This column presents a 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.
Well, it is “Smoke and Mirrors” time again. All governments including schools, municipalities, county, and state are busy putting together their annual budgets. This is the time when every department and agency head prepares his/her part of the budget and adds the usual 5%-10% requested “wish list” of increases, then appears before their governing Commissions and appeals for the desired monies. For decades, the governing bodies would then pretend to carefully review each request and then finally award a 3% to 4% increase to the department. They would then herald to the public how they had cut the requested amounts back to only 3% and done their job for the taxpayers. Of course the net impact of compounding 3% increases every year for some 30 to 40 years has gotten us into this mess we are currently facing.
Things began to change for this annual “dog and pony” show last year, as the usual money flow from big brother State and Federal grants began to be reduced due to the economic disasters this nation is facing. Funding availability appears to be lessened this year.
The usual waterfall of funding from higher governments appears to be even less during the coming budget year. Last year some departments managed to get by because they had “pigeon holed’ reserves away in bureaucratic crevices and were able to use these for continuing business as usual. In many instances these reserves are not there any longer.
Now if a business in the private sector faced this dilemma, their immediate course of action would be to reduce staffing through terminations, permanent layoff, temporary layoff, and work schedule reductions. I predict these remedies will not be the action taken by governing authorities in facing the problem this year. Instead, I feel they will attempt to “go back to the well” and dip the pail a little deeper, by raising millage rates and thus dig into the struggling, taxpaying public’s pocketbook. They will adhere to the time honored tradition that bureaucratic jobs are as sacred and protected as sea turtles, and can never be eliminated.
It appears that our property values will be reduced slightly because of pressures created by the obvious market value declines for real estate. However, the taxpayers can expect little or no property tax relief as a result of these re-evaluations, since the governing political bodies will possibly consume those potential savings thru their ability to increase city, school, and county millage rates. Thus, taxpayers had better hold on to their billfolds as tightly as they can…because the long fingers of the bureaucracy are going to be scratching their way into their wallets.
The only good note in all of this sadness is the fact that for many of those elected officials on those Commissions, this is an election year. They may be able to take from us even though we can not afford to pay more….but we can kick the rascals out in November! Remember their actions on funding when you step into that voting booth and you will be “Getting it Right”!
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning –
● (Always say something nice, My New Years Resolution) Lenox Williams passed away this week. I have known Lenox for many years, since our sons played football at MHS and we worked together in the Boosters Club as proud fathers. He devoted many, many hours to our community, the children of our area, and was always there if a friend needed him. I will miss joking with him.
● Well, they extended the unemployment payments again, paying out past three years of idleness. When do we call it just another welfare entitlement….five years? ten years?
● All of the sidewalks will soon be finished and the construction crews will quit being stimulated, and the census workers will soon be laid off, …..so we can expect unemployment to begin to climb even higher. I personally feel things are worsening as more and more small businesses are failing. Also, the costly foolishness imposed by our uncontrolled EPA is still closing mini-markets across the nation and adding tremendous costs to every new project. Unless something significantly positive helps our economy soon I fear we will soon be eating a second dip of something we do not want.
● At the local level, it appears the County Commission is going to give a 2.5% pay increase to all county employees. This is in addition to adding some $1200 per year in cost to continue to provide fully paid health insurance at new, higher premium levels. This benefit now amounts to about $8000 per year per county employee. Did you get your raise this year????
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not represent those of Hatcher Publications.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
A Tale of Greed and Corruption In State Politics
Political Influence Buying, the Florida PSC, and Your Electric Bill
This column presents a 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.
If you are one of those citizens who has been amazed, dismayed, and angered by the doubling or tripling of your home or business electric bills over the past three years, then you should read this article. It describes how and why this has been allowed to happen to you. It is, “The rest of the story”.
There was a story released a few days ago relating to the Nominating Council for the Florida Public Service Commission. The release was generally buried on some back section of many publications, even though it is of great future importance to the public.
The story described some of the strategies currently taken by the nominating processes for seats on the Florida Public Service Commission, which regulates utility rates and supposedly provides protection from monopolistic abuses for the public. During the past year, all five of the then existing commissioners resisted a move by Florida Light and Power and Progress Energy to gain a large rate increase. Instead of merely “rubber stamping” the approval for the increase (as has historically been the case), this group of commissioners denied the increase. Now we see that four of the five are being removed from the Commission as a flagrant political reprisal for daring to defend the needs of the public instead of feeding the profits of the giant utilities.
My direct involvement with the PSC began about three years ago when the Commission came to Marianna to conduct a public hearing on a proposed huge rate increase for our local utility, Florida Public Utilities. During that hearing I addressed the panel, speaking of the assertions that the commission was “too cozy” with the utilities, and the fact that nine of the past fourteen Commissioners who left the PSC had subsequently gone to work for a utility as a lawyer, accountant, or consultant, thus reinforcing the assertions.
I specifically addressed Commissioner Nancy Argenziano who was newly appointed to the PSC after a distinguished career as a State Senator. While in the Senate she had been openly critical of the PSC and the way it functioned. I reminded her of her previous statements about the unfairness of the PSC, and asked if she intended to work to correct these improprieties. She stated that she did intend to work to create a more fair, citizen responsive PSC while she served.
Well, the huge rate increase went through anyway, but apparently Senator Argenziano was true to her word. Her honesty and opposition to the “old way” of doing business on the PSC eventually resulted in her removal by the nominating council, even after she had served as the distinguished Chairperson of the group. Because of these events, I began a quest to determine how the utilities are able to control the composition and actions of the PSC which is intended to regulate them.
A member of the PSC is nominated by the Governor and approved by the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. The Governor must select the nominee from an eight candidate listing provided to him by the PSC Nominating Council. Thus, it is the Florida Senate which actually controls this part of the process.
