Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter in regard to a City Council meeting that was held on February 3, 2005. I am concerned about a local man who is a fourth generation Cedar Keyian and who is an Aquaculture citizen.
Being an "outsider," and having lived in Cedar Key for only about 30 years having owned a business in Cedar Key for 20 of those years and now residing close to Cedar Key - I think the City Council meeting was a waste of everyone`s time. It is my understanding from the "University of Florida Newsletter Shellfish Aquaculture" that I recently received, Cedar Key is the number 1 producer in the U.S. of farm-raised clams, which brings in millions of dollars annually. The gentleman I am referring to is a fourth generation Cedar Keyian and was criticized at the meeting for processing his Aquaculture at his home. He is a solid, upstanding, tax-paying citizen who is a credit to the community and lives in a very nice, spacious, new home and owns an extra lot next to his home where he processes his Aquaculture. I see no problem with this man doing this and practicing what his family (and some other local families have too) has done for generations in Cedar Key - being very successful in his Aquaculture operations.
If the "uppity" neighbors don`t approve of a successful Aquaculture operation, then the road that brought them into town can take them out of town.
I love Cedar Key and I usually walk there early in the morning and enjoy the breathtaking aroma from the mud flats and refreshing air from the Gulf of Mexico and the Aquaculture industry. I also enjoy the sunrises and sunsets. May we always be able to do these things in Cedar Key.
I remember when I first came to Cedar Key some 30 years ago, a local Aquaculture man (whose grandson presently sits on the City Council) said to me, "Yankee, you won`t last six months in Cedar Key!" Believe it or not I apparently fit right in because I have lived in the community for almost 30 years now and I love it! In times past I have had to put a "zipper" on my lips because I was an "outsider," but I am taking it off now and I`m going to leave it off as long as city officials and others keep harping and barking about the Aquaculture industry and the loyal and productive citizens who contribute substantially to this community.
I will park my pen for now until I have to write again.
Sincerely,
William G. Viertel | 