GOOSE AND GANDER

Please Pass the Preferential Treatment

Around the time of the First Thanksgiving in the seventeenth century, a person's social standing determined what he or she ate. The best food was placed next to the most important people. Instead of passing food and sampling a variety of dishes, diners simply ate what was in closest proximity.

This practice, which seems rather inequitable by today’s standards, is reminiscent of a citizen comment made at the November 20th IRB commission meeting.

The speaker aptly pointed out that IRB is a diverse community representing a variety of interests. Paraphrasing, he said that those with unlike interests shouldn’t “rain on the parades” of those not sharing the same mindset. He referred specifically to the IRB Library and mentioned that “hundreds of residents” enjoy the library, are good citizens and give of themselves and their time for the betterment of the community--while others are constantly trying to close the doors. The speaker positioned the library volunteers and others who give freely of their time to community activities as folks who deserve MORE than those who don’t.

To intimate that anyone in IRB deserves more than anyone else based on their proclivity or ability to volunteer is preposterous. If that were the case, wouldn’t felons doing “community service” be entitled to more than those without criminal records?

IRB is very fortunate to have a community with so many residents giving of themselves and their time to make IRB a great place to live, work and play. But the day these folks are entitled to more than those who can’t or won’t volunteer is a sad day in IRB. When that happens, maybe we should consider asking volunteers to pay MORE taxes than the non-volunteering residents. Wouldn’t that be fair, since they would be consuming and enjoying “more” of the services the town has to offer?

The services a community provides to its residents aren’t something earned by “good deed” contributions. They are a right NOT a privilege...even in IRB. It's a right that all of us are entitiled to the minute we lick the stamps on our tax bills.

Many IRBers have to work for a living, but does that mean that they deserve less than their trust-fund breathing counterparts? The construction worker on First Street should have the same benefits as the retired executive on Harbor Drive…whether or not he or she donates one split second of service to the community.

The speaker at least put a loose number on the library folks; he referred to them as “several hundred.” Information received from past public records requests has not successfully been able to quantify this group.

Let’s see a couple hundred (200) in a community of what...3,000+ voters? Hmmm. There are more boaters in this community than Friends of the Library yet there is no city-sponsored group for our marine folks. No city Boat Board handpicked by the commission. No city subsidy and no full-time boat captain. Hmmm.

Does politics govern which interests are represented in IRB? Maybe it’s time for the boaters to throw their weight behind boat-loving commissioner/mayoral candidates, so they, too, can have their agendas advanced at the city's expense.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

AN IRB THANKSGIVING

Beach Trail Turkey Day

It was two weeks before Thanksgiving eleven years ago that we moved to Indian Rocks Beach. We had our First Beach Trail Thanksgiving that year. And, by popular demand, we've done so every year since.

Even though our celebration is about as far removed from the “over the river and through the woods” Thanksgivings we grew up with in Ohio, our Beach Turkey Day has become tradition nonetheless.

It's all over now but the clean-up, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the photo of our Beach Trail Thanksgiving table at the top of this posting. Martha Stewart has nothing on me…except a little jail time.

Here’s wishing that all of you enjoyed the day as much as our family and friends did.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRB's TOCOBAGA INDIANS

Did They Have Thanksgiving?

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumnal feast which became the first Thanksgiving. This meal, to celebrate the harvest, represented cooperation between the Indians and the early British colonists.

Were our IRB Tocobaga Indians also celebrating and giving thanks simultaneously with their northern counterparts? Not exactly. In fact, it was just about the time the colonists and the Wampanoags broke bread together in Plymouth that our Tocobaga were on the verge of extinction.

These Native Americas who “crossed the rocks at the Narrows--legendarily at least--provided our community’s name. Instead of feasting in the early 1600s, our Tocobaga were attempting to survive the disease and violence brought in 1528 by Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez. (Chapter One in our Indian Rocks As It Was pictorial history, written by Mayor R. B. Johnson, covers this portion of IRB history.) By some accounts, the Tocobaga were totally extinct in 1620 when the first Thanksgiving jumped off. By some accounts, they existed until the early 1700s.

If the IRB Tocobaga had a Thanksgiving, what would have been on the menu? Fish (of course), shellfish, deer, turtles, dogs, rabbits, armadillos, squirrels, watercress, pumpkins, cabbage palms, and beans. Also on the diet were manatees along with an array of berries, nuts, and fruit as a supplement. Puzzling is that the Tocobaga Indians ate corn, an unusual find in our area. How they got the corn is somewhat of a mystery; some suspect barter with a northern tribe was somehow involved.