The PSC Nominating Council is a 12 member panel comprised of three Senators, three Representatives, and six other members. They are selected equally by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The current composition of this panel is: Senator Michel Bennett (Chairman) of Bradenton, Representative Dave Murzin (Vice Chair) of Pensacola, Bevin Beaudet of W. Palm Beach, Tracy Chapman of Orlando, Mike Hightower of Jacksonville, Senator Arethenia Joyner of Tampa, Representative Mark Pafford of W. Palm Beach, Gerri McPherson of Vero Beach, Senator Steve Oelrich of Gainesville, Representative Stephen Precourt of Orlando, Scott Thomas of Jacksonville, and John Vogt of Tallahassee. I researched their backgrounds and major campaign supporters, but could find little linkage to the powerful utilities which mysteriously seems to control their decisions.
As I read numerous articles about the shenanigans of the Nominating Council and the PSC, I ran across a remark made by Senator Nancy Argenziano after she was ousted from her PSC seat for voting against the powerful utilities. She stated in an interview, “It is really the Associated Industries of Florida which pulls the strings on the Nominating Council.” This triggered research on this organization.
It seems the AIF is perhaps the most powerful and influential lobbying organization in Florida. Its mission is to foster the interest of the business community in government. The board of directors for the AIF is comprised of Jeb Bush, and a panel of educators, businessmen, artists, and other seemingly non political people. Again I searched for a strong link to the utilities, but found nothing.
Then I noticed that there was an allied organization, the Associated Industries of Florida Foundation. “Aha!” I thought…. “The foundation is probably the controlling element of their funding. Let’s see who is on the Board of Directors of the AIF Foundation”.
The computer screen switched to the listing of the members of the Board of Directors for the Associated Industries of Florida Foundation ……and the first name to appear was the Board Chairman, Mr. Ed Tancer. It listed Mr. Tancer’s credentials as being Senior V.P. and Vice Chairman for Government Affairs for Florida Power and Light!! The connection I had been seeking was now before me.
The system appears to work this way… (1) The Florida Power and Light Board of Directors of which Mr. Tancer is a member decides which politicians are supportive of their desires. (2) Mr. Tancer directs the Board of the AIF Foundation as to which politicians to fund with AIF monies. (3) The funds are used to buy seats on the PSC 12 member Nominating Council. (4) The Nominating Council only nominates candidates which are aligned with supporting the wishes of the utilities. (5) The Senate committee only approves nominees which have the “correct” outlook. (6) The PSC is thus ready to approve all requested utility rate increases….and (7) Your electric bill skyrockets!
We are describing a dirty, politically corrupt system involving billions of dollars in utility revenues and millions of dollars in political influence buying - all at the expense of Florida residents.
As part of this journey I was privileged to have a telephone conversation with former Senator and PSC Chairperson, Nancy Argenziano. She quickly confirmed that the “chain of political influence” which I had defined, with Mr. Tancer as a key link, is the way the system works. “It was my public disclosure of that fact which led to me being ousted from the PSC,” she explained. “It is a terrible, politically corrupt system filled with hidden funding, payoffs, money laundering, reprisals, and influence buying. It is sad to say, but in most instances, unless you are willing to sell your soul and become part of the corrupt system, you will never rise to a position of authority within the Florida political system. Those elected officials who remain honest and pure are relegated to positions of low importance, rendering them ineffective within the political environment. In my opinion…the Florida Legislative process has been bought,” she stated openly.
“We are talking about billions of dollars,” she continued. “I am encouraged by many of my friends and supporters to again run for office, but I am not sure I still have the energy for it. I may try to form an organization to expose and fight corruption and waste within our government. I feel I could do some good in that effort.”
She went on to describe the intricate system of shuffling funding between 527’s, EOC’s, CCE’s, and Leadership Funds. She described how these organizations operate under names designed to hide their real purpose, such as “The Committee for the Greening Of Florida”, or “Social Interaction Committee”, or some other harmless sounding title. Funding is shuffled between these numerous organizations until they finally are properly distributed between intended political entities. It is a system of money laundering and secretive political financing. It is the way political influence is bought. It explains how our politicians are dirt poor when first elected, earn a paltry salary as a politician, yet are worth millions when they leave their post.
Thus the system has chewed up and spit out another honest politician. The PSC is again being loaded with new members who are hand picked by the corrupt system which I have described. We can all expect higher utility rates in Florida’s future.
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning –
● I applaud the Marianna City Commission for listening to their business community and responding to their requests. (That satisfies the requirement that I always say one nice thing in this part of my comumn.)
● Historians have stated that a Democracy begins to fail when all citizens can vote, and the non-productive elements of the society become the majority. When they discover they can thus gain access to the public treasury and thus loot for their own betterment, the democracy will soon fall. I wonder if accruing a $13,000,000,000,000 (trillions) deficit could be a clue that this is occurring?
● Our health officials are warning of an outbreak of mosquito borne diseases in our area. They are asking folks to be sure no standing water is around their home. They seem to ignore the mosquitoes which are busy breeding behind every commercial building in town in the EPA required retention pond. Because of their foolish requirements we have brought the swamp to the city, and created a public health danger.
● Let me be sure I have things correct. We have 15 million workers unemployed and are continually extending their welfare unemployment benefits…..while we have 15 million illegal immigrants in our country who came here to work and enjoy our welfare benefits. There must be a better solution, can you see what it is?
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
This column presents a 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.
If you are one of those citizens who has been amazed, dismayed, and angered by the doubling or tripling of your home or business electric bills over the past three years, then you should read this article. It describes how and why this has been allowed to happen to you. It is, “The rest of the story”.
There was a story released a few days ago relating to the Nominating Council for the Florida Public Service Commission. The release was generally buried on some back section of many publications, even though it is of great future importance to the public.
The story described some of the strategies currently taken by the nominating processes for seats on the Florida Public Service Commission, which regulates utility rates and supposedly provides protection from monopolistic abuses for the public. During the past year, all five of the then existing commissioners resisted a move by Florida Light and Power and Progress Energy to gain a large rate increase. Instead of merely “rubber stamping” the approval for the increase (as has historically been the case), this group of commissioners denied the increase. Now we see that four of the five are being removed from the Commission as a flagrant political reprisal for daring to defend the needs of the public instead of feeding the profits of the giant utilities.
