Lake County Fiscal Rangers

Local Lake County Water Levels to Be Discussed tomorrow, May 31 in Leesburg

Updated:  To add longer letter from Diane Heitman about water level issues in the Superpond. vj

If you are concerned about the water levels in the "SuperPond" of Lake County, which are Lake Dora, Lake Harris, Lake Eustis, etc. then attend this 6pm Leesburg Meeting tomorrow night, May 31.   As you may know, Lake water levels have been dropping, partly because the St. John's River Water Management District turned off the water flow from Lake Apopka.  At the same time, until recently, dredging of Lake Beauclaire was also removing another 10 cubic feet per second (CFS) from the lakes.

Here is the info from Diane Heitman, who has been monitoring this - below the initial notice is an attachment for the meeting agenda, followed by a longer letter by Diane on the water issues in the Superpond.

vj

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Harris Chain lake level management public meeting May 31 in Leesburg

The St. Johns River Water Management District will hold a public meeting May 31 in Leesburg to discuss potential water level management options for the Harris Chain of Lakes.

The meeting will include an update on minimum flows and levels development, and will be an opportunity for the public to provide input.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Paul P. Williams Fine Arts Center, 9501 U.S. Highway 441 in Leesburg.

The District's Governing Board will consider the proposed management options for the next year at a June 12 public meeting in Palatka.

Please pass on to all friends.

Diane Heitman

In favor of Waterfront Property Owners, Businesses and Municipalities who rely on our Superpond

Chain of Lakes for enjoyment, economy, employment and prosperity.

Feel free to call my cell:  352-343-8891

Below is the agenda

Download Agenda - Lake_Level_Mgmt_Public_Mtg_053112

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From Diane Heitman:

Please read, do you agree?

Here we are again, way below the desired lake level elevations.

Let's make it a goal to never have to apologize when the rains don't come; this is not about praying for rain; it's about planning for the lack of rain.

How can we improve reliability of our lake water levels? Do not let the water out unless conditions show that an impending flood maybe eminent. Base the new regulation schedule and minimum flows (cfs) on a dynamic (actual rain event) versus a static, academic, unsuccessful regulation schedule.

Nature gives natural fluctuation; let's preserve every drop of life giving water in our lakes.

History shows a 5 year drought cycle. We cannot manage the water levels based on a model; each year is different. Holding maximum water is critical for the economic future, navigation, access and quiet enjoyment of lakefront businesses, owners, events and municipalities of Lake County.

The Harris Chain of Lakes is designated by the Federal Government to be a navigable waterway. Low water levels are interfering with navigation.

The Dora Canal is too low. Business operators, the Sheriff boat and numerous individuals hit logs or don't have enough room for other boats to pass in the narrowed, now shallow canal, causing damage and/or the need to replace expensive propellers.

Challenges with lower lake levels and being unable to navigate our waterways to businesses, public docks & residences are causing serious issues with jobs and financial security to our friends here in Lake County.

Year round waterfront attractions and events generate multitudes of economic prosperity, sales taxes & benefits to all of us. These benefits are being jeopardized by lower lake levels.

Our boathouses are high & dry; either land locked and/or we are forced to remove the boats to storage elsewhere. Neighbors are mowing the grass 30' from their sea wall out into the lake without getting their feet wet; ain't good. Waterfront property owners are highly taxed; they expect and should have continuous access to the federally navigable waterways. This benefit is unavailable during low lake levels; property values decline; however, taxes don't reflect this loss.

We feel great empathy for our Northern friends that have bought here as seasonal waterfront property owners.

During their time away, their tax dollars continue to work for us here. Why would seasonal, lakefront property owners come here without access to their boating enjoyment? Many of their boats are now landlocked in their boathouses and cannot be used until water levels increase.

We locals are forced to apologize to our family, guests and tourists who may have planned up to a year in advance to come here and enjoy our now compromised lakefront resources.

Some of we, older Americans, are challenged physically to manipulate our boats with the lower lake levels. Luckily, Mt. Dora, Tavares and Eustis have provided floating docks; however, the local business man such as Boondoggles & Hurricanes can't count on us being able to step up, out and off the boat. Instead of quiet enjoyment of recreational boating; extreme manipulation is faced as undesired; hence, not worth it; hence, loss of business.

Consumers don't come back or cancel plans with low water experience.

