Bernstein Park Questions

Posted on June 1, 2016 by M_Blank

top-secret-1076813_960_720There’s a letter on KeysNews.com about Bernstein Park.  It was written by Diane Beruldsen.  Beruldsen is wondering how the cost of Bernstein Park sky-rocketed from $3 million to $8 million.  So am I!

Beruldsen has lots of very good questions.  Here’s one.

So now my question to the public is: Why on Earth spend $5 million for one building?

I have no earthly idea.  The official justification seems to be that “the people wanted it”.  Hmmm…did they?

The first public discussion I can find is in the January 2014 minutes of the Parks and Recreation Committee.  The idea of a community center was raised and there was considerable debate as to whether Bernstein Park was the appropriate place for such a facility.   Continue reading →

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HSAB and the “Sin” Tax

Posted on May 31, 2016 by M_Blank

cautionComm. Carruthers’s Emergency Services Surtax (ESS) has been well documented on this blog.  The county made a number of statements about this proposal that turned out to be false.  When asked to substantiate their claims, county staff largely failed to do so.  (They did manage to provide support for their claim that tourists pay 60% of the sales tax.)

Comm. Carruthers, who sponsored the proposal failed to mention how much she and her campaign donors would benefit from it.  She also failed to mention that most local homeowners would actually pay more, and that all local renters would certainly pay more.  To me, these are inexcusable omissions.

Carruthers eventually abandoned the proposal saying it was “dead”.  The County Administrator (aka. the iPhone Bandit), however, contradicted her.  He described it as being “in the freezer”.  He went on to say that folks in the Keys just weren’t ready for such an “innovative” idea.  I have a feeling that this proposal or something similar to it will be back.  It’s just too beneficial to Carruthers and her backers.  I’m sure the other commissioners would benefit as well. Continue reading →

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FKAA Bid – Conflicting Stories?

Posted on May 28, 2016 by M_Blank

According to this story on KeysNews.com, Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) staff recommended that the board reject all bids for the new facility in Marathon.  But according to the agenda back-up, staff recommended awarding the project.  (See item DUO-4.)  Much like the famous Big Coppitt bid, however, no bid tabulation is included in the back-up.  There’s no information on who the bidders were, how much their bids were.  Nothing.

Hmmmm…curious.  I wonder if the FKAA records their meetings.

Posted in Bubba System, Conflict of Interest, FKAA | Leave a comment

Eleanor McAdams Speaks in Favor of Single-Member Districts

Posted on May 28, 2016 by M_Blank

I votedEleanor McAdams is a Democrat who ran against George Neugent for the District 2 seat on the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in the 2014 general election.  She spoke up about single-member districts on www.bigpinekey.com.  From her entry posted on May 24, 2014:

Hi! It’s me, the poor working class Democrat woman political newcomer who snagged about 45 percent of the overall countywide votes. (with only a $700 budget) I just thought I would add that in. Anyway I was mentioned in the issue of the new movement afoot about single member districts. I do not have anything to do with it but I personally I think after 25 years of living in Dist. 2 that it would be a good idea. I live in a Dist. where our representative does not even understand our life style, he lives in Marathon.

I think George Neugent is the least bad of all the commissioners, but voters in District 2 wanted a change in 2014.  They chose Danny Coll in the 2014 Republican primary, but were outvoted by the rest of the Keys.  Whatever your opinion of any individual commissioner, it’s a problem when voters in a given district can’t choose their own representative. Continue reading →

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More About Aguilar

Posted on May 27, 2016 by M_Blank

KeysNet.com has this story up about Maria Aguilar.  She’s being demoted from Village Manager to Finance Director.  It’s too bad.  Aguilar has always seemed to me to be a very competent, no-nonsense sort.  Exactly the sort of person you would want running your city.

The citizens don’t like this change and they are being quite vocal about it.  In addition, Aguilar’s demotion has displaced current Finance Director, Ariana Lawson.  I would imagine that the new Village Manager will be walking into a somewhat tense situation.

