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August 27, 2010 - Marathon - Blair Shiver: Youth Club Proposes Part Timer at City Park. Organization Promises
Councilman Dick Ramsay raised the issue during the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening, and Parks & Rec Chairman Luis Gonzalez emphasized that with the first budget hearing less than two weeks away, the group is pressed for time to find money in the budget for additional personnel.
“I’ve met with the directors of each sport, and we’ve asked them to individualize what their needs are for their sports as the needs for football are going to be different from girls’ softball and baseball,” Gonzalez told the council, adding that Parks Director Jimmy Schmitt was in support of additional staff to help centralize registration and administer over youth sports.
According the Gonzalez, youth club programs currently serve approximately 600 kids through baseball, softball, t-ball, football, and soccer. Basketball, which is currently run by city staff during the winter months, serves roughly 100 kids. Gonzalez said the Youth Club would like to expand to include flag football and the new staff person could oversee the co-ed softball league that began just this summer.
The idea is to simplify the operation, Gonzalez said, not only with registration but also with scheduling games in other cities and bulk purchasing of equipment with the city’s buying power.
“We want one person who would know the operation of every single sport on a year-round basis,” he explained.
Local attorney Frank Greenman agreed that the position is a very good idea and administratively wise to consolidate all these activities to ensure oversight.
Though job requirements and qualifications still need to be finalized, the council pledged to support the concept.
“If we reduce our charitable contributions from $90,000 a year down to $70,000, there’s the $20,000 for the position right there,” Ramsay suggested.
Mayor Ginger Snead suggested that all vested parties, including the city attorney, come back with an outlined plan for the new position before the first budget hearing on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 5:30 pm at the Marathon Government Center.
In other business: • Greenman reported to the council on behalf of the Land Acquisition Committee and relatively inactive Affordable Housing Task Force.
“You own five lots between you and the Land Trust,” Greenman told the council. “Three of them have permits ready to be built. There are no takers, and I think the reasons for that are obvious. Right now the market is dead, but there are five lots available whenever a qualified should come up. We also have four or five affordable houses for sale between here and Coral Shores.”
He continued that between the City of Marathon and Florida Forever, the state’s land conservation program, much of the environmentally sensitive property across Grassy Key has been purchased on recommendation of the Land Acquisition Committee.
Greenman added that Patti Childress, the city’s Land Steward, is an asset with an incredible inventory of knowledge.
• City Manager Roger Hernstadt passed along federal lobbyist Rick Marks’ report from Washington, D.C.
“There are in fact not too many things happening in Washington at this point in time,” with regard to the mid-term elections, Hernstadt reported. But, he commended Marks for his work during legislative session to which Snead quickly agreed.
“He helped us despite the fact that we heard there’d be no money, and he’s delivered more times than not for our city,” she applauded.
• Attorney Bob Miller, speaking on behalf of the estate that includes the long-discussed Hanley Property, said the owner is planning to hire a construction engineer to find out exactly what needs to be done to bring the structure into compliance.
Miller said the structure currently stands without doors and windows because there was an attempt some years ago to put a fish processing plant in the building.
“We want to make it right, and we’re going to take care of it,” he affirmed.
• Council voted to throw out the resulting bids of a Request for Proposals from three companies to perform beach cleanup services along Marathon’s Sombrero and CocoPlum beaches.
Rich Thompkins of Beachcomber of the Florida Keys, LLC who is currently contracted with the city to perform the service said his original contract was to scrape and remove seaweed periodically or combine it into the dune line. He contended that three months ago, city staff told him he would be required to remove the seaweed and that a $15,000 increase in his proposed contract – from $65,000 per year to $80,000 per year – is to cover the cost of dumpsters he’s rented to collect and remove the debris.
“I have stuff here from FDEP that says seaweed does not have to be removed every time I scrape the beach,” Thompkins said.
The council voted to extend Thompkins’ current contract that is scheduled to expire in September. He agreed to meet with Hernstadt and Ramsay, who requested he be present at the negotiating table, to iron out the kinks in the contract.
August 28, 2010 - Marathon - Marilyn Tempest: READY FOR PRIME TIME.
A number of my pet peeves were stroked the wrong way as the facts were revealed.
1. There was a hurry up going on so that we could utilize a grant for about $400K of the price. Now, I love a good grant as much as the next guy, but a grant that locks you into extra personnel, training, maintenance, fuel, insurance and storage problems may not be such a fabulous gift. Just because a grant is out there doesn’t mean we are compelled to use it.
2. No comparative costs study was done for another product or outsourcing. Why not?
3. These large toys get buried in the budgets for Enterprise Funds, i. e. storm water and wastewater utilities, and we think they don’t really impact us, but they do. These utilities make money by charging you and me for capital and O & M. We barely look at the costs being stashed away in these budgets. (The Enterprise Funds budgets are posted at the city web site along with the general operations budget.)
No one thought it an issue that the “main purpose of this piece of equipment is drying out poop! And folks might not want to see or smell this piece of equipment doing its job at Coco Plum Beach or next to Subway.” (This quote is a fairly accurate recall of Vice Mayor Cinque’s reaction.)
Mayor Snead noted that we had in recent years purchased two other large pieces of equipment. She proceeded to give a physical representation of the work they did, which was fun to watch. One cleans out storm water wells, and the other trims brush at the roadside with spinning vertical blades. (It would be a good idea to report on how much money these two items are saving us, but I digress.)
Councilman Ramsay, who often keeps us at the table longer than we would like, apologized as he insisted we needed to discuss this last item. He was right. The resolution had not been properly vetted. In my opinion, staff was careless on this one. Later, at the evening meeting during the manager’s report, it was agreed to delay the decision in order to seek more information. The discussion did not generate the spontaneous laughter it had in the morning, but delay was the right move.
The 10 a.m. brief on City Council Day is my favorite venue for local issues. Council thinks out loud, and gives some insight into their decision making process. I thoroughly enjoyed the morning humor followed by sound action taken at the evening meeting. What we witnessed was a Council at its best, doing what it is supposed to do. As a footnote, I think the mayor and vice-mayor are ready for prime time. Letterman better watch out!
August 29, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus - Keys Disease: One Out of Five…
A recent poll showed that one out of five Americans believes that our President, Barack Obama, is a follower of Islam. The fact is that Obama is a Christian. He has been a Christian most all of his life, has attended Christian churches, and one of those churches featured a certain Christian pastor who caused Obama no small amount of political indigestion (remember Rev. Jeremiah Wright?). Still, the belief remains with one out of five of us that Obama is a Muslim. Happy Ramadan.
It gets worse. One out of five Americans can’t identify the United States on a map of the world. I’m not sure if it’s the same one out of five Americans who don’t know who we declared independence from back in 1776, but I bet it is. And I also bet it’s the same one out of five Americans who pee in the pool.
Now some of you may be thinking that one out of five Americans is only 20% of us, and that it’s not really that bad that 20% of us didn’t pay attention in history or geography classes. Fine. Keep on believing it’s not a horrible comment on (the lack of) American intelligence. Just remember that the next time you’re in a swimming pool with 50 of our fellow citizens, inclusive of those one out of five (or 10 in 50) Americans who are peeing in the pool as we speak. Towel, please.