Let's make it a goal to never have to apologize when the rains don't come; this is not about praying for rain; it's about planning for the lack of rain.

Thank you for your support of our restoration and water management with an emphasis of maintaining and storing water for the use during drought years.

Diane Heitman

In favor of Waterfront Property Owners, Businesses and Municipalities who rely on our Superpond, Chain of Lakes for enjoyment, economy, employment and prosperity.

Feel free to call my cell: 352-343-8891

 

 

 

vj

Lake County Republican "Listening Tour" Set for 5 Locations - BE there to provide input

May 22, 2012 - Tavares, FL

This is the official press release from the Lake County Republican Executive Committee

============================================================

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2012

Contact: Alan Winslow, Chairman

352-742-9953

dional99@aol.com

Lake County Republicans Get Innovative, Host Five “Listening Tours”

Reaffirming the Importance of Grassroots Involvement, a Series of Town

Hall Meetings is Scheduled Across Lake County.

In preparation for the upcoming elections, the Lake County Republican Party is seeking to increase the involvement of Republicans across the county. Alan Winslow, Chair of the Lake County Republican Executive Committee, stated “Our party is already actively engaged in the 2012 Election Campaign, but our Lake County Executive Committee wants to ensure that we are addressing the vision and the expectations local Republicans have for their Party.  Valuing the experiences and insight of our local supporters, we are confident that enlarging the input of local citizens can only strengthen our Party and positively contribute to a successful campaign in 2012.”  

As our nation stands at a crossroads, so does Lake County. “Over the past three years, we have seen an explosion of citizen interest in how we are being governed”, said newly elected Lake County Republican State Committeewoma n, Patricia Sullivan. She continued, “People have distinct opinions about the direction government is headed, and it has resulted in a flood of grassroots activists. Their input is valuable, and desired.”

In calling for the Listening Tours, Republican leaders appointed a committee to organize a series of gatherings fashioned after town hall meetings. The meetings will be held across the county in five locations easily accessible from all population centers.

Mike Levine, one of the upcoming Listening Tour facilitators, shared that “Participants will be encouraged to communicate their vision for the role of the Lake County Republican Party in the 2012 Election cycle and voice their expectations for the values and priorities that the party should embrace.” Mr. Levine currently serves as a District Representative for the Republican Executive Committee in the South Lake area.

Everyone is encouraged to attend and play a vocal role.

Once the input is gathered, the Lake County Republican Executive Committee will put together a plan of action to advance the recommendations.

For more information regarding the locations of the Listening Tour, visit www.lakecountyrepublicans.org or email listeningtour@lcrec.us

DATE                                        LOCATION                                ADDRESS

Tuesday, May 29                      Community Building                237 W Gauva St,  Lady Lake

Wednesday May 30                  Lakeside Inn                            100 N Alexander St., Mt Dora

Thursday May 31                     Astor Community Center         24148 Ann St.,  Astor

Monday, June 4                        Community Building                109 E Dixie Ave, Leesburg

Tuesday, June 5                       Jenkins Auditorium                 691 W. Montrose Ave, Clermont                     

Doors open at 6:30pm begins at 7:00pm

Will Tomorrow's Lake County Board meeting be a Battle, Snoozer or Doozer?

Tavares, FL - Monday, May 21, 2012

by Vance Jochim

Tomorrow's 9am May 22 meeting of the Lake County Board meeting could be boring, or outrageous?

It is a combined meeting, with the regular Board meeting agenda HERE, and a separate Zoning meeting in the middle of it, which has it's own Zoning issues agenda HERE.

But, here is our analysis of some agenda items that might need more research or be contentious:

Tab 3 - Naming of a Dept. of Justice Grant Coordinator - A skim of the initial "consent agenda" items didn't provide any major surprises, although consent agenda item Tab 3 is about a grant, and any grant makes me nervous, because it could include requirements that affect private property rights, long term spending problems, etc.   We would NOT even know about this grant except the Florida FDLE requires the County assign a coordinator for it via the County administration.   In this case, the issue is to authorize a PROBATION specialist to be a GRANT coordinator for a "Justice Assistance Grant".   The Board is not approving a grant yet, just a coordinator to get ideas and then submit a grant application which would be approved later.  Anytime the staff tries to ignore the fiscal impact and not specify it in the agenda description, I look for a boondoggle.  So, you have to open the agenda request document to find the grant to be "coordinated" is $113,436 to be distributed to "units of government within Lake County".    Hot bananas.  FREE money.  AND, you have to open a second document (kudos to staff for at least posting the attachments, so they aren't hiding the grant, just the amount to be given out or reasons...).  Neither the agenda text or the agenda request document mention the funds are REALLY from the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) and our buddy Eric Holder.   So, you know any strings in the "grants" may be against the public interest.   Remember, this is on the consent agenda so the Board wasn't planning to discuss this in public.

