Dear Commissioner:
I am writing today regarding three issues on your November 5th agenda. The first is the Business Development Board Contract. Regardless of your political and philosophical temperament, you are stuck trying to make the terrible better. The previous commission or any commission should never be able to enter into a contract of such a long duration. In this case not only is it for an eternity but the lopsidedness of the contract’s terms makes it seem more a “sweet heart” deal than a benefit to the county. It is a perfect reason why there is so much distrust of government by citizens.
In a perfect world the government should not be a party to this at all. But the county is stuck between negotiation and a lawsuit which is perhaps winnable perhaps not but certainly expensive and time consuming. Your goals should be to negotiate the shortest term possible for the smallest amount while holding them to measurable standards easily quantifiable. Going forward if this organization means so much to the business community of the county then they should pay for it. The government’s responsibility to business and to all citizens is to have in place easy to understand rules, quick permit and license application processes and ideally an ombudsman to assist the business in opening and expanding in the county. Digital Domain showed us what happens when government tries to insert itself into the market.
The second matter is the customs facility. Once again the so called interests of free market capitalism want the local government to provide a subsidy for their businesses. The very idea that once the federal facility is opened that our local government will control the operation or be able to limit or close the facility is probably a dream. The federal government will ultimately dictate to Martin County what will be allowable or not. The commission’s obligation will be to figure out how to pay for it. Just like the runway extension, once you involve Washington, local control is gone except for funding.
Some will say that this should be provided by the county because businesses will relocate or expand, or it is a governmental function like parks or schools and anyway once built increased fees from airport users will pay for the facility. This is all based on fantasy numbers and rosy scenarios. Parks and schools are not for the few or well-connected but for everyone. Those are legitimate functions of local government. Immigration and Customs are clearly federal functions and if there was a need at Witham Field the proper place to lobby for them would be in Washington.
My last point is the Seven50 Plan. As a planning tool it may be good and the locality can opt in or out of it in part or in its entirety. I don’t believe it is an insidious plot by the UN to gain control of the good old U.S. of A. After reading some of it and after speaking to someone on the executive committee, I do believe that the federal government will begin using the recommendations contained therein in awarding grants to the localities. Much of what is contained in the proposed plan such as density requirements would be in direct conflict with my beliefs and those of the commission majority. Much needs to be explored before continuing with the relationship.
How you look at these three issues is determined by your governing and governmental philosophy. If one consistently applies the principles of the free market, local control and smart growth then you should agree with my positions on the above. I do not know whether any of you read your e-mail or not but this is one citizen’s way of expressing his opinions without taking time from your already over packed commission meeting schedule to do so.