The West Dade Federation of Homeowner Associations (WDFHA) has been working closely with County Commissioner Miriam Alonso on several issues that directly effect the Doral area: the blasting west of Doral and the transfer of 700 prisoners to the State correction facility west of Doral.

In particular, WDFHA President Morgan Levy and Vice President Jesse Jones have worked in concert with the Commissioner to make sure that Doral’s needs are met.

Blasting Committee Moves Forward in its Examination

The blasting issue has long been of concern to the residents of West Dade and Alonso, not only because her district is in that region but also since she lives near the blasting herself.

“This issue is very dear to me, as I live only about a quarter of a mile from an active quarry. Before I first ran in 1996, a number of citizens had spoken to me about the issue and I made sure I got involved as soon as I was elected,” Alonso said.

She continued, “The western area, including Doral, had been particularly effected by it, especially as the development moved further west… Before, the quarries could blast an unlimited amount, over 20 times a week. I eventually reached a compromise agreement with the industry to reduce the number and intensity of the blasts, and we got an ordinance approved that gave the highest civil penalty to violations… But as development moved further west, the problems began again, and we went ahead with the new committee.”

WDFHA Vice President Jesse Jones was appointed by Alonso to serve along with her on the county blasting committee.

The committee has been empowered to examine the complaints from residents of areas near the quarries in West Dade of damage caused by that industry. Those areas include Palm Springs North, Doral, Miami Lakes, Country Club Lakes, Hialeah Gardens, and Shoma Homes.

“We have been charged with evaluating the damage to homes resulting from the blasting in the quarries close by. All the factors involved—soil, water, foundation strength, everything—will be examined by independent consultants that will be selected by us. Only those with no connections to the industry, county, or residents will be hired. And after the process, we will examine the current blasting ordinance and recommend appropriate changes to the Board of County Commissioners,” Jones explained.

The committee was selected by Alonso, who made sure to balance it evenly between the county, residents, and industry.

“I established the task force and then went to the County Commission to get their support, which I did, unanimously. Eventually we’d like to increase it to about 15 members, but right now we have a good balance,” Alonso said.

Representing the community are the activist Jones, Julio Boucle, a resident of West Dade and an engineer, Wayne Slayton from Community Council 6, Wayne Rienhart from Council 5, and Robert Curbelo from Council 11.

Besides Alonso herself, Acting Director of Public Works ARI Rivera is also on the committee as a representative of Miami-Dade County.

From industry, Scott Benyon of CSR Rinker Materials, C. Steven Hale from White Rock Quarries, and Lester Goldstein of the construction industry, all hold seats on the committee.

Despite the excellent work they’ve done, there was recently some sentiment on the County Commission to go ahead and pass a new ordinance limiting the blasting and hiring independent individuals to monitor it without allowing the task force to complete its study.

“We asked the Commission to hold off until the task force finished its work, and Commissioner De la Portilla in particular ripped us, saying we were a sham and mickey mouse and stacked with industry people. Anybody who looks at the composition of the committee knows that just isn’t true,” Jones said.

“I’m disappointed that this issue was handled in a political fashion. It is a well-balanced committee, and the quality of the citizens on it is impeccable. We live in the area and know the seriousness of the problem, but it is important that we legislate on the basis of being fair to all sides concerned,” Alonso said.

Boucle, the resident/engineer on the committee, has been charged with selecting the consultants, Alonso said, and the project should move to the examination process soon.

Prison Situtation Closely Monitored by WDFHA , County, Miami-Dade Police

Nobody knew they were coming.

The State Department of Corrections moved 700 prisoners from the maximum security prison in Martin County to what has been described as a minimum security facility near Doral without telling anyone. The county wasn’t told, residents weren’t told, the police weren’t even informed of the imminent arrival of these dangerous inmates.

This time it was the West Dade Federation who sprang into action, quickly informing Commissioner Alonso and the Miami-Dade Police of their transfer.

“I was told by the WDFHA that they were coming and I immediately called Carlos Alvarez and got assurances that Doral would get the extra protection it needed… The state cannot continue to drop this prisoners in our lap without warning,” Alonso said. (Last year the state attempted to move sexual predators into that same facility.) 

WDFHA President Morgan Levy was especially concerned about just that—the fact that no one was made aware of the move.

“Nobody in Dade County was informed—that’s what really concerned us. They moved those types of criminals into this area without telling anyone, not even the police,” Levy said.

Alonso and the WDFHA have been trying to get assurances that the criminals won’t be here for an indefinite stay.

“They are supposed to be moved ASAP, but they said that in reality it would probably be three months. We’ve been trying to get written assurances that will be the case,” Alonso said.

“We’ve sent faxes to the State Legislature and Governor hoping to get legislation passed that would require prison officials to notify individuals in a community in advance of such a move,” Levy said.