CITY OKAYS DRONE PROJECT; COASTAL CLEANUP REVEALS FEWER RECYCLABLES OVERBOARD

City Hall`s first two rows of seats were filled Tuesday night with Cedar Key School students closely observing the City Commission conduct business at its regular monthly meeting October 18.

This week the ten high school students have shadowed their adult counterparts - Cedar Key`s city commissioners and city staff - in preparation for the students` mock city commission meeting this Friday (6 p.m. at City Hall; public urged to attend).

Toward the top of the evening`s agenda was a report by Florida Fish and Wildlife researcher Dr. Paul Carlson, describing the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey of coastal waters approved by the Levy County Commission last week and scheduled to operate from Cedar Key`s airport in April and November 2012.

Levy County`s approval was subject to Cedar Key`s public discussion and acquiescence in the project, which is being undertaken by FWC marine scientists in conjunction with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Details of the Cedar Key deployment are to be cleared with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

A step for NASA toward broader use of drone aircraft, the potential value of this project for the FWC is the promise of more frequent monitoring of the vital fish nurseries provided by the seagrass habitat.

While two local residents with flying experience - Walt McJordan and Bob Treat - spoke of safety concerns balanced by their appreciation of the value of the research project, local attorney/restaurateur Peter Petrie worried about the surveillance capability of the drone aircraft. "Big Brother is in the sky, and he can read your license plate," Petrie warned. In fact, Dr. Carlson explained, the two UAV`s to be deployed from Cedar Key won`t carry equipment with that resolution capability.

Commissioner Scott Dennison reported on conversations he`d had earlier in the day with NASA safety officers connected with the project. Commissioner Sue Colson`s line of questioning with Dr. Carlson confirmed that there has been no mapping of seagrass beds off Cedar Key since 2001. The city commission voted to support the project.

Reporting on the results of Cedar Key`s recent Coastal Cleanup, Commissioner Colson provided an analysis of the trash collected annually since 2006. In comparison with the highest number of items collected in 2009 and 2010, this year`s results showed a 45 percent decrease in plastic bottles and a 28 percent decrease in glass bottles. The number of aluminum cans collected decreased by 36 percent from 2009 to 2010 and a further 50 percent from 2010 to this year.

Noting expanded participation this year by student volunteers, Commissioner Colson made special mention of the 72 hours put in by student Chloe Reynolds, who worked closely with the commissioner in overseeing and leading the recent Coastal Cleanup.