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Highlands Today

The Right Thing?

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Ron Wickensimer

Published: August 27, 2008

In general manager of Sun 'n Lake of Sebring, Mr. Al Grieshaber's letter to the editor regarding what he considers "The Right Thing for Sun 'n Lake of Sebring Improvement District," he said "Simply put, it is a matter of taxation with representation."

What he failed to mention is that the California company (NRPI) that owns the most lots in Sun 'n Lake has not paid its tax assessments for the past year. To me, this is representation without taxation.

The question is, since the homeowners pay their property taxes, why can't they have the majority representation on the Board of Supervisors? It is the district's tax assessment money (the homeowner's assessed tax money) that is being used to foreclose on these lots with unpaid assessments. Why is it not the homeowners who can now have a majority or three seats on the Board of Supervisors? It appears to me that theoretically the homeowners own the lots since it is our money being used for foreclosures.

Mr Grieshaber also said "Chapter 189 specifically provides for a transition from unimproved property lots to developed lots." However, when the county engineer provided four maps giving the homeowners up to five seats on the Board of Supervisors, the Board of Supervisors did not like the percentages given and chose to vote on a map produced by their own engineer, allowing them to keep their three seats (thus the lawsuit against the board by the homeowners.)

The Board of Supervisors is using the homeowner's assessed tax money to pay for an attorney to oppose the homeowners in court, so that the homeowners are paying for the attorneys on both sides of the lawsuit.

"Working together in compliance with established law allows all of us to accomplish more for the betterment of the district." I submit that the homeowners have tried for many years to work with the Board of Supervisors, only to be dismissed, ignored or "put down."

Perhaps Mr. Grieshaber's interest in keeping the current Board of Supervisors with a majority of the three seats to the large landowners is that this is the same board that gave him a two-year contract (extended another five years when he had not been here even one year) with the annual salary of $115,500, plus benefits to equal approximately $150,000 per year, including a car to drive to his home in New Smyrna Beach, and unlimited gas for his district provided car. Please note Mr. Grieshaber owns no property in Sun 'n Lake and rents an apartment here.

The Highlands County commissioners are in the position to resolve these issues since they created Sun 'n Lake Improvement District. Perhaps, they should remember that it is the homeowners of Sun 'n Lake who vote in the local elections, not the California landowners of NRPI.

Ron Wickensimer
Homeowner Sun 'N Lake
Sebring

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