My direct involvement with the PSC began about three years ago when the Commission came to Marianna to conduct a public hearing on a proposed huge rate increase for our local utility, Florida Public Utilities. During that hearing I addressed the panel, speaking of the assertions that the commission was “too cozy” with the utilities, and the fact that nine of the past fourteen Commissioners who left the PSC had subsequently gone to work for a utility as a lawyer, accountant, or consultant, thus reinforcing the assertions.
I specifically addressed Commissioner Nancy Argenziano who was newly appointed to the PSC after a distinguished career as a State Senator. While in the Senate she had been openly critical of the PSC and the way it functioned. I reminded her of her previous statements about the unfairness of the PSC, and asked if she intended to work to correct these improprieties. She stated that she did intend to work to create a more fair, citizen responsive PSC while she served.
Well, the huge rate increase went through anyway, but apparently Senator Argenziano was true to her word. Her honesty and opposition to the “old way” of doing business on the PSC eventually resulted in her removal by the nominating council, even after she had served as the distinguished Chairperson of the group. Because of these events, I began a quest to determine how the utilities are able to control the composition and actions of the PSC which is intended to regulate them.
A member of the PSC is nominated by the Governor and approved by the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. The Governor must select the nominee from an eight candidate listing provided to him by the PSC Nominating Council. Thus, it is the Florida Senate which actually controls this part of the process.
The PSC Nominating Council is a 12 member panel comprised of three Senators, three Representatives, and six other members. They are selected equally by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The current composition of this panel is: Senator Michel Bennett (Chairman) of Bradenton, Representative Dave Murzin (Vice Chair) of Pensacola, Bevin Beaudet of W. Palm Beach, Tracy Chapman of Orlando, Mike Hightower of Jacksonville, Senator Arethenia Joyner of Tampa, Representative Mark Pafford of W. Palm Beach, Gerri McPherson of Vero Beach, Senator Steve Oelrich of Gainesville, Representative Stephen Precourt of Orlando, Scott Thomas of Jacksonville, and John Vogt of Tallahassee. I researched their backgrounds and major campaign supporters, but could find little linkage to the powerful utilities which mysteriously seems to control their decisions.
As I read numerous articles about the shenanigans of the Nominating Council and the PSC, I ran across a remark made by Senator Nancy Argenziano after she was ousted from her PSC seat for voting against the powerful utilities. She stated in an interview, “It is really the Associated Industries of Florida which pulls the strings on the Nominating Council.” This triggered research on this organization.
It seems the AIF is perhaps the most powerful and influential lobbying organization in Florida. Its mission is to foster the interest of the business community in government. The board of directors for the AIF is comprised of Jeb Bush, and a panel of educators, businessmen, artists, and other seemingly non political people. Again I searched for a strong link to the utilities, but found nothing.
Then I noticed that there was an allied organization, the Associated Industries of Florida Foundation. “Aha!” I thought…. “The foundation is probably the controlling element of their funding. Let’s see who is on the Board of Directors of the AIF Foundation”.
The computer screen switched to the listing of the members of the Board of Directors for the Associated Industries of Florida Foundation ……and the first name to appear was the Board Chairman, Mr. Ed Tancer. It listed Mr. Tancer’s credentials as being Senior V.P. and Vice Chairman for Government Affairs for Florida Power and Light!! The connection I had been seeking was now before me.
The system appears to work this way… (1) The Florida Power and Light Board of Directors of which Mr. Tancer is a member decides which politicians are supportive of their desires. (2) Mr. Tancer directs the Board of the AIF Foundation as to which politicians to fund with AIF monies. (3) The funds are used to buy seats on the PSC 12 member Nominating Council. (4) The Nominating Council only nominates candidates which are aligned with supporting the wishes of the utilities. (5) The Senate committee only approves nominees which have the “correct” outlook. (6) The PSC is thus ready to approve all requested utility rate increases….and (7) Your electric bill skyrockets!
We are describing a dirty, politically corrupt system involving billions of dollars in utility revenues and millions of dollars in political influence buying - all at the expense of Florida residents.
As part of this journey I was privileged to have a telephone conversation with former Senator and PSC Chairperson, Nancy Argenziano. She quickly confirmed that the “chain of political influence” which I had defined, with Mr. Tancer as a key link, is the way the system works. “It was my public disclosure of that fact which led to me being ousted from the PSC,” she explained. “It is a terrible, politically corrupt system filled with hidden funding, payoffs, money laundering, reprisals, and influence buying. It is sad to say, but in most instances, unless you are willing to sell your soul and become part of the corrupt system, you will never rise to a position of authority within the Florida political system. Those elected officials who remain honest and pure are relegated to positions of low importance, rendering them ineffective within the political environment. In my opinion…the Florida Legislative process has been bought,” she stated openly.
“We are talking about billions of dollars,” she continued. “I am encouraged by many of my friends and supporters to again run for office, but I am not sure I still have the energy for it. I may try to form an organization to expose and fight corruption and waste within our government. I feel I could do some good in that effort.”
She went on to describe the intricate system of shuffling funding between 527’s, EOC’s, CCE’s, and Leadership Funds. She described how these organizations operate under names designed to hide their real purpose, such as “The Committee for the Greening Of Florida”, or “Social Interaction Committee”, or some other harmless sounding title. Funding is shuffled between these numerous organizations until they finally are properly distributed between intended political entities. It is a system of money laundering and secretive political financing. It is the way political influence is bought. It explains how our politicians are dirt poor when first elected, earn a paltry salary as a politician, yet are worth millions when they leave their post.
Thus the system has chewed up and spit out another honest politician. The PSC is again being loaded with new members who are hand picked by the corrupt system which I have described. We can all expect higher utility rates in Florida’s future.
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning –
● I applaud the Marianna City Commission for listening to their business community and responding to their requests. (That satisfies the requirement that I always say one nice thing in this part of my comumn.)