It still doesn’t get better. One out of five of us believe that the sun revolves around the Earth. And you thought it was only pre-Copernican astronomers, popes, and VH1 divas? In concordance with this return to medieval thinking, one out of five Americans believes that witches are real! With the popularity of the teen vampire and werewolf movies and TV shows, I’m sure that belief in all scary monsters has risen exponentially. But it’s only 20%, right?
Running down some more of the improbable statistics, one out of five Americans believes that alien abductions are real (that would explain the appearance of Florida gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott), that the Apocalypse will happen in their lifetime, and that state-run lotteries are a sound financial investment. No wonder people like Bernie Madoff were so successful.
One out of five Americans doesn’t use the Internet. At all. This time, it’s probably not the same one out of five Americans who are unhappy with their broadband connection speed. But it just might be the same one out of five American males of working age who don’t have jobs. If only someone would come up with a way to sit in front of their computer and use the Internet to make thousands of dollars at home in their spare time… and if only there were a 1-800 number to call for free information… we just might be able to kick this unemployment thing.
I’ve been using the “one out of five Americans” grouping like it’s a bad thing. (If the helmet fits…) It’s not always a bad thing, however, to be outside the norm, apart from the great unwashed, above average, or simply brilliant (like the above average and brilliant people who read this column). In a recent survey done by the McCormick Foundation, a majority of Americans were able to name freedom of speech as one of the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. That’s good.
Just a little over one out of five Americans, however, were able to name freedom of religion as one of them. And only one in a thousand could name all five (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly/right to peaceably assemble, and freedom to petition the government for redress of grievances).
What’s worse, a McClatchy-Ipsos poll has found that 51 percent of Americans agree with this statement: “It is necessary to give up some civil liberties in order to make the country safe from terrorism.” And according to a USA Today/Gallup Poll, only one out of five Americans has a problem with TSA/airport security workers gawk at their naked bodies with the new full-body x-ray scanners. How would you feel about it if it were your wife? Your teenage daughter? How far are we willing to go?
- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays this Friday (tonight) at Dockside, and Saturday at the Key Colony Inn. Thursday finds John performing solo at Sparky’s Landing. www.johnbartus.com.
September 2, 2010 - Marathon - Jeri Sears: Near Shore Waters Committee Agenda Notes. The following are my notes
1. We had 2 Citizens present - Roger Hernstadt - City of Marathon's Manager and Larry Shaffer. Roger and Larry took part in some of the discussions and their comments were very much appreciated. The NSWC always welcomes Citizen's Comments at our meetings.
2. Fee Adjustment at the City Marina - Richard Tanner presented the fee schedule for the city marina and the NSWC approved the fees.
3. Planter under the tree at the entrance to the marina - the NSWC would like to improve the appearance of the city marina as vehicles drive in. A planting was suggested. Richard Tanner will research this idea and report back at the Oct. meeting.
4. Update on the removal of the Span from Boot Key Bridge - Richard Tanner contacted FDOT and FDOT reported that the schedule has not been set at this time.
5. Review and recommendations of the Marina Capital Infrastructure Plan - the NSWC recommended that the board walk is important to the city of Marathon and the board walk should not be considered in the Marina Capitol Infrastructure Plan but should be undertaken by the city of Marathon. The rest of the Marina Capitol Infrastructure plan was approved.
6. Water Meeting - the Little Venice water quality has improved because of the sewers that are in place in this area. Jeri Sears emailed the water reports to the NSWC earlier.
7. Oil in the Keys - hopefully the oil crisis from the Deep Horizon Spill is behind us. The marina staff has completed their hazmat training. Another spill has taken place off the coast of Louisiana so we will watch its progress.
8. Jeri Sears is scheduled to report to the city council on Sept. 14. The topics were approved by the NSWC.
9. Trap theft - Bennett Orr reported that several of the pilots at the Marathon airport are taking part in a monitoring program to deter trap robbers. The fishermen are riding in the planes and taking high definition pictures of all suspected trap robbers.
10. Trap clean up in 3' of water and less - Bennett Orr reported that the Fishermen's Organization - working with the county - removed about 1/3 of the trap debris in the waters around Marathon. They removed 69,000 traps and other articles of debris.
11. Updates A. The deck railing at the marina has been replaced - great job by "Tanner's Team". B. Aid to navigation at Rachel Key Rock - All the permits are in and "Tanner's Team" is waiting for the bids for installation. C. Bollards, gate, and fence at Boot Key Bridge - bollards have been installed, cables ordered, "No Trespassing" signs are in and will be installed after the cable. D. Letter to the media was sent out highlighting the accomplishments of the marina and most newspapers printed the letter.
12. The next NSWC will be held on Oct. 7, 2010 at 6:00 PM at the Fire Station
Sincerely, Jeri Sears
September 4, 2010 - Marathon - Marilyn Tempest: Editor's Notes: Buy Now - Pay Later. How did it start? We
The mind set changed about 35 years ago. My children came home from high school saying that they had to take a course on the use of credit. My response was, “Oh no, you don’t!” And they didn’t. But many young people learned about credit magic, and it became “normal” to be in debt.
Fast forward to 2005. The economy is popping. Real estate is booming. There is a lot of debt out there, variable rate mortgages, consumer loans, etc. We all knew people who could barely make their payments, and they learned to live like that. Then the unthinkable happened. Credit markets crashed. Property values plummeted, and easy money vanished. There is a “new normal” happening, and we are not sure what it will look like. A couple facilities in Marathon are trying to figure it out.
Sombrero Country Club was a vibrant social mecca for citizens and snowbirds alike. Stanley Switlik established this as a private club in the early fifties, and it flourished. They kept a great chef, hosted charitable events, and ran club tournaments daily. Hurricanes Georges and Wilma came along and ravaged the course. The club borrowed heavily to repair and upgrade. They offered an array of special memberships to defray the cost. It worked for a while, but they borrowed beyond their means to repay. The economy slumped, and memberships dropped from 200+ to less than 100, as members fled the brutal assessments. The board refuses any suggestion of going public. The parking lot is nearly empty; staff is reduced; dining room is closed for now. Golfers drive to Key West. Many hope that an enlightened group of investors will purchase the facility and do something wonderful with it.
Consider Fishermen’s Hospital. The Hospital Board hired a new management company to start next year. The Board will be responsible for financial viability. That means that the hospital must become a taxing authority, or do some serious fundraising, or mortgage the hospital and its assets. Can the hospital handle a big mortgage payment? What is the business model? The Board is silent on this. Many hope that an enlightened group of investors sworn to continue the hospital, will purchase the facility and do something wonderful with it. Hmmmm. Is there a similarity here?
At the national level, our debt is increasing astronomically. Are the feds stuck in the “old normal,” borrowing way beyond our ability to repay? China keeps buying our paper. Is China the enlightened investment group taking over our nation, one Treasury bond at a time?
