County Government

Ask an accountant to determine the bottom line, and you expect a crisp, clear answer that's comprised of a number following either a plus or a minus. Government, though, ain't that simple.

A few weeks back, County Commissioner Harold Rutledge, who must have been reading my blogs, ordered a report that would determine county government's bottom line, to seperate the things government is required to do from what it chooses to do. County Auditor Mike Price got the assignment, but instead of the usual plus-minus accounting bottom line his Bottom Line Report (my title, not his) is more like a reminder of government's reality. And that's both good and bad.

It didn't take long to figure out two things at Tuesday afternoon's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners.  The first is that Commissioner Bradley's apparently over his mad.  The second, and far more important, realization is that the predicted penny-pinching process has officially begun.

The short-straw on the agenda was Eve Szymanski of the Tourist Development Council.  She was the first person to step up to the podium, lean into the microphone and ask for money.  I don't want to say it was an unpleasant experience, but if she files for permanent disability because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder later this week, we'll know why.

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Fritz Behring

AFTER 9 YEARS AWAY FROM ORANGE PARK BECAUSE OF A MILITARY TRANSFER, WE DECIDED TO RETURN TO FLORIDA.  POSITIVES HAVE BEEN REUNITING WITH FAMILY, OUR NEW HOME, GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND CLOSE FRIENDS.  NOT MUCH ELSE HAS BEEN NOTEWORTHY.  

 CONCERNING ROADS AND THE LACK OF IMPROVEMENTS TO BADLY NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE,  IT'S PAINFULLY OBVIOUS THE COUNTY LEADERS HAVE NEGLECTED A PROBLEM THAT WAS PRESENT WHEN WE LEFT IN 1997.  AFTER DRIVING AROUND ORANGE PARK THE PAST YEAR, VERY LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO EASE THE CONGESTION IN CLAY COUNTY DESPITE THE ENORMOUS GROWTH.  THE SNAPSHOT FOR US WAS THE BLANDING BLVD/WELLS ROAD INTERSECTION.  TIME HAS STOOD STILL AT THAT PART OF ORANGE PARK, YET TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED TENFOLD WITH NO PROVISIONS FOR EASE THE FLOW.  OTHER NEGLECTED AREAS INCLUDE HWY 220 FROM COLLEGE BLVD....A POTHOLED, BADLY PATCHED STRETCH OF ROAD THAT EXPERIENCES A HUGE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC.  HWY 17 THROUGH ORANGE PARK TO THE BASE,  AND NOW BRANNAN FIELD ROAD.  I HAD TO LAUGH AT RECENT "IMPROVEMENTS" THERE...A COUPLE OF TURNING LANES TO DIRT ROADS, AND ONE TURNING LANE THAT FUNNELS TRAFFIC INTO THE WOODS.  AMAZING....

Recently I was accused of posting inaccurate information about the Clerk of Court.....

Truth Vs. Lies
By TruthInCC - Sun, 08/12/2007 - 2:54pm

    Over the past few weeks, Blogger PBinCC has been allowed to viciously and maliciously "Lie" about our Clerk of  Courts, James Jett,  on this blog site. I  know Mr. Jett personally, worked in his campaigns, and have 1st hand knowledge of the  "Lies" PBinCC is stating regarding pay bonuses, campaign violations, and intimidation of Clerk employees on this site.