TO DOG OWNERS IN WINTER SPRINGS
At the April 14th Commission meeting, there was the ultimate in absurdity in
the action taken by the Commissioners concerning the proposed PAW PARK.
Commissioner Miller would have us pay a user fee to exercise our dogs! Many of
us do not have children to send to our tax-paid parks. Many of us, however, do
have dogs. Why can't our taxes be used for a small park for exercising our
dogs?
Without
batting an eye, the Commissioners agreed to paying $38,900 for Lynx
transportation, for which there are very few riders. They said "yes" to City
Manager McLemore's request for yet another study, at a cost of $6,500, for boat
docks rules (which are sufficiently covered by the County and St. John's Water
District).
They spent no time agreeing to $15,000 for Diane Park (could this be quid pro
quo for the owner annexing into the City?). The vote was "yes" to putting out
$150,000 so a developer can get a grant for low income housing. They agreed to
spend thousands to bury power lines for Avery Park/Tuskawilla Office area (the
only area to have this done). This should not have been paid for by the
taxpayers.
They boasted that Winter Springs is to receive a $526,000 grant for the
expansion of Central Winds Park. What they neglect to inform you is the fact
that WE must match or exceed that amount! Guess whose money will be tapped for
this park for organized teams?
These are
just a few of the huge expenditures your Commission has agreed to. We are
asking you to contact City Hall, asking why they are making the
Commission-appointed Paw Park Advisory Committee raise $3,000, in order to start
the park. For a measly $15,000, they are making such a big deal about it!
Ask
your Commissioner why dog owners are being discriminated against by the City and
the Commissioners?
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
This is to the caller concerned with the contents of the above letter regarding the figure the City is funding. After reviewing the tape of the meeting with the "PAW PARK" agenda item, the writer who submitted the above letter to us was 100% correct. There were several methods of paying for this facility ---- such as even the ones made by The City Manager -- that the City sell memberships, or install a mechanical device for people using the park to deposit 50 cents to enter the park.
That's not a bad idea --- it should be used at Central Winds for all the out-of-town people using our resident tax paid park system. However, on the motion by Commissioner Martinez, due to the discussion by Miller and Blake about the organizer of FLOP saying how easy it would be to raise $10,000 dollars, the Commission voted to hold FLOP responsible to raise the $3,000 dollars by October to institute the building of the temporary PAW PARK.
Whoever told you, caller, the City was funding $15,000 was lying! It's on the tape for verification of the transaction as passed by the Commission. Now, if enough people contact the City, or their Commissioner, maybe they'll get cold feet and readdress the issue. We were going to suggest sending your contributions to the City ---- however, being familiar with how the City juggles their money --- that is inadvisable.
contact them at --
Phone Number 407-327-5957 or Fax to 407-327-4757