Interesting times ahead.

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Human Services – Where Does All the Money Go?

Posted on May 27, 2016 by M_Blank

crossed-fingers-363478__340Funny.  I was just starting to look into all the non-profits funded by the Human Services Advisory Board (HSAB), and this story popped up on KeysNet.  Unfortunately, two executives at the Rural Health Network (RHN), which is partially funded by the HSAB, have been arrested for allegedly diverting $63,000 of agency money into their own pockets.

The good news, according to the story, is that members of the board suspected something was up and reported their suspicions.  This looks to be an example of good oversight and of a board that is operating like it should.  (No, agency executives are not “god”.  Far from it.)  Good for the RHN board.  It sounds like they did their job. Continue reading →

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No S__t, Sherlock – Toppino Troubles

Posted on May 27, 2016 by M_Blank
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Conflict of interest – it’s frowned upon.

Update:  If you’re a public official and you’re concerned about running into ethics trouble, you can write a letter to the ethics commission requesting their opinion on your particular situation.  The commission then posts those opinions on their website.  There’s nothing up yet about Toppino.

Here’s a news story from KeysNews.com (the Citizen) about the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) having some bid trouble because of Richard Toppino’s presence on the board.

No kidding.  I’m rolling my eyes at the incredible dumbness of it all.  The FKAA comes off as looking pretty ridiculous in the KeysNews.com article, and KeysNews usually treats them with kid gloves.  I imagine the situation is actually worse than presented.

Like I said before, there are ways for Toppino to tap dance around the law.  In this case, the FKAA is talking about filling out some form.  No scrap of paper can ever help them avoid the terrible optics.  Or the very real concerns of the other bidders.  Or the public’s lack of confidence and trust.  Or the fact that the FKAA staff has tried like mad to downplay the amount of work the Toppino companies have done for the agency. Continue reading →

Posted in Bubba System, Conflict of Interest, FKAA | Leave a comment

Monroe County Budget Hearing Agenda

Posted on May 24, 2016 by M_Blank

I’m taking a few days off to tend to some family stuff.  Everyone’s okay.  Just lending a hand.  I might post a few short things here and there.

I checked out the agenda for today’s budget meeting.  It includes a survey, which is definitely going to get the Real Poop treatment.  The purpose of the survey is to explore the possibility of increasing funding for human services by imposing an additional tax. Continue reading →

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Question About Recalls

Posted on May 20, 2016 by M_Blank

As it turns out, the original legislation governing the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) allows the public to recall a board member whether they are appointed or elected.  (See Section 5.)  I don’t know if that provision is still in effect, but it was there in 1976.

Anyhow, it got me wondering about the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).  Florida law addresses recalls for municipalities and charter counties.  Monroe County is not a charter county.  So what can Monroe County citizens do if a dud has been elected to office?  Do they just have to suffer through until the next election?  I believe the governor can remove them, but they pretty much have to be indicted or dead for him to do that.

Anybody know?  You can respond in the comments or email me at therealpoop.org@gmail.com.  Thanks.

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Monroe County Clerk of Court

Posted on May 19, 2016 by M_Blank

gavelFormer State Rep. Ron Saunders plans to run for County Clerk.  Things just got interesting.  That’s three candidates now.  There’s incumbent Amy Heavilin.  Kevin Madok is currently the Strategic Planning Director for Monroe County.  Ron Saunders has been acting as the Clerk’s attorney.

I think all three are very well-qualified, but I’m pulling for Heavilin in the Republican primary.  (I’m reserving judgement on Saunders for now.)  For one, her office is far more responsive to public records requests than the county, in general.  (I find that the Property Appraiser is very good as well.)  Here’s just one example of what it’s like dealing with other county offices.  This particular situation, unfortunately, involved Madok. Continue reading →

Posted in Clerk of Court, Elections, Monroe County | Leave a comment