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Letter to the editor

Sparks fly about annexation

Tactics by cities and Mayor Baker's being allowed to speak roila task force meeting.

By ANNE LINDBERG, Times Staff Writer
Published September 12, 2007

Mounting tensions exploded last week as members of a task force haggled over terms of an agreement that could settle some of the annexation strife that has plagued mid Pinellas for the past several years.

The sparks began early in the meeting when officials from the Lealman Fire Commission objected to comments from St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker. Baker was not St. Petersburg's official representative to the task force and should not be allowed to speak, they said.

"Mayor Baker is a very influential mayor," Fire Commission chairwoman Becky Harriman said.

"You have the reputation of strong-arming meetings," Harriman told Baker.

Baker said he was unaware he had that reputation but agreed to allow Deputy Mayor Tish Elston, the city's task force representative, to do the talking.

Later, Harriman exploded about the cities' annexation tactics.

Some of the cities, such as Pinellas Park, say they do only voluntary annexations, but they entice those property owners to become part of the municipality by offering tax breaks or other perks. The Lealman Fire District, Harriman said, cannot compete with that.

The task force will convene again this morning at 8:30 at Park Station, 5851 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park. The meeting is open to the public, and comment is allowed at the end.

Members of the task force include cities that surround Lealman - St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park and Seminole. Also represented on the task force are the Lealman Fire District, Pinellas County and Kenneth City, which contracts with Lealman for service.

Seminole and Kenneth City have no vote on the task force.

[Last modified September 11, 2007, 23:04:00]