● Historians have stated that a Democracy begins to fail when all citizens can vote, and the non-productive elements of the society become the majority. When they discover they can thus gain access to the public treasury and thus loot for their own betterment, the democracy will soon fall. I wonder if accruing a $13,000,000,000,000 (trillions) deficit could be a clue that this is occurring?
● Our health officials are warning of an outbreak of mosquito borne diseases in our area. They are asking folks to be sure no standing water is around their home. They seem to ignore the mosquitoes which are busy breeding behind every commercial building in town in the EPA required retention pond. Because of their foolish requirements we have brought the swamp to the city, and created a public health danger.
● Let me be sure I have things correct. We have 15 million workers unemployed and are continually extending their welfare unemployment benefits…..while we have 15 million illegal immigrants in our country who came here to work and enjoy our welfare benefits. There must be a better solution, can you see what it is?
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
State “Springs Protection Bill” Needs Flushing
Unfair, Unreasonable, and Unrealistic for rural areas.
This column presents a 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.
I love the outdoors, our rivers and lakes, our ocean, the blue sky, our abundant wildlife, and our lifestyle here in good ole Jackson County. I also am pledged to defend my personal and property rights, to resist efforts of others in government to legislate their way into my life, my values, and my pocket book. I feel that common ground does exist between these two goals which will reasonably meet the needs of both.
As has been made abundantly clear in previous columns, I feel that the EPA, their state counterpart, the FDEP, and many extreme environmental groups are out of control. They are being allowed to enact rules, policies, and new legislation at the expense of the property rights, personal liberties, and pocket books of private citizens and businesses by an inept, liberal, misguided group of politicians. There is little or no oversight of these agencies, and they wield tremendous, unfettered power.
The latest example of their continuing intrusion on property owners is the “Springs Protection Bill” which was passed during the last legislative session and became law July 1. This was initially a “stand alone” bill which never made it out of committee, and was then cleverly attached to a springs protection bill which then enabled it to get through the law making system.
If this bill is fully implemented as written and intended, it will have a disastrous impact on hundreds of thousands of rural property owners across the state. Additionally, it will require the addition of hundreds of “Craptacrats” across the state, thus growing the size and cost of government as new regulations are enforced.
This bill requires that every septic tank in the state be pumped out and inspected every five years…..whether it needs it or not. If these inspections reveal any divergence from the stringent requirements for septic systems, which already have been enacted, the owner will be forced to upgrade, replace or retrofit, whether it needs it or not. Almost 100% of the systems installed before 1983 would not meet today’s requirements. The cost of permitting and inspecting will amount to hundreds of dollars for each property owner, and the cost of replacement quickly expands into thousands of dollars.
I contacted Representatives Marti Coley and Brad Drake about this new law. I was pleased to find out that Representative Coley voted against the bill. “It is a bad bill, and I did not support it,” Coley stated. “ It might be appropriate for some densely populated areas in other parts of Florida, but it places an unreasonable, unnecessary burden on sparsely populated rural areas such as much of North Florida.” Coley went on to state that she is the Chairperson of a joint Administrative Procedures committee which oversees how agencies are enacting legislation. She hopes that through that oversight she can help influence the application of these new regulations in a manner which creates more reasonable requirements for rural households.
When I spoke with Brad Drake, he was quick to inform me that he also voted against the bill. “It is a bill which is bad for the citizens of North Florida, and I opposed it from the beginning. However, the environmental crowds in the center and southern part of the state pushed it through, and it was signed into law by Governor Crist.” Drake stated that he hoped that during the next session he can form a coalition of North Florida legislators who can push for exemptions for sparsely populated counties.
This issue could cost Jackson County residents hundreds of thousands of dollars if they are forced to fully comply with the legislation as written. The Department of Health will administer the implementation of the new law during the coming months. Property owners with septic systems should remain active and alert on this matter.
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning-
● Only 112 days until the mid term elections. It should be interesting.
● If you happen to have a copy of our paper from last week lying around the house, please take time to note the look of pure love and adoration the little girl’s face demonstrated as she nestled in the arms of her Dad who had just returned with the 144th. It was a rare picture.
● (Say Something Nice) If you are in a retail store somewhere in the county and see a canister asking for donations to the “Pennies for Pencils” fund, please drop some change into the jar. The money will go to buy necessary school supplies for grade school students whose families can not buy the items, in all county schools…public and private. Often the teachers fill this need by taking money out of their own pockets, and this fund will ease that burden.
● They are getting ready to tear up the streets around the Court House as they put all utilities underground, and landscape a new center median in the street. More misery for local automobiles and drivers…All this Stimulus is hell!
“We were guaranteed by our founders, ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness’….many today have interpreted that as a Promise of happiness, a car in every garage and a flat screen in every living room!
Personally, I can see the need for tighter regulations in specifically identified sensitive springs areas, such as the “Blue Springs Basin”, but I feel it is over environmental radicalism which is pushing for a state wide application.
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
This column presents a 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.
I love the outdoors, our rivers and lakes, our ocean, the blue sky, our abundant wildlife, and our lifestyle here in good ole Jackson County. I also am pledged to defend my personal and property rights, to resist efforts of others in government to legislate their way into my life, my values, and my pocket book. I feel that common ground does exist between these two goals which will reasonably meet the needs of both.
As has been made abundantly clear in previous columns, I feel that the EPA, their state counterpart, the FDEP, and many extreme environmental groups are out of control. They are being allowed to enact rules, policies, and new legislation at the expense of the property rights, personal liberties, and pocket books of private citizens and businesses by an inept, liberal, misguided group of politicians. There is little or no oversight of these agencies, and they wield tremendous, unfettered power.
The latest example of their continuing intrusion on property owners is the “Springs Protection Bill” which was passed during the last legislative session and became law July 1. This was initially a “stand alone” bill which never made it out of committee, and was then cleverly attached to a springs protection bill which then enabled it to get through the law making system.
