In Lake Worth

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Last night started out with the raising of the Pride Flag at City Hall and a proclamation read by the Mayor. The flag is raised annually in anticipation of PrideFest of the Palm Beaches, a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered pride event that takes place in March at Bryant Park in Lake Worth. Pridefest benefits Compass, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Palm Beaches. This year it is on March 24 & 25. The parade is on Sunday and it is "something" to witness.

Although the GLBT community says that the organization's mission is to diminish stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions about the character of the GLBT community, they put on a parade that is in many instances less than dignified. While gays demand respect, they then try to reason with everyone's senses for fairness and tolerance by acting outlandishly during a parade. They just don't see how this might diminish their cause.

Lake Worth's commission meeting was cordial. No wise guy statements from the dais, Even the back row refrained from heckling. Perhaps the calming effect was our newly appointed city manager who was sitting in the back row for the meeting. The entire commission was in agreement with everything other than sunsetting the Community Relations Board. Personally, I never have thought we needed that Board. It brought three times the problems than it ever solved. And the problems did not start with Panagioti Tsolkos.

Stan Szczygiel, Manager of Rates & Planning for Aqua America Utilities flew in from Pennsylvania for the occasion as Aqua was seeking a bulk rate from Lake Worth and a thirty year contract. They should have a bulk rate as the infrastructure belongs to them, something we do not have to service. They have been buying water at a residential rate since inception but why are they treated differently than another bulk rate customer such as Lake Clark Shores? A bulk rate would cost us $150,000 a year with very little rate reduction to the residents of Lake Osborne Estates who pay Aqua Utilities for water as the rate when passed through would be divided between 10,000 Aqua customers, not the 457 in the Osborne neighborhood. It doesn't hurt them to ask but there is no benefit to Lake Worth to comply. They need our water and Lake Worth has spent a small fortune to produce the best water in south Florida. Ain't it a bitch to be in the driver's seat? This item will be coming back in a workshop.

The Commission arrived at 5 top candidates for Internal Auditor, something the new commission promised and something they will deliver. This is a positive. I still would rather see this position as an independent contractor in order to eliminate the benefit package. The final candidates are: Glenn Holloway, Robert Marksmeier, Kathleen Matthews, Christina Seymour and Steve Wolkomir. Interviews will be scheduled similar to the city manager process. The internal auditor reports to the Commission, not to the city manager.