Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Propane topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident warns commissioners of life‑safety risks at proposed propane facility near 400 Industrial Park Road
Summary
At Jefferson County's meeting, Patricia Smith delivered written notice citing Florida Statute 768.28 and urged the board to investigate a propane facility she says blocks emergency access, produces harmful vibration/noise, and threatens vulnerable neighbors; the board said it would review her materials.
Patricia Smith told the Jefferson County commission she delivered the board and county attorney a written notice alleging "life, safety violations and liability pursuant to Florida Statute 768.28" related to a propane facility at 400 Industrial Park Road and an adjacent tank.
Smith said the company installed a fence that blocks a "51‑year‑old side entrance" to her elderly parents’ home and that the barrier could impede firefighter and first‑responder access. She said the facility’s trucks create noise and vibration she estimated would exceed 80 decibels and that the disturbance poses health and safety risks for residents with medical vulnerabilities.
Smith told the commissioners she had previously raised concerns at an earlier meeting and has since compiled an appendix of statutes and other materials for the county’s review. "I am here to provide the board and the county attorney with actual notice of what I strongly believe to be life, safety violations and liability pursuant to Florida Statute 768.28," she said.
She also described emotional and community impacts, saying a patriotic logo painted on a nearby tank could be perceived as intimidation and asking the county to move the fence to restore emergency access. "Take action to get that fence moved, not only for my parents' protection, but also for the firefighters who would need to get to that side of the home," Smith said.
The chair acknowledged Smith’s submission and said staff would "look over this" and accept copies of her materials. No formal action or vote on the facility occurred during the meeting, and the commission did not record a formal response from the county attorney on whether an inspection or regulatory review would be initiated.
The next procedural step, as pledged by staff, is for county staff and the county attorney to review Smith’s written materials and advise the board on whether the matter requires regulatory enforcement, permitting review, or referral to emergency services for an access assessment.