There are some silver linings out there. One in four house mortgages is underwater, but three in four have managed to stay the course in spite of the busted real estate bubble. It will get better. The savings rate has jumped to 4%. Some folks have begun saving for a rainy day. What a quaint idea.
I believe debt is the curse of the working class. Too much debt is crippling. There is no joy short of having a child, that rivals paying off your mortgage or your car loan. You are free again. It is amazing how cash grows when you have not borrowed against it. This is the secret of building wealth.
Affordable debt has its place, but “Buy Now-Pay Later” is bad karma. We should encourage children to save. No minor child should have a credit card. Children do not need to attend Harvard to be successful. Children should purchase their own cars, preferably a used car they can afford. They should pay for their own insurance…… Of course, you might help them with the insurance if they maintain a 3.5 or better GPA. It worked for us. MT
September 5, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus: Keys Disease: Too Old to Rock and Roll???
Some of that sentiment may have stemmed from the distrust of the older generation that Boomers growing up in the Viet Nam era possessed. “Don’t trust anyone over 30,” and “Hope I die before I get old,” were popular sentiments among hippies and flower children – until they (we) passed 30 and started growing old. As the resident “senior columnist” here at the Weekly Newspapers, I’m happy to report that those of us old enough to remember the Viet Nam era certainly haven’t decided to head out to pasture. I also attest that our age and experience more than qualify us to keep rocking! A few examples follow.
Exhibit 1: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Currently in the middle of a tour celebrating the release of their latest album Mojo, Petty & Co. are in fine form, perhaps never sounding better as a band. The new album was recorded almost entirely live in the studio, and shows just how good a group of seasoned veteran players can actually be. As the Heartbreakers, they’ve been together (the four original members) for 35 years. The three main players (Tom, Mike Campbell, and Benmont Tench) have been playing together since their teens. I got to see them in concert on this tour, and they sound as good (if not better) than they did when I first saw them over 20 years ago. It was also good to see their opening act…
Exhibit 2: Crosby Stills & Nash. More than four decades have passed since this trio first harmonized their way into America’s collective consciousness. Four years ago (with compatriot Neil Young), they showed that they still have something to say, and they sounded spectacular as they opened for the Heartbreakers. It’s still hard to consider them the opener (more like a twin-headliner bill), and the crowd treated them like they were the act they came to see and cheered them back for a well-deserved encore. They all sang and played well, and they don’t seem too eager to lay their guitars down anytime soon. That’s a good thing. You can go see for yourself – CSN will be performing in concert in South Florida on October 1.
Exhibit 3: Paul McCartney. Rapidly approaching that magical milestone of 70 years, McCartney has showed no signs of slowing down, and time has taken absolutely nothing away from his musical abilities. This past year has seen Paul take on another world tour, and he’s still musically creative in the studio, recording under his own name as well as his alias The Fireman. The concerts aren’t short shows, either. Paul and his band go through 35-37 songs a night in a marathon concert without an intermission, and he performs like a man one-third of his actual age. I’d have to agree with the Toronto Sun reviewer who wrote, “That McCartney kid looks like he could very well be an up-and-comer.”
Exhibit 4: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Speaking of someone else who doesn’t act his age on stage, the Boss still plays legendary concerts that last over three hours, and again, no intermission. Finally seeing them live last year was a bucket list item I could cross off, and the show was nothing short of incredible. Bruce has stated that the E Street Band is sounding and playing better than they ever have, which is pretty incredible when one considers that they’ve played a lot of shows together over that past 38 years. The records that Springsteen has made with the band for the past ten years are arguably the best of his career, and here’s hoping for a chance to hear more.
I’ve had a theory for a long time that music – especially playing music – keeps people young. I’ve seen it in friends and bandmates, and I’ve cert
- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays this Friday (tonight) at Dockside, and Saturday at the Key Colony Inn. Thursday finds John performing at Sparky’s Landing. www.johnbartus.com.
September 9, 2010 - Florida Keys - Islamorada Free Press Staff Writer Robert Silk: Per-capita spending on par with similar towns Florida Keys News - Islamorada/Key Largo Free Press. Wednesday, September 8, 2010. BY ROBERT SILK Free Press Staff. Published on KeysNews.com (http://keysnews.com). With permission of the Free Press and Robert Silk. The layout was changed slightly to fit the Journal format.
ISLAMORADA -- The village's non-fire department employees will be dealt one more blow, if the latest proposed 2010-11 budget is what the council ends up passing next month.
Meanwhile, a new analysis undertaken by the Free Press reveals that Islamorada's per- capita daily operating expenditures fall in the center of the curve among 11 small central and south Florida coastal towns reviewed by the paper.
Under the newest budget draft, released by the village late last week, total property tax collections would be equal to what they are this year, though individual homeowners could still see an increase. Meanwhile, employees would have their 401K matches reduced from 10 percent to 7 percent in the coming year.
The reduction, which would not apply to firefighters, whose benefits package is protected as part of the Florida Retirement System, would save taxpayers $51,000 in the upcoming year. It would come as another hit to all other village employees, who are already slated to take five unpaid furlough days, as well as lose their vision and dental insurance.
Village Manager Ken Fields developed the newest budget, to be presented at a workshop Thursday, Sept. 9, pursuant to the marching orders the council gave him two weeks ago.
The budget is now devoid of a series of more egregious cuts that the Fields administration had put forward, including a proposed closure of the Lower Matecumbe Key fire station, the elimination of the village's two-deputy marine patrol unit, five additional Village Hall closure days and one-day-a-week shut downs of the Founder Park swimming pool.
Instead, the village plans to take the extra $700,000 it needs to cover a $470,000 deficit and other expenses within the troubled north Plantation Key sewer system from funds that had been set aside for affordable housing, the replacement of big-tickets equipment items and for construction projects. The move will all but empty the coffers of the equipment replacement fund and reduce the housing reserves by almost half.
All told, the budget would leave the village with $9.45 million in operating expenditures in 2010-11, a figure that amounts to $1,430 per resident, according to the U.S Census Bureau population estimate from 2005.
Though all the budgets are thus far tentative, that would make Islamorada fifth lowest out of 11 coastal towns that the Free Press analyzed. Those towns, stretching from just west of Tampa to the northern reaches of Palm Beach County, include Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, Longboat Key, Sanibel Island, Marco Island, Key West, Marathon, Surfside, Lauderdale-By-the-Sea and Juno Beach. Most were selected because of their location on the water and because their population is similar to the village's 6,600 residents. Key West, the largest in the survey at 24,000 people, was selected because of its location in Monroe County.
The 11 cities are the same as the ones the Free Press used for an August story, which found that the proportion of daily costs the village spends on employee salaries and benefits was comparable to similarly situated towns.
All told, the new analysis revealed that the 11 cities are proposing combined daily operating budgets of $135.18 million to serve a combined population of 96,228, according to 2005 U.S. Census estimates. That amounts to proposed aggregate per-capita expenditures of $1,405, $25 less than the village total.
