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Whatever happened to the sidewalk lawsuit against the City? Was that ever resolved? If so, what was the final disposition? Anybody know? We have a couple traffic circles on the east side of town, and if properly designed and landscaped, are not an eyesore. They DO seem to slow the traffic down some. Its a public safety issue. Guess its cheaper to make a circle than to put a light in, rumble strips, or a stop sign. Still, no doubt that teachers salaries are important too, just more expensive to implement. Teachers ARE grooming the leaders of tomorrow. A perfect example of a case where City priorities and County priorities dont agree, and the County takes precedence over the City. It could easily happen again with annexation, if we dont have the proper zoning and legal safeguards in place.

due diligence finally?

Apparently Mr Dotson has had enuf of the childishness and drivel that heas been posted here in the past; to the point where he rarely has much to do with this site anymore. I would encourage him to return again as there is considerably more substance and civility than before now. Interesting letter in the Gazette this week about millage rates in various cities in S Fla. The writer was tentatively right about the possible benefits of annexation IF 1) we could get an equitable settlement of boundaries and not just take whatever VG dictates 2) their is no significant pollution, as one million-dollar cleanup would wipe out any possible benefits 3) if we can get a fair and equitable settlement of mitigation fees from the County so we wouldnt have to pay them ad finitum for doing nothing 4) if we can control the zoning so we can control the quality of the businesses there and guarantee that a bevy of low-income high rises, peep shows, and/or sex motels are not built there, then it might make make sense for Miami Springs. All of that would require DUE DILIGENCE, something the Mayor and Council refuse to do. They wont even let the people vote on multi-million dollar projects that will affect the financial strength and social character of Miami Springs for decades. The Mayor and Council take whatever numbers the City Manager gives them as gospel, even tho he has a consistently laughable record of construction cost estimates and cost overruns for projects he is responsible for in the past three-plus years.

prudent, or not

Is it prudent to negotiate from a position of strength on properties that are POLLUTED and will cost MILLIONS to restore? Is it prudent to negotiate for land that we will have NO zoning powers over? And if the chances of ever getting that land are nine against and four in favor, why are we wasting our time and energy discussing it? Lets develop lands we have, like the 36 street corridor, which has NO zoning or pollution concerns.

Is it true that we spent HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars before on the possibility of annexation? LOTS of expensive attorney hours spent mulling over that possibility and came to the conclusion that years of pollution on those properties with NO Superfund backing and NO cooperation from the current owners is a deal-killer in itself- strike one. Add to it the fact that we are going to have NO zoning powers over that land- strike two. The final point against that happening is that NINE of the 13 County Commissioners dont want to let it go- strike three.

Next!