Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Palm Beach County Commission

Comment Up
Katie McGiveron
speaking before the Board of PB County Commissioners
on Tuesday, September 13, 2016
on those elected officials who had accepted campaign contributions from the Atlanta Braves,
 a lobbyist for the Atlanta Braves,
 and a baseball affiliate.

She suggested that if an issue comes before them where there could be a perception of or a possible conflict of interest such as voting on a Spring Training facility at our county park and they have accepted a campaign donation, then they should recuse themselves from the discussion and the vote.  Steve Abrams said that they had to vote--that was the reality.

One of the interesting items on the agenda was to approve of the architectural/engineering design services associated with Fire-Rescue Station No. 22 Minto Westlake project in the amount of $375,398 with a total cost of $3.8 million for the station.  This came up after they all agreed that they got screwed on the Minto West/Westlake decision they had made.  Even Drew Martin told them, "If the county had listened to the people out there, you would never have passed this [MintoWest]."

SUMMARY: This contract provides for the design, permitting and construction administration services for a 4 bay fire station, approximately 10,000 sq. ft., on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road in the City of Westlake. The estimated construction cost is $3,800,000. The Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation for this contract is 94.8 96.1%. Stephen L. Boruff, AIA Architects + & Planners, Inc., is a local business and will be using all Palm Beach County sub-consultants. In fulfillment of County policy and land development regulations, a site for a permanent Station No. 22 was identified by County staff and committed by Minto Communities for approval of the Minto West Development Order granted by the Board on October 29, 2014 (R-2014-1646). Conveyance of that site to the County is due no later than May 31, 2017, which was intentionally timed to allow for design, permitting and construction within the term of the existing temporary Station 22 Lease Agreement. (Capital Improvements Division) District 6 (LDC) (FDO)

Fine and dandy, right? Wrong. As Minto/Westlake will have thousands of new homes and retail, they will need a new fire station. Every time a government allows new development, the infrastructure costs fall on the backs of the resident taxpayers. The Board of County Commissioners voted on this expenditure even after Commissioner Burdick had staff confirm that the county did not own this land. That is not due to happen until seven more months, if it happens. Burdick was for it if and when the land was conveyed to Palm Beach County. This board, still trusting Minto/Westlake, passed the item on a 6/1 vote anyway.

No one listens to common sense. Elected officials rarely listen to the residents.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with Katie. Stop the pay to play by elected officials.

Anonymous said...

The total disrespect for the citizens has got to stop.The outright bullying and intimidation by this board of County Commissioners is out of control.The Commissioners are serving us,not the other way around. But at yesterday's meeting the attitude was one of disgusted royalty having to be in the same room as their dirty gang of peons.

Anonymous said...

This Commission wastes more money in one meeting than most people will even see in their entire working lives.No way am I voting them even one more penny of my money to waste. Vote no on the sales tax increase.

Anonymous said...

New development permitting is
accompanied by land use fees which contribute to the new infrastructure require to service them.

Anonymous said...

Which is only a fraction of what they used to be. Tax payers pick up most of that tab now. Your development money at work in your elected officials.