BULLETIN

CITY PUBLISHING LIES ?

            The City's latest publication of their "Insider" contains FALSE information pertaining to the previous garbage pick-up charges.   The actual charges from the trash pick-up company was $11.65 not the $13.68 dollars as published by the City.   The difference of $2.03 was a SLUSH FUND conceived by city manager  McLemore as a BONUS INCENTIVE for the trash company's services.   It was NEVER paid to the trash company, but pocketed by him for the city's usage elsewhere.

            Those phony charges were accumulated every month from ALL households for NINE YEARS.    Do the math --- how much did the city pocket for services "not rendered"?   Another lie conceived, and enacted to steal money from the citizens of Winter Springs by the Commission, Mayor, and City Manager.    Oh yes, some of those responsible for that contract were invited guests of the garbage company's to their box seats at the Daytona 500 ---- after the signing of the contract!

HOW CAN YOU TRUST A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT PUBLISHES LIES ?

(That is like when they published  --- "VOTED  NUMBER  ONE  CITY  TO  LIVE  IN" --- another concocted lie!   The City had the aid in this falsehood of Moti Khemlani, and the Tuscawilla Homeowners' Association.)

Special to writer of the below email.

            Writer -- you were absolutely correct.   During the meeting of 2/20/06, you will probably hear of NEW rate increases for your trash pick-up.    The city manager phonies up another way to relieve your wallets of more money.   While traveling through Longwood last week we were stopped in the street by the trash cans being picked-up by two men and loaded into a truck.   The trash cans were in the street.

(The contract has been finalized.   All residences will pay $13.68 for trash pickup, and $5.00 per month for a 96 gallon trash can they must buy.   That's $5.00 per a month for FIVE years.   Do the math !)

            These cans are exactly the same as the ones (pictured below at the bottom of this page) that the high-priced Winter Springs city manager was in Georgetown trying to sell the trash cans himself -- personally.   If you don't believe the cities' connections --- think again.   Remember the great "Signed Accord Agreement" between the Cities of Longwood and Winter Springs, and how much the political wind of commissioner Blake was in saying it was a "historical" event?

            In case you fail to remember the previous ties of the two cities --- let us refresh you.    When the current city manager of Longwood was let go by the City of Okeechobee, he was rescued by his "buddy" the city manager of Winter Springs "Ronnie" McLemore.    Now McLemore told HIS city commission that would be for only six months.    That was after he -- McLemore -- had already bought six high mileage police cars from Okeechobee from his buddy.

            Well, that six months turned in to over a year and one-half, and "Ronnie" made John Drago his assistant during his stay while "he looks for a job".    Pretty cozy job hunting assignment --- wouldn't you say?    And just think --- now the political minded commissioner Blake will be able to glorify the great signing of the "Garbage Accord".     Longwood and Winter Springs will have "twin-trash-cans" !

            Yes, once again the city manager is going to play HIS garbage games.    He never did tell the citizens of Winter Springs why he tacked $2.03 a month every month for nine years.   You'll NEVER find in the city's financial records what happened to that huge chunk of "unknown" charges on your monthly trash bill.   It is WELL hidden to say the least.   The city manager "Ronnie" said it was an "incentive bonus" for the trash collection company --- who NEVER received a dime of it !

Guess what --- Your monthly trash bill is going UP --- AGAIN !

The Email Received the Week of January 23rd.

            I just read the article below from the Seminole Chronicle.   I can’t wait to see an elderly citizen with one of these huge garbage cans with their little Publix-sized plastic bags for their weekly garbage collection.    How many people have a place in their garages to store one of these behemoth-sized garbage cans?   It will definitely put people at odds with their homeowners’ associations when these monstrous cans are stored outside.

            I guess, if Longwood does it, it must be good.   Again Winter Springs’ citizens are faced with the rising costs of the John Drago (city administrator of Longwood), and Ronald McLemore connection that goes back years.   Citizens get educated on the connection between these two people.  How else are the “historic” utility and recreational agreements between Longwood and Winter Springs born?

            There is little doubt in my mind that with this new waste collection contract that monthly garbage collection fees will go up.   Of course, citizens couldn’t figure out how much more their bill will rise from the 01-23-06 commission regular agenda items 300, 300.1, and 300.2.   

          Once again, citizens will find out via an “educational campaign”, which means McLemore, and the Commission are going to send out another costly four-color brochure to ram down citizens’ throats why we should get rid of our current garbage cans and go with their “bigger and better” Hummer-sized cans.

            After I saw the recently published four-color program and facilities guide produced by the City promoting its parks and recreation, replete with pictures of the Commissioners and City Manager, I realized that the Commission is more interested in self-promotion than sending out basic information to citizens in a cost-effective manner. 

            I wonder if this costly guide was mailed to the many parents whose kids play in leagues in our city parks but don’t live in the city limits.   Mind you now, this four-color recreational guide is for just the spring/summer recreational programs.  So count on a fall/winter issue to be published just as the 2006 election season gets going.

            I have little doubt that this garbage can “educational campaign” brochure will be any different.   I expect a photo opt of the Mayor pushing the new garbage can to the curb as well as a picture of the Commissioners and City Manager in this “educational” brochure.

            What better way to again get free pre-November 2006 campaign publicity for Commissioners Michael Blake, Sally McGinnis, and Mayor John Bush at taxpayers’ expense.   It is amazing to me how the Commission and City Manager love over-spending taxpayers’ money making themselves and garbage look pretty.

            But, it doesn’t matter how the commission, and manager market themselves, or their pretty new garbage can, because from my perspective ----- they all still stink to high heaven.

(This email was unsigned, but upon researching the above contents it was found to be true.)

 The above was reformatted to fit a web page, and the sender has scanned the below Seminole Chronicle article as an attachment to their email.   The picture at the bottom of the page was taken by PFGG.

Winter Springs gets new trash

Service will provide new garbage cans

By Alex Babcock | January 27, 2006

    (From the Seminole Chronicle)

WINTER SPRINGS - City residents will get much bigger garbage cans soon following the award of a waste services contract to Waste Pro of Florida at the City Commission meeting on Monday.

The new wheeled cans, with about three times the capacity of normal outdoor garbage cans, will be provided by the company as part of a plan to add automation to garbage pickup starting on March 1.

The cans, identical to those used in neighboring Longwood, are designed to be lifted by a crane arm on garbage trucks, which helps to speed the process of collecting the waste.

The city will still have two days of pickup per week, plus one yard-waste day. Though Waste Pro will continue to pick up garbage not in the newer containers, they will encourage residents to use them.

The company will dispose of unwanted garbage cans if marked clearly by residents. An educational campaign is planned to make the transition process easier on residents.

The city agreed to a five-year contract with Waste Pro, with an option to renew for another four years.

Garbage will continue to be shipped to the Seminole County Landfill in Geneva, with a 10-year contract extension approved on Monday

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            Based upon the contents of the above, it would seem those obtaining the "new" garbage cans should receive at least a 50% deduction in their monthly garbage pickup bills.    The service would no longer have need of men to handle the garbage cans for haul away purposes.    That puts the money into the pocket of the contractor.    Should the City charge the people for these "new" garbage cans the cost of such should also be deductible from their garbage bills.

            We understand that the City Manager was going through the Georgetown Community trying to sell the people the "new" garbage cans.    Do you realize that is a $164,000 salaried per year garbage can salesman!    The City of Winter Springs will use ALL and ANY measures to con people into new revenue.

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The $164,000 dollar garbage can !