I think Terry Schaefer has presented an accurate explanation for what is really going on with both the State and County stepping in to take over the Island. This is an unprecedented and I’m guessing probably legally challengeable overstep of power. I hope the 3 island cities will finally unite to formulate a plan for their own
combined future destinies and get an attorney experienced with these matters to help assist the county and state in understanding this unwelcome move is not to anyone on the island’s liking or in their best interests. If elected politicians at all levels from city, county and state understood or cared for what the citizen’s they represent really want, this travesty will be put to bed one way or the other once and for all. Which of our leaders will step forward to lead this resistance?
richardmaddox@verizon.net
In the mid-seventies a joint operation between the three cities was begun due to the public’s dissatisfaction with calls for service to the police, it was very successful but disbanded due to inter-city squabbling of the politicians. In the late eighties a referendum was put before the voters of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach as to being willing to pay more in taxes to reestablish a police communication system, Anna Maria opted out having already disbanded their police responsibilities entirely. By a substantial majority the vote carried but again political squabbling defeated any consolidation of services. As is common in 1992 one of the politicians proposed a study of consolidation of police services, to my knowledge no meetings actually occurred although I was appointed to the committee, the verdict was later published that it was just too expensive to accomplish. Since my direction in preparing a proposal included that it was to be inflated so that a greater share of costs would be borne by the other city, then Mayor Guyer later directed a realistic study roughly the equivalent of the staffing at the Town of Longboat Key. When found out the political uproar was great when leaked apparently by someone hoping to gain favor. Thus, I can not imagine the politicians ever conducting any cooperative services unless the legislature requires it, periodically the conversation revives but never to deal with the improvement of services, perhaps professional management and guidance which may avoid the lawsuits and settlements that seem all too common place today. The municipalities all to often forget that they are a sub-division of the state government and their purpose is fiduciary in service to the community.
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I think Terry Schaefer has presented an accurate explanation for what is really going on with both the State and County stepping in to take over the Island. This is an unprecedented and I’m guessing probably legally challengeable overstep of power. I hope the 3 island cities will finally unite to formulate a plan for their own
combined future destinies and get an attorney experienced with these matters to help assist the county and state in understanding this unwelcome move is not to anyone on the island’s liking or in their best interests. If elected politicians at all levels from city, county and state understood or cared for what the citizen’s they represent really want, this travesty will be put to bed one way or the other once and for all. Which of our leaders will step forward to lead this resistance?
In the mid-seventies a joint operation between the three cities was begun due to the public’s dissatisfaction with calls for service to the police, it was very successful but disbanded due to inter-city squabbling of the politicians. In the late eighties a referendum was put before the voters of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach as to being willing to pay more in taxes to reestablish a police communication system, Anna Maria opted out having already disbanded their police responsibilities entirely. By a substantial majority the vote carried but again political squabbling defeated any consolidation of services. As is common in 1992 one of the politicians proposed a study of consolidation of police services, to my knowledge no meetings actually occurred although I was appointed to the committee, the verdict was later published that it was just too expensive to accomplish. Since my direction in preparing a proposal included that it was to be inflated so that a greater share of costs would be borne by the other city, then Mayor Guyer later directed a realistic study roughly the equivalent of the staffing at the Town of Longboat Key. When found out the political uproar was great when leaked apparently by someone hoping to gain favor. Thus, I can not imagine the politicians ever conducting any cooperative services unless the legislature requires it, periodically the conversation revives but never to deal with the improvement of services, perhaps professional management and guidance which may avoid the lawsuits and settlements that seem all too common place today. The municipalities all to often forget that they are a sub-division of the state government and their purpose is fiduciary in service to the community.