There has been nothing but non-stop, continuous support from all agencies since September 2005:
The Fish and Boat Commission: "There is an obvious need to protect your property and residence from potential damage." Mgr, Bureau of Law Enforcement.
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) - Director of Waterways Engineering, who has reviewed, prepared, and blessed this resident's plans, wrote several letters to the Township and emphasized: "[This resident] is just replacing the stone wall that washed out [during] IVAN...that protects [her] home and driveway..[She has] secured all the required state and federal authorizations..required...I have been frustrated by the lack of cooperation and understanding shown...You..can make a resident go through a long and arduous process if you so choose. This project has not followed an easy path...Too much unnecessary time, money and effort has already been expended here by all of us, for the complexity of the project to be built."
Former President Bill Clinton's office (which still focuses enormous effort on flood victims), correspondence to the Governor stated: "[This resident] wishes to take measure to protect her home and property from further erosion from water runoff, but has been prevented from doing so by her local bureaucracy. I hope you will consider assisting [her] with her situation."
Natural Resources Conservation Services - Director/Administrator of NRCS Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) (source of original $200,000): Even though she is no longer part of the project, NRCS attended a meeting in her behalf and has continued to implore the township to stop the delay and allow her to complete her project. In a letter written in response to several misstatements by the Township Attorney, he states: "[The Township Solicitor's comments] ...are irrelevant and misleading... This section of stream bank sits as a hazard to property and a source of soil erosion and sedimentation into [the stream] and downstream areas...Hurricane IVAN occurred September 17-19, 2004...It appears it is more difficult for an individual to gain approval to install stream bank and property protection locally, than it is for federal and state governments to accomplish similar work!..." [addresses the continuous penchant these folks have for 'bending' the truth to their benefit.]
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Governor's Center for Local Government Services, which oversees the zoning issues in municipalities, stated: "This case should..be determined by the township [as] an emergency situation where the permit is waived and project proceeds" ..[Your private project] is basically a replacement or restoration of a preexisting bank...Any further delay [of your private project] will only exacerbate the problem and [is leaving] you exposed ...We strongly urge full [township] cooperation in [your] project ..to avoid further harm to [this resident] and her residence."
...in response to the Township's halting her until she signed a "liability release":
The DEP responded: "As a practical matter, I do question the need for a Release... It seems to me that the Township's concern ...should not be what might happen if the wall is built. Rather, I would be concerned about her legal options if the wall is not allowed to be built, and her home is damaged in a future high water event." - Director of Waterways Engineering, DEP.
"..It is indeed disappointing that this matter has taken this long to resolve, especially ...after a gentleman's agreement [with all State agencies and the Township] was reached last April [2006]...The issue of a liability release [was not] an agreed upon criteria or condition for moving this project forward. " - DCED
..the DCED (above) together with the Governor's Office, in response to them trying to undercut the ownership issue as yet another delay tactic:
"Any further debate concerning ownership [of areas where her work is to commence] is extraneous and serves to run counter to the objective or our collective goal...to ensure her personal safety and avert further damages. This has only become more urgent [with passage of time]...As in previous correspondence, we strongly urge the Township acknowledge this agreement between all parties attending the April 6, 2006 meeting. To do otherwise constitutes separate treatment of residents (violation of MPC), and demonstrates disregard for good faith agreement of all parties. [The Center], the Governor's Office, and [other] agencies represented at the meeting, are extremely concerned about the seriousness of [this resident's] current situation and the Township's delay."
Doesn't get more straightforward than this!
She's got letters of support from everyone from Congressmen to the Governor's office to former president Bill Clinton. No small feat, that kind of bi-partisan support!!
