March 6, 2009

From: Andrew F. Schaller [mailto:aschaller@pbfe.com]
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 2:32 PM
To: ‘Jess Santamaria’; ‘KMarcus@pbcgov.org’; ‘BAARONSO@pbcgov.com’; ‘MMCCarty@pbcgov.org’; ‘jkoons@pbcgov.org’; ‘Agreene@pbcgov.org’; ’svana@pbcgov.org’
Cc: ‘public@co.palm-beach.fl.us’
Subject: FW: MSTU: Fargo Avenue

 

Dear Commissioner Sanatmaria,

 

On December 16, 2009, the Board voted unanimously to change the MSTU road ordinance. During that meeting you asked The County Engineer George Webb and myself to meet with you after the meeting in your office. The three of us had that meeting and a specific course of action was designated by you for Mr. Webb to proceed.

 

As I remember you told Mr. Webb three things:

 

  1. Make it Legal.
  2. Make it Fair.
  3. Make it Quick.
     

 

Nearly three months have passed since our meeting. As per your instructions, Mr. Webb was to keep me informed of the progress so that I could keep my neighbors informed.  You can imagine my surprise as my cell phone rings and it’s my neighbors calling to find out the status of Fargo Avenue because someone at the County is giving out my number for status checks. In the last three months, I have not heard a word from the County or Mr. Webb as to the progress of Fargo. However, the false rumors as to the roads status circulate more continuously than the construction traffic dust on Fargo. Residents of other unpaved roads are calling me to add their roads to the project.

 

As the east/west roads are nearing completion and Fargo has been the main access point for the transfer area on Rodeo Drive, Fargo Avenue has definitely shown the construction scars of progress. The progress is of other roads, not of Fargo Avenue’s.  Neighbors have resorted to putting up signs to ask drivers to slow down because of the dust problems resulting from the heavy construction traffic. Fargo Avenue has paid the price of progress. Continuous road maintenance is required to repair the construction damage.

 

The following was sent to Commissioner Koons, et al on December 11, 2008:

 

“Dear Commissioner Koons, et al.,

 

Thank you for passing the preliminary reading of this ordinance change unanimously. I ask for your continued support in passing this change during the Public Hearing on December 16,2008.

 

When I appeared before the Board on July 22, 2008, Commissioner Koons asked the County Engineer to give a “good faith effort” to “…catch up with the existing project…”  The existing project in the Palm Beach Ranchettes is in full swing right now.  The contractor has already had to make repairs to Fargo Avenue caused by the heavy equipment and truck traffic. Fargo Avenue is a main access road for the residents of the Ranchettes as well as a main access for the construction of the roads in the current paving project.  In the interest of saving time, money and construction consequences, I respectfully request that you pass the changes to the MSTU ordinance and include Fargo Avenue as quickly as possible in the current roads construction project.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support.”

 

To date, not only has a “good faith effort” not been put forth by the County to inform the residents as to this road’s progress, little or no effort has been made.  I personally don’t like being put into the position of reporting to my neighbors the results of the County meetings only to have the follow up actions or lack there of  prove me continuously wrong. To us it seems like Palm Beach County politics as usual.

 

Commissioner, I believe in your sincerity and commitment to your fellow county residents. Please follow through on your Fargo Road commitment. What more can I or the other residents of Fargo Avenue and Palm Beach Ranchettes do than to ask you to legally, fairly, and quickly represent our best interests?

 

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Andy Schaller

 

 


From: Andrew F. Schaller [mailto:aschaller@pbfe.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 3:26 PM
To: ‘Jess Santamaria’; ‘KMarcus@pbcgov.org’; ‘BAARONSO@pbcgov.com’; ‘MMCCarty@pbcgov.org’; ‘jkoons@pbcgov.org’; ‘Agreene@pbcgov.org’; ’svana@pbcgov.org’
Subject: MSTU: Fargo Avenue

 

Dear Commissioner Koons, et al.,

 

Thank you for passing the preliminary reading of this ordinance change unanimously. I ask for your continued support in passing this change during the Public Hearing on December 16,2008.

 

When I appeared before the Board on July 22, 2008, Commissioner Koons asked the County Engineer to give a “good faith effort” to “…catch up with the existing project…”  The existing project in the Palm Beach Ranchettes is in full swing right now.  The contractor has already had to make repairs to Fargo Avenue caused by the heavy equipment and truck traffic. Fargo Avenue is a main access road for the residents of the Ranchettes as well as a main access for the construction of the roads in the current paving project.  In the interest of saving time, money and construction consequences, I respectfully request that you pass the changes to the MSTU ordinance and include Fargo Avenue as quickly as possible in the current roads construction project.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

 

Andy Schaller

 

DECEMBER 16, 2008

 

 

4.         PUBLIC HEARINGS - 9:30 A.M.  CONTINUED

 

G.                                Staff recommends motion to:

 

A) adopt an Ordinance of the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach County, Florida amending Palm Beach County Code Chapter 26, Article II,  known as the Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) Special Assessment Ordinance (Ordinance 94-11 as amended); amending Section 26-17, creation and purpose; amending Section 26-18, governing body of municipal service taxing units; amending Section 26-19, powers; amending Section 26-20, funding; amending Section 26-21, budget adoption; amending Section 26-22, trust funds; amending Section 26-23, improvements; amending Section 26-24, special assessments; amending Section 26-29, percentage of costs, further procedures; providing for savings clause; providing for repeal of laws in conflict; providing for severability; providing for inclusion in the Code of Laws and Ordinances; providing for captions; providing for effective date; and

 

B) authorize the Office of Financial Management and Budget to administratively combine the original six (6) funds into one (1) fund.

 

SUMMARY: On December 2, 2008, the Board of County Commissioners held its preliminary reading of this Ordinance. The Ordinance will amend Chapter 26, Article II, known as the Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) Special Assessment Ordinance  (Ordinance 94-11 as amended) to merge the original six (6) MSTU into a single unit and to allow for assessments and collections of 100% of the costs of road improvements. Countywide (MRE)

 

 

 

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.