The Tocobaga were expert potters and were famous for their hunting and cooking tools. Earlier this year in July 2008, workers erecting a shelter at a city park in Safety Harbor dug up an old knife, which archeologists determined it to be between 6,000 and 8,000 years old…and likely used by the Tocobaga Indians. (Some of my silverware looks to be that old!)

The Tocobaga Indians built mounds--large piles of earth, shells, or stones--within their villages. Many of Florida's roads were paved with the shells of Tocobaga mounds. The Park Street site of Jungle Prada is one such example. In 1903, shell mounds were discovered on Caladesi Island where the Tocobaga are believed to have been the original inhabitants and used the island as a burial ground.

Does anyone have a delicious armadillo recipe they’d like to share?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

P.S. Indian Rocks Beach As It Was--A Pictorial History makes a great Christmas or Chanukah gift and is available for sale at the IRB Historical Museum, across from the post office.

(Note: If you'd like to comment on this posting, simply click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of the article and follow the prompts. You may comment anonymously if you'd like. Or, you can always e-mail your comments to irbeheard@cmdinc.net and we'll post them for you!)

STOMACHING THE TRUTH

Too Much To Swallow

Dwelling, for a moment (or maybe two), on the $300K adjustment recently made to the city's books. More questions arise. The downward revision in revenue was not for this fiscal year (’08-’09)—but for the PRIOR one (’07-’08). And, all but $34,000 was a reduction in Sewer and Solid Waste Fund revenues. You know...the same funds that have been being subsidized with our General Fund tax monies FOR YEARS, allegedly without a single soul knowing about it. You know...the funds that IRB taxpayers will be struggling for years to repay. You know...the funds that involve loans that--even as of the reading of this blog posting--have yet to be authorized by our elected officials.

You can bet that if the general public is asking questions about this latest surprise adjustment, the State may have a few questions of their own. Like why an adjustment was made so far after the prior year's books were closed out? Or, was the actual adjustment made more than a half year BEFORE the commission voted to authorize it? If so, who authorized the adjustment when it actually occurred? Has the pen of Caspar the Ghost stuck again? And why did it take the commission nearly seven months to approve an adjustment revealed in April? Will the city auditors be forced to add a footnote on this year’s financials to explain this budget amendment because of its usual nature?

The commission approved this adjustment on November 13th by a 4-1 vote (Kennedy-NO). Under citizen comment on the subject, one resident asked how the need for this "correction" in revenue was discovered and who unearthed it. Guess who? Governmental accounting consultant Rob Garner found it—BACK IN APRIL! Odd. That's one item none of us remember him mentioning in all his resident-funded trips to from Tallahassee to IRB to attend commission meetings. Wasn't that a bit more important than telling us who served on the commission at the time each related enterprise fund activity occurred?

It almost feels like we’ve been paying Garner to spoonfeed us "this stuff,” because the entire scenario all at the same time is way too much to swallow. Feels a lot like too much turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie (with double whipped cream!) on Thanksgiving. On Thursday, you can take some Pepcid, Tums and Rolaids...belch and feel better. No antacid on earth is strong enough to relieve the pain of a million dollars in loans stuck in the throats.

Nancy Obarski

Beach Trail/IRB

CASPER THE GHOST APPROVAL

Who In The Hell Is Authorizing This Stuff?

In a surprise move, the IRB City Commission voted at the November 13th meeting to approve another nearly $300K adjustment (in a negative direction!) to the prior year’s budget (FY ’07-’08). Then, this year’s budget for FY ’08-’09 was adopted (for the third time!) a week later on November 20th. This third go-around was required by the Department of Revenue to fix an only slightly incorrect figure used for IRB's property valuation figure. It allegedly had nothing at all to do with the prior year adjustment. Hmmm.

Think about it…if the prior year’s revenue was adjusted downward by $300K, wouldn’t this reduce the amount of carry forward from last year to this year’s budget? One would think so. However, that is not what is reflected when comparing the most recently published budget to the one published prior to the commission authorizing the $300K downward adjustment. Was the revenue reduction reflected in the most recently adopted budget approved this past week? When the commission was asked that precise question, Commissioner-Mayor R.B. Johnson’s response…“YES.”

