It was not a typo, it was not an error, it was a blatant intent to meet a deadline for a special election.
Complicity would fairly represent the reactions of the mayor, vice mayor and other members of the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council regarding the exposure of the unwitting, or unwilling, misrepresentation of fraud published by the town management.
The approval of moving the special election forward to a quick-vote to allow the town management to borrow or mortgage for 10 years to come, or money to perform the town management’s requested maintenance and road improvements.
An “open one-hour-long workshop,” before the regular town meeting was allowed at the June 5 town meeting — not enough time for such an important issue. Residents were each allowed two minutes to voice their opinions before being bullied by council members, if opposing the plan. Others in favor of the mortgage were given more time to speak. Selective application seems to be the preferred practice of this council and management, be it speech, business practice or code enforcement.
The blame game seems to work well for the explanation of the failures of those in charge. If we can just get rid of the burdensome district, all of our problems will disappear. But who will we have to blame? When everything is not fixed, whose fault will it be? If we use private contractors, it will cost less, or not. Who cares? We can just raise the taxes and mortgage 10 or maybe 20 years down the road and see if we can figure out who to blame then.
I don’t believe we should dissolve the district. We have protections provided by the state by having the district functioning on our behalf. [District Administrator Stephen] Yohe is effective and efficient, as well as intelligent and honest — questionably not the case with our current town manager.
The town management published, or approved publishing, on June 4, 2018, that the town council approved a special election vote on June 5, 2018. However, although published as approved on June 4, 2018, the town council meeting wasn’t held until June 5, 2018.
That was a blatant lie, and fraud, but moved forward by the mayor and the council members as acceptable to go along with the town manager’s desire to get it in under the wire, and in order to hurry the vote before the time of the next budget deadline. Our town attorney seemed willing to go along with the improper and dishonest procedure.
It appears to me the that town manager already has more than he can handle. Just look around, our roads are at their worst, although already having been acquired by the town, and they are spending much more for their care but hiring private contractors to put dirt on our roads doesn’t make them better.
Maybe spending less on administrative costs and more on upgraded aggregate, as in rock products — i.e. 57 Rock — would be a better bang for our buck. Using 57 Rock to upgrade over time will stabilize the road surface and base, and over time will build base for pavement later on, if so desired… We don’t need to take a mortgage to hurry and pave now, we just need to quit using dirt as a road improvement and use real rock.
It seems the manager’s attempt to degrade our roads in order to prove that we need pavement is a safety hazard. How many must die? How many must suffer health issues? How many automobile repairs must we endure?
Don’t vote out the district! Don’t vote for more and bigger mortgages! Don’t give more power to those unprepared and ill-equipped to handle it!
Vote no to dissolving the district. Keep honesty and integrity alive in our district!
Vote no to never-ending mortgages and tax increases. Go vote. Go to the meetings! Require the mayor and council to represent all of the town residents. Require the town management to do what is good for the residents.
Our district has always done a lot better with a lot less. Don’t pay more for less. Our management has shown itself incapable and inept, as well as dishonest.
Mark Jackson, Loxahatchee Groves
