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

comments

While we appreciate the 15k gesture on the part of the City of Doral (not MDAC), when you consider that 95% of that team comes from Doral, shouldnt that be expected? The City of MS is losing 200k in the off-season to keep the pool open so that their private team can practice here and have their meets. 15k does NOT go a long way to remediate our 200k in losses. We would save that 200k by just shutting it down in the off-season. That is the prudent and simple solution. Why would 13,000+ residents be expected to indulge a handful of Springs kids and take those BIG losses when it benefits a private team of mostly somebody else's kids? If they were to split the losses, maybe it would make better sense, but, as it is, it makes NO sense. If they want the convenience of practicing here, they should be willing to pay reasonable and standard expenses. Then we could look at it from a cost/benefit basis. To do anything less would be fiscally irresponsible to the large majority of taxpaying Miami Springs residents.