If this bill is fully implemented as written and intended, it will have a disastrous impact on hundreds of thousands of rural property owners across the state. Additionally, it will require the addition of hundreds of “Craptacrats” across the state, thus growing the size and cost of government as new regulations are enforced.
This bill requires that every septic tank in the state be pumped out and inspected every five years…..whether it needs it or not. If these inspections reveal any divergence from the stringent requirements for septic systems, which already have been enacted, the owner will be forced to upgrade, replace or retrofit, whether it needs it or not. Almost 100% of the systems installed before 1983 would not meet today’s requirements. The cost of permitting and inspecting will amount to hundreds of dollars for each property owner, and the cost of replacement quickly expands into thousands of dollars.
I contacted Representatives Marti Coley and Brad Drake about this new law. I was pleased to find out that Representative Coley voted against the bill. “It is a bad bill, and I did not support it,” Coley stated. “ It might be appropriate for some densely populated areas in other parts of Florida, but it places an unreasonable, unnecessary burden on sparsely populated rural areas such as much of North Florida.” Coley went on to state that she is the Chairperson of a joint Administrative Procedures committee which oversees how agencies are enacting legislation. She hopes that through that oversight she can help influence the application of these new regulations in a manner which creates more reasonable requirements for rural households.
When I spoke with Brad Drake, he was quick to inform me that he also voted against the bill. “It is a bill which is bad for the citizens of North Florida, and I opposed it from the beginning. However, the environmental crowds in the center and southern part of the state pushed it through, and it was signed into law by Governor Crist.” Drake stated that he hoped that during the next session he can form a coalition of North Florida legislators who can push for exemptions for sparsely populated counties.
This issue could cost Jackson County residents hundreds of thousands of dollars if they are forced to fully comply with the legislation as written. The Department of Health will administer the implementation of the new law during the coming months. Property owners with septic systems should remain active and alert on this matter.
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning-
● Only 112 days until the mid term elections. It should be interesting.
● If you happen to have a copy of our paper from last week lying around the house, please take time to note the look of pure love and adoration the little girl’s face demonstrated as she nestled in the arms of her Dad who had just returned with the 144th. It was a rare picture.
● (Say Something Nice) If you are in a retail store somewhere in the county and see a canister asking for donations to the “Pennies for Pencils” fund, please drop some change into the jar. The money will go to buy necessary school supplies for grade school students whose families can not buy the items, in all county schools…public and private. Often the teachers fill this need by taking money out of their own pockets, and this fund will ease that burden.
● They are getting ready to tear up the streets around the Court House as they put all utilities underground, and landscape a new center median in the street. More misery for local automobiles and drivers…All this Stimulus is hell!
“We were guaranteed by our founders, ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness’….many today have interpreted that as a Promise of happiness, a car in every garage and a flat screen in every living room!
Personally, I can see the need for tighter regulations in specifically identified sensitive springs areas, such as the “Blue Springs Basin”, but I feel it is over environmental radicalism which is pushing for a state wide application.
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
Friday, July 9, 2010
“What a Great 4th!”
This column presents a 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.
I must be getting soft in my old age, but I found myself choking up emotionally during this holiday weekend. I hope you felt something special also.
It began on Thursday when the county turned out to welcome the 144th back home. To see the huge crowd of patriotic Jackson County citizens lining the streets, eagerly waving flags and banners as the fire trucks passed through town loaded with returning soldiers who were proudly waving and smiling at the crowd was a wonderful way to begin the Forth of July holiday. I felt a surge of patriotism and gratitude…both to the returning hero’s and to the patriotic citizens who were cheering them.
Then out at the Armory the ceremony itself was meaningful as the community showered the assembled troops with praise, gratitude, gifts, and love. To hear States Attorney Glenn Hess give his thanks, while he himself was a Viet Nam War pilot, and currently has a son serving in dangerous areas of Afghanistan. He could hardly speak from choked up emotions.
When the welcoming remarks were over and the troop formation was dismissed, another wave of emotion filled the room as families reunited. Children cried and hugged their dads and moms after months of separation. Dads picked up young babies and examined them – some for the first time. Beautiful young wives embraced their hero husbands and sobbed as they kissed. This revealed the real level of human sacrifices which have been endured during their year long ordeal in a hostile land far away from the green fields of Jackson County.
Because this war against those Moslem radicals who wish to destroy our society and hope to destroy Christianity is being fought through a political agenda instead of a purely defensive patriotic agenda, we are only putting forth a small measure of our potential force to resist them. This approach did not work in Viet Nam, and is equally foolish in the Middle East.
I favor mustering our might to a level which will overwhelm our foes quickly, totally, and permanently. Then we can rebuild and depart. This is the only approach which makes sense. To dibble dabble in half fought wars is costly…both in resources and lives. We need to elect politicians who will take politics out of national defense. We should never tolerate killing and being killed in a half hearted manner.
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning-
• How many years does a person have to draw unemployment before we quit calling it unemployment and start calling it Welfare?
• It appears that the reason the Administration refused the offer of a fleet of Dutch skimmers at the onset of the BP oil well blowout in the Gulf was in recognition of the provisions of the “Jones Act”. This was a pro-union act passed in 1920 in order to assure that all vessels used to perform transportation or services between US ports were built at US union controlled ship yards, were crewed by union member merchant marine crews, and operated from Longshoremen maintained ports. Thus, it was their loyalty to the union movement that led to this decision which worsened the amount of oil now reaching our shores….I thought they were environmentalist? It seems that union money speaks louder than birds can sing.
• Work is progressing on what I perceive as two unnecessary, inappropriate, and wasteful projects. These projects were fostered by ill conceived grants from the state, and/or by bad, selfish decisions made by local officials. I am specifically referring to the “sidewalk to nowhere’ project which is wasting a million dollars to provide a sidewalk to the new high school; and the construction of a four lane promenade into the airport industrial park. I suppose the rush hour traffic from all of the employees working in all of those factories at the park justifies this expenditure of over $300,000.