    The attached notification letter says that: 

"FDLE (Florida Dept of Law Enforcement) has set aside $113,000 for use by all units of government within Lake County.  ...the funds can be used by local units (what units, they don't say...) of government to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system.   The program announcement includes information from DOJ relating to "several areas of national focus" (i.e. what Eric Holder and Obama want...)."

"As a condition of participation (ok, that means there is a ball and chain) in this program, the units of government in each county must reach a consensus concerning the expenditure of these funds."  (Note, read our separate page HERE on consensus building techniques used by the left to push through Agenda 21 and other objectives without a VOTE by affected citizens.)

They go on and say "This consensus must include the projects to be implemented as well as the agency responsible for such implementation".   

The second attachment is only a form to designate the local coordiantor.

NOWHERE ARE THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED... SO JUST WHAT IS THIS GRANT?  SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE, AND WE WILL MONITOR IT AND REPORT BACK LATER.  WHY WOULD THE BOARD APPROVE A COORDINATOR AND LEGWORK TO "DEVELOP A CONSENSUS" WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT WAS, OR WHO THE RECIPIENT GOVERNMENT UNITS WERE???

Tab 9 - Proclamation for "Tobacco-Free Parks Month"  -  The Board is being asked to approve a proclamation designating June as "Tobacco-Free Parks Month".    We need to know if Commissioner Sean Parks is tobacco free or not?  (:-))

Tab 10 - Approves under the consent agenda to change position titles and delete the "Public Lands Manager position".   So, we spent $30-million in bonds to by a bunch of public lands, only let people use four of them (ie. the four that were opened after Commissioner Leslie Campione asked why none were open or had facilities).  My numbers may be off, but who is watching our $30-million investment?  (They are adding a park ranger, so maybe he will do it).

Tab 23 - Traffic Study for North Hancock Road in South County - if you are interested in the results after public meetings, etc then watch this presentation.    As usual with presentations, they don't provide any early handouts, etc. but you should be able to find the resulting Powerpoint attached to Tab 23 AFTER the meeting.   Here is the only description from the agenda request document:

"The Board of County Commissioners,on Sept 20, 2011 requested that the Department of Public Works evaluate the N. Hancock Road Corridor for traffic safety issues.  The study on N. Hancock Road begins at SR 50 and ends at Turkey Farm Road.  A public meeting was held on March 19th with residents and interested parties at the Cooper Memorial Library in Clermont.  Public comment was received and will be incorporated into the final document.  The Board of County Commissioners will receive the study results and evaluation by the Public Works Engineering Division."

Tab 24 - A public hearing on distributing $74,000 in impact fees for libraries to Mount Dora, Minneola and Howey.  Remember, the County waived transportation and school impact fees, but not library impact fees (or parks).  Both of those are much smaller than roads and schools.

REZONING PUBLIC HEARINGS are AFTER tab 24, so click here for the separate agenda to see if any subjects are of interest - so expect a break, then the zoning issues, then back to TAB 25.  We told you about this agenda last week.

- Zoning Tab 4 & 5 - Comp Plan Amendments

- Zoning Tab 6 - hearing on the Magrone Property

- Zoning Tab 7 - the controversial rezoning of the former Long & Scott private airport into a public airport which is being fought by neighbors and also environmentalists in the nearby Lake Apopka area due to possibility of bird strikes.  It ain't easy being a property owner and trying to get rezoning if the greenies get involved.

 

RETURN to normal Board agenda:

Tab 25 - Presentation by the St. Johns River Water management district - This is about the District's LAND GRAB where they own 600,000 acres of land in 18 counties, which might be over, and this presentation appears to be the result of requirements from Gov. Scott's office.  Lake County staff did NOT provide any details, but you can find them on the St. John's website HERE:   http://www.floridaswater.com/landassessment/  

These are the guys who shut off water flow to Lakes Dora, Eustis, Harris, etc.   But, they are presenting on a different subject.   Following AGenda 21, they have used taxpayer funds and over 35 years have amassed a collection of "public lands" and will describe what they have and a project to "assess" what to do with the lands.  (kinda like Lake County's public lands... not much is accessible by the public, which is an objective of UN Agenda 21 facilitated by the American Planner's Association.   Their goal is to convert as much land as possible to government ownership (communism - for the collective) and restrict human access to people migrate to government run transit villages...)