What does that mean? Since the most recent budget published didn’t change by $300K from the budgets advertised BEFORE the commission voted to amend last year’s budget, there is only one possible explanation: THE PRIOR-YEAR BUDGET HAD ALREADY BEEN AMENDED BEFORE THE COMMISSION EVER VOTED TO DO SO. Was the valuation screw-up fortuitous in that it allowed the commission to sanction the adjustment and then re-approve this year's budget a week later? If the commission didn't vote on this amendment to the budget until November 13th yet the adjustment was made well prior to that date, who approved it the first place? Is it the same person who authorized nearly a $1 million dollars in loans that we are now all being forced to repay?

Why aren’t our city commissioners livid enough about these mysterious “Casper the Ghost” approvals to insist the public be provided with answers? Only Commissioner Kennedy voted NO to approve the $300K adjustment—is this perhaps why? The other four commissioners seem intent on sliding this stuff through under the radar screen. Why do you think that is? Who are they protecting and why?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

DAZED AND CONFUSED

Lost in IRB

I haven’t written much lately. Quite frankly, I don’t even know what to write. Former Mayor-Commissioner Ed Piniero summed it up at the last commission meeting on November 13th when he said, “This gets more bizarre by the moment.”

As predicted, there will be third setting of the millage rate and re-re-adoption of the 2009-2010 operating budget tonight, Thursday, November 20th, 7 p.m. at City Hall. When is the fourth re-do scheduled? Never rule it out.

Normally, I would see this as yet another chance to get plausible responses to a ton of unanswered questions that many citizens persist in asking. Although, I will fully admit that I’m so confused at this point, I’m not sure I even know what the questions actually are.

Even those of us who have followed the city’s financial missteps from the get-go can’t follow what’s going on of late. An unbelievable surprise whizzed through at the last meeting on November 13th. Adjustments were made to the tune of nearly $400,000…not to this year’s budget…but to THE PRIOR YEAR'S FIGURES…would you believe? Forget about cutting out the pumpkin carving contest and eliminating three cell phones to save a few bucks for a moment. How can a budget be amended that far out from the close of the fiscal year? The auditors can’t be too happy, that's for sure.

The commission voted 4-1 to increase legal services by $34,006 and reduce revenue for the Sewer and Solid Waste Funds in the amount of $220,069 and $126,401, respectively for FY 2007-2008—which was last year. Only Commissioner Kennedy had the balls to say NO WAY. Commissioner Valery called it “B.S.” but voted to approve the resolution just the same.

Wouldn’t a budget adjustment that sizeable impact not only last year’s budget, but this year’s and next year’s as well? So how can they be adopting the same budget again tonight that was approved BEFORE these latest adjustments were announced? It seems that consultant Rob Garner found the error requiring the adjustment in April…so why no mention of it until seven months later? In all his appearances at commission meetings, why didn’t Garner mention this “small” detail? (Is this guy slated to fill in for the recently axed Marty Schless as our City Treasurer?)

And what revenue figures did Burton & Associates use for the sewer/solid waste fund rate study? If they used unadjusted revenues, does this mean that the 60% increases we were all crying about weren’t enough and we’ll be seeing yet another increase in short order?

The city has now published three public notices for the millage and budget—all with different figures. When the figures changed, didn’t the City have to go back to the first reading again instead of picking it up at the second/final reading? Will that be the next violation the State catches to propel us into a fourth millage-setting session?

Excuse my rambling, but I'm so lost; it’s the best I can do. Maybe after tonight’s meeting, clarity will set in…

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRB HINDSIGHT

On the Backside...

A hearing was held, nearly two months ago on Sept. 30, for the purpose of “re-setting” of the millage rate. This was necessary in order to rectify a procedural error in the initial vote taken. At that meeting, several residents brought to the commission's attention what they saw as other possible violations of Florida Statute Chapter 200-Determination of Millage. One speaker went so far as to request the hearing not move forward. It did anyway.

But not before a former mayor came to the podium to chastise those of us who dared to read excerpts of statutes into the record; he felt that by offering information for consideration that we were somehow “playing lawyer” when IRB pays someone for those services. (Leo even referred to one speaker, Ed Piniero, in his column of Nov. 3rd regarding another matter, as one "who thinks of himself as Oliver Wendell Holmes when it comes to tricky legal matters.") Citizens were, yet again, ignored, another vote was taken, and the required paperwork was subsequently filed with the State.

It seems now that the State of Florida, too, has an issue (or two?) with IRB's "re-do" procedure…although it's uncertain if their issues were the same as ours. Soooooooo...THE THIRD SHOT AT SETTING THE MILLAGE RATE IN IRB IS NOW SET FOR NOVEMBER 20TH.

