Comments by GFonda

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Written on Collier County delays reimbursement for exhibit designs for new Marco museum :

It's time for Marco Island to secede from Collier County and form the "calusa republic".

Written on Mixed reaction, emotions to Marco Island's speed limit change:

Just wondering if this will raise the ire of City Council members who were left uninformed similar to when the last manager was dismissed over his lack of communications to our elected leaders.

Written on Collier County agrees to hire new ambulance service:

If one calls 911, what ambulance service/company comes?

Written on Guest Commentary: MICA surveys; is anyone listening:

I wonder if it is possible for the survey to be made available to non MICA residents for their responses to be included - perhaps as a separate tabulation.

Written on Letter to the Editor: Are Marco Island councilors acting as potted plants? :

Please get back on subject. Do those of you that stand before the City Council at "community forum" think that your concerns are being addressed properly?

Written on Personnel changes announced for City of Marco Island:

I am wondering if there are any pay raises related to this realignment of the organization and personnel involved. I DO hope this is NOT being done to circumvent the "no raise" promise around which the 2012 budget was based.

Written on Marco council to weigh several tax rate options Monday:

This is sooo confusing to us resident taxpayers (God know how the non-resident taxpayers can figure it out). The property taxes should NOT be raised higher than last year - whatever the millage rate turns out to be. In fact they should be lower to compensate for the worsening economic situation Marco Island taxpayers are facing. I've never understood the rationale for tying road resurfacing to the STRP. I thought there was always a line item in the operating/capital(?) budget for road resurfacing and that the schedule of its completion be tied to the STRP zones being torn up.

Written on Loan an option for Marco to replace ‘totally obsolete’ Smokehouse bridge:

It IS a strange design appearance that was selected

Written on Should Marco Island Farmer’s Market money be used for fireworks?:

Use the Farmer's Market profit to reduce Veteran's Park debt

Written on Can the BAC make Marco Island's cul-de-sacs beautiful again?:

I believe I suggested before that the Beautification Advisory Committee publish acceptable cul-de-sac plantings for homeowners residing on the cul-de-sacs to plant and maintain themselves. I know I would.

Written on Marco Island City Council has more questions for consultant regarding utility costs:

As I stated over 6 months ago, the debt costs should NOT be buried in the base rate, but should see "the light of day" and be visible - preferably on our property tax bill which may be tax deductible. I also believe all property owners should pay for the debt - probably equally.

Written on Marco gets permission to allow watering three days a week, not two :

Why dont we try and sell the excess water to other communities that are short rather than dumping it in the Gulf?

Written on Marco City Council to weigh in on cul-de-sac maintenance:

It would be helpful for the beautification committee (Sydney and others) to establish several planting/landscaping designs and costs to pick from and that also would be acceptable for improving the appearance of the cul de sac on our streets. My guess is that the ones that would participate are those that actually live around the cul de sac. I would, if I knew that I was complying with an overall acceptable plan.

Written on Marco Island fights excessive force lawsuit:

If they couldn't breathe, how come they could yell non-stop? This whole episode was staged by those punks.

Written on Federal lawsuit filed against Marco police claiming excessive force during arrest:

Stef is my neighbor and one could not be a better one. I do think that because we apparently do not have facilities on the island to hold and process individuals involved in these types of incidents, that it is risky to have one police officer transport multiple actively belligerent individuals to Naples without backup; or at least put them in a "paddy wagon" where they are caged in a separate compartment. Perhaps such a vehicle is available from the Sheriff's department in which case the Sheriff should be called in to do the transport to the Sheriff's facility in Naples. From what I remember of the incident from the original press reports, Stef handled the situation as best as could be expected under the circumstances. I am a big supporteer of our local police officers who do a fine job. I am curious if the young men were in fact convicted of something - maybe underage drinking, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, etc.

Written on Marco Island approves 15 percent tax rate increase, limits oil spill reserves:

I sent Frank the text message. But first, I tried calling all sorts of City offices including the non-emergency police line (since the meeting is held in the police building)- they all were on after hour voice messages. So, the last resort was to email Frank and hope he read the email during the meeting. There needs to be a way for us to inform someone when the audio/visuals on the meetings are not workng.