• The reality of the story is that the grant money was available, and instead of refusing the funds for use in another area for some worthwhile project…we decided to waste the money here. We took the old “If we don’t spend it someone else will,” approach. We need to elect officials who are willing to do what is “right” instead of taking a selfish, wasteful approach if we are serious about changing wasteful government practices, locally, statewide, and nationally.
• (Always say at least one thing nice…) Soldiers of the 144th...THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRAFICE AND SERVICE!
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
I must be getting soft in my old age, but I found myself choking up emotionally during this holiday weekend. I hope you felt something special also.
It began on Thursday when the county turned out to welcome the 144th back home. To see the huge crowd of patriotic Jackson County citizens lining the streets, eagerly waving flags and banners as the fire trucks passed through town loaded with returning soldiers who were proudly waving and smiling at the crowd was a wonderful way to begin the Forth of July holiday. I felt a surge of patriotism and gratitude…both to the returning hero’s and to the patriotic citizens who were cheering them.
Then out at the Armory the ceremony itself was meaningful as the community showered the assembled troops with praise, gratitude, gifts, and love. To hear States Attorney Glenn Hess give his thanks, while he himself was a Viet Nam War pilot, and currently has a son serving in dangerous areas of Afghanistan. He could hardly speak from choked up emotions.
When the welcoming remarks were over and the troop formation was dismissed, another wave of emotion filled the room as families reunited. Children cried and hugged their dads and moms after months of separation. Dads picked up young babies and examined them – some for the first time. Beautiful young wives embraced their hero husbands and sobbed as they kissed. This revealed the real level of human sacrifices which have been endured during their year long ordeal in a hostile land far away from the green fields of Jackson County.
Because this war against those Moslem radicals who wish to destroy our society and hope to destroy Christianity is being fought through a political agenda instead of a purely defensive patriotic agenda, we are only putting forth a small measure of our potential force to resist them. This approach did not work in Viet Nam, and is equally foolish in the Middle East.
I favor mustering our might to a level which will overwhelm our foes quickly, totally, and permanently. Then we can rebuild and depart. This is the only approach which makes sense. To dibble dabble in half fought wars is costly…both in resources and lives. We need to elect politicians who will take politics out of national defense. We should never tolerate killing and being killed in a half hearted manner.
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning-
• How many years does a person have to draw unemployment before we quit calling it unemployment and start calling it Welfare?
• It appears that the reason the Administration refused the offer of a fleet of Dutch skimmers at the onset of the BP oil well blowout in the Gulf was in recognition of the provisions of the “Jones Act”. This was a pro-union act passed in 1920 in order to assure that all vessels used to perform transportation or services between US ports were built at US union controlled ship yards, were crewed by union member merchant marine crews, and operated from Longshoremen maintained ports. Thus, it was their loyalty to the union movement that led to this decision which worsened the amount of oil now reaching our shores….I thought they were environmentalist? It seems that union money speaks louder than birds can sing.
• Work is progressing on what I perceive as two unnecessary, inappropriate, and wasteful projects. These projects were fostered by ill conceived grants from the state, and/or by bad, selfish decisions made by local officials. I am specifically referring to the “sidewalk to nowhere’ project which is wasting a million dollars to provide a sidewalk to the new high school; and the construction of a four lane promenade into the airport industrial park. I suppose the rush hour traffic from all of the employees working in all of those factories at the park justifies this expenditure of over $300,000.
• The reality of the story is that the grant money was available, and instead of refusing the funds for use in another area for some worthwhile project…we decided to waste the money here. We took the old “If we don’t spend it someone else will,” approach. We need to elect officials who are willing to do what is “right” instead of taking a selfish, wasteful approach if we are serious about changing wasteful government practices, locally, statewide, and nationally.
• (Always say at least one thing nice…) Soldiers of the 144th...THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRAFICE AND SERVICE!
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
Friday, July 2, 2010
County Commission Has Several Alternatives On Issue of Need For Additional Space
Eeenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe..Which way does the political wind blow?
This column presents a 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.
Why do we need to change the existing arrangement for county offices?
The primary reason for needing more space is the simple fact that our county government has grown steadily during the past four decades, and as new requirements, programs, laws, and systems were added …additional bureaucrats had to also be added to support these changes. Our local government has been growing steadily at around a 3% rate each year for many years. Similarly, the level of county employment and our level of taxation have also grown. Even though they have leased and in some cases purchased additional space during these years, the growth has reached a point to where more space is needed. Additionally, it is better for the county to be paying for additional space than to be merely paying rent to some fortunate property owner.
There are several options which have been suggested to remedy this condition. These include:
Option #1. Build a new County Administration Building on Old Jail Site
This was the original plan brought forth by County Administrator Ted Lakey and several of the Commissioners. They paid several thousands of dollars for preparation of architectural plans and preliminary construction plans. Donofro and Associates did the design and Ajax Builders out of Tallahassee did the cost estimates. The original cost was for around $14 million for 15,000 sq. ft. and $20 million for 20,000 sq. ft. After the economy entered the current recession, the cost estimate for the $15,000 sq. ft. was reduced to $10,000,000.
Advantages:
● This approach provides new construction instead of remodeled construction.
● This approach leaves county admin functions near the court house where county court activities would occur. Tax Collection, Property Appraisal, Admin, and Planning, would be in the new space.
● This approach consolidates all county functions for customer convenience and enhanced management control.
Disadvantages:
● This approach does not provide for the needed additional parking. It would worsen an already bad situation for parking in the court house area.
● This approach only provides the space which is needed at this time. After a few years of additional growth, the space problem would be duplicated.
● This approach involves building expensive new space while less expensive empty space is a short distance away.
Option #2. Add additional floors to the existing court house.
Advantages:
● This approach provides a completely consolidated facility which maximizes customer convenience. (Only the jail, sheriff, and roads and bridges would be separated from the other functions.)
● This approach provides an opportunity to repair, redesign, and refurbish the existing court house, which many consider an eyesore. Also, a pitched roof could be built to replace the existing, troublesome flat roof.