Somewhat puzzling is that Ed Pinero's public records request for a copy of the paperwork certifying the "re-do" millage rate to the State has yet to be provided. He received the paperwork for the initial incorrect vote, but not for the 9/30 "re-do." Now Leo has the information on his Web site? Is Leo, who is NOT an IRB resident, getting public information that we, as taxpaying citizens here in IRB, are being denied?

What exactly are the ramifications of the City’s latest millage-setting misstep anyway? We already know that we're out the money to pay for another newspaper ad. Does this latest fiasco put the $100K IRB receives in state sales tax monies in jeopardy?

One thing for certain…no one can accuse anyone on THIS commission of micromanaging. In fact, when classifying styles of management, there’s the micromanager, the hands-on manager, the delegating manager and the innocent bystander. From your standpoint, where does our commission rank on this scale?

The COMMISSION MEETING TONIGHT—NOVEMBER 13th—AT 7 P.M. is another quasi re-do. Once again, Oliver Wendell Piniero, with about 35 years of municipal government experience, pointed out that the firing of Finance Director Marty Schless was done improperly and that a resolution is required to fire a charter officer. A RESOLUTION IS NOW DRAFTED AND ON TONIGHT’S COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA FOR A VOTE TO RE-FIRE MARTY…RETROACTIVELY? Huh?

Note: IRBeHEARD’s October 14th posting, “Untruth in Millage,” discussed the “possibility” that “other violations” had occurred when setting the millage rate. Our posting is still available in the archived section on the right side of this Web page under the “October” heading, if you’d like to re-read it!)

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

HEY BIG SPENDERS

The Minute They Walked In the Joint…

Did everyone get their tax bills? Did you notice that the percentage that goes to IRB is significantly more?

One resident reported that, after subtracting the PSFRD non-ad valorem amount, the increase in IRB local municipal taxes is just over 11%. Can anyone verify this? If this info is correct and you compare that with past years when IRB’s percentage of our total tax bills was only 7%-8%, it’s pretty clear that IRB is out of step with most other local governments who have generally worked to reduce millage and taxes.

And don’t forget that the increase in IRB taxes doesn’t include the 60% rate increase for our sewer and solid waste bills to pay back a loan that our commission (still to this very minute) has not authorized. Which of you is generating more sewage and garbage (other than City Hall!)? Once again, IRB residents are being asked to pay more for the same…or possibly less.

Some IRBers who unsuccessfully ran for seats on the commission last March claimed that this current group of commissioners would spend…spend…spend. And spend they have. Full-time librarian. Two new “hand-picked” city boards. Consultants out the ying-yang. A community planning study at a time when no developer has the financial wherewithal to begin executing it. All the while citizens trudge up to the podium at commission meetings to report they can’t afford to live in IRB anymore.

How many businesses will be forced out because they can't raise the cost of goods or services due to market pressure from competitors in neighboring communities who pay less in taxes and utility rates? How many homeowners and landlords will be forced to sell in the face of falling prices and take it in the shorts when they do?

Let me get right to the point...hey big spenders…spend a little time with the people who elected you.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRB T-SHORTS

Taste, Taylor & Takeover

TASTE
The Taste of IRB was even better this year than last year! What a great community event…thanks to the IRB Homeowners Association and all the sponsors involved!

TAYLOR
Danny Taylor has decided NOT to put his name in the hat for the City Manager job. This guy has done a good job as the Acting City Manager for less money than he should have under very difficult circumstances. So sure…why not throw away consistency to see if we can “attract” another “power-hungry hotshot.” It’s worked out so well in the past.

TAKEOVER
The Gulf Beaches Public Library director was fired last week as a result of Treasure Island’s decision not to continue supporting the consortium. Hmmm. Library services are being cut in other communities, yet IRB decides to bring our library operation in-house, retain a full-time librarian AND add a Library Board to the City’s roster…necessitating more administrative support--$$$. Of course, the Library Board is hand-picked by the commission. Is the commission filling the city boards with clones of themselves? Does this give the commission too much control? Is their plan to eliminate some charter officer positions also a move in the same direction? While admittedly taken out of context and not quite remembering the subject matter…a comment made by Commissioner Wollin about a year ago continues to hang in the air. Those attending the meeting literally gasped as Wollin said “We can do pretty much whatever we want to do.” Turns out she might be right!

