Today's Letters: Kudos for backing Fiorentino stance

Realtors group off base in school district claimJan. 25, editorial

Finally, an editorial that supports our Pasco County school superintendent, Heather Fiorentino. Of course, she hasn't done anything wrong. In fact, she has done just the opposite. She is just trying to get the word out to her employees what the effect of Amendment 1 would do if you chose to vote yes.

A lot of people, when they go to the polls in the primary, don't even know what these amendments are about. She was just trying to make as many people as possible aware of just what the amendment is about. As always, kudos to you, Mrs. Fiorentino, for doing such a wonderful job as the head of our schools.

Sara Brandt,New Port Richey

Developer must think we're fools Jan. 24 letter

Keep landfill facts above board

I enjoy healthy debate, and that is certainly what we have engaged in over our proposed composting and recycling facility. However, healthy debate needs to be based on facts. Unfortunately, Carl Roth has gotten so desperate that during a recent Audubon Society forum he claimed that many residents have assured him they would welcome having a new trash incinerator constructed in Dade City.

No, we did not relocate our business from Michigan, we are still there, in addition to Louisiana and Florida. Over the past 50 years, we have performed thousands of public projects in 18 states - if there were a record of us not following through and honoring our contracts, I am certain the letter writer would move heaven and earth to point it out. The fact is there isn't and he can't.

For the umpteenth time, the DEP application says we anticipate tipping fees of $35 to $70 per ton. Pasco County, however, has a preferred offer of $27 per ton, compared to the county's present tipping fee of $56.70.

Worried about water pollution? The county landfill lies between our property and the Withlacoochee River, much of which is unlined and has leaked since the 1960s, prior to institution of stricter standards. We are offering to help clean it up. Further, the DEP requires all modern facilities to have financial assurance bonds in place to ensure performance and protection of the environment.

All are red herrings, and your only true argument is a NIMBY one - which is fine. The fact is the county faces a solid waste crisis. Every proposed solution has far higher costs than ours and all likely will require higher fees. Between insurance, gasoline and taxes, Pasco residents can't take any more. Let's keep the debate above board.

John Arnold, project engineer, Angelo's Recycled Materials

Vote for fiscal responsibility

After first-hand knowledge of the facilities department of Pasco County dismissing all of its working staff (tradesmen), we should be questioning why the support staff has been left unchanged. The construction section, at one time, was manned by one person and a part-time secretary. Now, it has four people who liaison between the facilities director and the contractors. These four people spend a lot of time doing nothing.

Everyone understands that this county is growing by leaps and bounds. A lot of our facilities are being built or remodeled to specifications that appear to be more in line with construction for the rich and famous and not merely to satisfy requirements necessary to accomplish our daily tasks. We in this county can be proud to display such opulence that its citizens cannot afford for themselves.

Fiscal responsibility should be the order of the day such as about $45-million being committed on road development in areas of the county with projected future development instead of the county paying to fix existing poor roads traveled daily. Thank you, Commissioners Ann Hildebrand and Michael Cox, for being the dissenting votes.

It is time for our government to tighten its belt and spend money where it is needed and not on frivolous things. I feel the upcoming Amendment 1 is not only important to vote in favor of, but necessary to get the attention of our elected representatives. Scare tactics to oppose this amendment on the basis of loss of emergency public services and school funding is not only ludicrous, but simply not true. It may cause some cuts in areas important to commissioners and county leaders, but not important to its citizens. Stop building palaces for county businesses.

Jeff Hamilton, Holiday

Gifts of kindness make us better

Over the years of service to those in need, I have learned that people can live without a lot of things in their lives. Those of us who serve on the frontline are confronted with the pain and suffering of the needy on a daily basis. We see that through the power of prayer, it moves people's hearts. Needs are met and lives are restored by the services, resources and the generosity shown by you, the community.

Every year, with help from caring community members, we organize a wide variety of programs and services to offer help and hope. We found answered prayers in your loving acts. You participated and volunteered to make a difference in the life of someone in need. Your acts of generosity and kindness took on many forms: Volunteering in our programs, providing gifts for a child at Christmas, purchasing and packing a holiday food box for a needy family or individual, sponsoring a food drive or donating a storage unit of toys when you heard we were running low.

Meeting people at their point of greatest need is what our community does best. Your gifts of kindness warmed a heart, touched a soul and put a twinkle in someone's eye. Thank you. May you and your loves ones experience the love and hope you shared so generously with others during the holiday season.

Jeanne Rae Coulter, director, Center of Hope, Salvation Army

[Last modified January 27, 2008, 21:44:10]