● New construction would be used instead of reconditioned older construction.
Disadvantages:
● Multi-story construction is very expensive. This approach would carry the highest cost for completion.
● This approach does not solve the parking problem in the court house area. However, the planned relocation of the farmers market will provide some additional parking spaces. Also, if the old jail is torn down, the site could provide parking.
● This approach does not provide space for future growth, other than building more additional floors onto the courthouse, at great expense. Also, there may be limits to what can be added from a structural standpoint.
● Some feel this would only be making a bad situation become worse.
Option #3. Purchase and Recondition the Old Wal Mart Building.
Advantages:
● This approach provides 100,000 sq. ft. at the lowest cost per foot. (Estimated Cost = $5.5 million.)
● This approach provides space for consolidation of all court related functions in this space (with admin moved into court house) , or all consolidation of all administrative functions (with all court functions moved into court house).
● This approach provides space for all future growth.
● This approach has more existing parking space than would be needed.
● This approach solves the problem at the lowest cost to the taxpayers.
Disadvantages:
● This approach utilizes reconditioned space instead of new construction.
● This approach separates administrative functions from the other, court related functions by several blocks.
Option #4. Build Facility at Jail Site.
Another proposal which has been offered is to build a facility on the properties adjacent to the Jackson County Jail. This facility would house all court related functions, thus freeing space for relocating all administrative functions back into the Court House.
Advantages:
● This approach consolidates functions for customer convenience and management control.
● This approach provides newly constructed space for court functions.
● This approach relieves parking problems in Court House area.
● This approach utilizes property already owned by County.
● This approach reduces risks and costs related to transporting prisoners from jail to court house for processing.
Disadvantages:
● This approach involves construction of new square footage while existing space is available.
● This approach separates court functions from other county functions by approximately two miles.
Option #5. Utilize old Marianna High School Facilities.
Another proposal which has been offered is to remodel the now idled MHS buildings, and to use the old gym for civic activities and the Commission meeting room.
Advantages:
● This approach consolidates functions for customer convenience and management control.
● This approach accomplishes preservation of a historic community facility.
● This approach relieves parking problems in Court House area.
● This approach utilizes property already owned by government.
Disadvantages:
● This approach involves significant renovation costs, which at this time are unknown.
● This approach separates court functions from other county functions.
● This approach leaves the workers in a renovated building instead of new construction.
● This approach provides space for future growth.
Option #6. Stay in existing arrangement and purchase adjoining properties when available.
The county recently purchased the satellite building which is occupied by the Supervisor of Elections. This eliminates the cost of renting the building and when the debt is retired in a few years will result in a net savings for the county. Another building which is adjacent to the existing Commission room is under consideration for purchase.
Advantages:
● This approach involves the least disruption to operations.
● This approach involves the least risks for newly incurred indebtedness.
● This approach eases space requirements somewhat, although complete consolidation is not accomplished. Planning Dept. will remain separated.
● As other buildings adjacent to the Court House Square become available for purchase, individual decisions can be made by the Commission.
● This is the most conservative approach.
Disadvantages:
● Operations remain somewhat fragmented, although in same general area.
● Parking will remain a problem, although relocation of Farmers Market will help.
● County will be utilizing renovated space instead of new construction.
Option #7. Do Nothing
The Commission can elect to wait until the problems worsen, and meanwhile evaluate the general economic conditions before making any commitments on expenditures.
Advantages:
● This approach allows Commissioners to ignore the problems.
● This approach involves no investment, no risks.
Disadvantages:
● This approach does not solve the problem of crowding.
● This approach does not solve the problem of management control of separated functions.
● This approach does not take advantage of existing purchase opportunities.
Conclusion:
Personally, I would like to see the Commission resolve the crowding problems by getting rid of some bureaucrats. I feel that we have too many rules, codes, comprehensive plans, regulations, requirements, systems, precautions, programs, and services. I do not need to have “Big Brother” tell me how to do everything I do. I can patch my roof, repair my buildings, maintain my car, raise my children, and live my life without their help or involvement.
If they would cut the size of government back to only essential services….there would be plenty of room for them all. Of the other options, I personally feel using the old high school or the Wal Mart building are best because they provide plenty of space and parking at the lowest cost to the taxpayers, and they put empty space into use.
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning-
● More bureaucratic stupidity has been displayed in the fight to save the shoreline against the oil spill. Today they showed a giant mass of oil floating toward Grand Isle, some as close as one mile. They wanted to fight it with oil disbursement chemicals, but the bureaucracy has a rule that the chemicals can’t be used within three miles of shore. …so the totally destructive oil chemicals will instead hit the island. Smart thinking there, “crats”.
● (Always include something nice) I think the fact that our community turned out and supported a Hospice organization by raising $60,000 for their work demonstrates the spirit and character of the people of Jackson County.
Our founding fathers had a deep rooted fear of the potential power of a central government. They wrote: “A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the People from the human frailties of their rulers.”
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
This column presents a 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.
Why do we need to change the existing arrangement for county offices?
The primary reason for needing more space is the simple fact that our county government has grown steadily during the past four decades, and as new requirements, programs, laws, and systems were added …additional bureaucrats had to also be added to support these changes. Our local government has been growing steadily at around a 3% rate each year for many years. Similarly, the level of county employment and our level of taxation have also grown. Even though they have leased and in some cases purchased additional space during these years, the growth has reached a point to where more space is needed. Additionally, it is better for the county to be paying for additional space than to be merely paying rent to some fortunate property owner.
There are several options which have been suggested to remedy this condition. These include:
Option #1. Build a new County Administration Building on Old Jail Site
This was the original plan brought forth by County Administrator Ted Lakey and several of the Commissioners. They paid several thousands of dollars for preparation of architectural plans and preliminary construction plans. Donofro and Associates did the design and Ajax Builders out of Tallahassee did the cost estimates. The original cost was for around $14 million for 15,000 sq. ft. and $20 million for 20,000 sq. ft. After the economy entered the current recession, the cost estimate for the $15,000 sq. ft. was reduced to $10,000,000.
