Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

No policy for use of city property, 1/12

Re: Invest fees back into golf course, letter by Bob Barber, Dec. 21, and Country club needs new ideas, letter by Bill Coleman, Dec. 26.

These letters bring up some good points regarding the serious situation at the Dunedin Country Club, however, the real world tells me that the demographics of Dunedin don't provide sufficient potential of upper income and younger members regardless of whether there is a pool and a tennis facility. Both Countryside and East Lake are looking for members and they have both tennis and a pool.

Mr. Coleman's suggestion to promote the club should be implemented. Marketing a reduced rate to the tourists (hotels/motels, rentals, etc.) would bring players to a course when vacant time slots are available. They must fill the course with paying customers and soon!

The letter from the treasurer of the Dunedin Country Club, Mr. Barber, serves to point out that Dunedin has no coherent policy regarding the use of taxpayer-owned property by special groups, i.e., the marina, the art center and the country club. All three use taxpayer-owned property under different conditions. The country club has had to pay an annual fee, the marina doesn't pay any fee to the city and the art center receives in cash and free services more than $100,000 from the taxpayers. It's obvious there is no policy!

The marina is in competition with privately run marinas, which pay income tax and property and license fees. Therefore, it has a huge advantage over its competitors at the taxpayers' expense. If you checked the slip rental rates for Dunedin compared to private marinas, you would find that Dunedin is about half the rate of private marinas.

Anybody going to ask why? If you ask, the stock answer is, "Some other cities do the same thing." No mention that people with expensive boats are being subsidized by the taxpayer for some unknown reason!

One thing that was not mentioned was that previous country club management failed to raise the annual dues on a regular basis, spent more than $100,000 relocating the bar and building a patio cover (some of the money was raised for those specific projects), and recently raised the annual dues and fees for privately owned cart usage, which resulted in the loss of about 25 percent of the membership.

Somewhere along the way, someone might have questioned their judgment and priorities.

The taxpayers have to understand that they have to make up, with their property taxes, all the revenue lost when cities allow city property to be used for competitive businesses.

Any private group using city property that competes with private businesses (golf, marinas, etc.) should, at a minimum, make a lease payment equivalent to what a private owner would pay in property taxes.

Jim Harpham, Palm Harbor

Merchant suffer; politics as usual

While the whole state of Florida is subsidizing Citizens Insurance (and probably Poe Insurance because they had to pay some claims), the merchants in downtown Clearwater are suffering because of the work being done on the streets.

Most of them will go out of business and will have to relocate to make enough to feed their families, but no one in state government cares about them. They are "the little people" who don't have influence in Tallahassee or contribute thousands to the Bushes or the Crists. So who cares about them?

Why don't the state representatives, City Council members and the senator in that district introduce some action to at least throw those poor people a bone to save their businesses until this work is finished?

No, we'll have the same old song and dance we've had under Jeb Bush for however long Charlie Crist is in charge. He will rub elbows with the rich and corporate giants while working on his next war chest for re-election and forget about the small business people. Talk a good game, but do nothing. Build more condos, disguise raising taxes by assessing small home owners at a higher rate so they pay more property taxes, do nothing about outrageous property insurance, and have a great canonization ceremony for the next "governor."

Ray Gilliam, Clearwater

Tarpon is failing its residents

The Nov. 7 election was a clear expression of dissatisfaction with the way government is being run.

For Tarpon Springs, the list of government failures is too long to enumerate. If it continues along its present course, that voice of dissatisfaction will only grow stronger.

My suggestions and observations over several years regarding specific issues around the Sponge Docks area have been completely disregarded or subjected to complete failure. Neglect and incompetence seem to be all the city of Tarpon Springs can offer to serious problems.

You cannot fail to address the residential needs of any community. By doing so in Tarpon Springs, you promote the notion that it's a nice place to visit but not someplace I'd like to live. That's bad business, bad planning and bad government.

2008 isn't that far away. If you fail to address the urgent needs of parking, public safety and residential services, the voice of displeasure will grow louder and the prospect of new referenda will become very probable. The people who buy sponges and T-shirts don't vote, but we do.

Jim Lemonides, Tarpon Springs

Thanks to all who helped in race

On Dec. 16, 800 runners participated in the 18th Annual "Say No to Drugs" Holiday Classic 5K/10K Race in Clearwater. They then enjoyed a scrumptious pancake awards breakfast in the Fort Harrison Hotel auditorium.

The purpose of this race, begun in 1989, is to spread the drug-free message, including the dangers and harm of street drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, LSD and amphetamines, and the abuse of prescription drugs such as Ritalin and pain killers.

The rewards of a drug free life are also reaped by the "highs" experienced by participating and giving back to one's community. To this end, the race directors would like to thank our 125 or so volunteers who participated in various categories.

Thanks also to our timers Greg and Sarah McFerren; David DelMonte and Beth Spaulding of Pinellas County Lease Management; and Zola and her massage team from the Oaks Massage-Clearwater.

Our thanks and appreciation also to Skip Rodgers, Everett McDowell and Ric Dorrie of the West Florida "Y" Running Club, who have helped us since 1993.

The West Florida "Y" Running Club scholarship fund is a beneficiary of race proceeds, as well as local Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, Youth for a Drug Free Florida and the Drug Free Marshalls - again, groups emphasizing a healthy, fun-filled lifestyle free from the influence of harmful drugs.

To fellow race directors Chris Lorber of the Gulf Beaches Half-a-thon and Suzanne Henslee of the Safety Harbor Duathlon, with whom we exchange race promotion: You guys epitomize community cooperation at its best. What a great example you set.

And to Lt. Wayne Andrews, Lt. Mike Waters and Sgt. Joe Young of the Clearwater Police Department and your police who have helped protect our runners over the years, our utmost gratitude for all that you do, not only during our race, but daily.

And lastly, we would like to acknowledge our sponsors.

Sue Minkoff, Clearwater

[Last modified January 11, 2007, 22:39:22]