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s- <br />E�O:'t <br />to run ahead of the boats to get out of the way. She asked the Board to think of the noise <br />from an underwater perspective. Manatees have the ability to hear boats from 100 meters <br />away. 120 horsepower boats put out 100 kilobytes of noise and the manatees do react. In <br />confined waters, they willreact even more as sound travels through water better than through <br />air. She asked the Board to consider restricting larger vessels and certain horsepower sizes. <br />Sharon Anderson, 1933 126' Avenue, a private airboat owner, felt the picture <br />presented of the airboat impact on the wildlife is not true. She believed that manatees are <br />endangered by propellers, not by airboats. She asked that the Board not penalize everyone <br />because of one man's actions and asked that they consider having a workshop, preferably in <br />the evening. <br />Walt Stieglitz, 9847 Riverside Drive, represented the Pelican Island Preservation <br />Society and strongly supported the ordinance. He believed this is a real safety hazard which <br />needs to be eliminated. He also believed the operation has created a significant wildlife <br />problem. <br />Holly Dill, 11675 Roseland Road, spoke about conservation and protection issues <br />saying that the St. Sebastian River is a peaceful gem whose residents are now being subjected <br />to the loud powerful noise of the airboat motors. She also spoke on enforcement issues, <br />asking whether the Board would be funding a boat and deputy to enforce the laws. She <br />asked the Board to do the right thing and get the large airboat off the river. <br />Wallace Kramer, 960 Mockingbird Lane, noted various incidents which had <br />occurred as the result of Mr. Taylor's airboat operation on the river. One complaint was that <br />of a woman whose house interior had been soaked by the backwash of the airboat. He had <br />made a video illustrating the wake and noise and nuisance generated by the airboat and had <br />presented it to staff previously. <br />Bruce Jacobs, 9630 Riverview Drive, a resident of the wide part of the river, told of <br />eagles which used to sit atop tall pine trees near his home, using them as observation posts <br />for fishing in the river. Since the large airboat began its tours, the eagles have gone. <br />JUNE 291998 <br />-68- <br />• 0 <br />