Advantages:
● This approach provides new construction instead of remodeled construction.
● This approach leaves county admin functions near the court house where county court activities would occur. Tax Collection, Property Appraisal, Admin, and Planning, would be in the new space.
● This approach consolidates all county functions for customer convenience and enhanced management control.
Disadvantages:
● This approach does not provide for the needed additional parking. It would worsen an already bad situation for parking in the court house area.
● This approach only provides the space which is needed at this time. After a few years of additional growth, the space problem would be duplicated.
● This approach involves building expensive new space while less expensive empty space is a short distance away.
Option #2. Add additional floors to the existing court house.
Advantages:
● This approach provides a completely consolidated facility which maximizes customer convenience. (Only the jail, sheriff, and roads and bridges would be separated from the other functions.)
● This approach provides an opportunity to repair, redesign, and refurbish the existing court house, which many consider an eyesore. Also, a pitched roof could be built to replace the existing, troublesome flat roof.
● New construction would be used instead of reconditioned older construction.
Disadvantages:
● Multi-story construction is very expensive. This approach would carry the highest cost for completion.
● This approach does not solve the parking problem in the court house area. However, the planned relocation of the farmers market will provide some additional parking spaces. Also, if the old jail is torn down, the site could provide parking.
● This approach does not provide space for future growth, other than building more additional floors onto the courthouse, at great expense. Also, there may be limits to what can be added from a structural standpoint.
● Some feel this would only be making a bad situation become worse.
Option #3. Purchase and Recondition the Old Wal Mart Building.
Advantages:
● This approach provides 100,000 sq. ft. at the lowest cost per foot. (Estimated Cost = $5.5 million.)
● This approach provides space for consolidation of all court related functions in this space (with admin moved into court house) , or all consolidation of all administrative functions (with all court functions moved into court house).
● This approach provides space for all future growth.
● This approach has more existing parking space than would be needed.
● This approach solves the problem at the lowest cost to the taxpayers.
Disadvantages:
● This approach utilizes reconditioned space instead of new construction.
● This approach separates administrative functions from the other, court related functions by several blocks.
Option #4. Build Facility at Jail Site.
Another proposal which has been offered is to build a facility on the properties adjacent to the Jackson County Jail. This facility would house all court related functions, thus freeing space for relocating all administrative functions back into the Court House.
Advantages:
● This approach consolidates functions for customer convenience and management control.
● This approach provides newly constructed space for court functions.
● This approach relieves parking problems in Court House area.
● This approach utilizes property already owned by County.
● This approach reduces risks and costs related to transporting prisoners from jail to court house for processing.
Disadvantages:
● This approach involves construction of new square footage while existing space is available.
● This approach separates court functions from other county functions by approximately two miles.
Option #5. Utilize old Marianna High School Facilities.
Another proposal which has been offered is to remodel the now idled MHS buildings, and to use the old gym for civic activities and the Commission meeting room.
Advantages:
● This approach consolidates functions for customer convenience and management control.
● This approach accomplishes preservation of a historic community facility.
● This approach relieves parking problems in Court House area.
● This approach utilizes property already owned by government.
Disadvantages:
● This approach involves significant renovation costs, which at this time are unknown.
● This approach separates court functions from other county functions.
● This approach leaves the workers in a renovated building instead of new construction.
● This approach provides space for future growth.
Option #6. Stay in existing arrangement and purchase adjoining properties when available.
The county recently purchased the satellite building which is occupied by the Supervisor of Elections. This eliminates the cost of renting the building and when the debt is retired in a few years will result in a net savings for the county. Another building which is adjacent to the existing Commission room is under consideration for purchase.
Advantages:
● This approach involves the least disruption to operations.
● This approach involves the least risks for newly incurred indebtedness.
● This approach eases space requirements somewhat, although complete consolidation is not accomplished. Planning Dept. will remain separated.
● As other buildings adjacent to the Court House Square become available for purchase, individual decisions can be made by the Commission.
● This is the most conservative approach.
Disadvantages:
● Operations remain somewhat fragmented, although in same general area.
● Parking will remain a problem, although relocation of Farmers Market will help.
● County will be utilizing renovated space instead of new construction.
Option #7. Do Nothing
The Commission can elect to wait until the problems worsen, and meanwhile evaluate the general economic conditions before making any commitments on expenditures.
Advantages:
● This approach allows Commissioners to ignore the problems.
● This approach involves no investment, no risks.
Disadvantages:
● This approach does not solve the problem of crowding.
● This approach does not solve the problem of management control of separated functions.
● This approach does not take advantage of existing purchase opportunities.
Conclusion:
Personally, I would like to see the Commission resolve the crowding problems by getting rid of some bureaucrats. I feel that we have too many rules, codes, comprehensive plans, regulations, requirements, systems, precautions, programs, and services. I do not need to have “Big Brother” tell me how to do everything I do. I can patch my roof, repair my buildings, maintain my car, raise my children, and live my life without their help or involvement.
If they would cut the size of government back to only essential services….there would be plenty of room for them all. Of the other options, I personally feel using the old high school or the Wal Mart building are best because they provide plenty of space and parking at the lowest cost to the taxpayers, and they put empty space into use.
Rudiments: Odds and Ends Worth Mentioning-
● More bureaucratic stupidity has been displayed in the fight to save the shoreline against the oil spill. Today they showed a giant mass of oil floating toward Grand Isle, some as close as one mile. They wanted to fight it with oil disbursement chemicals, but the bureaucracy has a rule that the chemicals can’t be used within three miles of shore. …so the totally destructive oil chemicals will instead hit the island. Smart thinking there, “crats”.
● (Always include something nice) I think the fact that our community turned out and supported a Hospice organization by raising $60,000 for their work demonstrates the spirit and character of the people of Jackson County.
Our founding fathers had a deep rooted fear of the potential power of a central government. They wrote: “A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the People from the human frailties of their rulers.”
Note: The opinions stated in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Hatcher Publications.
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