Shotgun Lien

The "shotgun" annexation

we' ve got 'cha !

[see --- muscled annexation procedures uncovered ! ]

The following two agenda items appeared on the July 8th, 2002 City of Winter Springs City Commission meeting. These actually were slated for a "Regular" agenda item, held over from the previous Commission meeting, for they ran out of time, and were unable to bring up most of the items. Some have called this phenomenon the "hot-air syndrome".

It is not unusual for the City of Winter Springs to place these unheard items on the next agenda --- way down the list --- for late night, or early morning hearings. IT WOULD SEEM THIS IS ALMOST INTENTIONALLY DONE TO KEEP THE PUBLIC UNINFORMED. With this method. voice or public influence would not be present to contest the agenda item, or to sway a commissioner's vote with public outrage of the agenda item. With the City Manger's control (the three stooges) of the Commission, his "agenda" items will always be passed in those meetings held without public influence.

Not even the dumbest of politicians would be bold enough to go against mass "public opinion" if confronted. However, when meetings are almost assured to be free of public attendance, the politician will most be likely adhere to the whim, will, or desire of the City Manager. He's not an elected official, and until the balance of political power is changed on the dais --- the current City Manager has job security!

What took place below, under the guise of "Code Enforcement" is laughable. When the truth is known about the below agenda items --- the question should be raised concerning "ethics" and legality. Read the two agenda items, and then read what happened to them as far as "enforcing the codes" apply. Will the REAL motive behind this published charade step forth and be counted?

PFGG will acknowledge the fact that current Mayor Bush has made an attempt to shorten the long meetings with holdover agenda items. Mayor Bush, we hope, will be able to accomplish his goal, in the name of not only holding proper meetings, but allowing the public to be made aware of what's going on in the City. These meetings, almost a closed-door policy, must end! (As of this date 7/27/06 -- Mayor Bush has not accomplished any of such meetings promises -- he does NOT run the meetings. The agendas are laid out by CM "Pied Piper" McLemore, and the commission rambles on any subject, or hot air rhetoric at will ! NO control by mayor.)

YOU BE THE JUDGE !

now the outcome of the above !

The resolution of the above agendas did not take place at the July 8th meeting. In fact, the results of agenda item "B" is still going on in another form of deception, which is now known as the "Borrow Pit". That dialog shall be published on another page shortly, as soon as all documents have been gathered, to present to our viewers the "real truth" behind the "Shotgun" annexation. As to the above this was the result ------

agenda item "c"

	We shall start with agenda item "C", for the lien amount of $75,900.00. This item was agreed upon, with the following penalties applied against the owner. This, too, should have been a hotly contested item, because it involved former owners who declared bankruptcy, and the property came under some very strange transfers. The current owner was put at fault, because they were the only attack the City could take to collect from the former bankrupted company.
	The amounts of the fine should have been challenged more, but the current owner, in trying to put ALL past history of this property aside, bore the brunt of the accumulated fines. Another factor, when you compare the two separate cases, please note that the property in item "C" was ALREADY within the City limits.
	The motions and levy against this property were assessed as follows ------
	1. Motion -- "I would like to make the recommendation that we (the Commission) move this --- forward and make the fine at $12,500.00" --- forward and we make the fine at $12,500.00".
	2. The motion was amended to -- *"I amend the motion to include a waiver --- to agree not to file a release --- of any potential action on vested rights action".*
	3. Both the amended motion and the motion were agreed to on a majority vote.
	So, this $75,900.00 Code Enforcement Lien was passed with the $12,500.00 fine assessed. Once again, this is property *within* the City limits. No need for annexation.

back to agenda item "B" --- the puzzle !

	The strange Code Enforcement Case concerning the fine of $186,000.00 dollars against Chanh Nguyen property, located in not only the City of Winter Springs, but around or more than half of the property was located in Seminole County. It just occurred that the property with the code violation, and the fines assessed, was within the City of Winter Springs boundary ---- not the County.
	Unlike the case above where unknown, and bankrupt owners were involved, this case has a bizarre and storied background. It would appear that almost no real attempt was made to contact this property owner, and that only occurred when the huge fines had accumulated. Surely the City of Winter Springs would have people intelligent enough to research property records thoroughly to be able to chase down existing, or prior property owners. This can be done by anyone with computer knowledge.
	Did the City Management allow this property to amass such horrendous fines with an ulterior motive in mind? It has the appearance of such, now that its use is known from comments made to Orange Ave. property owners by City Manager McLemore. Only time will tell. Here's the action taken by the Commission regarding this property -----
	After much discussion, haggling, pleading, and various agreements, this was the last motion made --- "I would like to make a motion to direct staff and the City Attorney to work out an agreement with Mr. Wallace representing the landowner in this case for a reduction in fine that would settle and remove the lien on this property to $10,000.00, if there is a successful voluntary annexation application and it goes through the entire system --- and that occurs within three (3) months/ninety (90) days; otherwise if that does not occur, then the reduction in the fine agreement would not take place and it would revert back to the $187,000.00."

(This quote taken from the original City minutes as stated by commissioner Blake.)

	Then a motion was made by ex-Commissioner Gennell to waive the attorney fees. That died for lack of a second.
	The fine on this $186,000.00 violation was *less* than that on the previous $75,900.00 violation. Was that because the City was forcing the annexation into the City? We'll leave that for you to decide.

What is really amazing is that the attorney fees on these two fines for violation of Code Enforcement rules was far less than the over $50,000.00, to date, spent on prosecuting a $50.00 fine in the "DOG CASE", presently in the Court of Appeals. Is there a message here of how our tax moneys are indiscriminately being spent by the officials of the City?

Why is so much being spent on so little -- while -- why so little is being spent on so much? Is there something missing here? Is there some hidden reason that retention pond/pit is so important to the City Manager? What is his motive behind this hidden ploy? Is the action being played out, as described in some documents that contradict each other, a motivated move by various people? The manipulations by certain individuals will surprise you.

( That borrow pit had to be obtained to allow the developer friends of the city manager and commissioners to be able to complete their plans for the HIGH RISE condos/apartments to be built adjoining the high school property. Blake was HIGHLY involved in the "pit fiasco".)

both properties have a long and storied past ---

( The below history documents now published. )

for history listed on agenda item "c" click [ here ]

for history listed on agenda item "B" click [ here ]

The documents surrounding the filling of the "BORROW PIT" have been published - [ Here ] !

[ "the pits" ] ** [ annex for money ] ** [ archives ]