the study, he'll see that it never suggested that Windermere Country Club was a source. In fact it listed only four lakes on that chain that were likely to have a golf course as a source of phosphorus: Lake Louise, Lake Chase, Lake Isleworth, and Lake Tibet. He might want to study a map of West Orange County. “He writes toward an end and uses any means he chooses including complete disregard for the facts,” Morgan said about the Sentinel's latest article. It's curious.

		News: Editorial LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Reader takes exception to Sentinel's angle on Butler Chain study Editor: Orange County commissioned Dr. Harvey Harper and his firm to do a two-year, in-depth study of what is causing pollution in the Butler Chain of Lakes. In a two-hour presentation, Dr. Harper detailed a draft of his report to Windermere's citizens at a meeting last week. I am not a Windermere resident and do not intend to be involved in any controversy there. I attended the meeting to see what Dr. Harper had to say about the effects of septic tanks on lakes, as that is a present hot topic concerning the Wekiva Parkway and Protection Act. The State Department of Health is attempting to force 60,000 residents to switch to hi-tech, $15,000 onsite systems. Dr. Harper's report was in-depth, naming a number of factors that needed remedies. However, the Orlando Sentinel blasted out in headlines that “Lakes' Health Tied to Town's Septic Tanks.” For the first nine paragraphs of the story, the reporter pounded on the septic tanks and their contribution to pollution. He then went on to tie this into a present controversy concerning a proposed development downtown. It was not until much later in the story that he named the other equally polluting factors: stormwater, berms and swales, sediment/erosion control, lack of vegetation along shorelines, landscape activities, dirt roads and boating activities. Dr. Harper's report did not point to septic tanks as being the lone polluter, as the headlines would have you believe. Later discussion pointed out that to remedy septic tanks would not be cost-effective nor would it cure all the lakes' ills, as the reporter would have his readers believe. The mayor said that Windermere already has made progress in many of the areas mentioned. That was not reported with equal fervor. The Sentinel's editorial board blindly follows the attack on septic tanks, and this article falls right into line. Henry Morgan Ocoee