Posted on 01/05/2007 11:25:27 AM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
It beat Chris Sharek, the director of Venice's utilities department, whose job is to ensure that the city obeys environmental regulations, though he apparently failed to do so himself.
A judge slapped Sharek with 25 hours of community service and probation last month for off-roading through a protected wilderness preserve with his wife and father-in-law.
When their vehicles got stuck in the mud at Myakka River State Park, Sharek phoned for help. Friends arrived and dismantled a fence so they could drive in to free them. Their cars, in turn, got stuck. Another round of calls went out. Another round of cars were trapped.
Deputies arrived about 11:30 p.m., including Florida Fish and Wildlife officer Louis Hines IV.
"After talking with the deputies, I was able to get a picture of what was going on," Hines wrote in his report. "By the time it was all said and done, there were two Jeeps, two Fords, one Hummer and one tractor in an area closed to vehicles."
Sharek and the others had driven past several "No Trespassing" signs and others that labeled the area a protected wilderness preserve open to foot traffic only, the report said.
Police charged Sharek, 34, and five others with three misdemeanors: damaging public land with a motor vehicle, driving off road in a parks and recreation area and illegally entering a state park.
City Manager Marty Black said Thursday the incident would not affect Sharek's job, since Sharek called to inform him the next day, Sept. 17, and since the incident occurred off the job and carried a relatively minor penalty.
"I think it reflects poor judgment on his part," Black said. "It is not an action which relates to his employment with the city, so there is no need to take any disciplinary action."
Sharek said the off-roading trip was a mistake.
"It was a bad decision. I took responsibility for it," Sharek said.
He pointed out that the state demanded no payment for damage to the land and that the group had followed a trail.
But did Sharek know he was breaking the law?
"I suppose," he said.
I would love to see pictures of that! Too funny!
Nothing else on Earth like Myakka mud!
Happened to me when I was young and stupid. My jeep, two trucks and a dune buggy. Another jeep finally winched us all out. But we also weren't breaking the law (other than common sense).
Well, come to think on it, it was pretty funny...
That's something I've never experienced. From this article, it sounds like a pretty sticky situation.
The guy must be a democrat. Made bad decision took responsibility. End of story.
I once got an M1A1 Abrams stuck in a frozen (well, not completely frozen) pond that had been drifted over. It took another tank and two M88 recover vehicles to get it out...The ice had held for about two seconds then gave way...perhaps the coldest day of my life.
That's just child's play. Wait until he's sued by the Sierra Club and they start using their influence with the state govt. to have him fired. DemonRat dollars and influence go far in Florida.
"I suppose," he said.
The correct answer in his situation is, "no".
Don't you mean "Macaca" mud?
;^]
None of these people has a clue.
Gosh, it's a lot to expect a govt. guy to obey govt.-placed no-trespassing signs and environmental laws, especially since his job involves enforcement of those same environmental laws and regulations. Pretty hard to plead ignorance on this one!
The Sierra Club and Green Peace would file the lawsuit as we were led off to custody...
Since a director is admin not hourly and is considered on duty all the time, everything he does is considered representing the public. If he wants to act like a private citizen he needs to resign his position, which he ought to do now anyway.
Huh?
As Jon Cary might say, "Kin ah get me a translaytah here?"
Yet they did not charge him with trespassing. sounds like a sweetheart deal.
Sounds like a smart bunch. I guess they might need friends with a team of mules. They don't get stuck very often and they don't give a damn about ethanol.
Really nice place off route 70 in west central Florida,
About 50 miles or so east of Sarasota.
Myaka river and Peace river in area and lots of wild boars and palmetto trees.
Loads of birds of prey and for some reason placostamas in the river.
Been canoeing and camping on the Myaka.
oh, I don't know. I hear Virginia's 'Macaca' mud is pretty nasty.
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