Islamorada's per-capita expenditures would be much higher than what is proposed by its neighbor Marathon, a fact that has not escaped the notice of some village watchdogs and critics. The Middle Keys city, with a population of 9,800, has proposed 2010-11 daily operating expenditures of just $9.01 million. The resulting per-capita spending proposal of $917 makes Marathon the lowest of the 11 towns the Free Press reviewed.
Key West, in contrast, is proposing daily operating expenditures amounting to $1,618 per resident next year, $188 more than Islamorada and sixth lowest out of the 11 cities reviewed by the Free Press.
The other cities, listed from lowest per-person costs to the highest were: Marco Island, $965 per capita; Madeira Beach, $1,1,60 per capita; Treasure Island, $1,198 per capita; Juno Beach, $1,623 per capita; Sanibel, 1,660 per capita; Surfside, $1,675 per capita; Lauderdale-By-the-Sea, $1,728 per capita; and Longboat Key, $1,899 per capita.
In addition to Thursday's budget workshop, the council will also hold the year's first state-mandated budget hearings during the coming week.
That hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14. The final budget hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21. The new budget will go into effect on Oct. 1. rsilk@keysnews.com
September 10, 2010 - Florida Keys - Alison Higgins: Invasive Species Scavenger Hunt - Florida Keys Newest
What if the first abandoned iguanas had been rounded up before they mated? What if the early populations of Brazilian pepper had been removed before birds and raccoons spread the seeds Keyswide?
The Florida Keys Invasive Exotics Task Force, comprised of Keyswide public and private conservation land managers is attempting to find out. While certain invasive exotic plants and animals have become so widespread that they are a constant assault (usurp invader conquest threat drain detriment damage impairment harm spoil injury) to natural ecosystems and wildlife, other mainland non natives are just crossing our borders and can be stopped, according to Alison Higgins, Land Conservation Program Manager of The Nature Conservancy.
“Air Potato, Burma Reed, and Pythons are all examples of non-native species that have proven to be major invaders on the mainland, but are just showing up here. If we can find and get rid of them now it will be a lot cheaper and a lot less harmful to our natural areas.”
To that end, Exotics Task Force members, including State Parks, National Wildlife Refuges and private conservation groups are offering prizes to individuals that help find and map the groups priority species. Prizes range from gift certificates and park passes for the most species per region, to a snorkel trip for two for the most species mapped overall.
To learn more about the Scavenger Hunt, and how to play, go to www.floridainvasives.org/Keys.
Florida Keys Most Unwanted Many folks know about invasive exotic plants like Brazilian pepper and invasive exotic animals like Burmese Pythons. More aggressive than other non-natives, they do not stay where planted and instead spread into natural areas, crowding out the native plants and dependent wildlife. Exotic pets are great escape artists and are also often dumped when their owners cannot take care of them anymore or find a home for them. The Florida Keys Invasive Exotic Task Force has a 14 year history of working together across public and private conservation lands to reduce the abundance and chokehold of our most prolific invaders. Unfortunately, the usual suspects are not the end of the invasion. Florida is known for the diversity of plants it grows for agriculture and landscaping, and the Port of Miami imports thousands of species a year, a few of which are destined to hop the fence and become our next problem. This is why the Florida Keys Invasive Exotics Task Force is asking you to become part of the solution through the Early Detection Scavenger Hunt.
Why Early Detection? The rules of engagement for invasive exotics are threefold: Prevention (the cheapest option), Early Detection/Rapid Response (the second cheapest option) and Control (the most expensive option). Prevention aims to identify invaders before they have escaped. Participating GreenThumb Nurseries are a large part of the prevention strategy for the Keys because besides offering Florida Friendly gardening products, they also do not sell any Florida Keys Invasive Exotic plants. Early Detection/Rapid Response (EDRR) is the next step if prevention hasn’t worked and a small number of new invasives have taken hold. There is still a chance with a concerted effort to remove that new population before it gets too widespread to handle.
Control: A misnomer at best, control is anything but. It means management of these invasive species in perpetuity, a constant effort against a constant seed source to keep our natural areas as healthy as possible.
The Early Detection Scavenger Hunt: The hardest part of about EDRR is finding out where the new invaders are. First invasions from the mainland populations are sparse and often overlooked. The purpose of the Early Detection Scavenger Hunt is to increase the number of eyes on the ground so that we can efficiently protect our natural areas. To that end, managers of our natural areas are offering prizes to folks that can help us correctly identify and map the new species of biggest concern.
September 11, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus: Whacko Nutjobs
I was on Marathon’s City Council at the time; as Vice Mayor, I was the designated speaker at the City’s commemorative vigil on Sombrero Beach. It was probably the singular most important speech I gave in my political career, trying to put into words the shock, anger, and sadness we all felt. Let us vow never to forget was the theme of the speech, and it still rings true nine years after. We can never forget the lives lost on that infamous day, as well as the thousands of lives lost in the subsequent wars fought in the Middle East.
What has always perplexed me is that the nutjobs who perpetrated and carried out this act of terror and murder did it in the name of God (Allah). It’s actually amazing and sad what people have done to each other for millennia, all in the name of The Creator. From the religion-based hatred that seems to be as prevalent as sand in the deserts of the Middle East, to the ethnic cleansing in Nazi Germany and Bosnia, to the my-Jesus-is-better-than-your-Jesus mentality of not-so-old Northern Ireland, the perversion of religion seems to know no bounds.
Let’s get this straight: God did not tell the 9/11 hijackers to fly jet aircraft into the World Trade Center. God did not tell Seamus to bomb Sean’s home. God did not tell the suicide bomber to detonate himself in the pizza parlor. God did not tell the Montana Freeman to shoot the abortion doctor. God didn’t tell Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist crew to picket soldiers’ funerals with signs stating that God Hates Fags.
And God most certainly did not tell Pastor Terry Jones to burn a pile of Qurans in Gainesville.
Granted, the free speech provisions in our Constitution protect Jones’ right to burn the Qurans, the same way they would protect him were he to burn Bibles or the US flag instead. As of my deadline, this nutjob pastor was still threatening to commemorate September 11 by calling it “International Burn A Koran Day” and turning Islam’s holy texts into a bonfire of hate.
A few weeks ago, only the 50 people in his congregation really knew who Pastor Terry Jones was. Now, everyone around the world knows who he is and what he plans to do. Political and religious leaders from around the world have voiced their pleas that Jones not burn the Qurans. US Army General David Petraeus warned that this act would inflame anti-American sentiments among the people in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the likely consequences of violence against American service personnel serving in the Middle East. With people as diverse as Hillary Clinton, Sean Hannity, and Angelina Jolie publicly imploring this misguided minister to abandon this stunt, with the threat of putting our troops in harm’s way, one might think that this might have an effect on Jones. His only response? “I’ll pray about it.”
Guess what, Terry? God isn’t going to tell you to burn Qurans. If you claim that He did, you’re lying. We’ve got enough problems with radical Islamic nutjobs overseas without having to deal with the radical Christian nutjobs here. And if Qurans are burned in Gainesville on September 11, and any of our troops are hurt or killed as a result, then what you did, though it may be protected free speech, will be akin to an act of treason.
