Letters to the Editors

County folks using cities' services should pay fair share

We live in Clearwater and have outstanding recreational and park facilities. What does the county have in recreational facilities? Nothing.

Looking at the data on our last ad valorem tax bill, we paid the county-aggregate 6.8010 mills or $523. We paid the City of Clearwater 5.532 mills or $423.20. While I have not investigated how many mills someone pays who lives in the unincorporated county areas for the county-aggregate, I know that any total would be substantially less than the total of our county and Clearwater taxes. I also assume that the other taxes that make up the total bill would be similar in millage.

People living in unincorporated areas and using the various cities' services should, in all fairness, pay their share.

We have worked out a unified library system and now is the time for the county commissioners to work on a system for the use of recreational facilities.

Better yet, while one countywide government is almost an impossibility, just annex your property to the nearest city and help to eliminate the unincorporated areas.
-- Walt Schoenig, Clearwater

Student's driving death hurts deeply; reminders not needed

Re: Please slow down young drivers, letter, Jan. 17.

As a Clearwater High School student, I've been forced to realize my own mortality with the death of classmate Ricky Teal. It's a hard and grim fact to know that we could be gone in an instant.

People tend to jump right onto the "who's at fault" bandwagon and ride it safely without a conscience. Sure, Ricky may have been driving too fast; but is this really the topic to be discussing at such a time?

Going to my school every day and witnessing the mournful silence is almost impossible to bear; and I don't need to go home, open the paper and read about a woman who just wishes we'd slow down for the sake of her children. Although she has a valid point, it's almost like a football team losing the Super Bowl; we know they lost, there's no need to keep telling them.

Please let Ricky rest with respect and the notion that one unfortunate accident does not mean that a death was warranted.
-- Matthew Foley, Clearwater

Opening trail at night invites a host of concerns, problems

Re: Is the trail ready for night life? story, Jan. 18.

The idea that the Pinellas Trail will be open at night gives me a nightmare! What about people who live by or near the trail who have been vandalized at night? Will the county provide protection against night marauders? My home has already been vandalized twice, and certainly that situation will only worsen.
-- E. Sinoff, Belleair

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