E-mail to Largo Mayor and CommissionersI am writing to contact the commissioners about the scheduled park closings. I moved from MI. to be near nature and the water, and live in the neighborhood. I know Jim who runs the park, and many factors involved, including the neighbor who has met with city officials to offer being able to open it every morning. We both agree with many others that you could even close the bathrooms down, which are not needed by most of the people who use the park for short periods. Just in the last couple weeks we have watched mother dolphins and their babies right by the covered platform on the water. People literally come from all over the world there, since they come every year for condos and relatives. I have met so many people, and closing it would be a big loss for dog walkers like me, who do not have much family and have made extended family in the people met through daily use of the park. Please let me know if you can forward this to the commissioners with the thought about the bathroom not being needed, to cut maintenance for Jim or other staff, and if you would like any of the dolphin pictures from recent weeks to show people what a truly beautiful place would be shut off from so many people at a time when simple pleasures are needed, as the economy has made many entertainments unaffordable for people. - Scott Rademacher
_____________________________________________________
Mr. Rademacher: The Recreation, Parks and Arts Department was required to submit a fiscal year 2010 budget with $ 1 million in cost reductions. This represents approximately 10% of the department's budget. In order to achieve that reduction, a number of personnel and operations had to be proposed for elimination. At the present time, Bonner Park and the Nature Preserve are being proposed for closure. This information was submitted as part of the budget process and as such was delivered to the City Commission on July 1. The public discussion of the recommendations will be at the Finance Advisory Board (July 13 and 20), the City Commission Work Sessions in August, and at two public hearings of the budget in September. Concerned citizens are able to voice their objections during citizen comment at any regular City Commission meeting at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month, or through e-mails or letters to the Mayor and Commission. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this issue. Your e-mail is being forwarded to the Mayor and Commission for their information and consideration. - Shirley Frick, Mayor/Commission Secretary, City of Largo
|