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Tab 10
Daily Commercial, The (Leesburg, FL)
May 16, 2003
City of Clermont trying to reopen its beaches
Author: PETE SKIBA
While the Lake County Health Department can't lower its water- quality standards, it can
expedite the process to help Clermont open its beach, a spokesman said.
"There will be absolutely no easing of requirements for bathing permits," said Kevin Lenhart,
Lake County Health Department spokesman. "We have clarified the permitting process for the
city, but all requirements must be met."
Moving to reopen its beaches, Clermont officials have scheduled a meeting with state and county
health officials.
"We're going to meet county health officials down at the beach Monday morning," Public
Services Director Preston Davis said. "We are hoping for a permit to temporarily get the beaches
open while we do the surveys in the format that still needs to be done."
Technically, the city isn't looking for a temporary permit, nor is it looking for a lowering of
standards, City Manager Wayne Saunders said.
"We'd like to be able to open the beach under any conditions the county health department would
impose," Saunders said. "We'd like to work with the county to find a way to conditionally open
the beach by next week."
Saunders said as long as the water quality was good, the city should be able to reopen its
beaches.
"The reason for the meeting on Monday is to further clarify what we need to do," he said.
The beach at Waterfront Park and West Beach off County Road 561 was closed during the
drought in summer 2000 because there was little water and the health department revoked the
permits. The drought ended, the water returned and the beaches opened in February.
County health officials had the city close them again because permits do not automatically
renew. Clermont must meet standards as if it was asking for a new permit, Lenhart said.
According to the health department, the city needs a topological map of the area and waterquality
testing must be conducted. If everything is in order, a termporary permit will be issued
pending additional testing needed for an annual permit.
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