Letters to the Editors

Past time for development to pay its way

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 1, 2000

Editor: Recently an advisory panel stated to the Citrus County Planning and Development Board that impact fees for new construction in Citrus County are pitifully inadequate. Through the years these charges have not been properly adjusted, resulting in the current situation.

The time has come to make new development pay its own way. It is unfair to continually spread the cost among existing taxpayers who have seen their taxes rise year after year without the benefit of improved services to justify these raises. County commissioners, please have the backbone to follow the recommendations of the Planning and Development Board, and the consulting firm whose $50,000 fee was paid by taxpayers.

I was more than just a little upset to read that at the meeting Feb. 24, the builders asked the additional necessary funds be raised through increases in taxes on gasoline or ad valorem taxes. This is adding insult to injury. They have had a relatively free ride for the past 10 years. Now in order to put more money into their own pockets, they want those of us who have been here all along to help pay for the infrastructure necessary for new development. We have been doing this, as evidenced by our ad valorem tax increases, which have been disproportionate to services received.

It really is time to put into effect fair impact fees. If these are not implemented now, and periodically increased to keep them equitable, this county will always be trying to catch up.

The Suncoast Parkway, whether it comes into Citrus County or not, will cause explosive growth. It is wrong to make existing taxpayers share the burden of cost for new roads, schools, libraries, parks and increased services.
-- Julia Steinwachs, Floral City

Shame on school district for bus auction fiasco

Editor: Re: District sifts busload of trouble, Feb. 27 Citrus Times: What have we here? A lot of mumbling and covering up a problem caused by fumbling an auction of surplus equipment.

Shills? Shame on the whole lot of you! A bunch of educated (?) teachers and administrators in Citrus County acting like a bunch of cats covering up a lot of caca. What they did was wrong. Period.

I guess Bill Humbaugh will have to "re-evaluate" how an auction is conducted in the future. Why not just get a professional to do the job right the first time? Maybe Superintendent Pete Kelly can sort out this drama.
-- William A. Martin, Beverly Hills

How many lost lives before light installed?

Editor: Another young life has ended needlessly in Crystal River. Not because of a school shooting, reckless disregard for speed limits or driving under the influence. This young life ended because the Florida Department of Transportation deems a traffic light unwarranted at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Turkey Oak, just north of the Crystal River Mall.

Their study showed that there wasn't "enough" traffic to warrant another light so close to the mall.

Our former and present chiefs of police have sent copies of accident reports to the DOT. Members of a nearby homeowners association have pleaded for years with the powers that be in Tallahassee and Tampa. Every politician running for any office promises voters he/she will use his/her influence to get a traffic light installed at that intersection.

How many lives must be lost before there is "enough" traffic to warrant a light?

I never met the young man who recently lost his life there, nor do I even know his name, but I grieve for him because his death could have been prevented, if only there had been "enough" traffic. Traffic/accident statistics aside, isn't just one life "enough?"

I pray the citizens of Crystal River will unite in this tragedy. Perhaps if every one of us, from the mayor to the youngest school child, writes a letter to Gov. Jeb Bush expressing our feelings, it finally will be "enough."
-- Karin Arney, Crystal River

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