User profile: SmokeyJoe
Joined: June 19, 2007
Comments posted: 155
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Comments by SmokeyJoe
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Posted on August 22 at 3:31 p.m.
ISSLER.............You admit you have not read the emails that give direction, involve private meetings with staff, indicate contacts with certain consultants or businesses and pretty much has the staff responding on a regular basis to requests and directions.You always want to talk about " FACTS ", How about reviewing the proof before you open your mouth on this subject. These emails will open the eyes of any fair-minded resident of Marco Island, that Arceri has entirely too much control over Officials and staff without any record of the City Council Authorization at any Public meeting. Every Resident of Marco Island should Carefully and completely review all of the emails to see who is really running Marco Island.
Posted on August 15 at 10:24 a.m.
Council Members should be making their decisions based on input from the residents of Marco that voted them in to office to hold the line on spending in these difficult times. The staff is always going to be for more employees, more benefits and more spending in general. They have their personal interest in mind. Will the council listen to those that have to pay the bills or those that want to spend more money? We will see who,s interests they will support !
On Taxpayers to take on fire assessment with Marco City Council
Posted on August 11 at 5:14 p.m.
Another excellant letter. BUT WILL THEY LISTEN?
On Letter to the Editor: Response to Wayne Waldack’s letter ‘The cap’
Posted on August 9 at 10:54 a.m.
Some of this sounds like it may be coming from a " Spin Doctor ". How are we maintaining our Budget Cap ? The Staff recommends adding new revenue sources to be charged to Marco Residents in addittion to Taxes. Marco Tax Rate Decreases are the result of increased property values during the years indicated and not to cuts in spending. Taxpayers have expressed their desire to have Marco,s City Budget supported by property taxes since they are Tax Deductable. We do not need new charges to our residents to permit the increased spending of local government. Finally, Did we really have 550 Fires here on Marco last year that required off-island fire companies?
On Guest commentary: Marco Island – Always a tight budget, always quality services
Posted on August 9 at 10:31 a.m.
To Howard Blankman..... EXCELLANT LETTER !....The Publication-----Update Cape Coral for JULY--AUGUST reports " City temporarily halts further Utility Expansion --The city council can,t decide whether to move forward on the utility expansion project titled Southwest 6/7. THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT ADDING THE BURDEN OF EXPANSION COSTS TO ALREADY BELEAGUERED PROPERTY OWNERS. The costs for a typical --site are estimated to be $10800 for all properties plus $6750 in impact fees for properties with homes built on them. " The Marco Island City Council should also be concerned for their residents and not add new revenue sources to avoid holding the line or cutting back on spending.
Posted on August 9 at 10 a.m.
Marco Residents elect our Council Members to represent us. The Council Members are supposed to look out for Marco Taxpayers by holding down spending both on the local and County level. Marco Island residents, the bi-partisan Florida Legislature and the Governor all requested this ! Our Council Members would rather be Buddy-Buddy with County officials and therefore they have not seriously questioned the large payments to the County Sheriff or County school District with regard to the little Marco residents receive in services. It takes " GUTS " to stand up for what is fair and just. That,s why we all should respect Local Residents that stand up for what they believe in at Local Council Meetings. We also hear many of these same Residents question the large payments to the Sheriff and the County School District but our Local Council Members do not speak out loudly to the proper County Officials
Posted on August 7 at 12:50 p.m.
Let us hope and pray they do not change their position before they adopt the budget.This has happened in the past when staff or other special interest indivuals put pressure on the council members that voted " NO ".
On One alternative revenue source taken off the list by Marco council
Posted on August 7 at 11:34 a.m.
The above letter is excellant and expresses the feelings of many, many Marco Residents on fixed incomes. Further the City Officials should not be creating new revenue sources so they can assess, charge and bill NEW CHARGES TO MARCO RESIDENTS. Comparing Marco,s number of employees with Naples IS A SHAM ! Naples has 514 employees, but they are about tottaly developed with a major main highway running through it. That is why they have170 employees just in police and fire/rescue. They [ Naples ] also have 67 employees in SOLID WASTE, CITY DOCK FUND, VEHICLE MAINTENANCE,BEACH PATROL AND REDEVELOPMENT. MARCO HAS NONE OF THESE SERVICES. The City of Marco now has about 200 employees, but it appears the CITY STAFF WANTS TO ADD ANOTHER 300 EMPLOYEES HERE ON MARCO SO WE CAN BE ON A PAR WITH NAPLES. WHY ELSE DID THEY SHOW THIS UNFAIR COMPARISON.
Posted on August 6 at 7:14 p.m.
WALDACK......You were elected to hold down costs and see to responsible Financial Practices. How many times was our effort to create our own City Government VOTED DOWN ? It barely passed after a CAP was made part of the proposal. Your Thoughts at this time should be about the hard Times the residents of MARCO are facing now . Our Dollars can only be stretched so far and then we can not pay our bills. You should not start charging any new fees or assessments to MARCO RESIDENTS during these hard times. You should NOT EVEN BE THINKING OF THE POSSIBLE ELIMINATION OF THE BUDGET CAP !
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Posted on August 27 at 4:32 p.m.
Mr. Waldack..........Instead of being so quick to justify increased spending and reasons to add more City staff, How about listening to the input of the Marco Island Residents that you are supposed to represent. I would like to see you respond to the better than 1,000 letters you received that request holding the line on spending, do not start any new charges, assessments or fees and do not add any employees. How about offering to respond to these letters at a public meeting. I do not believe you have the ' guts " to do it.
On Letter to the Editor: Do it different