Birds Sleep With One Eye Open

On Tuesday march 16th at 5 pm, there will be a meeting for the public to give their opinions about the priorities that he city budget for 2010-11 should address and the use of community block grant funding through 2014. All citizens are welcome to come and express their opinions. Come have your concerns and priorities heard!  The budget priority meeting is a requirement of the city charter.  The CDBG meeting is a requirement of receiving federal funds.

Dear Flann Anders,

At the February 23rd Orange City council meeting the Chair person of our sustainable water committee was invited by the vice mayor to give a report. As she began her report she was interrupted and cross examined by Council member Gradgrind, who blared his indignation that the Water Committee could question the ’science and experts” of the St. Johns River Water management Commission (sjrwmd).

The blaring style used against a citizen volunteer seemed to be out of place, and that was compounded when in later council action Mr. Grandgrid voted to do just what the committe report was encouraging. He seemed to be totally unaware that the city council and citizens have been challenging the “science and experts” of the SJWMD since way before he was elected in September. (more…)

Dear Mr. Neal,

I read your letter to the editor in the Beacon and felt that the continued fictional portrayal of events were another denial sent out by the Volusia County School Board and its chairman.

You sent in the following: “…the cadre of teachers and staff discussed which name they felt would be best to represent the school, its mission, its vision, and other unique characteristics (notably its partnerships with the University of Central Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Stetson University). That recommendation was submitted to the School Board to be voted upon, and was approved.

This statement represents only what appeared to happen and not what the experience of citizens and the Beacon’s document request revealed. (more…)

The sun rail station location in Debary is owned by FP&L. The question is how many millions of dollars will go to this power company for a station that won’t do the job.

The Commuter rail station at Fort Florida is not going to work. Gerald Brinton of Volusia County Government and Karl Welzenbach of the Volusia Flagler Metropolitan Planning Organization have both given elected leaders the same message about this part of commuter rail. They both admit that it will not work since few will use it, but it may not be too late to change since Congressman Mica is interested in something that will work for commuter rail and not just a pay off for FP&L.

Who will take up the cause of FP&L? Stand by for volunteers to step up and say “Its got to be at Fort Florida its too late to change”. Right, before its built, before the land is bought, before the county council votes, Its too late to change?

As the Orange City Council Voted 5-2 to terminate the contract of the city Manager tonight I was reminded that good advise is in the 80″s song by Devo called “Whip it”. This is not the end of problems, but it is a beginning to the ed of this paticular set of problems. Here are the lyrics.

“crack that whip
give the past the slip
step on a crack
break your momma’s back
when a problem comes along
you must whip it
before the cream sits out too long
you must whip it
when something’s going wrong
you must whip it

now whip it
into shape
shape it up
get straight
go forward
move ahead
try to detect it
it’s not too late
to whip it
whip it good (more…)

For details see Orangecitycitizens.com

 Voted to raise the cost of water by placing a $4 per account charge and a 25% surcharge on water use.

Voted to place the cost of garbage service on residential tax payers as a non ad valorem tax placed on the property tax bill annually.

 Voted to raise the fees charge by city government to citizens by rate of 50 to 500 % depending on the fee.  

Voted for a 16% tax rate increase and the 2009-2010 budgets.  Second vote to be held on September 23, 2009 one day after the election.

This is in just less than 6 moths on council. 

Source is online audio and public records of the City of Orange City Florida

Oakhurst home owners association met at Dickinson Memorial Library on Wednesday night, September 2nd.  The invited guests were the city manager and candidate for council Mr. Bill Crippen.  Mr. Murray brought an entourage of city employees.  Mr. Crippen brought his ears.

Mr. Murray began the meeting by insisting that Mr. Crippen not be allowed to participate in the meeting.  It was a fine example of Mr. Murray’s insensitivity to citizens.  Mr. Crippen sat in the audience and listened to the citizens concerns, speaking to those that stayed throughout the meeting after it was over. (more…)