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Private operator could be way to go

Re: Critics line up against boat slips, story, Dec. 15

Private operator could be way to go

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are against just about everything, especially boat slips.

Now, I realize that not all people are boaters, just as I realize that not all people play tennis on the "free" city and county courts, or play baseball or softball at the "free" municipal facilities. So why does everyone single out the boaters when it comes to their venue?

If Clearwater wants to provide for a few slips, all the city has to do is put out a request for proposals for a private entity to build a marina on city-owned or -controlled land under a land lease or bottom land lease.

As a recreational marina consultant for many years, I have been to hundreds of marinas all over the United States and Mexico, and have seen this arrangement numerous times, and very successfully, I might add.

The city would have no expense and would actually be guaranteed a positive cash flow from the lease income.

The private marina developer/operator could keep an area of the docks open for transient boaters, at no charge or minimal charge, as part of the lease, and that would encourage boating visitors to visit our fine city. There is federal grant money available for transient dockage construction.

The marine industry is in crisis, especially in Florida, due to the lack of available boat storage.

Pinellas County is aware of this and is attempting to do something about it.

The residents of Clearwater need to realize that boaters need to have facilities just as tennis players, baseball/softball players, soccer players, Frisbee players, dog lovers, etc., do.

And it doesn't have to cost the city a cent.

Tom Duncan, Palm Harbor

Re: Let's not give up on a new movie theater, Dec. 14

Don't subsidize money loser

The Times, which cannot stop fawning over bloated, oversized, overpriced development, did a disservice to the public by advocating that the taxpayers subsidize a first-run movie theater in Clearwater.

With expensive tickets and obscene profits at the concession stands, if a new theater cannot show a reasonable profit to private investors, it shouldn't be built in the first place.

The future of motion pictures is not theaters but DVDs.

This might explain why Clearwater, which once had several first-run theaters, now has none.

I applaud the Clearwater City Council for coming to its senses when, after agreeing to lay out $9-million of our money for a theater (too much), the promoter came back to shake them down for another $18-million. They were beginning to remind me of the bad old joke, "having agreed as to what they are, they are merely haggling over the price."

Al Galbraith, Clearwater

Re: Kurt Peters never hesitated to help, Dec. 12

Mentor, friend is missed by many

My heart was also broken when I received word that (Safety Harbor Public Works director) Kurt Peters passed from this earth. Kurt would never say "no" to anyone seeking education or employment opportunities in a profession that was close to his heart: protection of the health and safety of the public through the treatment of public drinking water and the collection, treatment and disposal of public wastewater.

In 1984, as an older student taking classes at then-St. Petersburg Junior College, I met Kurt teaching a night class preparing us for the beginner's level of this important, although taken for granted, profession. Kurt offered me a job with the town of Belleair working the night shift at the water treatment plant.

During the past 22 years of my career in public utilities, Kurt remained a personal friend, an authority on water treatment, and a professional mentor to hundreds of water and wastewater plant operators who have become licensed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Scores of these men and women have moved on to become not only successful in their careers, but also teachers and mentors bringing new employees into our business.

Kurt was always available for training, answering questions and giving his personal time to professionally train operators for over a quarter of a century.

The greater Tampa Bay area has truly lost an unselfish soul. Only through action can I hope people will express the love and passion for me when I leave this existence that we all feel for Kurt and his family at this time.

His happy spirit will be missed.

Steve Soltau, Clearwater

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[Last modified December 20, 2006, 07:16:39]