So, watch this presentation, and get mad when you see how much land has been removed from the tax rolls and whether humans can even access it.  No details were attached to the agenda, such as a list of affected lands.  If you are interested in how taxpayer funded lands owned by the St. John's Water District are managed, come to the meeting or watch the video, and provide public input.  Who knows, an endangered lizard might talk.

AND, since the Lake County staff would not provide any details, we found updated details on their "2012 public land assessment" on the St. Johns website HERE:  http://www.floridaswater.com/landassessment/     It says "the district OWNS 600,000 acres of land in it's 18-county service area."  They are examining every acre to determine "the need for conservation purposes."    "Sometimes the District may have bought "acreage that has minimal water resource value".    READ the website page - there is a PUBLIC COMMENT FORM

It appears one of the reasons for this "assessment" is that Florida loosened land use regulations last year (thanks to Gov. Scott) and they were probably told to actuall review and manage the land they had and examine alternatives.   So, we could have a McDonald's on the Dora Canal???

Tab 26 - More on the Long & Scott Aviation Growth Center  - go to this page to see the attachments.  I did not read them at time of publishing this.   http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/AgendaDocPop/connect.aspx?ParentTrackingNumber=6526   

I have nothing else at this time, but the St. John's presentation and the Long & Scott Aviation Center issues should be doozies...  I may add something else in the morning. 

vj

Lessons for Lake County? Georgia City of 100,000 Outsources EVERYthing and is NOT broke.

Tavares, FL - May 21, 2012

by Vance Jochim

Here is a great video from the Florida Tea party network about Sandy Springs, GA, population 100,000 (bigger than the Villages), which started outsourcing all their programs in 2005 after incorporating as a new city  in Fulton County, GA, and now has NO debt.

Watch the EIGHT minute video first, then return for my comments.  The video was created by Reason.org which is a Libertarian think tank in California.   Then ask your Lake County officials why they are not examining outsourcing services, and why unincorporated Sorrento - Mt. Plymouth is not incorporating as a city and outsourcing services?

http://theteapartynetwork.org/2012/05/a-great-vision-of-municipal-government/   

This city was initially a large unincorporated area in Fulton County, GA, and was taxed by the County for funds spent elsewherein the County.  The County rarely paved or repaired roads.   Democrats controlled the legislature and prevented Sandy Springs from incorporating as a city until 2005 when Republicans took control and allowed the City of Sandy Springs to be established. So, this was all done since 2005.

"Companies are better than managing projects than government, and one contractor provided services for $25-million vs $50-million if run by the county government."

Sandy Springs did not fall into the government "pension trap" and avoided worker defined benefits pension and benefits programs that bankrupt municipalities.

Local Lake County & city officials should have this type of outsourcing on their meeting agenda as part of the budget approval process.  If they don't, aske them why.

References:  Books by Oliver W. Porter

Creating the New City of Sandy Springs

Public/Private Partnerships for Local Governments

Vance Jochim

 

 

 

 

How Socialists use Agenda 21 & "Endangered Species" Designations to Increase Energy & Other Costs

Monday, May 21, 2012 -   Tavares, FL

by Vance Jochim

A lizard in New Mexico and Texas could increase US gasoline costs if the EPA had their way, and Lake County elected officials and voters could learn a lesson from the fight with the EPA there.

Here in Lake County, we have a Comprehensive Land Use Plan that has been modified somewhat, but not enough.   It was developed when Florida had adopted "Growth" plans derived from legislative guides produced by the American Planner's Association (APA) which were created using funds from numerous Federal Agencies directed to implement the United Nations Agenda 21 by Bill Clinton's Presidential Council on Sustainable Development.

For more background on Agenda 21, see our info page at tinyurl.com/HaltAgenda21   .

