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Improvements to city are varied

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published January 17, 2007

Re: Don't neglect rest of Tarpon Springs, letter from Jean Jester Jan. 10.

Ms. Jester laments that the city's leadership and administration have focused their attention exclusively on the Sponge Docks to the detriment of other parts of the city.

Since I have never been contacted by Ms. Jester, I have no idea how she could have missed all of the wonderful improvements that have taken place in this city in the last few years, not to mention all of the many projects that are currently under way. None of these projects involve the Sponge Docks area.

Just to name a few:

- Roadway, pedestrian facilities and infrastructure improvements to Martin Luther King Drive.

- Roadway, pedestrian facilities and infrastructure improvements to Safford Avenue and the Pinellas Trail.

- Roadway, pedestrian facilities and infrastructure improvements under way on both major thoroughfares in the city, Pinellas Avenue and Tarpon Avenue.

- Gateway enhancements at each of the major entryways to the city on the northern and southern borders on U.S. 19 and Pinellas Avenue and the western entry on Tarpon Avenue at U.S. 19.

- Completion of the reconstruction of two brick streets, Bay Street and Cedar Street, with the assistance of community volunteers.

- Repairs and improvements to the Spring Bayou sea wall.

- Progress on the city's Alternative Water Supply Project and the construction and operation of our own reverse osmosis water plant.

- Continued expansion of the Cops & Kids program to serve many at-risk youth in our community and to provide them with a safe, healthy, educational environment in which to spend afterschool time and summertime.

- Pristine maintenance of Craig Park, Sunset Beach, the Sports Complex, Dorsette Park and our many neighborhood parks.

- New gymnasium.

- Annual street and sidewalk improvements throughout the city.

- Continued partnership between the city, the Tarpon Springs Housing Authority, Pinellas County and Neighborhood Homes to successfully provide affordable housing to residents of our city and improve the quality of public housing.

- Many, many improvements to our land development code and education of our staff and commissioners on "smart code" and walkable communities.

Elected officials and staffers alike realize that the health and vibrancy of our city as a whole is necessary for its economic success in the future. Whether Ms. Jester realizes it or not, Tarpon Springs has come together as a city, and we invite her to join us.

Ellen S. Posivach, Tarpon Springs city manager

Unleashed dogs should be a crime 

Re: Toy poodle attacked after walk in park, story Jan. 9.

My most sincere condolences to Judy Maday on the death of her beloved dog, Toby. It's inconceivable that having an unleashed dog roaming in public is not, at the very least, a misdemeanor. Hopefully, this incident is being investigated further and the lady who allowed her dogs to run free will be located and prosecuted (before she returns to Michigan, or wherever she's really from).

Toby's death was senseless, and a terrible shame. As another writer offered, I, too, will help look for this lady if needed.

Finally, everyone, please leash your dog - for everyone's safety!

Sarah Adler, Oldsmar

Country club must change ways

I am currently a member at Dunedin Country Club and have been here more than 10 years. Much has been written and discussed about the controversy there. A salient fact hasn't been mentioned in recent letters: Leadership at our club is averse to change, and this aversion is eroding the member base.

Emulating successful country clubs will produce a successful country club.

1. Successful clubs employ a director of golf who is responsible for all operations. This business model is so pervasive that the PGA has a certification program developed just for this purpose. What does Dunedin do? Each of nine board members is responsible for a particular facet of the club - i.e., membership, grounds, etc. Volunteer committees report to that board member and submit recommendations. The result? No one is in charge, no one sees the whole picture or is able to eliminate redundancies. Recipe for disaster? I think so!

2. Successful semiprivate clubs have small, self-supporting bistros, not elaborate dining rooms. Eating is secondary to golf, our main revenue source. Four years ago, members participated in an opinion survey and overwhelmingly supported Dunedin Country Club becoming a golf club. Supporting full dining room operations drains needed revenues for golf operations, our main business. The club uses approximately $35 per month (social fees) to support full dining operations. Do the math: That comes to more than $12,000 per month going to support overhead. We could instead allow the dining area to be catered either by the public or members for events.

I think adoption of these two strategies will solve our problems. Our challenge is to change with the times and admit we have a different market than we had in the past.

Bill Brummett, Palm Harbor

Bilirakis dealt well with public 

Re: Bilirakis reflects on career, story Jan. 14.

While I enjoyed the article about (retiring) U.S. Rep. Michael Bilirakis, I just wanted to add a few comments.

Congressman Bilirakis was quite involved in some animal protection bills. For all those animal lovers out there, I am pleased to share that he cosponsored the Horse Protection Act, and I believe that he either cosponsored or heavily endorsed P.E.T.S., the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act that was also passed.

I contacted him about other things as well, and I always received a prompt reply thanking me for my interest and giving his views about the matter in question. To me that meant a lot.

All politicians should remember that contact with your public goes a long way.

Godspeed to Mr. Bilirakis and his family. Enjoy your retirement!

Nancy Dively, Tarpon Springs

Church's action put kids in danger 

Re: For sex offer, house arrest, story Jan. 12.

It was abhorrent that Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church knowingly employed William Forte as its facilities manager and thus allowed him to be in close proximity to many of the children of the parish.

Father Thomas Madden, pastor, is equally culpable for the act committed by Mr. Forte because he ignored his criminal history.

Once Father Madden's egregious decision to hire Mr. Forte was made public, Father Madden apparently apologized to his parishioners for his decision.

Why have background checks on church job applicants if the results are going to be ignored? Why has Bishop Robert Lynch not removed Father Madden from his pastoral position? Why was Mr. Forte not sentenced to prison?

Do our children not have any value to those in positions of authority and responsibility?

Walter J. Noble, Palm Harbor

[Last modified January 17, 2007, 07:33:26]