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

TASTE OF IRB

Let the Good Food Roll

What is it that makes Indian Rocks Beach Indian Rocks Beach? A beautiful beach. Interesting people. Great businesses--including some of the finest restaurants anywhere.

This Saturday, November 8th, everyone will, once again, get a chance to sample the best IRB has to offer at the "Taste of IRB" presented by the IRB Homeowners Association. Admission is FREE.

The festivities get underway in Chic-A-Si Park (across from the Post Office) around 5 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. so bring lawn chairs and blankets (NO coolers or dogs!) and plan to spend the evening.

A special thanks to the local businesses, who even in these challenging economic times, came through to support this event...one the entire community looks forward to.

Parking: Munce Marketing parking lot (Walsingham & 2nd Street), the vacant lot on 1st Street next to the Fire Dept, and the IRB Post Office parking lot. (Or, you can always jump on the Beach Trolley.)

I’ve never been to an IRB Homeowners Association event yet that wasn’t a blast. Plus, all the proceeds from beer sales, etc. go back to the community. Contrary to what some have unfairly termed as "a drinking club that moves from bar to bar," the Homeowners Association holds events that bring our folks together (in bipartisan fashion) to have fun and just enjoy one another's company. Phil Wrobel and Becky Griffin, the "driving forces" behind the "Taste of IRB" and many other successful community events, do more than any others in town to draw residents from surrounding communities into IRB to support our businesses and to experience what we, as IRBers, enjoy every day. Kudos to both of them for the personal time they spend making IRB a better place. (And yes, these two are fun people and know how to make sure others have fun, too...which is a real talent!)

If you’d like more information, please visit the "Taste of IRB" page on the IRB Homeowners Web site: http://www.irbhome.com/taste.html

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

P.S. I, who have never draw a beer from a tap or served anybody anything for that matter, will be there selling beer from 8 to 9...so don't wear anything you value. See you there!!

LOVE SONG FOR LEO

Seventy-Seven Trombones

Leo…buddy…has your cheese finally slipped off the cracker totally?

It’s true. I did attend the last commission meeting—however--I uttered NOT ONE SINGLE PEEP. (And…I missed the prior meeting!) Yet, your Web site account of the October 28th meeting made it sound like I marched through the City Hall auditorium leading a 100-piece marching band with double euphoniums. What’s up with that, buddy?

Has your source failed you or did you just decide to take a little more creative license because it made for a better read? I didn’t know that merely “being there” seated in the audience at a commission meeting qualifies as yowling.

Damn…and here I thought attending commission meetings was akin to participating in my local government and caring about how my tax dollars are being spent in IRB. What was I thinking anyway?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

IRBeHEARD Bloggers: LEO NEEDS A THEME SONG. While I trust that many of you will do much better when you blog in with your own nominations, how about “Luck Be a 93-year Old Lady”?

Luck be a 93-year old lady tonight.
Luck be a 93-year old lady tonight.
Stick with me baby, Im the gal who beat up Leo.
Luck be a 93-year old lady tonight.

PAPER OR PLASTIC

Touch Screen to Scanner

Well…the big day is finally here and the sun is peeking out on yet another Presidential Election Day. This one proves to be more historic in nature than most of us have seen in a lifetime.

Election Day never goes by without me thinking about my grandpa. The last time he voted was for Herbert Hoover. His father, in his best broken German, told his young son, “You do down der and you vote for dat Herbert Hoover…he’s a good man.” Pops did as instructed, the country fell into the Great Depression and he NEVER voted again.

After the election debacle in 2000 that cast all eyes on an impotent election system, will Florida again be in the hot seat? (For those of you who haven’t already seen the made-for-HBO movie Recount with Kevin Spacey, currently running on cable, it’s definitely worth watching!)

Is leaving the disastrous touch screen system behind and returning to paper ballots read by a scanner going to produce more accurate results? It’s amazing that the finest example of the democratic process can’t seem to land on a voting system that is foolproof…especially in this age of technology. I have always wondered what area, other than medicine, could be more important for implementing the most advanced technology available.

Rumor has it that a bunch of IRB neighbors…Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians alike…will be watching the election returns tonight at the Red Lion from about 8 p.m. on. The more the merrier…so stop on by.

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB

INTERNET FOR TOURISTS

Indian Shores Charges Them?

Is it true that Indian Shores charges tourists for internet access at their library? Hmmm. And they didn’t even have to hire governmental accounting consultant Rob Garner to the tune of thousands of dollars to find that alternative revenue source, did they?

Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB