Our Leaders - Lake Worth

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Thanks for being different
SURPRISE!
Peep, peep, Tax increase and Budget approved.
Vote: 4/1, Commissioner Maxwell dissenting

Several new positions were approved-- a sustainability manager, an internal auditor, a marketing manager, an economic development specialist and an events coordinator although the City Manager said "We have no new positions." Commissioner McVoy compared the Budget to us paying for groceries. Maxwell says that "Government likes to spend money. We have discovered a new source of revenue to spend more money." It looks like the 1.3 mils stays in the budget and we are all just assessed more. NO one even suggested that the millage be reduced while I was there. So, what was that comparison all about last week?

Grab the cash and pass the ammunition--we must pay for services--everyone must pay for services they receive--everything must be fair. The piggy bank is now down to zero. It ALL disappeared over the last few years! All cash reserves have been spent! It's sort of like the missing beach fund and the $4 million from the Utility. Employees from the Utility were in the conference room waiting, just in case. The black hole was never discussed other than the normal BS Budget so called "reductions." Stanton now wants to build up the Reserve Fund once again for a "rainy day." Instead of punishing the residents, what about an investigation and I don't mean one from an internal auditor. No wonder City Hall is in lockdown and all the photographs that used to be on the walls have disappeared.

The Commission gave all sorts of kudos to Comite de Defensa del Barrio for cleaning up some streets. This is a group against ALL anti-illegal immigration groups, people such as myself and Arizona 1070 believing that we are all racists. It was suggested that property values have fallen because people don't take care of them. Well, commissioners, my neighborhood is pristine perfect and my condo fell 17.5% in value. We, out here, pick up any trash thrown by others onto our property and we spend a lot of money to ensure that our property is maintained.

It was just another love fest between the commission and staff. We had already heard 70 hours plus of propagandized budget workshop meetings. Once again, the public was blamed suggesting that we did not have an interest in the way they spent our money as it was said only one person showed up for those meetings. Well, I was there for every single one of them, walking out on all of them, other than the wrap up meeting. We are invisible to City Hall and we bloggers do lie. Get that?

SOME HIGHLIGHTS:

• Over $500,000 in expenditures on Consent Agenda was passed 5/0

• Commissioner McVoy nominated Dena McCracken to the Centennial Celebration Committee 5/0 This is an excellent choice.
  

• Capital Improvement Program for 2012/2016 (5 year plan) approved of $58,264,983 passed 4/1 Maxwell dissenting. This is totally unacceptable to have budgeted over $25 million to spend this year.
  

• Shuffleboard Courts: Mulvehill wants a charette and believes demolition was to be stopped. No clear plan for courts and Maxwell, McVoy and Golden want a plan. Golden says that there will never be tournament play there again. Kroll says that the electrical has already been totally stripped. He is efficient. Kroll says to refurbish courts is really expensive and that we had a charette around 3 years ago on what people wanted for that space. I don't remember that, Mr. Kroll and I do not have dementia yet. $12,000 to demolish he says. Mulvehill suggests a splash park. Thanks Commissioner. Perhaps I will find my second childhood again. Motion was made to have a charette in 60 to 90 days and get public comment. I hope that it is 90 days when perhaps the snowbirds who play shuffleboard will be back and have a chance to comment. We always have to prove that shuffleboard courts for the seniors and our history is worthy. Passed on a 5/0 vote.

• New Business expenditures approved for over $2.8 million that included health care for $2,118,779 and public risk insurance and utility property insurance for $663,501. The biggest expense we have besides public safety, is employees. It is a wonder that anything is left over to run this city. Seriously.
  

• Fees were raised on Use and Occupancy for rental property...up, up. Public hearing on 9-20, passes 5/0 (Just another fee that has been raised in our city...how many IS that now?)
  

• McVoy still wants wind turbines at the beach even though he has been alerted to the folly of wind turbines and wind generation in general. The Commission approves of a grant not to exceed $110,000 for an agreement to develop and implement an Energy Assurance Plan to DC Group of S. Florida...just another group coming here grabbing the cash. We spend money like we have it. Passes 5/0
  

• Approved the demolition of 722 S. Lakeside Drive and 1809 N.Dixie Hwy. Fees will be charged to the property owners. How laughable is that. You can charge to the moon comes home but Lake Worth taxpayers are the ones picking up the tab. Passes 5/0

The Commission has no idea what they just did. The City Manager does. And Commissioner Scott Maxwell got the hell out of town today.