The rift between the Wellington Village Council and some parts of the equestrian community continues to widen, and now talk of “deannexation” has entered the conversation. While we understand the frustrations on both sides of the current “equestrian civil war,” removing parts of Wellington’s equestrian area from the community is the wrong course of action.
The “deannexation” idea was discussed at a recent informational meeting hosted by the Equestrian Forum of Wellington, and though it’s not likely this could happen anytime soon — or at all — it’s a sign that the battle has entered a new phase.
Proponents of the idea want to secede, or deannex, parts of the equestrian area from the village and place them under county control — not exactly a step forward in regard to autonomy. Thankfully, the informational meeting brought up many questions about the realities of such a plan, and the points brought up by village staff and council members helped add perspective to the issue. For instance, they would lose the services currently paid for by Wellington, such as enhanced law enforcement. And they would still be under the jurisdiction of the Acme Improvement District, an agency run by the village, and therefore still subject to all of Acme’s storm water drainage rules and regulations.
In addition to services, Wellington has special rules protecting the equestrian area, and leaving the village would mean giving up many of those protections. While the lack of progress on solving the often-bitter disputes is disconcerting, it’s doubtful county government would be better. As we’ve seen time and again through the years, the county does not usually give people what they want. With deannexation, all proponents will be doing is changing one government for another. And in this case, replacing a local government comprising Wellington residents with a board made up of outsiders whose interests lie elsewhere.
There are key disagreements in the direction of Wellington right now, where the equestrian community is polarized between two different philosophies, and we understand that. But breaking up the village by taking large portions of the equestrian area out of the municipality is not a solution. Eventually, all the disagreements that are going on will have either a negotiated solution or a court-mandated solution. The crucial point is that when Wellington gets through this troubling time, the municipality has to remain intact.
It’s important that whatever decisions are made, that they’re based on deliberative, rational calculation, rather than as a reaction to current frustrations. This burn-the-bridges mentality is deeply problematic, and it doesn’t matter from which side it comes. You can’t pull apart the village. The equestrian area is strong because of Wellington, and Wellington is strong because of the equestrian community and the equestrian land. Pull them apart, and neither side is as strong as it was.
[…] ‘Deannexation’ Not The Solution […]
Margolis, Greene, and Willhite were elected by low information voters. You get the government you deserve. Most voters are easily swayed by emotional appeals and false promises. Low information voters are the problem. Consider that 72% of the population voted for a $9 million dollar a year Inspector General. That office was not supposed to cost voters a cent. They bought into the idea that developers like Bellissimo would pay a quarter percent more to do business with local governments.
I was at that meeting. The real issue is no one wants to leave Wellington. They just want the micro-management of the bought and paid for Village Vassals trio to govern intelligently. Their mismanagement and micro-management has risen to the point that people have actually considered the process of leaving Wellington.
The problem lies squarly at the feet of Margolis, Greene, & Wilhite.
Margolis and Wilhite are simply bureacurats who care more about process than performance. Only a bureaucrat could argue a 30 year old fully functioning road doesn’t exist because there wasn’t a paper filed 30 years ago allowing the road.
Greene is a case by himself. He is simply the Village idiot who got promoted to Councilman. He will burn himself out of that positon.
Margolis, Greene and Willhite complain that the equestrian community does not pay its fair share of taxes. Therefore I suggest they support de-annexation.
After they get through with things, it will be a shambles anyway.
If it weren’t for Bellissimo the values would have crashed the last six years like everywhere else. Instead they rose.
Had the Jacobs been successful, we would have a mess in the southend of town with the stadium they proposed. .
Wow VConnor and Fred Peters– hey Pot, meet Kettle. You guys will stop at nothing to get what you want, including destroying the Village.
Hey Ponce, if you’ve got something intelligent to say, then say it. Most of us are trying to keep Wellington special.
Regardless of who’s ‘side”you are on, polticians taking cash and gifts from people before the Council is blatenly corrupt.
To support Margolis and Greene means you find it acceptabe and desireable for polticans to take money and gifts for votes. Be very careful as the next person who buys a politican may not share your views and then you will be sreaming about corruption.
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