JANUARY 2, 2006

last week this court granted a 1.4 billion dollar tax abatement.  high pressure salesman tactics were used against the commissioners to force through that abatement without their having enough time to sufficiently study out the proposal. 

I wonder if this court would have been told the abatement was in jeopardy if it had asked for a 2 day extension on your decision.  Or if you had looked up the county that is in competition with us and found out there isnt an exxon mobile already  there.  think about how much more it would cost exxon  to build from nothing instead of building here  where they are already established.  We are in the middle of the gulf.  they cant have better access than that.

to day that same tactic is being used on this court again.  how can you have enough time to make a decision when the  workshop for this abatement is during court.  if you need more time.  then take it.  you are making decisions with billions of taxpayers dollars.  i know you are being pressured to  be give in and do it now however don’t be railroaded a second time.,  the taxpayers will back you up if you do the right thing. 

we all saw the news story about the $1,097,108.  bill.  that you will be voting on today.  i am sure the legal issue of no contract between  daniels construction and this county will have a bearing on your decision.  the fact that the county engineer let this happen should be a grave issue.  misrepresenting the  counties intention  to do businesses without the approval of the court is an embarrassing position to put you in. 

Though this may be paid by FAA grant money it is still   taxpayers money  .    

This court approved an smg employee to go to dallas for training and spent several thousands of dollars on that trip.  Why  is there an item up for approval for a maintenance agreement with Way Service of  $24,380 for doing the same work the employee was trained to do?  This is redundant and it is throwing our money away. 

The man that was trained for this work should do his job. 

I would like to know what reconstruction on the ford park amphitheater needs to be done.  How much is this gong to cost this county?   the amphitheater was a waste of our money to begin with, because it was built in a swamp filled with mosquitoes. 

The architecture on the entertainment complex already cost this county an extra 20 million dollars I would suggest not spending more money to add on to this place.  The taxpayers are already fed up with the cost as it is. 

Today is a heavy agenda please table what you need to reconsider and come back to it when you are more comfortable with  making a decision on these items.