I’m the first to write to the newspaper when I feel something is wrong, so it’s more than appropriate I do the same when something is absolutely right. Dazzlingly so.
The mayor and councilmen were unanimous in their understanding that a dreadful wrong had been perpetrated on our town. I am referring, of course, to the willful and unnecessary tranche of code violations applied to Palms West Plaza.
It was clearly bad for the businesses that are based there, clearly wrong for the people who rely on them for their livelihoods and clearly wrong for our town.
It is public knowledge and plainly obvious how it happened. Executive power was placed in hands not qualified, or even trained, to use it. What will, I suspect, remain forever unclear is why it happened in the first place.
It’s of no consequence now. The five wise men rescinded all violations, other than those that involved public safety, and went further; they also removed the town manager’s authority to code violations proactively. A triumph for common sense.
It’ll not only keep businesses safe from what Town-Crier writer Ron Bukley described as “raids” by code enforcement, but also save a fortune. Code enforcement costs our town an outrageous $50 an hour. Tew & Taylor, the Wellington-based vendor we, the taxpayers of Loxahatchee Groves, pay to enforce the ULDC laugh all the way to the bank. That largely needless cost spiraled monthly — until now.
The mayor and council showed true statesmanship in reversing their December decision. My personal thanks on behalf of the business owners and people of the town is owed. Common sense prevailed.
We must now all get past it, bear no malice and make every effort to put the matter behind us. I know all the business owners in the plaza feel that way, and can only hope those who have had the error of their ways pointed out do so too.
Tim Hart-Woods
Loxahatchee Groves
