Longboat Key Letters to the Editor 03.03.16

Government officials don’t always know best

Longboat Key residents have an important vote coming up.

I am admittedly confused, but I think it is a vote on approving or disapproving a funding method for neighborhood power cable undergrounding.

I do not recall any public vote being taken on whether or not this project should be undertaken at all. I also do not recall any single resident’s request, let alone a groundswell, that this project be undertaken at all.

It appears to me that this is just one more example, in a long line of examples, of shortsighted overreach by the town manager, planners and the Longboat Key commissioners.

They always think they know what is best for the poor uninformed masses. At any rate, I would like to provide an analogy that might simplify this complex issue.

I believe it is pertinent and appropriate.

Joe and Mary live in a condominium complex that consists of 100 condominiums. They live in Unit 56.

One day, they receive a notice informing them that the condominium board of directors has decided that a new and bigger swimming pool is needed, and the cost will be $200,000.

They are giving the residents the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” on the following funding method:

Units 1 through 75 will be assessed $100 each. Units 76 through 100 will be assessed $7,700 each.

Can anyone guess how Joe and Mary will vote? Can anyone guess how the vote will turn out?

The undergrounding mess is yet another fiasco generated by our town government’s never ending desire to do something.

Do we really want our representatives to hire one consulting firm after another to tell those of us who live here what we want? Does anyone really want an unneeded new town center, crosswalks that make us less safe or undergrounding of cables on GMD and the neighborhoods? Shouldn’t we be able to determine what we want and what we do not want? I, personally, would like to see removal of the crosswalks and a complete cancellation of the undergrounding both for GMD and the neighborhoods. And here is what I want from local government: Maintain the excellent fire, paramedic, and police service we are so fortunate to have here. Other than that, butt out.

Peter Aden
Longboat Key

Accurate information helps first responders

We have lived on Evergreen Way at the far end of the road at Cedars East for the past eight years. My husband is a Type 1 diabetic, and we have called on our local paramedics numerous times over the years for immediate assistance when he has had a dangerous, life-threatening drop in blood sugar.

We cannot say enough about how grateful we are for their immediate response at all times. We have not had experience with the change in dispatch or how it has affected Longboat Key but can assure you that our firefighters, paramedics and police are the best ever in our opinion.

Maybe Cedars should post emergency information on each court so visitors and members will have accurate information on hand should an emergency occur.

This is an unfortunate occurrence, and no one should be blamed, least of all our paramedics.

What would we do without them?

Pat and Mike Frain
Longboat Key

Waste is a common theme for town

REMEMBER WHEN…

Longtime Colony Beach & Tennis Resort owner Murf Klauber sued the town, and walked away with $5-6 million of taxpayers’ money.

Twenty consultants designed a geo-textile rubber tube placed in the gulf about mid-Key to halt erosion of the beach. That lasted only a couple of years — more taxpayer’s money wasted.

What about the firefighter pension board investing taxpayers’ money to the loss of $20 million? If it were my money, I would have taken it out after it lost $1 million.

Beach renourishment costs are split 80% for A, 20% for B. In my 40 years of living on Longboat Key, the beach has been renourished approximately eight to 10 times. My canal was dredged once. I guess that’s my 20%, but I get to walk the beach and look at the multimillion dollar homes. What’s wrong with 90%-$10%?

A few years ago, the town had an idea for a tollbooth at both ends of the island because motorists from Anna Maria used Gulf of Mexico Drive for a short cut to Sarasota to get to work. Another bad idea, but at least it never got to a vote.

The “Save Our Homes” law that placed a 3% cap increase on ad valorem taxes was passed for a reason; now, non-ad valorem doesn’t take that law into consideration. Therefore, a 20% increase in some property owners’ taxes is possible with this assessment for underground utilities.

My point is that taxpayers’ money is not being well-spent; therefore Longboat Key is for millionaires only!

Mel Schwartz
Longboat Key