Now, we have a good example in the following article about the stealth method used nationally by the EPA to implement Agenda 21 objectives of using enviornmentalism as a cover to increasing energy costs, reducing values of private property, etc.

http://epaabuse.com/3424/editorials/proposed-listing-of-sagebrush-lizard-as-endangered-species-threatens-energy-production/  

The article explains how the EPA can define an "endangered species" such as a lizard, then prevent landholders from developing or building on their land to "protect" the lizard.   I don't know about you, but my Florida backyard and magnolia tree is full of lizards in good health. In this case, the EPA tried to prevent oil drilling on some lands by declaring a local lizard as endangered. 

I once lived in California, and land development was halted for decades due to the existence of some "endangered species".

But, apparently, the courts mandated a delay in implementing a moratorium on development because, like Al Gore's "junk science", they question the validity of EPA "science" in defining the lizards as endangered.

Citizens in the area of New Mexico and Texas that would be economically decimated by lizard restrictions rose up and rebelled and challenged the "science" behind the EPA decision.  The courts agreed, and specified the EPA had to support their lizard endangerment science within 6 months, which is where they are today...

Ok - for you elected officials who don't understand how Agenda 21 objectives are used by the Federal government and your local land use planners to damage property rights and increase cost of energy so "preferred" energy alternatives like solar or wind are used more, here is an example. The EPA can declare a lizard as endangered species, then prevent oil drilling to protect the lizard.   This reduces energy from oil, increases cost of oil drilled, making it only 1/2 the cost of solar and wind, vs 1/3.   AND, somewhere in there are probably provisions so that only the government can take over the land.   The same thing is done to reduce mining, forestry harvesting, and other resources, so the owners sell or give the land to the government.   EVERY time you hear the phrase "endangered species" think about what the real objective is...

And in Lake County, where the greenies have pushed through restricions on mining in south county etc., your days may be ending... and Lake County Board members and zoning commission members might start challenging the comp plan restrictions that don't pass the Agenda 21 smell test.

vj

 

Ronald Reagan Famous Speeches - Some Lessons Learned

Tavares, FL   -  May 12, 2012

by Vance Jochim

In 1981, Ronald Reagan took office for eight years as US President, and Netflix has a DVD "President Ronald Reagan: The Great Speeches" which I just watched.

- He took over from Jimmy Carter when interest rates had gone up to 21% due to Carter's liberal spending programs (Gee, sounds like Owebama, doesn't it).   We still had the huge welfare program that continued to pay funds to low income, non-working citizens for LIFE.   

- At the time, we still had a "cold war" with the Communists in Russia, and there was a wall between East & West Berlin.    Carter had launched a botched rescue of people in Cuba which failed.

- In an early April 18 speech, Reagan says "Our Government is too big, & spends too much".

- One 1982  speech talks how Reagan's administration has transferred liberal social programs down to State governments and how interest rates have dropped to 15%, and inflation has dropped from 12.4% to 8.9%.

- Reagan discusses the harmful ideas of communists, class war and Stalin's schemes to implement Soviet doctrine and "totalitarian power".

- Reagan talks to a national organization of "Evangelicals" and discusses the need for improved morality, prayer in schools and other social conservative issues.   You don't hear that today.

- In his 1984 Acceptance speech as the Republican nominee for his second Presidential term, he talks about the recent Democratic convention in San Francisco and tells the packed Republican convention "We didn't discover our values in a poll taken just before our election, and we didn't set a weather vane on top of the Golden Gate bridge before talking about the American family..."   "Their (Democrat's) Government only sees people as members of groups (i.e. socialism or communitarianism) ... ours sees them as individuals.  "  

"Inflation was not borne on the wind as some type of plague, but it was a deliberate part of their (Democrats) official economic policy they said was needed to maintain prosperity.  They didn't tell us that with inflation would come the highest interest rates since the Civil War.    Average monthly home payments nearly doubled and home building ground to a halt.  And, who controlled both houses of government and the executive branch ... not us (Republicans).  "  

"Farmers have to fight insects,  the weather and the marketplace and they shouldn't have to fight their own government..."

"Democrats never met a tax they didn't like..."

- There are numerous famous quotes and uplifting jokes and stories, so I suggest you get the DVD from Netflix and watch it also.   Or, try CSPAN's website and they might have many of the speeches also, but maybe not the ones to private groups.

- During Reagan's 8 years, they created 19-million new jobs.

