CONGRESSIONAL REP KAT CAMMACK
EMBRACES CEDAR KEY
29June 2023
EMBRACES CEDAR KEY
29June 2023
United States Representative for Florida's Third Congressional District Kat Cammack arrived on Cedar Key Thursday, and in a whirlwind, toured City Hall, the Fire Station, and, by way of Commissioner Sue Colson’s golf cart, the island’s infrastructure and resiliency efforts.
VISIT’S GENISIS
Cammack’s visit was initially prompted by Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson’s reaching out to congresspersons for a support letter for fire ladder truck funding.
Cammack’s visit was initially prompted by Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson’s reaching out to congresspersons for a support letter for fire ladder truck funding.
Immediately responsive, Cammack’s office connected Robinson with Jeannie Rickman, Cammack’s Economic Development Coordinator. In March, Rickman came to town, met and toured with Robinson and Colson, and brought her positive experience back to the office, encouraging Kat Cammack to visit.
KAT CAMMACK
Congresswoman Cammack represents twelve North Florida counties including: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Suwannee, and Union. Among her concerns since her January 2021 appointment have been economic development, agriculture, and commerce, an apt fit for a Cedar Key visit.
Congresswoman Cammack represents twelve North Florida counties including: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Suwannee, and Union. Among her concerns since her January 2021 appointment have been economic development, agriculture, and commerce, an apt fit for a Cedar Key visit.
TOUR
Sue Colson’s illuminating golf cart ride highlighted Cedar Key‘s strengths and needs. Colson explained the city’s assertive stance in acquiring grants, highlighting the Marina’s newest boat ramp and nearby bathroom, all grant funded. There, too, Cammack viewed a typical Cedar Key morning: clammers launching their birddogs into the waters, out for a day’s work. City Park’s sheltered picnic areas and playground offered further proof of city’s grant getting capacity.
Sue Colson’s illuminating golf cart ride highlighted Cedar Key‘s strengths and needs. Colson explained the city’s assertive stance in acquiring grants, highlighting the Marina’s newest boat ramp and nearby bathroom, all grant funded. There, too, Cammack viewed a typical Cedar Key morning: clammers launching their birddogs into the waters, out for a day’s work. City Park’s sheltered picnic areas and playground offered further proof of city’s grant getting capacity.
Significantly, the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District wastewater plant in downtown Cedar Key afforded conversation of the city’s regional pipeline efforts. The ride along Third Street’s and Colson’s noting its increasingly frequent flooding dramatized the need to move the wastewater system off island.
A jaunt by the Cedar Key School charmed Cammack the most. When asked what her favorite moment of the day was, Cammack responded, “the kids. They warm my heart!”
AQUATOUR
The group visited clamming operations: Dog Island Blues Clam Company, Cedar Key Aquafarms, Southern Cross Sea farms, and several others. There Cammack spoke to Cedar Key Aquaculture Association Board members Rosie Cantwell and Joe Cannon. Aquaculture operations along Whiddon and at the Anchor Hole parking area and ramp furthered Cammack’s vision of the city’s assertiveness, foresight, resilience, ad need for clean waters.
The group visited clamming operations: Dog Island Blues Clam Company, Cedar Key Aquafarms, Southern Cross Sea farms, and several others. There Cammack spoke to Cedar Key Aquaculture Association Board members Rosie Cantwell and Joe Cannon. Aquaculture operations along Whiddon and at the Anchor Hole parking area and ramp furthered Cammack’s vision of the city’s assertiveness, foresight, resilience, ad need for clean waters.
RESILIENCE
A ride along G Street allowed the group to focus on Cedar Key’s resiliency efforts and its strong partnership with the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station. Colson explained the Airport Road and G Street successful, grant-enabled restoration efforts.
A ride along G Street allowed the group to focus on Cedar Key’s resiliency efforts and its strong partnership with the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station. Colson explained the Airport Road and G Street successful, grant-enabled restoration efforts.
FIRE STATION
Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson enjoyed showing Cammack the current aging, truck fleet, the marine fire boat, and the upstairs command center. Impressive to Cammack was the assertiveness of the Fire Department: that in 2001 – 2003, volunteers built the fire station building, except for the block laying; that equipment is largely funded grants; that the chief is aggressively, regularly searches for dollars rather than city funds; that most work is accomplished by volunteers.
Cedar Key Fire Chief Robert Robinson enjoyed showing Cammack the current aging, truck fleet, the marine fire boat, and the upstairs command center. Impressive to Cammack was the assertiveness of the Fire Department: that in 2001 – 2003, volunteers built the fire station building, except for the block laying; that equipment is largely funded grants; that the chief is aggressively, regularly searches for dollars rather than city funds; that most work is accomplished by volunteers.
POLICE CHIEF EDWIN JENKINS, CONGRESSWOMAN KAT CAMMACK,
COMMISSIONER SUE COLSON, FIRE CHIEF ROBERT ROBINSON
THE MESSAGES
Cammack’s message was consistent and most supportive of Cedar Key’s municipal efforts. Her office supports economic development, agriculture (aquaculture), and infrastructure efforts. “I see such promise here,” she said. “The balance of keeping a small-town atmosphere while developing economically is the kind of thing that makes our kids want to stay in the area,… some place much more than just a tourist town,” she furthered.
Cammack’s message was consistent and most supportive of Cedar Key’s municipal efforts. Her office supports economic development, agriculture (aquaculture), and infrastructure efforts. “I see such promise here,” she said. “The balance of keeping a small-town atmosphere while developing economically is the kind of thing that makes our kids want to stay in the area,… some place much more than just a tourist town,” she furthered.
Colson’s message was that Cedar Key works inordinately hard at its economic development and infrastructure daily and has managed well as a community over the years.
Now the town needs congressional support to take plans off the shelf and put them into action so that we will be able to access the island and its properties when the storm comes. And it will come. One that will damage our water plants and our roads. “We need to be ready,” said Colson.
The morning ended in a closer relationship among Cammack and her staffers and Colson, Robinson, and City staffers. Names recognized, faces known, and information exchanged will surely lead to positive exchanges to come.
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