I just got off the phone with Danielle Sailler (813-985-7481 X 4355) at the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the office handling permitting for the Fern Spring Project, Water Use Permit (WUP) Application No. 20020576.000. This is the project for the company, Spring Water Resources, applying to pump and bottle water from Belton's Millpond in Sumter Co.
Danielle says it is not necessary to attend the public hearing to have your input taken into account. The public meeting is being provided as one of several ways for the public to provide input. She said the decision on the permit will not be rendered on the day of the hearing (5/4/16 at 9a).
Danielle says if you want your comments to be recorded it is just as effective to submit them via email to Darrin Herbst, WUP Bureau Chief. It is very important to include the name of the project (Fern Spring) and especially the WUP application number (20020576.000) in your correspondence: Mr. Herbst's email is:
darrin.herbst@watermatters.org
Your input will get attention. When I called Danielle she knew me by name and acknowledged that I had already exchanged 2 communications with her office. She is very nice to talk with.