Written on Marco Island approves 15 percent tax rate increase, limits oil spill reserves:

Unfortunately, the sound was off on the TV transmission for the first hour or so of the Council meeting yesterday. I would like to know why! Anyway, it appears that during that time, the Council approved a millage rate of 1.89 and also an add on for the Veteran's Park of .11. So, the total millage rate is now 1.99. Isn't that above the statutory rate of 1.98 that the Council originally approved that could not be exceeded? I am wondering why MITA is in favor of this based on Fay's comments as reported in the Eagle.
George

Written on Marco Island looks to increase taxes by 20 percent, beef up reserves:

What seems to be happening in the Marco Island Operating Budget development process is preservation of a spending cap amount. This seems backwards to me. Good efforts were made by the Budget committee and City staff to build a lean budget reflecting today's economic environment as well as funds needed to effectively operate the City with no degradation in services. Then some "Plug" amounts were added totalling in excess of $2 million in the form of Oil Spill contingency and Reserves build up, so as to preserve a spending cap, that in my opinion far exceeds our future requirements.

Written on Letter to the Editor: On the Marriott proposal ... :

Margie,

You Rock!!!!!

She has a point, in that the "parking" lot section in question is not being used as a prking lot, but rather as an apparent permanent construction/maintenance site for the hotel complete with porta potties, and construction trailors. This is NOT neighborly on the part of the Marriott to its northside neighbor who has to endure the noise, dust/dirt, and ugliness; remedial action should be taken immediately. The masonary wall the Marriott as erected for the other sections (East side) of the parking lot should be built on the north side between the "parking" area and San Marco Residences.

Written on City eyes providing travel soccer program:

"Who is John Galt?"

Written on PHOTOS: Marco police uncover potential boat theft in progress :

Good job guys. Keep it up.

Written on City eyes providing travel soccer program:

What about a Little League team? or do we already have one?

Written on Marriott pursues expansion on Marco Island:

The City faces a serious shortage of parking spaces near the beach. The Easter Sunrise Service and 4th of July fireworks held on the beach are just two examples. Also, the two recently opened beach access pathways near the Marriott have no public parking facilities. I would like the City to negotiate a benefit from this Marriott proposal in the form of up to 100 (free or minimal cost/parking meters) parking spaces in the proposed Marriott garage for beachgoers. (The City would receive the revenue from these meters). After all, that is how we got the beach path from Mass Mutual.

Written on Federal grant may encourage Marco Island to spend more on new bridge:

I recommend that the first choice be reconsidered instead of the third choice based on the city survey if substantial funding is provided by non-City sources.

Written on PHOTO: Naples man rescues woman trapped in Mercedes after crash into canal:

Chuck,

Perhaps City Council could recognize these two guys.
George

Written on Poll: Marco City Council considers charging a fee at Canine Cove :

I almost got raped when I traversed the "big" dog park to get to "my" fenced area when the construction was going on. I screamed and yelled and finally made it to the gate to get out after my Daddy rescued me. So, if there is security at Canine Cove to protect me and to collect the "fee" that would ensure that the "off-island" pouches pay their fair share, I would support the proposal,

Snooky

Written on Marco to loan Hideaway Beach $1.6 million:

I'm looking at the picture and it looks to me that the south side of the existing t-groins, where the road is, could soon wash away. Has there been an engineering study done recently that estimates the time when the whole stretch of land shown in the picture disappears under water? Looks to me that we are facing another Coconut Island situation. Can we stop Mother Nature? Will the environmentalists stop us? If I lived in that stretch of Hideaway Beach, I'd bail.

Written on Alternative revenue sources may be answer to Marco's property tax shortfall:

I may be mistaken, but I believe property taxes are deductible on our income tax returns. So, why would anyone want to move "legitimate" City expenses from property taxes and bury them as a surcharge on our utility bills which are not tax deductible? Seems like a "shell game" to me.

Written on Vehicle crashes and burns:

That's what happens when you are "Skylarking"!!!

Written on Council increases reuse water rates, tables beach access:

I believe that the folks living on the East side of Collier Blvd. between Spruce and Maple were not expecting a "Yellow Brick Road" to lead them to the beach, just a path would be fine.

Written on Council proposes plan to finance wastewater plant:

I believe that there is a line item in the operating budget for road repaving. I also believe there is a schedule for the streets that are to be repaved. I would prefer to have the operating budget road repaving schedule updated/revised to accommodate the sewer line digging rather than tacking on a surcharge (8%?) to our water bills. I think that this will in the long run be extremely expensive to the property owners and muddies the water (no pun intended)when shown on the water bills. What on earth does road repaving have to do with water rates when the repaving could be paid for out of a revised operating budget that has that line item in it.

Written on Marco council to discuss wastewater plant funding options:

The interest rate on the Revenue Bonds appears to be 8%. That seems awfully high to me. I think I understand the discussion on the options relating to funding the capacity plant expansion requirements, but when the road repaving subject is introduced, it seems to muddy the water. These sound like two separate issues.

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