I’ve met some people, and I’ve seen lots of others who claim that they have a “special” relationship with God, and that they can speak on behalf of Him. I don’t believe them.
They’re either knowingly lying, or delusional. And, as we have seen all too many times, they can be dangerous.
I’ll say a prayer as I remember September 11. I’ll pray for more understanding and good will between people
- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays this Friday (tonight) at Dockside, and Saturday at the Key Colony Inn. Thursday finds John performing at Sparky’s Landing. Next weekend, John performs with Storm Watch at Conchtoberfest! www.johnbartus.com.
September 13, 2010 - Monroe County - Marilyn Tempest Editor's Notes: Earth to County. This is a message to
Marathon and Key Colony Beach have managed to agree on sharing, albeit with some difficulties. The reason they came together was simple—the county services are too expensive, and getting more so.
Why, you might ask? The will to plan and save for needed vehicles and infrastructure does not seem to exist at the BOCC level. That is a tough nut to crack, so all we do is talk about it.
But I believe, with a five year plan, this goal is achievable, if we can during that period accomplish the following:
1. Maintain a level of civility and respect towards each other as communities; 2. Identify the lowest rates in the Keys, and set them as the unified county rates; and last but not least 3. Display at the BOCC level the will to fund this most important government service via proactive personnel and budget decisions.
Planning isn’t very sexy, but it might do some serious good for all of us if Mr. Gastesi holds onto his vision and applies the soft sell. If and when the economies of scale become clear, the deal will be done.
September 15, 2010 - Monroe County - Colleen Murphy: Good News for Recyclers! Recycling just got easier as
Plastic bottles and containers marked with the recycling symbol triangle and numbers 1-7 will now be accepted by Waste Management’s Materials Recycling Facility in Pembroke Pines. Recently upgraded sorting capabilities will utilize the new additions to produce pallets out of the recycled plastic. Even plastic caps and lids are also now being accepted for recycling purposes. All recyclables should be empty and reasonably clean when placed in your bin; it improves marketability and helps control pest problems. Since most plastics are derived from non-renewable, non-biodegradable petroleum products, recyclable plastics are among the most important items to deposit in your bin. Regular recycling of plastics also helps reduce litter in our community.
Other newly accepted items include “gable top” milk and juice containers and paper composite packaging called “aseptic containers” that are also used for foods like soups, juice, and milk. Gable top boxes have a peak like a house, but aseptic containers may be rectangular. Aseptic packages are made of layers of cardboard, polyethylene plastic, and aluminum; gable top cartons are made of layers of paper and plastic. Both types can only be recycled by "hydropulping," which separates the layers to recover the paper content.
Clean aluminum foil and foil containers are also being accepted now. Recycling of aluminum cans and foil is very important because bauxite mining is extremely energy intensive; recycling aluminum cuts energy costs by 95%! Recycling of plastics is estimated to save 90% of energy costs and energy savings for paper recycling are around 65%.
For more information about recycling in the Florida Keys, call Monroe County Recycling Department at 305 289 6037 or email murphy-colleen@monroecounty-fl.gov You can also visit our website for online brochures and newsletters at: http://monroecofl.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/MonroeCoFL_Waste/index
September 16, 2010 - Marathon - Marilyn Tempest: Editor's Notes: THE FIX WAS IN, an amusing anecdote.
Yesterday, I attended my first Meet and Greet for a candidate in the 2010 Marathon City Council race. As I watched the event unfold, some truths became self evident, if I may borrow words from our founding fathers.
Folks came in and greeted the candidate. They gathered at the “registration” table to attest to their presence, and perhaps donate. There were free tickets provided to guests for a later drawing. People drifted to the bar, and to the hors d’oeuvres buffet.
The City race is non-partisan. However, as people moved about chatting, the more liberal gathered on one side of the room, and the more conservative gathered on the other. The undecideds or unknowns, held the center of the room. The bantering was friendly. Then the inexplicable happened.
The drawing was held, and the actual results follow: --- 5 winners from the liberal side --- 3 winners from the undecided middle --- 1 winner from the conservative side --- 1 winner originally from the conservative side flip-flopped to the liberal side & immediately won something.
What “truths” were observed by this witness? 1. We are fortunate that people of good will step forward to run for office. 2. The Hurricane puts out a good spread. 3. There are a lot of liberal thinkers out there. 4. Conservatives adapt quickly to any situation. 5. We all love this town.
As I stood there with other winless conservatives, we shared an uneasy feeling that, in spite of the camaraderie and the warm welcome from our host, the fix was in.
September 17, 2010 - Marathon - Blair Shiver: Shiver Report: Council Sets Millage, Maintains Comfortable
During their regular council meeting Tuesday evening, the city council voted unanimously to set the millage rate for the 2010-2011 fiscal year at 1.8458. In other words, a homeowner in Marathon with a $500,000 residence would be looking at a tax bill of $923.
“It will actually exceed rollback,” Rosasco said of the budget, clarifying it is 2.5 percent below rollback. ‘We were able to do so while still maintaining in excess of six months of reserves for operations in our general fund.”
The millage rate of 1.8458 mils, unanimously approved by the council, is $24 less than last year’s rollback rate of 1.8931 mils. Rosasco clarified the proposed overall budget for the city is just under $52 million; $8.7 million of which is the general fund where ad valorem taxes will be collected.
“In our general revenue service fund, we’ve reduced spending four years in a row,” Vice Mayor Mike Cinque commended. “We provide good services and run a very tight ship. I think we can be proud of that.”
Backflow Valves The remaining majority of the meeting was spent discussing waste, sewage and its proper disposal.
Cinque, who admitted he was normally opposed to any further mandates on residents concerning sewer connections, added an item to the agenda for discussion about the mandatory installation of a backflow valve.
“I believe when we built this system, for around a $50 valve, we ought to make it mandatory that it’s installed in your laterals to protect your home against sewage backup from your neighbor’s house,” he suggested. “It’s very minor, but very needed.”
Mayor Ginger Snead said though she didn’t know exactly what a backflow valve is, “I certainly don’t want my neighbor’s waste in my bathroom, but I don’t want to trade one problem for another,” she said about any maintenance of the system.
Both Councilmen Pete Worthington and Rich Keating expressed concern that the system’s installation was not already mandatory.
Building Official Ron Wampler said a quick survey of local plumbers showed they would prefer the backflow valve installation remain optional. After a bit of research, Wampler added that more affordable valves, some priced as low as $30, could be damaged if a pipe snake is used to clear clogs in the system.
He continued that though the valve would require infrequent maintenance, they would prevent sewage from backing up into grade level homes if a flood occurs. Residents in Key West placed sandbags around their homes to prevent Hurricane Wilma’s floodwaters from invading their homes, but the resulting sewage that backed up into their homes was also trapped inside.
Cinque likened the valve’s installation to an airbag in a car. It can save your life in an accident, and after it’s used, it then needs to be replaced.
Councilman Dick Ramsay supported Cinque’s motion, adding that the vice mayor had done his research.
