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Highlands Today

Spring Lake part II

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Kent Calabrese

Published: November 29, 2009

Just when we thought we were safe from any possible controversy over decisions or proposed actions by the Spring Lake Improvement District (SLID) Board of Supervisors and their district manager, they come up with yet another grim threat to our existence (or wallets).

Their latest action is an extremely serious attempt at significantly expanding their powers through a complete re-write and re-codification of the existing SLID charter. This must be approved in a bill passed in both Houses of the Florida Legislature and signed by the governor. The bad news is that SLID intends to formally present this draft new charter to the legislative delegation (Rep. Denise Grimsley, et. al.) for their review and further action on Dec. 3 at the Highlands County Government Center.

The board (or as it appears, maybe it is only the district manager with the board, as usual, just following along) are seeking significant new and/or changed (expanded) powers. These include power over items such as security and police, fire protection, schools, transportation systems, parking facilities, deed restriction enforcement, establishment of internal/external committees, boards or agencies, recreation and an increase in board member salary, to name a few. They have also inserted in Section 1 a sentence that provides them with seemingly total authority to do almost anything they want to do. The board and/or the district manager are promoting this new charter as just a "cleanup" with no mention of the additional powers included.

This might be the most blatant attempt ever made by a small elected body to hijack a community, without the people even being aware of what is happening. Their actions with respect to this proposed charter are unconscionable at best and indescribably despicable at their worst.

The SLID board and its manager need to understand that they are responsible only to the people and that their only job is to manage a small drainage district! For additional information or to post comments, try the new Spring Lake Truth bulletin board. http://www.bulletinboards.com/message.cfm?comcode=...

Kent Calabrese
Spring Lake
Sebring

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