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Boot Key Harbor Message Board
Posted by Jim Lowry
on January 6, 2008, 1:45 pm
166.214.201.196
I told you I received a question regarding dissolving the City of Marathon, and I'll quote again;
"...I had no idea it was coming to that already. Hummmm. What do you think of going back to county control? "
Well lets see, to start with you have C.J. (the Deputy city Manager / Ports Director) who is incompetent, breaks Marathon’s Laws and has lied.
You have Tanner (the Marina Manager) who hides behind C.J. And you have City Manager Puto who just looks the other way while his employees break the Law,
You have people a few doors down violating city code and the city looks the other way.
I have always and will always, tell you the truth based on facts.
In talking to several former City Leaders, one said;
“I can see your point of view, but I do not agree on Marathon back to the
County. They are in the worst position I have seen a local government in for a long time.
I actually look forward to seeing you in action!! “
See… I will give you both sides. So here goes.
If the City is dissolved, the ones paying property taxes will not be hurt.
Yes, Marathon’s tax rate is slightly lower than the counties. But one must also look at
the “hidden” taxes called fees and money paid to the county in other ways. But the politicians don’t tell you that part.
If the City is returned to the county and the county takes it, the ones living on land will (in the long run) come out a head.
The county has slowed development. Meaning those pushing for development (some politicians) will not want this to happen and will feed you with distortion and lies to scare you into voting to keep the city.
Now for those in the harbor, all bets are off! The laws we had put in place to protect the liveaboards will be gone, as the county will not have to honor those laws.
Bob Miller (and others) could get their way and the City Marina could very well go private under the county. Which could mean a possible rate increase of 30 to 60 percent above the current rates. A private business must have a greater rate of return then the city does now.
Now on the overall plus side. You lose one layer of government. You lose “some” of the corruption, but not all. You have slower development. And you now have a county that is trying to save water access.
Do some people lose jobs, yes. And some will be absorbed by the county. We no longer pay, from the cities budget, millions of dollars to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, plus many other fees the city now pays in hidden taxes will not be paid.
Sadly (for me), I will have to vote to keep the city if sweeping changes are made. Such as;
Terminate the City Manager Puto
Terminate the Deputy City Manager /Port Director
Do not Re-elect Vasil or Worthington
Terminate the head of Code Compliance
Put in place a Resolution whereby if any City employee violates a City Resolution, disciplinary action is taken.
Put in place a Resolution whereby no City employee or the families may benefit financially from their actions, as it pertains to the city.
Obtain a Letter of Understanding from both the Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office that if a City Resolution is violated, the Sheriff will arrest and the State Attorney will prosecute. Currently they do not.
If the above actions are put in place, then I would vote to keep the city, otherwise I would have to vote to dissolve. And work with the county in regards to the harbor.
Jim Lowry (Vet, Disabled)
Of “Take Back Boot Key Harbor / Take back Marathon”
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