IRB SHORT STROKES

SCHLESS STAYS
Discussion at the July 8, 2008 Regular City Commission Meeting DID NOT result in motion to fire IRB Finance Director Marty Schless. Commissioner Kennedy pointed to the “lack of a plan” as to how to proceed if Schless were removed. Acting City Manager Danny Taylor indicated that losing Marty at budget time could be detrimental. So Marty stays.

RATE RAPE
If Burton & Associates, Inc.’s rate recommendations fly, residents could be seeing as much as a 60% increase for garbage services and a whopping 80% increase in sewer rates. In round numbers, that’s approximately $360 MORE PER YEAR---over and above what you’re paying now! This increase has the potential to impact the cost of everything from a grouper sandwich at Crabby Bill’s to a beer at the Red Lion and live bait from the Bait Shop. It will take the efforts of many outspoken citizens in order to persuade the commission to “cut the fat” out of these rate increases and set rates that cover ONLY the cost of providing the services—NO MORE…NO LESS. (Details coming on IRBeHEARD, so keep checking the blog every day!)

COP CUT?
Looks like the proposed budget includes a reduction in the police protection? Is that correct? (Rest easy though…the library and librarian remain unscathed!)

MISSING MILLAGE RATE?
What is the millage rate that has been proposed for next year? Has it been set yet? If so, where is the management letter--which is normally part of the budget--clearly stating the millage rate and recapping other important aspects of the proposed budget?

POLICE PROTECTION FROM A TOWN WE’RE SUING?
The commission has now gotten "more serious" about getting a proposal from the neighboring Town of Indian Shores Police Department to provide our police services, instead of renewing the current contract with the County.

Has anyone read this April 2007 Beach Bee article stating that the Indian Shores Police Department is the LOWEST PAID in the Pinellas County?
http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/041807_bhb-03.txt

The Police Applicant Screening Service (PASS) chart of salaries on the Pinellas Police Standards Web site also substantiates this info: http://www.policestandards.org/salary.htm

Interesting reading, too, is a Bay News 9 online October 2006 story of alleged abuse of a Muslim cabbie by the Indian Shores Police Department:
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2006/10/12/190184.html?title=Muslim+cab+driver+alleges+abuse#

Back in 2001, Redington Shores expressed some concerns about the police protection they were getting as a result of their contract with Indian Shores:
http://www.sptimes.com/News/041501/SouthPinellas/Redington_Shores_keep.shtml

One must assume, however, that these “growing pains” have dissipated, since the contract between the two towns remains intact. IRB would, no doubt, experience a similar “adjustment period” if a switch from the Sheriff’s Department to Indian Shores P.D. becomes reality. Let's face it--the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has been pretty accommodating to what, at times, seemed like unbelievably demanding requests from the commission and the citizens.

Do you, as residents, think it's wise to contract our police protection from a town we’re suing? (Indian Shores is a named defendant in the Whitehurst quiet title action filed by IRB.)

SORRY YOU MISSED IT
Many IRBeHEARD readers were upset because they KNEW NOTHING about the 5 p.m. Workshop on Tuesday, July 8th, and missed Burton & Associates, Inc.'s outstanding presentation of the long-awaited Sewer/Solid Waste Rate Study. Many of you rely on the “City Calendar” and “Meeting Agenda” links on the City’s Web site for the dates and times of important meetings (as does IRBeHEARD), however neither July 2008’s calendar NOR the agendas for either of the Tuesday meetings appeared on the site.