- The US was regarded by the world as the savior of "Freedom because the Berlin wall fell and the Soviet Union collapsed into separate countries.  Fear from Russian violence or nuclear war dropped significantly.  Defenses were rebuilt to "carry a big stick".  Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan.    Nuclear fears were reduced through reductions in nuclear missiles on both sides of the Atlantic.    Tax rates were cut significantly.  Family income went up the last four years of his term.  "Our first principle is to believe in ourselves."  - not big government.'   "We the people tell the government what to do, it doesn't tell us... We the people are free".   "Most other governments tell people what they can do, but in the US, "We The People" tell government what it is allowed to do...".    "As government expands, Liberty contracts...".  "We have to teach history not based upon what's popular now, but what's important."  

- The best single speech is his final Farewell Address to the Nation from the Oval Office on January 11, 1989 before leaving office.  Be sure to watch it, where he talks about "We the People", comparisons of Communism vs US lifestyles, the benefits of reduced governments, Freedom, etc.

Ronald Reagan was the original Hope and Change guy who actually did it with DEEDS, not PROMISES.

vj

Update on Voter Fraud in Florida - State finds 1251 Voters who are "Non-Citizens"

Tavares, FL - May 8, 2012 by Vance Jochim

Florida Voter Fraud Update:  Awhile back, on April 4th, we told you about an NBC investigation in Lee and Collier County where they found over 100 local voters who VOTED, but then were discovered not to be legal citizens.'

In Florida, at least, you are supposed to be a US citizen to vote.  But weaknesses in the voter registration system in Florida allow people to register to vote without confirmation they are actually a citizen.

The NBC investigation compared jury records, using a list of voters who got out of jury duty by saying they were not citizens.  Then they checked public voter records and found 100 of them who had voted, some for many years, while not being a citizen.  (This is not about illegal aliens, but about people that could be legally, or illegally here, but not a citizen).

NOW, the Division of Elections of the State of Florida, embarrassed by the investigation, expanded the investigation, and found non-citizens who had obtained drivers licenses.  They matched that list with people registered to vote in Florida, and found 1,250 of them.

A newly appointed Secretary of State, Ken Detzner, is researching more ways to remove non-citizens from voter rolls.

Did you know you can report Voter Fraud to the Florida Division of Elections on THIS WEBPAGE?

On a separate note, I was at a recent presentation by Lake County Elections Supervisor Emogene Stegall, and she said that after our first news item on the non-citizen voters, she investigated and found one such illegal voter, but their address was no longer valid, so her office dropped that person from the voting rolls.

Today I asked Emogene if she had been notified by the Division of Elections of any other non-citizen voters based upon the analysis they did above, and they had not sent her a list.  She will notify FiscalRangers.com when she hears from the Elections Division.

HERE is the May 8th, 2012 NBC update story about the Division of Elections investigation.

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/18165667/state-sweep-finds-1251-ineligible-voters

HERE is our prior story on the earlier Lee & Collier County investigation by NBC.

http://webworks.typepad.com/lakecountyfiscalrangers/2012/04/voter-fraud-method-disclosed-by-ft-myers-nbc-tv-investigation-may-exist-in-all-florida-counties.html    

And, Here is a fun website of photos taken during the 2008 Elections at Polling Places all over the US:

http://www.pollingplacephotoproject.org/  

HERE is the homepage for the Florida Divsion of Elections

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/

AND, here is the homepage for the Lake County Elections Dept:

http://elections.lakecountyfl.gov/

vj

 

 

 

 

 

FiscalRangers.com Update on Lake County School Board & Tomorrow's Lake County Board Meeting

Tavares, FL - May 7, 2012 (This is a duplicate of an email sent out today to our FiscalRangers.com email list.)

First, an overview of an issue at today’s Lake County School Board meeting which might save taxpayers $400,000, and then read items I have selected from the agenda for tomorrow’s Lake County Board meeting, and finally “other news” about local candidate forum events and an upcoming meeting of the North Lake County Hospital District.

In my opinion, the item under Lake County's Agenda (belows) tab 24 needs Board attention.  Once again, the Board is asked to approve the annual CDBG Federal grant programs, and little details are provided for early analysis, and we point out some issues from last year’s CDBG discussions.

