What about us?

From: Sandy Parker [mailto:sandyjparker@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 3:36 AM
To: Burt Aaronson; Jeff Koons; Jess Santamaria; Karen Marcus; Steven Abrams; Shelley Vana; Cathy Stewart
Subject:

Dear Commissioners,
I would just like to say that after hearing about the decision of the commisssioners at your last meeting on Tuesday to go forward with the paving of Fargo in Palm Beach Ranchettes this has to be one of the biggest cases of unfairness by the county of Palm Beach Government that I have seen in a long time. We as homeowners on El Paso and Pancho Way came before the Board about our road paving which we petitioned for and were approved for back in 2004. County engineering has in my opinon not been truthful to not only the residences on these two street’s but also to the commissioners about our situation. We tried to no avail to explain the entire process that occurred to the Board when we went to the meeting back in April but in three minutes you can’t compete with engineering who has whatever time needed to state his argument, and you certainly are given no time to have a rebuttal. Mr. Webb stated that when we originally petitioned back in 2004 Pinto Dr. who petitioned at the same time as us but did not get the 51 percent needed to pave their road (they counted the three roads as one petition)and so we were not put on the MSTU. In reality that is the first untruth because as Ms. McConnell admitted at a meeting with myself and Mr. Weisman approx. 5 weeks ago the engineering dept. goes ROAD BY ROAD therefore we should of had our two roads put on the MSTU as we had more than the 51% needed for El Paso and Pancho Way and we were told by Mr. Rich that we were approved. Then Mr. Webb advised the commissioners that at a later date they decided that we could have only just our two roads paved so we were put on the MSTU. Next came the second mistruth. He said that in 2007 when a petition went out for the roads to be paved at a much higher amount we did not get 51 percent. This part is true. What he negelected to tell you is that neither did any of the roads that were on the MSTU in our neighborhood at that time get 51 percent. Not even close. (We know this because we went and got copies of the petitions). And of those roads that did not get the 51 percent Pinto (specifically) who applied after we did back in 2004 were not taken off the MSTU. Next but certainly not the least of engineering’s mistakes PINTO DR. and parts of RODEO who got left on the MSTU and not only did not get the 51 percent at the higher amount but who never even got 51% of the lesser amount that got offered to them after they got left on the MSTU, were surveyed by the engineering dept. by mistake. Now this is where it gets really twisted. Engineering sent employees of the county out to try and get enough petitions signed so that because of their mistake with the survey and them not wanting to waste the county’s money they offered these two roads who never got the correct percentage at any amount to have their roads paved. And admittedly as we have been told by Ms. McConnell if this mistake was not made on the surveying by engineering they were going to let our two roads get paved since we had ( and I might add always had) the percentage needed.

Now Fargo another road in our neighborhood who has never ever petitioned, and this is the part I don’t understand (according to the county there is a process you have to follow to have your roads paved and being petitioned and approved in that order, is part of that but Fargo is allowed to apply and then gets to be petioned so apparently the rules which according to Mr. Webb must be adhered to do not apply to Fargo). Why is that?

I understand that Mr. Shaller (who owns a house on Fargo but does not actually live in our neighborhood) was able to obtain an appt. back in June I believe with Commissioner Santamaria & was able to convince him this is something that should have been done when the other roads were paved. Possibly if I had been given the appointment that I asked for with Commissioner Santamaria over a period of several months and was able to explain what our situation was, something could have been done to help us. Unfortunately I never was able to get that appointment and because I work two jobs unlike Mr. Shaller I am unable to come to the meetings on a monthly basis or spend countless dollars printing up posters as he did. However I too am a taxpayer just as he is and have lived in this neighborhood for 26 years and yet my voice is not being heard. Having money and the ability to use your time how one sees fit should not affect how we are helped as taxpayers. We had a meeting with Mr. Weisman and have been emailing since then hoping that he would be able to be a voice for us with all the commissioners. I understand that the county says there is no more money but at least do the fair thing and give us the opportunity to have our roads paved as is Fargo. If this can’t be done then as I have asked Mr. Weisman please put our roads back on the MSTU, honor our original petitions and maintain our roads which we have been doing for the last 25 years. I do not know that this email will be read in it’s entirety or given any merit but it is my hope that it will not be ignored.

Thank you,
Sandy Parker
Palm Beach Ranchettes

  1. Ruby says:

    Ms. Parker,
    I’m glad that you are in favor of getting the other roads paved. You should get with Mr. Schaller to coordinate your effort as he has done a tremendous amount of work with positive results so far, maybe he would be willing to help since he has become so familiar with the ins and outs of the county. Obviously the county made several mistakes to the detriment of our community, and Mr. Schaller was very thorough in detailing them, perhaps that’s why Fargo is now being addressed. I hope the two of you can work together on getting the rest of the community roads fixed. This website is great and it keeps us all informed on what’s going on. Thank you Mr. Schaller!
    Ruby

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