The city of Safety Harbor has seen some exciting changes and many improvements to our infrastructure: drainage, streets, sidewalks and creeks. We continue to make progress on restoring our brick streets downtown. Our Parks and Recreation Department has seen the completion of a new community center and a soon-to-be-erected skateboard park. It is exciting to see all of the positive changes over the last few years and there is more to come.
The City Commission unanimously voted to earmark $25,000 to study the feasibility of tapping into Oldsmar's new reverse osmosis water plant. The project would provide Safety Harbor residents with a new source of potable water. As most residents of Pinellas County know, drought conditions over the past several years have forced water restrictions on everyone. Officials from Tampa Bay Water and the Southwest Florida Water Management District regularly remind residents and city leaders that in the future new sources of water will be necessary in addition to conservation.
Regrettably, in a work session on Jan. 20, the City Commission reversed course (by a 3-2 vote) and decided against the study. The decision was especially disappointing to me after working for more than a year with Oldsmar officials and our own public works director. Their efforts in helping our city are to be commended. I only wish it would have been a reality.
I will continue to make this a priority. The city needs a water management plan for the future and doing nothing is not a viable option.
Downtown Safety Harbor has also seen some positive changes and with the expansion of our CRA district we are sure to see many more. I was excited to learn in a study done by the RMPK Group that our museum was included in the top two recommendations, along with the Safety Harbor Spa, as important structures to help in the revitalization of our downtown. The study explained that the buildings were underutilized and should be expanded in their current locations to help bolster downtown.
Recently, there has been discussion about relocating the museum to Philippe Park despite recommendations from the consulting firm. A lot of this discussion was done behind the scenes with little involvement from the public. After a great deal of research and investigation, one thing has struck me about the relocation: It is a large and costly effort. The city is seeking federal funds on the order of $2-million just to erect a facility inside Philippe Park. County parks officials believe that the city could reasonably expect about 75 percent of that amount, if anything at all. This leaves a shortfall of $500,000 just to build the structure.
In a commission meeting March 1, the commission voted (3 to 2) to take ownership of a new building should this partnership with the county proceed. If a building were to be built, the estimated cost of operating the facility would be $170,000 a year, according to a business plan put together by the museum board. This begs the question, where is all this money going to come from? The museum was recently forced to eliminate its director position due to financial trouble while operating on a budget that is a fraction of the cost compared to estimates for a new facility. I am concerned that the relocation of the museum could put an enormous and unnecessary financial burden on the city.
An alternative plan would be to procure federal and/or state funds to renovate the existing site to make it a bigger part of downtown.
The future is bright for Safety Harbor and there are a lot of great things happening. However, there are some major issues which could have significant impacts to our community. The residents of Safety Harbor deserve open and honest discussion about these topics. I look forward to working with Safety Harbor residents, city staff and the commission to make the best choices for our community.
-- Robin Borland, Safety Harbor city commissioner
Time for city manager to be relieved of his position
Re: Stanton hinders city change, letter, March 1.
In reference to the letter about Largo City Manager Steve Stanton, the letter writer forgot to give proper recognition to Stanton. It's important that he gets the credit he deserves for his service to the city of Largo. We cannot forget about all the scandals at the Police Department and the multiple police chiefs under his leadership. We cannot forget that one of the largest tax increases was under his leadership. We must not forget the disaster of Clearwater-Largo Road and downtown development, the deceptive annexation practices, and the continued poor services the city provides.
At what point will the city Commission realize that Stanton is responsible? It's time for new leadership at Largo.
Robert Bauman, Largo
Sweeney the right man to run transit authority
Re: Transit director to stay aboard, story, Feb. 26.
My having a very personal interest in the outcome of the subject meeting, I would like to expand on the Times report. Although the report was accurate in every way, it should be made public to the voters in St. Petersburg that John Bryan, the St. Petersburg City Council member who serves on the board of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, has an apparent personal agenda and an ax to grind.
At the meeting on Feb. 25, many PSTA employees took the time to voice their most positive opinion of PSTA Executive Director Roger Sweeney. After the vote was taken by the board nearly unanimously in favor of Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Bryan accused Mr. Sweeney of writing the speeches that were presented and asserted that the directors were forcing the show of support via some sort of job threats.
This cannot be further from the truth. I do not profess to know what Mr. Bryan's agenda is, but I am sure that if the voters of the city would take the time to investigate they would reconsider who they have representing them.
I also agree with County Commissioner Calvin Harris in his assertion that the PSTA board needs to provide more cohesive leadership and focus on what is the best for the county and not be swayed by local self-interest.
Mr. Sweeney is a very capable CEO and will provide the needed leadership for the PSTA for whatever direction the board requires. The board needs to provide the direction without backbiting and personal agendas.
-- James R. Crawford, PSTA employee, Clearwater
He'll vote yes on charter amendments thanks to flier
Re: Flier adds some heat to a quiet campaign, story, March 7.
I would like to thank Save the Bayfront. Had this group not sent its flier, I would not have taken the time to research the proposed Clearwater charter amendments. I did my research and will vote "yes" on all 11. Thank you, Save the Bayfront. If you had made your names public, I'd thank you personally.
-- Jeff Read, Clearwater
More towns should follow Waldo and enforce laws
Re: State of Waldo? editorial, Feb. 22.
As a Canadian visitor I normally refrain from commenting on any and all activities in my host country. I must say, however, that I do agree with the comments on the traffic enforcement policies evident in Waldo. Fortunately, someone has the common sense to make sure that traffic rules are enforced. I have driven through Waldo on many occasions, both coming south and going north. I have never had a traffic ticket for the simple reason that I obey the traffic laws. Would that others did likewise.
I live at Highland Lakes in Palm Harbor. Motorists speed, change lanes without signaling, tailgate, drive in turning lanes, pass on the shoulder of the road, run red lights, run amber lights, run red turn signals, run amber turn signals, drive while conversing on cell phones, drive while conversing with persons in the back seat (turning their heads to do so!) and so onand so on.
-- Raymond J. Connors, Palm Harbor
Your voice counts
We invite readers to write letters for publication. To send a letter from your computer, go to www.sptimes.com/letters and fill in the required information. Type your letter in the space provided on the form, then submit your letter to the appropriate section of the newspaper. If you prefer, you may instead fax your letter to us at 727 445-4119, or mail it to Letter to the Editor, St. Petersburg Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.
Letters should be brief and must include the writer's name, city of residence, mailing address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be printed.
