annexation, with reservations

Let me be clear- IF the County signs an agreement to clean up any further pollution; AND the actual current and projected numbers are made known for tax assessments; AND the mitigation fees are negotiated down according to those numbers (or eliminated); AND we have complete and total control over zoning there- THEN I would be in favor of annexation, if the numbers show a substantial benefit to the residents of Miami Springs. By actually DOING due diligence we would have minimized the risks to us and gotten a clearer picture of the potential benefits, which is the intention and functional value of due diligence in the first place. Last year our tax millage rate was raised from 6.3 to 6.4+ and all of our fees were increased substantially, some doubled, tripled, and more. We cannot continue to raise taxes while our tax dollars disappear by the truckloads. Having more monies in our coffers means nothing if we have no accountability or transparency in how it is being spent! Dr. Mel P. Johnson

ideas, not slogans

We have run the gamut from Vote For Me- Im Latin, to Vote For Me, Im Female, and Vote For Me, Im Billy's Buddy And Will Do Whatever He Tells Me To Do - that is a big improvement? I am not so sure. What about new ideas, being a proponent for accountability, transparency, reasonable construction fees,and due diligence as a process for doing City business as a platform for consideration by the people? Those are the ideas my campaign is built on. The people will decide if those things make sense to them and are what they want in a representative, or not. Dr. Mel P. Johnson

commentary

It would not be necessary to reveal every detail of every internal investigation. It WOULD be good to know that an investigation was initiated by xxxxxx, and findings were yyyyyy (no further investigation is needed, changes need to be made, charges were unfounded, etc). The Mayor and Council have been made fully aware of the situation and they feel zzzzz due to qqqqq. The investigation is/isnt ongoing and the case is/isnt closed at this time. This would lend some accountibility to the process without having to divulge all of the details, so that if happened again everyone would know who is responsible. The Mayor and each Councilperson could go on record as having reviewed the case in its entirety and is either satisfied/not satisfied that a quality investigation has been made and/or appropriate steps have/havent been taken, and that they will be monitoring the situation personally in the future, if necessary. The City Manager could answer any questions the Mayor and Council may have regarding this, or any, situation and how it evolved, what improvements, if any, need to be made, etc. This would lend some transparency to the process and some accountability, while protecting the rights of those involved and the delicate nature of personnel decisions. As it is now, people could assume that it was all swept under the rug, as no investigation was done, no actions were taken, and nobody is responsible, now, or in the future.

MDAC profits at our expense

Shouldnt every citizen have a say in whether we want our money to go to cover expenses incurred by a private business based in Doral that has only a handful of Springs kids and doesnt even pay enough to cover the expenses of keeping the pool open for their group? Why should WE take a BIG loss so that THEY can profit? The City Council APPROVED the City Manager renting our pool for PENNIES on the dollar??? Without any contract? on a handshake? NOW that the Council knows all this is happening, what are they DOING about it? No oversight, supervision, or accountability has been required of the City Manager in YEARS! Why would they START now? Gym will continue to bleed the city of needed tax dollars and resources until we are bled dry. And the City Council will act surprised. They ALL need to go. Start with the City Manager.