BCC

In the last two BCC meetings I have watched Wendell Davis speak untruths, even once the truth was pointed out to him yesterday he still made insinuations that are not based in fact.  This report he has referred to in BCC meetings and in print media is located within the Florida Realtors site, no suprise there and here it ishttp://www.florida2010.org/docs/20100121_Amendment4_Impact_Scenario.pdf.  

Note that it is a "scenario", not a study.  Now. before you go look at the 34 page scenario with all of it's graphs and charts you need to look into just who the group is, "Washington Economics Group Inc" located at 2655 Le Jeune Rd Suite 608 in Coral Gables which is Dade County.

Mark Scruby, County Attorney’s annual salary  $176,376.51                             

Fran Moss, Chief Assistant County Attorney’s annual salary  $134,208.26

Rebecca Lavie, Assistant County Attorney’s annual salary   $49,361.94

Sources (for above): http://news.jacksonville.com/govtsalaries/?action=search&q=scruby&county%5B%5D=4&munc%5B%5D=10&dept=&salary=&Submit.x=82&Submit.y=9  http://news.jacksonville.com/govtsalaries/?action=search&q=moss&county%5B%5D=4&munc%5B%5D=10&dept=&salary=&Submit.x=69&Submit.y=7  http://news.jacksonville.com/govtsalaries/?action=search&q=lavie&county%5B%5D=4&dept=&position%5B%5D=0&salary=&Submit.x=50&Submit.y=10

Missed the Tuesday afternoon meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, but, through the wonders of the Electronic Age I got to watch early this morning. Here's a running recap, including the implosion of the Animal Control Advisory Committee ...

The opening ceremonies, minus BCC Chairman Wendell Davis, included recognizing Memorial Day. An NJROTC unit handled Color Guard duties and the Navy sent a band to play the National Anthem. Several veterans were in attendance. As the ceremony closed and the vets began to leave, Commissioner Ronnie Robinson asked that they all come forward so the Commissioners could shake their hands. Classy touch, Ronnie.

I watched Tuesday afternoon's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, as usual. Came away confused enough to ask some questions, as usual. Got enough answers to make enough sense of what the BCC did to know it didn't make sense.

What happened was this. The county is about to officially award the construction contract to build a new Emergency Response Center to Hawkins Inc. It has been lining up potential subcontractors, who have been lining up potential suppliers. One of those potential suppliers complained about its subcontractor's bidding process, as a result of a change the county staff approved in the building's lighting plans.

As a regular citizen, often ignorant and lost in the minutiae of government, I heard some good news during Monday afternoon's meeting of the Policy, Rules and Human Services Committee of the Board of County Commissioners. It actually made me smile, and promise County Manager Fritz Behring I'd quit whining. Well, stop whining about one particular issue, anyway.

I've complained often about being left in the dark during County Commission meetings. I can get the official agenda on the county's official website, but that only gives me a broad, sometimes coded, idea of what's being discussed by my local elected representatives. It doesn't really help me understand what they're talking about most of the time.

Here is just one of many legislative projects that FAR is into up to it's neck.  Commissioner Conkey referred to this Bill I believe during the meeting where the impact fees were halted.  It will be Wendell Davis who will be getting the applause when he takes over that position.  These Bills are full of loopholes and difficult to understand so the general public doesn't realize what is going on. 

HB 360 is going to further the upper hand of the growth industry.  I believe it is this Bill that when signed into law will be the catalyst to launch doing away with all impact fees and will be a source for the growth industry to further rid themselves of any restrictions that will impact their bottom line. 

I checked out the upcoming BCC Agenda and under new business Item 12 it says "Discussion on Resolution in Support of HB1055/Senate Bill 2248"

Folks 2248 is the bill that will give tax exemptions to the Beltway Barons.  Considering that Wendell Davis issued a proclamation on March 30th 2009 in support of this Bill what is there left to discuss and resolve?  He issued the proclamation as Chairman of the BCC, you can see it for yourself here in the blog archives. 

Either the cart was put before the horse, or they're closing the barn door so all of us won't know that the horse is already gone.

Scuttlebutt was a term used when I was active duty to identify gossip or rumor.  I have heard some that I would like to share that will be easy enough to validate in watching the video from the BCC meeting yesterday.  What I've been told has not come from just one source but how much of what I've been told is fact and perception is unknown at the moment.

Item #12 on the BCC Agenda yesterday was about a discussion regarding our Countys governing document, the Charter.  It was to be presented by Commissioner Conkey, this much is fact.

I heard the discussion was regarding the salaries for the BCC, I was told that they appear to be looking for a way around the Salary Amendment that was upheld at the Court of Appeals.  I was told that Conkey attempted to make a motion, and that Commissioner Cummings made a statement something to the effect of the pay was not worth the time required to serve.  Nevermind the fact that they all get lifetime benefits, one of which is health insurance that a great many taxpayers don't have and can't afford.

It's a couple of minutes before the Board of County Commissioners meets in Green Cove Springs, and I plan to take some notes on the fly. The past couple of meetings have been so boring, and the most exciting issue the Commissioners will talk about today will be in a private session we won't be allowed to watch or even listen to.

Absent any humor, I find myself hoping someone will reincarnate George A. Bush. Maybe Travis Cummings will make it a District 3 tradition to wage a fashion protest and come wearing a tie-died T-shirt or something.

Even if Travis added a speedo and cowboy boots to complete his ensemble, Chairman Wendell Davis seems as if he would still struggle to crack a smile. Surely he has a sense of humor away from the gavel. Maybe one of the two veterans on the BCC, Chereese Stewart or Doug Conkey, could slip a whoopee cushion under him during a meeting and Wendell's loosen up a a little.

It was like the WWE days when The Rock would ask someone a question, then snatch the microphone away from them when they began their response, loudly reminding them on yet another Monday Night: "It doesn't matter what you think. ... Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?"

The Board of County Commissioners asked us what we think about what time alcohol sales should begin in Clay County on Sundays. We told them what we thought with November's ballot and a substantial 59.9 percent of the vote. Then, with a classic "It doesn't matter what you think" Rock imitation, the BCC snatched the microphone away, ignoring and silencing the very voice they had requested.