Tavares/Eustis, Florida - Wed., Jan. 20, 2010:
Ralphs local show in on AM790 WLBE each Wed at 11am to noon, and he covers mostly conservative political issues. The current website for WLBE, which also provides online recordings of shows, is at www.WLBE.org .
Todays show: Guests are from Mt. Dora City Commission and from the Leesburg Veteran's Memorial
- Great news - the Republican won the Senate seat race in Massachusetts to replace Edward Kennedy, which changes the ratio of Dems to Republicans in the Senate from 60 / 40 to 59 / 41, which eliminates the ability of the Dems to ram laws through the Senate without involving any Republicans in the issue.
First Half Hour - Guest was Mt. Dora Councilman Jim Eppich
Note: If you are concerned about excessive government spending, I recommend you
listen to the first 20 minutes of this show by going to the AM790 WLBE website "past shows" and listening to the recording for Jan. 20 at 11am. AT THIS WLBE website (which does NOT show up in Google searches).
- Ralph introduced Mount Dora Councilman Jim Eppich who won in a tightly contested race. He is a CPA and former CFO of large firms. He was a volunteer to analyze pension costs for Mount Dora and proposed reforms. I (Vance) met him recently at a Mount Dora Chamber meeting, and I always welcome competent financial people on any elected Board to ensure someone actually understands the budgets. Eppich talked about the Mount Dora pension plan issue:
- In the past, tax revenues increased, so the elected boards and staffs could hide various spending issues like pension increases. Recently, the city had to increase payments for the pension program by 15% in one year, for large amounts above the inflation rates. They compared the Mt. Dora pension plan and benefits to other surrounding communities and found Mt. Dora benefits exceeded comparable agencies. Thus Mount Dora had to reduce the Library, etc. in other areas rather than address the issue of excessive pension costs. They will have a workshop next month, and hopefully make some modifications.
- Ralph mentioned our discussions regarding the recent, surprise raises to School teachers and especially the high increases given to senior teachers with 23 years of service. We had discussed the big "bubble" increase for more senior teachers may be used to inflate their basic wage used to calculate pensions. Eppich says that Mt. Dora has some of the same issues and they will be reviewed.
LISTEN to the audio of this conversation at the WLBE website which is http://wlbe.org/archives - Listen to the show for Jan. 20, 2010 at 11am (which probably won't be available for 1-2 hours).
Issue - Mount Dora Lion's Club setting Alan Grayson as featured in Christmas Show - Eppich declined to comment - the City government was not involved in planning the parade.
Second Half Hour - Guest was Don Van Beck, Executive Director of Lake County Veteran's Memorial "Wall" in Leesburg, Florida:
It will be 60 feet wide and 11 feet high, and funded by private donations. Offices are on Main St. below the Old Opera building in Leesburg at 411 Main St. Open from 9am to 4pm. Veteran's from ONLY Lake County who want to have their name listed on the proposed monument wall can bring their DD214 form and call 352-314-2100 or visit the office. Donations are WANTED and NEEDED.
www.LakeVeterans.com is their website with a picture of the planned memorial. A groundbreaking will take place this May.
Ralph recommended that folks call and donate to the memorial fund.
vj