Lake County School Board today

 – Cutting FREE transportation to Orange County Charter School Could Save $400,000 -  At today's Board meeting, the School District staff requested Board approval to turn off paying for transportation to Princeton school in Orange County for about 32 autistic kids in order to save about $400,000.   They want the kids to go to Lake County facilities and services, which were not available 7 years ago when the students were sent out of County.   8 parents showed up and pleaded to keep kids at Princeton.    Lake County is talking about giving them a choice (no final decision yet) to keep going to Princeton but not get County buses, or go to Lake County special centers that NOW exist which can handle autistic kids.    By doing this, County will reduce transportation costs by at least 400k for just 32 kids.  If you need accurate info, confirm details with Nancy Velez at the School Board.    The County does NOT pay for transportation to any Lake County charter schools, so why pay it for one in Orange County?   Apparently the one in Orange County won’t even provide transportation for Orange County kids.   No final decision was made until more info is received and a committee is formed to determine.  Kudos to School District staff Judy Miller & Nancy Velez for bringing this up to the Board. I thought it was a very good presentation of analysis by the staff, trying to find ways to reduce costs, and I agree with this. 

Lake County Board of Commissioners meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, May 8) – here are some interesting agenda items:    – Agenda is HERE

-          Tab 16 – LEACHATE Disposal Contract ( $500,000) -  500k contract for leachate disposal.  No info explaining why they need to do this, how we got leachate, what it is, or any indication they have a plan to reduce future leachate disposal costs.  This item is on the “consent agenda” which means unless a Board member asks that it be “pulled” for discussion, no more “facts” will be provided and no Board discussion, and 500k will be spent without providing the types of details we describe above.

-          Tab 18 – Re-Financing $10-million loan with Hancock Bank – not all fees or costs described.  County has a $10-million loan agreement with Hancock Bank which was part of the financing source of paying for the notorious Motorola radio system that cost more than $30-million a few years ago.   Agenda claims they will save 170k but they don’t have total COSTS of the deal, i.e. bond counsel and consultant fees.    School District did similar thing recently for refinancing a $32-million bond (I think) and had fees over 170k.   So the issue is whether they are pushing this to generate advisor fees and get small savings.   Also it is worse if they don’t keep length of new financing at same length as what is left on the current loan.  This should not be the final decision.     This item is on the “consent agenda” which means unless a Board member asks that it be “pulled” for discussion, no more “facts” will be provided and no Board discussion.  That means the Board is letting this go through without having the full costs of the re-financing, or knowing if the term was expanded.   Thus, is this a boondoggle for bond counsels to earn fees, or is there a genuine, total savings worth the time.  And, did they include the cost of internal staff time to do work on this?    (Note:  The School Board was much better in providing details and getting solid estimates that this BCC item where it might sail through without discussion.  Is staff or friends of the bond counsel trying to pull a fast one?   Until I see much better details and analysis on high cost items like this, I will keep saying that. 

-          Presentations – no real details to know if these are routine – no files on agenda page for items 20-23

• Tab 20 – Quarterly budget report – wait and see – no details provided.
• Tab 21 – Lake County Health Dept update – no info provided, but I plan to ask if they are open to running administration for reformed plan for North Lake County Hospital District
• Tab 22 – Economic Development – this is their required monthly report to the Board, but no details were provided as an attachment.
• Tab 23 – Update on construction (probably includes the new Courthouse and unexpected costs for security and staffing they never budgeted for – about $1-million impact) – NO DETAILS provided.  Sometimes this periodic report is used as a backdoor vehicle to ask Board approval on a project budget, etc. so you have to watch what happens because they don’t describe it in the agenda.
  • “The Lake County Facilities Development and Management Department is managing the improvements to several facilities. Examples of these projects include: Animal Services Building Renovation, Astor Substation Renovation, Combined Fleet Operations Center, Emergency Communications and Operations Center, Fire Station 10 Mold Remediation, Fire Station 112 Mold Remediation, Historic Courthouse (HCH) Renovation, Judicial Center Expansion, Leesburg Health Clinic Building, Radio Operations Center, Road Operations Center Expansion, South Lake Health Department Clinic Building.”
• Tab 24 – CDBG Budget – $967,000 -  This is a Federal “block grant” that the County has received for years and they pay funds out to different social service programs.  Last year, Leslie Campione noted that some of the programs have been going on for YEARS with no change, and perhaps they need to change priorities.  So, let’s see if Director Dottie Keedy and County Manager Darren Gray remember that and maybe reduce or cut funding for some routine programs for some needed now (I recommended job placement training programs, and programs to find a way to fill all the foreclosures which I think have higher priority.).   Some of the prior programs provide funds for services now also provided by many other charities, so why continue funding them and instead select more current priorities.   You can see the furnished list of projects proposed in the budget HERE.  (see attachment also since the County software is horrible and the hyperlinks don’t open the page directly. )   The provided project list doesn’t provide all details – they list “Community Projects” at $458,000 but do not list them.   Last year, there were some controversial projects funded where there was little explanation about how the funds would be spent or any method to measure the value of the project and spending effectiveness.   The Board needs to have staff walk through each item and examine whether they should be curtailed.   Matter of fact, the Board should determine priorities FIRST after discussing all types of projects that can be funded with the CDBG grants, THEN review and prioritize projects.   As it is, the information provided is vague, general and not conducive to determine what the value is of the projects.  My experience is that the explanations of CDBG grants is usually weak, just spending on the same things and without discussing methods to rank value or effectiveness of the programs.   There isn’t even a comparison of prior spending on programs compared to this list, or indication that anyone determined that last year’s spending was effective and had value.   Watch the Board to see if they take this seriously, or they rubber stamp projects that have been going on for years…

