annexation position

Until The County says, in writing, that THEY will be responsible for any further pollution cleanups in the proposed annexation areas, I would have a very difficult time voting for it. The supposed 2.3 million in benefits are based on 2008 numbers, when property value were 30-40% higher. Until those numbers are adjusted to show the actual values NOW and the further projected 14.5% drop during this year, the mitigation numbers AND the overall benefits do NOT reflect accurately what we would gain from this action. Doral is paying one million a year in mitigation fees for properties that are worth 40% less today, than when they were annexed. Until the zoning is resolved where WE have total and complete control over the quality and quantity of the businesses in the proposed annexation areas, I would have a hard time voting in favor of this proposal. Its called doing DUE DILIGENCE, a concept that the Mayor and Council havent attempted in a long while, but is a process that should be done PRIOR to any major action. When one buys a house they look at it for possible structural damage, termites, traffic patterns, suitability, schools, taxes, financing, flood potential,etc. THAT is called DUE DILIGENCE, and the principles are the same here. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

phantom Optimist connection?

By all means, both the owners of the MDAC swim team AND the city officials SHOULD provide that information as a show of good faith! Whether they WILL, or not, remains to be seen. Is it possible both are not operating in good faith? Could it be that the $1100 pool rental break MDAC got when it switched to the pool from the jr college was split a couple ways, with different people? Until further evidence is presented to the contrary, it SURE looks like a possibility, at least, if not a probability. Neither are coming forward with simple information to put these concerns to rest. What kind of lesson would that be for a father to teach his son? What about honesty? integrity? transparency? good business principles? principles of ANY type? It really could make one wonder - if they cheat on their rent, what other things might they be cheating on? skimming or under-stating admissions numbers? heet sheets? concessions? It just LOOKS bad, for them, whether it IS truly bad or not! This really DOES need to be resolved. Just like the phantom Optimist connection- it needs some resolution, one way or another. Billy could straighten this out quickly. Why doesnt he do it! Is Billy hiding something? Billy KNOWS there is NO such connection, but says NOTHING. Is it possible that Billy DOESNT know? He has been an active Optimist for several years, I have heard. Wouldnt a relationship like this, IF it had ever existed, been discussed at one of the meeting? be written down somewhere, in the minutes? This situation is casting a cloud on the good name of the Optimists, as nobody from the Optimists has confirmed or denied the claimed relationship, including Billy. This just gets more and more curious, at the very least.