“I believe this is a life safety type issue, and it’s certainly a health issue,” Ramsay offered.
Wampler briefly touched on the fact that there are at least a dozen valve models from which to choose, to which Cinque responded that $50 is a minimal cost to protect homeowners against such a catastrophe.
Centrifuge Approved Following last week’s centrifuge demonstration in the Service Area 4 wastewater treatment plant, council voted to award a bid for purchase to Centrisys Corporation for the purchase of a machine designed to separate liquid and solid waste matter at treatment plants and essentially reduce the cost of hauling sludge out of the Keys.
Worthington supported the purchase noting that it would reduce overall operation and maintenance costs for the city when it assumes control of the utility in the coming months.
Ramsay added that though he supported the purchase, he asked the council to hold off on deciding who would operate the equipment.
Fruit Stand Woes Worthington raised concerns over an alleged Cease and Desist Order delivered to the operators of the weekly fruit and vegetable stand from the Florida Department of Transportation. The order included photos of violations from 2007 and 2008 in which customers at the stand parked their cars on the bike path in front of Crane Point.
“I guess one of the things that surprised me is that I sit on council, and I didn’t hear anything about this,” Worthington raised, adding that his issue is focused on how the incident took place and not the response by city staff. “I think we need to do what we can to support that group.”
Snead said she found the notice “almost offensive if not funny” and asked Keating, recently appointed the city’s liaison between the FDOT and Overseas Heritage Trail project coordinators in Tallahassee to ensure clear lines of communication.
Get to the Meeting Council moved to begin their regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 12 at 4:30 to allow more time for non-profits to plead their cases for funding from the city. They also voted to cancel the Dec. 28 meeting due to the Christmas holiday.
September 21, 2010 - Marathon - Marilyn Tempest Editor's Notes: IT'S ALL ABOUT NUMBERS. The budget
This community is getting it right in a lot of ways. There is a Council that reflects the population, a competent staff, and a sense of community that is strong and vibrant. This is powerful stuff.
There is a blind spot, however, in the way we operate, and it surfaces from time to time in small ways, and recently in a big way. With foresight, the city could resolve these issues early on instead of postponing them, and shortchanging folks in the process. I shall explain.
Some years back, when storm water first showed up on our tax bills, a construction cost was determined, and properties were assessed $60 each annually. The policy was that unbuildable properties would not be assessed. However, owners had to pay anyway, then apply for a refund with appropriate documentation. One would suppose the reasoning was that it was a way to verify what was truly “unbuildable”. A case can be made for that, but I resented having to go through the rigmarole to get back $60. How many owners never knew or didn’t bother? They just paid it.
Then there is the Avenue K caper. It has been going on for years. The owners there wanted a road that the city would maintain. The city had certain requirements that had to be met in order to accommodate emergency vehicles on that road. The city got an estimate that was higher than the owners’ estimate to build the road. No surprise there. Negotiations ensued that established that the actual cost would be billed to the owners. But the higher estimate was billed this year. When “actual costs” are calculated sometime in the future, refunds may be applied for. Costs to date are not available. Again the burden is on those few people to come back later for a refund.
Now comes the biggy. If you live in area 4 or 6, you know what I mean. We were forewarned that our FKAA bills would double when the wastewater costs were added. Mine has been triple or quadruple every month, and every person I have talked to is experiencing the same situation. When the calculations were done for setting rates and base charges two or three years ago, the city took the cautious view that we would not receive additional grant funding for the construction.
The rate algorithm has remained the same in spite of the fact that we have received several million in additional grants, and our estimated costs have not increased. No recalculation has occurred. Once again, the city is over-collecting based on yesterday’s information.
The good news is that Marathon as a city is financially prudent and doesn’t play games with underestimating costs. The bad news is that the city is not taking a proactive approach by adjusting rates to reflect current data, and providing incentives for water conservation.
Next month, Council will be set up as Utility Board for our Wastewater Utility, and citizens will have a means defined to complain. Get your last year’s worth of water bills, and set them aside. Be prepared to come forward with your personal evidence. This is not what we signed up for, and we shouldn’t wait until the project is totally over to receive some relief. It’s not just a few of us this time; it is everyone. The City should take action on rates now. Caution is commendable, but a fair resolution of this question should receive top priority.
September 18, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus Keys Disease: Conch On In (and Be Entertained!)
Now that the preliminaries are concluded, it’s time for the Main Event: Conchtoberfest 2010 at Hawks Cay Resort (cue the sound of a wildly cheering crowd). We’ve put together one of the best slates of performers ever assembled at one place in the Keys, and our festival lineup really has something for everyone.
Tonight, Friday September 17, is our kickoff. I’ll be performing (4 PM), along with tonight’s headline act, Larry Roberts (6 PM). Larry is one of Florida’s most in-demand Oktoberfest performers, and his traditional sounds will help get us all in the mood. Larry dresses in authentic lederhosen, and performs his show on accordion with keyboard backup. In addition to traditional Oktoberfest favorites, he’ll perform some fun songs and surprises as well (www.larryrobertsent.com).
Saturday morning starts with jazz from the Marathon High School Jazz Combo (10 AM). These students have really come a long way under the direction of Stephen Whitfield. Next, Solid Ground (11 AM), the musical group from the Kirk of the Keys, will take the stage for an energetic set you won’t want to miss.
The event headline act takes the stage at noon for one of his two performances that day. His new CD, Defending the Name, has just been released, and singer/songwriter Taylor Carson (www.taylorcarson.com) will perform many of the songs from the new album along with his band. Here’s some information directly from Taylor’s bio:
“Taylor Carson hails from the land of the Dave Matthews Band, Virginia Coalition, and O.A.R. While he built his musical chops on the shoulders of the acoustic rock superstars, his lyrical inspiration comes from the timeless wordsmiths like Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, and Martin Sexton. His new record, Defending the Name, is a 16-song folk-pop epic that is introducing Taylor to a national audience.”
Taylor also performs Saturday evening at 6 PM, and Sunday afternoon at 2 PM. You won’t want to miss this up and coming artist, and you’ll be able to say that you saw him when.
Following Taylor at 2 PM are local favorites (and Hawks Cay regulars) The Stone Crabs. You’ll enjoy their jam band rock as well as many of your classic favorites. Yours truly (www.johnbartus.com), along with drummer Glenn Faast and bassist/guitarist Christian Davis, will perform our first Storm Watch gig in a while. Expect some original songs, as well as Pink Floyd, Tom Petty, and other classics, including Christian wailing on some Hendrix-inspired guitar. We’ll also perform again Sunday at 4 PM.
Performing shows throughout the event will be world-record juggler Bruce Sarafian (www.jugglingusa.com). He holds Guinness Book world records for number of balls juggled and flashed, and he juggles sharp objects and fire as well… often sitting atop a tall three-wheel unicycle! Bruce’s shows are guaranteed to amaze and astound, and it’s another not-to-be-missed part of the incredible Conchtoberfest entertainment lineup.
