This column presents a non-partisan, conservative viewpoint about items of interest in our community and our lives. Focus is on items impacting your pocket book, your personal freedoms, and your rights. I hope you will read the column regularly and it occasionally influences your opinions and actions. Now, on to the subject of the week:
At this Tuesday’s meeting Commissioner Chuck Lockey brought up concerns he feels about the advisability of the county proceeding with the construction of the proposed $18,000,000 new four story County Administration Building. I see this as a glimmer of hope for efforts of myself and many other citizens to detour this costly, unnecessary project towards the less expensive, larger, existing Sally Mae facility. Only God knows where the road will ultimately take us.
At the meeting, based on comments made during the discussion following Commissioner Lockey’s statement of concern, it appeared that Commissioners Spires and Branch are pushing to proceed with the new administration building construction, while Commissioners Lockey and Pittman have concerns and reservations about going into debt and spending the money. Commissioner Crutchfield did not comment during the discussion.
I have another example which was brought to my attention where another Florida government entity has moved their overcrowded administrative functions into large, empty shopping center facilities. In 2000 the City of Lake Wales relocated its Municipal Administrative Building into an area vacant shopping center in a $1,400,000 project. This is another example of government filling its needs in a frugal, efficient manner.
The discussion in this week’s commission meeting was directed toward the advisability of proceeding with the new construction or delaying the project. No mention was made of the availability of the Wal-Mart facility and the need for investigating the exact cost of purchase and preparation of that facility.
I want to clearly state in my opinion the Commissioners are absolutely correct in recognizing the need for consolidating the now fragmented and scattered county functions into one facility. The consolidation will enable better management, increase accessibility and service to the public, and will reduce the cost per square foot per year to the county. We need to consolidate…….at a reasonable cost.
The county is currently paying lease cost or rent for four facilities scattered around the court house area. These include the existing space for the Supervisor of Elections, Public Defender, States Attorney, and the V.A. Office. As is the case of a renter vs. a home owner, the county is building no future ownership equity as it pays rent for these functions. It would be better for these county functions to be located in space we own.
The Commissioners should not posture and dilly-dally around this issue. If they want to seriously consider the Wal-Mart/Sally Mae building as a possible solution, they should proceed with the necessary information gathering and evaluations immediately. Otherwise, the facility will be bought by some other entity and the opportunity that currently exists will be lost. To delay, lose the opportunity, and then use that as an excuse to proceed with construction of the new building would be a transparent ploy.
They need to step up to the plate and do what is right for the hard working, tax paying citizens they represent.
RUDAMENTS: ODDS AND ENDS WORTHY OF MENTION-
♦ The Federal Government is concerned about our economy and the potential for a serious recession in the eye of an election. In my opinion the existing situation was created by over reaction to a booming market by the retiring Alan Greenspan. He kept jacking up interest rates until he killed the goose, and now they are trying mouth-to-mouth trying to revive it. They are planning to send all families a rebate check in an effort to get people to spend it and revitalize the economy…….When I get mine I will have to merely endorse the back of it and then give it back to them as an aid in paying my taxes. I’m not sure how that stimulates the economy, but maybe it will help.
♦ I continue to get a severe electric shock each month when I see my power bill from Florida Public Utilities. I also feel a surge of anger at the greedy utility and the Public Service Commission which was supposed to look after the interest of the public as they regulate the utilities. It is going to be a hot summer.
♦ I am surprised that no one has yet registered to run for some of the constitutional officer positions that are up for reelection. As much as they all pay, and with the benefits they enjoy I would expect people to be clamoring for a chance to hold one of these jobs.
I encourage everyone to get involved in what is going on. Take time to participate…it is your money that is at risk. If you agree with my position on the county administration building, express yourself to your commissioner. Evaluate all candidates closely and try to determine how they feel about government growth and spending. Choose wisely, voice your opinion in letters to the editor, and ultimately vote wisely. Do these things and you will be "Getting It Right"!
At this Tuesday’s meeting Commissioner Chuck Lockey brought up concerns he feels about the advisability of the county proceeding with the construction of the proposed $18,000,000 new four story County Administration Building. I see this as a glimmer of hope for efforts of myself and many other citizens to detour this costly, unnecessary project towards the less expensive, larger, existing Sally Mae facility. Only God knows where the road will ultimately take us.
At the meeting, based on comments made during the discussion following Commissioner Lockey’s statement of concern, it appeared that Commissioners Spires and Branch are pushing to proceed with the new administration building construction, while Commissioners Lockey and Pittman have concerns and reservations about going into debt and spending the money. Commissioner Crutchfield did not comment during the discussion.
I have another example which was brought to my attention where another Florida government entity has moved their overcrowded administrative functions into large, empty shopping center facilities. In 2000 the City of Lake Wales relocated its Municipal Administrative Building into an area vacant shopping center in a $1,400,000 project. This is another example of government filling its needs in a frugal, efficient manner.
The discussion in this week’s commission meeting was directed toward the advisability of proceeding with the new construction or delaying the project. No mention was made of the availability of the Wal-Mart facility and the need for investigating the exact cost of purchase and preparation of that facility.
I want to clearly state in my opinion the Commissioners are absolutely correct in recognizing the need for consolidating the now fragmented and scattered county functions into one facility. The consolidation will enable better management, increase accessibility and service to the public, and will reduce the cost per square foot per year to the county. We need to consolidate…….at a reasonable cost.
The county is currently paying lease cost or rent for four facilities scattered around the court house area. These include the existing space for the Supervisor of Elections, Public Defender, States Attorney, and the V.A. Office. As is the case of a renter vs. a home owner, the county is building no future ownership equity as it pays rent for these functions. It would be better for these county functions to be located in space we own.
The Commissioners should not posture and dilly-dally around this issue. If they want to seriously consider the Wal-Mart/Sally Mae building as a possible solution, they should proceed with the necessary information gathering and evaluations immediately. Otherwise, the facility will be bought by some other entity and the opportunity that currently exists will be lost. To delay, lose the opportunity, and then use that as an excuse to proceed with construction of the new building would be a transparent ploy.
They need to step up to the plate and do what is right for the hard working, tax paying citizens they represent.
RUDAMENTS: ODDS AND ENDS WORTHY OF MENTION-
♦ The Federal Government is concerned about our economy and the potential for a serious recession in the eye of an election. In my opinion the existing situation was created by over reaction to a booming market by the retiring Alan Greenspan. He kept jacking up interest rates until he killed the goose, and now they are trying mouth-to-mouth trying to revive it. They are planning to send all families a rebate check in an effort to get people to spend it and revitalize the economy…….When I get mine I will have to merely endorse the back of it and then give it back to them as an aid in paying my taxes. I’m not sure how that stimulates the economy, but maybe it will help.
♦ I continue to get a severe electric shock each month when I see my power bill from Florida Public Utilities. I also feel a surge of anger at the greedy utility and the Public Service Commission which was supposed to look after the interest of the public as they regulate the utilities. It is going to be a hot summer.
♦ I am surprised that no one has yet registered to run for some of the constitutional officer positions that are up for reelection. As much as they all pay, and with the benefits they enjoy I would expect people to be clamoring for a chance to hold one of these jobs.
I encourage everyone to get involved in what is going on. Take time to participate…it is your money that is at risk. If you agree with my position on the county administration building, express yourself to your commissioner. Evaluate all candidates closely and try to determine how they feel about government growth and spending. Choose wisely, voice your opinion in letters to the editor, and ultimately vote wisely. Do these things and you will be "Getting It Right"!
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