Here's an angry editorial written by an opinion editor who never goes to public meetings. He missed the biggest issue: AMCD's construction contracts contain illegal cramdown arbitration clauses, violating public policy. If there's a dispute, we can't go to court. This stinks.
AMCD excells at natural pesticides, attracting scientists from around the world who want to kill pestiferous mosquitos -- the most deadly dangerous animals on earth -- without poisons.
Otherwise, there's no "mystery." "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves." -- Shakespeare
The Record rarely covers mosquito control any longer. The Record is thus susceptible of undue influence from political boss DAVID SHOAR f/k/a "HOAR" and his henchmen, County Administrator MICHAEL DAVID WANCHICK. In 2006, SHOAR euchred AMCD into purchasing a helicopter it did not need and could not afford -- We, the People persuaded AMCD to cancel the contract in 2007, even after AMCD Chair BARBARA BOSANKO, wife, of former County Attorney DANIEL BOSANKO, called the Sheriff and had a deputy come to our AMCD meetings to attempt to chill, coerce and intimidate First Amendment protected activity. Former Army Captain Don Girvan was speaking against the helicopter and BOSANKO said, "I'm calling the cops." She did, and an Opie-looking young Sheriff's deputy came to our meeting and said "who's in charge here? What's going on here." It was comic opera. BOSANKO and another Commissioner appointed by Governor Charles Crist proceeded to violate the Sunshine law, talking to an AMCD attorney on videotape, with the Record running six photos on page one establishing that they lied when they claimed not to have been talking with each other. That's when Peter Ellis was Record editor, and the Record took its watchdog function seriously.
Then BOSANKO had a deputy stand behind Commissioners Sundeman and Moeller at every single meeting. How gauche and louche.
Eventually, AMCD's board cancelled the helicopter.
AMCD is apparently one of the few government agencies that the Record's opinion editor is now allowed to criticize, apparently, the Record having long suppressed criticism of Sheriff SHOAR and all his works and pomps, treating SHOAR as a sacred cow.
So here's the Record's editorial on mosquito control:
Editorial: Mosquito Control out of control
Posted: September 11, 2016 - 12:04am | Updated: September 11, 2016 - 7:12am
“Power is always dangerous. Power attracts the worst and corrupts the best.”
— Edward Abbey
The Anastasia Mosquito Control Board needs a lot. Its proposed budget demonstrates that. What we think it needs more than anything is a board member control board. These folks seem insatiable. They dropped the wraps on their proposed budget Thursday.
In 2013, the budget was based on a millage rate of 0.1312. Mosquitoes were controlled back then, and none of the employees’ paychecks bounced.
In 2014, the Mosquito Board doubled the millage rate in one fell swoop, in order to build a new facility north of town. It was, board members insisted, a one-time, bite-the-bullet proposition to totally pay for the new digs with no debt. It’s worth noting that there was around $4 million in reserves at the time.
Back in 2012 the idea was hatched to move out of what are admittedly out-of-date digs near St. Augustine Beach. Back then, according to our archives, it was a $2.5 million project.
By 2014, when the tax hike hit, the project cost had crept up ever-so-slightly to $3.9 million. The eventual cost of the new complex was $4.3 million. But they had everything they’d ever wanted or needed out there. They were, we were told, set for at least a decade.
The 100 percent tax hike took place at .2450 mills, and average bills for taxpayers rose from about $25 to $55 annually. The one-year sunset began to slither toward, as our story then read, “one or two years.” The millage was lowered in 2015 to 0.1773.
Now comes 2016. The proposed millage is set at .2150 mills. What’s interesting is that it represents, because of rising property assessments, revenues nearly equal to that one-time, never-aging doubling of the millage rate — over $5.5 million. And, remember, that was necessary only to build a $4 million complex. What could they possibly use that much money for — now that the project is complete?
Well ... according to budget documents, plenty.
The following are included in a new request for proposal imbedded in the new budget:
■ Two screened enclosures with power and water.
■ 24 concrete pools that autofill.
■ An $80,0000 chicken coop capable of housing 50 chickens.
■ A three-bedroom dorm costing $150,000 (by square foot costs, the chickens have it better).
■ There’s a wind tunnel planned the size of a garage, and a greenhouse with power and water. These are part of the “east portion” proposal. The west portion proposal includes:
■ A helicopter hangar, expandable to house two choppers.
■ A chemical storage room 1.5 times larger than the current (new) chemical storage facility.
■ A lighted helicopter pad compete with a lighted wind sock.
■ A jet fuel storage tank and dispensing unit.
■ Expanded parking.
■ And “other appurtenances requested by the AMCD during the Concept Plan development.”
What a difference a year makes.
If there were ever a time to take a good look at dissolving this board and putting mosquito control under county control, this might be it.
How the operation morphed overnight from a tin shed on Pope Road last year to a $4 million (plus) new complex now, apparently (and unexpectedly?), in need of hangars, a heli-pad, on-site housing and a chicken coop that costs more than some local townhomes is more than a mystery.
But it’s one we look forward to demystifying before this plan gets hung on taxpayers.
No comments:
Post a Comment