Summer is kinda slow, so I read with interest the County
Commission press release on the closing of the County History museum HERE
at:
http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/media/news_releases/news_release.aspx?id=1050&utm_source=newsreleases&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=082809
I was at the initial County Commission meeting where Commissioner Jimmy Conner proposed this. What a way to avoid the facts on the History museum closing
in the press release on the website.
(NOTE: I have left a message for Jimmy to call me to clarify this - so if he calls, I will update this posting here if justified- vj)
Jimmy Conner already said at the first Commission meeting
where this was discussed that two floors in the old courthouse go to the Sherriff,
but the release only said the “open space will help alleviate overcrowding in
the Sherriff’s office". It appears to me
that the elimination of the history museum is a land grab to also GIVE the
first floor to the Sherriff without compensation. I like the Sherriff, but there has been no
talk I have heard to require the Sherriff, a completely separate Constitutional
office, to pay rent for the new space.
Otherwise, the vacant space could be RENTED at market rates and increase
revenue to the County, thus reducing need for more layoffs. The Sherriff’s staff already has the recently renovated area off highway 19 AND they take most of the
available parking near the old courthouse, and double park, so why add more office space
for new employees.
Also, not anywhere does the press release say that the
museum curator is being laid off, or that at the same time Elaine Renick is
pushing to get millions from the Judicial building funds for her own special
projects, which may be facilitated by a discussed plan to borrow another $10-million
to get around fund restrictions. It is
incongruous to me that they “save” $80,000 by laying off the curator without
any input or alternative from her or her supporters, while still discussion a
loan process to allow using funds for non-construction projects (at least, that
is what I thought I heard would be done).
Christopher Patton (the writer of the PR release), I know you have to write it this way, but this smacks of backroom politics and indicates a lack of transparency on facts related to these financial decisions.
My FiscalRanger recommendations:
I like both Jimmy and Sheriff Borders, but:
1) The County should issue requests for bids for the THREE floors of open space, and charge market rental rates for all three floors to the winner or the Sheriff. Since the annual value of the “lost rent” most likely exceeds $25,000, should probably be a spending item brought before the Commission in a public hearing. This is the same as if the Commission decided to give a $50,000 bus to a local charity run by friends without discussion of the value. These kinds of back door deals need to stop.
2) Next, we all need transparent clarity on where any funds go that are in the judicial account or raised through loans discussed at the Commission meeting if they are NOT spent on the actual construction project.
3) Finally, since the Commission will probably ignore me, at least get the Sherrif to agree to restrict his staff from using the entire parking lot, double parking and parking on grass and curbs next to the old courthouse. Mark at least half the spaces for the public only and limit parking in them to 60 minutes. Why should the public (known as customers) be made to walk from the stacked, mostly empty parking structure all the way to the County Administration buildings to submit a form, etc that might only take 10 minutes? I know the Sheriff's staff will claim they need fast exits in case of a safety situation, but not all 40+ of the people parking there justify that. (I have pictures, which I will add here soon).
The County Commissioners need to start thinking like business people in a down economy. Hey, we haven't even discussed the normal business practice of listing imputed floorspace rents AND return on asset investment rates as an expense line item in budgets for each department. and then compare the rates to market rental rates. That way, we could see which departments are space hogs, and which are efficient users of space.
See, the summer isn’t so slow after all! And remember, the September 10th
meeting of the North Lake County Hospital District Board is coming up – details
will be on the website at www.FiscalRangers.com
.
Vance Jochim
