Mayor 'Pleased' with Honeymoon Island Announcement

Mayor Dave Eggers responded with appreciation and pride after late Friday's that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection abandoned for RV camping on Honeymoon Island.

DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard sent letters to Dunedin's state senators and representatives, explaining that the decision came with the backing of Gov. Rick Scott and describing how he would modify the land management plan process to encourge more openness and citizen involvement.

Eggers issued this statement to Dunedin Patch late Friday:

I am pleased to hear that the DEP has listened to us Floridians and the residents of Dunedin and Pinellas County and decided not to pursue their RV camping proposal. I am so proud of Dunedin and the rallying of support that was pulled together to fight the process and an ill-conceived plan. I want to thank all of our neighbors from around Pinellas County and beyond for standing along side of Dunedin, Honeymoon Island's primary caretaker.

I want to once again thank all of those folks in attendance this past week at the as we learned of the plan and and collectively voiced our opinions. I also wanted to thank our , our and for their collective efforts at ensuring a predominately civil discourse, remembering that without it, we will not get results of which everyone can be proud.

I also wanted to thank Senators Fasano and Latvala, State Representatives Corcoran, Hooper and Nehr and our County Commission led by Commissioner Latvala for all of their support in opposing the proposed plan. Finally, I wanted to thank Vice Mayor Barnette, Commissioners Scales, Bujalski and Carson for showing such strong leadership during such an emotional and difficult time. Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Islands are the real winners as they can now rest as the sun goes down on RV camping.