If I were a county property appraiser, I wouldn't devalue the Mill Creek Sink property either until a conservation easement was placed over it. Likewise, if I were on a county re-zoning board, I wouldn't re-zone the property until a conservation easement was placed over it. Anyone with half a brain can figure out why.
Conservation easements are fairly simple legal documents (I have seen my client's lawyers use them). After the easement is filed with the county clerk, there is paperwork associated with reducing the annual taxes. The preserve manager could initiate that process, as could the NSS Treasurer. It would be far more helpful if Ken and Cindy would talk to the NSS property management team or the BOG members rather than posting alarmist missives here.
That's my style, anyway, and it's the way I have been working on the Alachua Wal-Mart issue. If I don't post as often as Cindy or Ken demand, too bad. I am also the chairman of the 2008 Florida NSS convention committee, chairman of the NSS nature preserves committee, Pres of the FSS, Sec'y/treas of the Florida Cave Survey, and because I am closer to Mill Creek than the property manager I have been tapped to lead the Wal-Mart issue. Cindy has her museum and no other speleo-jobs. Ken has no speleo-jobs, and he is retired like me. You'd think that they would offer to help since they are so obviously concerned and, at least in Ken's case, have so much time on their hands.
Because I have 30 years of experience in exactly the kind of permitting that Wal-Mart is undergoing, I think I am far more qualified to do this work than any back seat quarterback with zero similar experience. I have two choices: I can do my speleo-jobs or I can post weekly notes here solely to satisfy Ken and Cindy. What would the rest of you do in my position? Don't answer that - I already know your feelings as abundantly evidenced by the kind and considerate postings that heavily dominate the NSS Discussion Board.
Ken and Cindy need to chill out. If Ken and Cindy want to know what I'm up to, they can phone or PM me rather than accuse me and the rest of the hard-working NSS leadership, every one of which is a volunteer and has a life, rather than taking potshots here.
Now I'm going to do something else behind the scenes, and anyone with half a brain will be able to figure out what that is, too.