Relay for Life: “A Success”
Dear Editor:
I am calling Saturday night a success. You can only worry about the things you have control over, and all the major things we had control over went well.
The opening ceremonies, survivor lap and dinner by JB’s on the Beach were great. The Luminaria ceremony under the pavillion was unconventional, but moving.
We also raised over $11,000 Saturday night and have made our ACS goal 0f $80,000. We will keep pushing to the $100,000 mark.
Thanks for all you do. Next time I’ll get to see you and your husband perform!
T.J. Eagen
Relay for Life Event Chair
Deerfield Beach
Utility tax
Dear Editor:
Are the voters in Deerfield Beach aware of the effect of the 10 percent utility tax on the businesses and residents of the city? The commissioners insist that we are the only major city in Broward County that does not have one. It was rescinded by the voters in the 1970s, opening the door for businesses such as the Sun-Sentinel, Publix, Southeast Toyota, and many other businesses, to choose to locate in Deerfield Beach.
The mayor had said that this will lower our ad valorem tax rate — among the highest in the county. The city manager claims he needs the $6 million to balance the budget, and the finance director says this tax is needed for capital improvements and to stabilize the millage rate. Stabilizing doesn’t sound like reducing! Show us the figures. We run businesses and, like you, should clearly understand what you are doing. We need to plan for the future, as obviously we will have to pass all these further increases on to the consumer. [Commissioner] Ganz claims [this would mean] a reduction in the millage rate. It would take $4,910,521 to reduce the millage 1 mill. Show us the figures.
John Grassi
Deerfield Beach
Dear Editor:
At the commission meeting Tuesday night to introduce the utility tax, a great deal of emphasis was placed on the levy on electric bills. Not a word about the 10 percent levy on water bills that will not be cut in any way. As far as the levy on electric bills – that supposedly will be cut in half when the fuel charge is subtracted – get out your electric bill, subtract the fuel charge, and I am willing to bet it does not cut what you will pay in half, as you were told Tuesday night.
I cannot believe that I must come to the defense of Century Village, but obviously [Commissioner] Popelsky did not. When [Commissioner] Ganz was denigrating the Village and claiming they are not paying their fair share, why didn’t Popelsky say the rationale behind passage of the Fire Assessment fee was so that everyone would be made to pay?
I do have a question though, if the Fire Department goes to the county, will that negate the fire assessment fee? And in order to make sure everything is legal and above board, a referendum should be held. Not on whether the fire department should go to BSO, but rather on an amendment to Section 7.09 paragraph 2 [of the city charter] that would add just four words. “exempting other governmental agencies.” That could easily be done by mail-in ballot. I believe that the cost was previously estimated at $30,000.
Jean M. Robb
Deerfield Beach
Code/building violations
Dear Editor:
The city of deerfield beach code enforcement and building department have once again dropped the ball. The city departments are great at going after the average resident for garbage cans left out in front of your house, but will not go after a restaurant that is doing construction without any permits. A group of residents have brought this to the building department and code enforcement several times and they have fined Aroma grill, which used to be half-time bar and grill. But let them continue to do unsupervised, unsafe work. The job of these departments is to help maintain safe conditions for the city’s residents [yet] they continue to let them work without a permit. I guess it’s easy to go after the low fruit on the tree. Having a yard sale this weekend… I bet they rip out my yard sales signs.
David H. Franko
Deerfield Beach