Other News: 

-          The North Lake County Hospital District will be having a special meeting on Wed., May 16 (NEXT week) to discuss how to implement the reform bill that was passed by the Legislature.  Details to follow early next week.

-          Several groups are having candidate forums for announced candidates for local Lake County offices, including School Board, County Commissioners, Constitutional Officers.   The Lake Federated Women’s club is having one, the South Lake 912 Group is having one, the North Lake Tea party is having several.   Also, the Lake County Conservative Founder’s club is having one.   Check out the Lake County Republican’s FACEBOOK page at https://www.facebook.com/LakeGOP  to see the event details under “events” – starting tomorrow afternoon).

Vance Jochim

Lake County Fiscal Rangers

Chief Fiscal Watchdog

Volunteers Searching for Ways to Improve Local Government Fiscal Management, Efficiency & Effectiveness

PO Box 1042

Tavares, FL 32778

Mobile:  352-638-3578

FiscalRangers@comcast.net

www.FiscalRangers.com   

TWITTER:  @FiscalRangers 

Fiscal Ranger's page on Facebook

CLICK HERE to see recommended internet links related to Local Lake County government fiscal issues.

 

 

 

 

Petition Card Counts & Status for Candidates for Lake County, FL Offices

2012 Local Lake County, FL Election Candidates and Petition Card Counts as of Friday, May 4

As of Friday, May 4, 2012
by Vance Jochim
FiscalRangers@Comcast.net
   

Most candidates for elected office in Lake County have turned in the required number of election petition cards exept Jim Miller and Paul Richardson, who are very nearly there. 

Additionally, four candidates are not turning in the required 1951 cards, and apparently plan to pay required fees in June.

This report doesn't cover Judges or State elected positions like a State Rep.

That information would be on the State Elections website, while Lake County specific candidates are listed on the local Lake County Elections Superintendent website (see link below).

Candidates running for major elected positions in Lake County are required to turn in 1951 validated petition cards signed by registered voters, or pay a fee ranging from about $1500 to $8000.

We visited the Lake County, FL Elections Dept. today, May 4th, to examine the progress of announced candidates in collecting petition cards.

You can find the official, updated list of candidates at the link below.  The Excel version has more data, but neither list provides petition card status like we furnish below.
http://elections.lakecountyfl.gov/candidate_information/index.asp        

We found that most candidates have

Lake County, FL Sheriff IT System HACKED and data stolen

The Lake County Sheriff's Dept was hacked by people who downloaded about 40gb of files from the Sheriff's servers.  That is not a good indicator of their knowledge about computer security.  As a former corporate internal auditor and certified information systems auditor, my observation is most law enforcement departments (Police & Sheriff) are still stuck in focusing on physical crimes using kinesthetic staff, and not focusing on intellectual crimes requiring people with technical degrees.  This is the result. 

I would recommend the Sheriff create an anti-hacking & IT Controls  committee of volunteers, much like the County Board and School Board have committees, and have them review both internal IT practices and ability to act when local IT crimes are reported.  

I tried contacting the Sheriff's public information officer, but no one answered either phone.

However, the articles below give a good overview of the incident.

http://www.dailycommercial.com/News/LakeCounty/050212hacking

http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/4/30/hackers_target_lake_.html  

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-lk-sheriff-office-hacked-20120430,0,1956813.story