Local favorites Jessica Lilly & Smokey Rhythm will perform Sunday afternoon at 2 PM, and if you haven’t heard them yet, you’re in for a treat. You’ll enjoy jam-based music and classic favorites with an acoustic foundation and cool Cajon percussion. The ribbon around the package is Jessica’s soulful vocals.
Also strolling around the event, don’t be surprised to see Dennis the Pirate and Captain Silky’s Pirates. I’ve heard that there’s a special pirate event on Sunday, so be sure to practice your pirate speaking skills!
- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays all this weekend with Storm Watch at Conchtoberfest! www.johnbartus.com.
September 24, 2010 - Middle Keys - Marilyn Tempest: THE MOSQUITO CONTROL BLUES
Budget hearings are important. On this night, copies of the agenda and the detailed expense budget were available if you asked for them. No comparisons to last year’s costs were provided, so you had no clue whether costs were up or down except if someone said so.
The Commissioners set the millage rate prior to revising the budget. I have never seen that before. Usually you estimate outside revenue and expenses, then set the millage rate to produce the tax revenue needed. This confused everyone, including board members. The commissioners adopted the .4596 millage rate achieved at the Key Largo hearing, which is well below rollback, but still high. The staff was pleased, but audience members, consisting mostly of candidates running for board seats, were less pleased.
Then the shell game started. Money was moved from one place to another. Commissioner Shaw had a list of proposed cost cuts, most of which were defeated by Mosquito Control’s gang of three. The net savings were to be moved to a reserve for the retiree health plan, Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB). I think that happened; I’m not sure. I distinctly heard something about $500K taken from the Key West Building fund going to a Capital Reserve. But later, Commissioner Shaw’s motion included that $500K in the OPEB fund transfer. I suppose the later vote supersedes the earlier vote, right? Who’s on first?
One of the line items reduced was merit pay. Commissioner Shaw suggested a range of salaries that would be “eligible”. Then a staff member suggested stretching the range so that more employees, including herself, might also be eligible. The commissioner obliged. The comptroller asked for a definition of “merit pay”. He doesn’t know? No one else knew either. Generous housing allowances remained intact. Throughout the discussion, the director was noticeably silent.
Repeated technical issues hampered the discourse. Several staffers attempted to fix the issues, without success. Although I tried to follow on the screen, items under discussion were not displayed. The revised budget was finally approved after three painful hours. The budget hearing adjourned, and was immediately followed by an intriguing regular meeting.
The director proposed the purchase of spraying equipment which would improve the current disbursal method. He suggested we might eventually buy 3 of these. Initial test results are encouraging, but not yet complete. The director was ready to go forward without a competitive bid, stating that bidding would delay the acquisition several months. The attorney listed the conditions that were required to do “no bid” contracts, one of which is declaring an emergency. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the board unanimously declared an emergency with dengue fever, and if next weekend’s results are encouraging, we will buy the new equipment. The instant declaration of emergency seemed cavalier, at best, to this observer. It was not revealed whether this was budgeted this year, or next year, or at all.
The board also voted to discontinue the OPEB immediately for any new employee, but it will remain in effect for existing retirees and current employees that stay with Mosquito Control long enough to retire. This is an unfunded future obligation to the tune of millions of dollars, and the board was right to end it. It was suggested that staff bring forward options that allow a retiree to join a plan for which he pays. Perhaps at that time, a new set of commissioners will see fit to include current employees in that lower cost plan.
What an evening! Boiled down to simplest terms: --You cannot hear in this room, and no one uses the microphones. Why not? It’s a public hearing. --Staff did not have its financial act together. --The highly paid director is passionate about chemicals, but not about money matters. -- The generous OPEB is driving and will continue to drive budget decisions at Mosquito Control. --These meetings should be broadcast live, which might lead to an improved performance. What can be done? Take a deep breath. An election is coming soon to a precinct near you.
September 25, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus Keys Disease: Conch Over & Out!
I’d like to personally thank the nice folks at Hawks Cay Resort. I got to know many of their key personnel a lot better during the planning stages for Conchtoberfest, and their upbeat attitudes and enthusiasm made all of our jobs easier. Sheldon, Wynn, Shay, Dan, Lenny, Jennifer, Chef Wolfgang, Justin, Fith, Tim, and so many others at the resort put in efforts above and beyond the call of duty in order to make this a success.
Thanks also go to everyone at the Chamber: Daniel, Leah, Arlette, and the organizers and volunteers without whom the event would not have happened. Thanks also to my fellow board members for their support and efforts.
Our sponsors, too numerous to mention here, provided a solid foundation on which to build an event like Conchtoberfest. Thanks also to our vendors for taking a chance on a first-time event and providing everything from great fish dip to what you need to catch the fish for the dip (and those one-pound brownies they kept selling right by the stage). Again, the team at Hawks Cay did a wonderful job of transforming a parking lot into Conchtoberfest Village in record time!
Taylor Carson and his band were a great headline act, and they kept the crowd very entertained, especially on their Saturday night extended set. Thanks to Bruce Sarafian for keeping all the balls (and clubs and flaming torches) in the air. Thanks also to Larry Roberts, The Stone Crabs, Jessica Lilly and Smokey Rhythm, Captain Silky’s Pirates, and my Storm Watch band mates Christian Davis and Glenn Faast (special thanks to Glenn for all his talent, time, and skills all weekend long).
The Marathon High School Culinary Academy outdid themselves with their incredibly tasty dishes. They were a part of the wonderful food choices available from a variety of booths and vendors. Nobody went hungry!
We can’t forget the four restaurants that hosted our Conchtoberfest Nights: Castaway, Lazy Days South, Sparky’s Landing, and Cabana Breezes. It was a great way to kick off the event, and I’m looking forward to next year already.
If you didn’t make it out to Conchtoberfest, there’s always next year. If you’re looking for something a bit sooner, might I suggest the upcoming Marathon Birthday Celebration on Saturday, November 20th? Last year’s 10th Birthday Celebration went so well, the City decided to make it an annual event so that we can all get together and celebrate… us!
There will be live entertainment all day and into the evening featuring many of Marathon’s finest, with special guests The Regs playing an inspired classic rock set beginning at 6:00 p.m. The City’s Fire & Rescue Department will be on hand with informative demonstrations, as well as many fun things for kids of all ages courtesy of the City’s Parks & Recreation Department. Stay tuned to this column for updates on the entertainment and activities schedule as they become available.
There will be vendors, food and drink, and a lot of fun and surprises as we gather to celebrate our history and our future. If you would like to have a booth at this event, there are still spaces available. Call Charlotte Quinn at 393-9501 to reserve your space.
As both Conchtoberfest and our Marathon Birthday Celebration events have shown us, sometimes all we need to do to help us realize how good things are is to throw ourselves a party! Conchtoberfest was great fun, and the Marathon Birthday
Party on, Middle Keys!
- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently finishing his term on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, Fridays at Dockside, and Saturdays at the Key Colony Inn! www.johnbartus.com. September 28, 2010 - Marathon - Blair Shiver: Shiver Report. No Stickers for Contractors | Courtesy of The  Weekly Newspapers & Blair Shiver. | By Jason Koler while Blair is away | Five weeks before the November election, Marathon’s City Council voted against charging contractors $50 to operate within city limits. According the city’s building official, Ron Wampler, Code Enforcement often receives “time consuming” reports of unlicensed work and there is no mechanism in place to cover the costs associated with investigation.
Months ago, the city administration, including the Building and Code Departments held meetings with the Florida Keys Contractors Association (FKCA) to determine a solution that would help crack down on unlicensed work while offsetting the costs associated with monitoring licensed and unlicensed contractors.
The resolution Wampler presented to Council would add $50 fee for contractors to register with the city, but the FKCA opposed the resolution even after Wampler told the Council the FKCA endorsed the measure during the budget workshops.
“We are against this fee as stated in our letter in the newspapers,” said FKCA board member John Keller. “And we feel the revenue generated by this fee will be nowhere near the dollar amount you have stated in the paper.”
All council members admitted they thought they had the support of the FKCA and Wampler on this resolution.
“I was impression that the contractors were in behind this 100% and I am not sure where the communication broke down,” said Councilman Rich Keating, before the measure failed.
In other business: The Hanley Property “It is our opinion that the structure as it stands is not an unsafe structure,” said Mike Dolan, Vice President of W. Barnett Enterprises, an engineering firm based out of Tampa, FL retained by the attorney representing the estate.
“It’s an eyesore to the community,” said Councilman Pete Worthington. “And we need something done with it.” Marathon’s City Manager, Roger Hernstadt, was then directed to contact the attorney and facilitate a plan to improve the appearance of the property.
The Business of Fire The Council renewed an inter-local agreement with the Village of Islamorada to share the services of Fire Chief William Wagner III, directed staff to issue an RFP for the new Grassy Key Fire Station and explore options for a new ladder truck.
The City is issuing an open solicitation for a new or slightly used 75’ – 100’ ladder truck to replace the old truck. “It is a great opportunity, because of the economy, there are a lot of new trucks sitting in fields that people had to pull off their orders,” Wagner said. “We actually seeing new trucks with very little mileage on there for $250,000-$300,000 cheaper than what they were actually built for.”
The Fire Chief and City Manager also reported the survey for the Grassy Key Fire Station is complete and that the Council will be provided with construction and configuration options so they could “make a business decision on how to proceed with the final design and subsequent date,” said Hernstadt.
$25,000 Wastewater Rate Study The Council authorized a contract with Public Resources Management Group, Inc. for $25,000 to sift through wastewater/stromwater costs based on the city’s EDUs.
“When we sit as a utility board sometime early next year, hopefully we can lower every monthly bill about $5 - $8 for every EDU,” justified Vice Mayor Mike Cinque.
Marathon City Council will meet next on Tuesday, October 12.
October 2, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus Keys Disease: How Many Lawyers…
Now, I know the title of this week’s column may lead you to believe otherwise, but I really have friends who are honest, principled lawyers whom I would trust with my reputation and my life – services I hope I never need. None of my lawyer friends, however (and thankfully), work for the company that advertises on billboards, “Who Can I Sue?” Neither do they work for Miami-based “Brill Rinaldi Garcia THE LAW FIRM.”
For those who may not be familiar with “Brill Rinaldi Garcia THE LAW FIRM,” their website states that they are, “…a boutique law firm of experienced trial lawyers providing passionate and professional legal representation for victims of personal injury and wrongful death.” In other words, bottom-feeding ambulance chasers preying upon victims of senseless tragedies.
Principal David Brill has come to the Keys and is searching for people to sue in the tragic case of the traffic death of Monroe County Deputy Melissa Powers. This is a truly tragic case, a death so totally unnecessary and sad. The circumstances of the accident that claimed her life are rightfully the focus of a Sheriff’s Office investigation. Attorney David Brill, on the other hand, is looking for anyone who might have been around the vicinity so that he can file suit.
A driver in the left lane of the four-lane US 1 saw Deputy Powers coming behind him in his rearview mirror at a high rate of speed. He saw her moving to the right lane to go around him, so he tried to stay out of her way and remained in the left lane. Powers then lost control of her vehicle and collided with a Freightliner tractor-trailer parked legally on private property.
Unfortunately, the innocent left-lane driver has been charged by the Florida Highway Patrol with making an improper turn that caused the accident (not really true), and by leaving the scene of an accident he was involved in (so not true). Deputy Powers was traveling at excessive speeds out of concern for a fellow deputy who wasn’t responding to his radio (tuned to a frequency not normally used by the department) or his cell phone.
It was an accident – tragic, yes, but certainly not the fault of the left-lane driver. Or the Freightliner.
But that’s not how attorney David Brill sees it. Because insurance companies are more likely to settle than fight cases in court, the bottom-dwellers of the legal profession use tragedies like this to go after as large a settlement as they can get, while portraying themselves as being “For People. For Justice.” (That’s the “official motto” of “Brill Rinaldi Garcia THE LAW FIRM.”
What would be hysterically funny were it not sadly true is that attorney David Brill is now threatening to sue the owner of the Freightliner tractor-trailer. I’m not making this up. Brill sent the owner of the Freightliner a letter that stated, and again, I’m not making this up, “This incident may have been caused by your direct or vicarious negligence.”
If your mind is reeling from how the owner of a tractor-trailer parked legally on private property could have possibly caused the death of Deputy Powers through “direct or vicarious negligence,” join the crowd. It’s a shame that innocent people have to spend their time and money defending themselves against flawed allegations and frivolous lawsuits. But that’s the way it is when we need to find scapegoats for bad things that sometimes just happen, and when it’s easier to pay people off than defend the truth. And we wonder why our insurance costs keep going up…
Here in these United States, people can sue other people for no reason whatsoever. We all know about the woman who won a substantial award for the brilliant action of placing a cup of hot McDonald’s coffee between her legs as she drove away from the Golden Arches. Here’s a real mind-boggler: In the 1990s, Anheuser-Busch (the brewers of Budweiser) ran a series of ads in which two beautiful women come to life in front of two truck drivers. A Michigan man bought a case of Bud, drank it, and failed to see two women materialize. Yes, he filed suit. He sued the company for false advertising, asking for a sum in excess of $10,000. Thankfully, the court dismissed the suit.
It’s a damn shame that we as a society can’t figure out how to keep idiots and bottom-feeders from standing in the way of the justice that our courts are supposed to protect. As Einstein once said, “There are only two infinite things: the Universe,
- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently finishing his term on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, Fridays at Dockside, and Saturdays at the Key Colony Inn! There are dates at the Brass Monkey and Hawks Cay this month as well – please check out www.johnbartus.com. Internet Stuff Here are the latest DVD films from http://www.NetFlix.com:
 The Dull Stuff All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of this magazine, company, or its advertisers. Inputs, email, suggestions, and letters to this journal are subject to approval by the Journal Editor. Submittals may be edited for content and length and become the creative property for the one-time nonexclusive publication of:
Internet URLs: Publication date: October 28, 2010
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