| Item L-2
- Cudjoe communications tower After about eight
speakers, all opposed to the tower (and all remaining well within
their allotted time), Industrial Communications' attorney rolled out
(talking lonnnnnnng after his limit was up, and
not cut off by the mayor) all the same arguments as before, and
leaned hard on how his client's tower would enhance homeland security,
etc., how the Coast Guard would really, really like to endorse
his tower but can't, etc. We already had it in writing that the
Coast Guard isn't endorsing anybody's tower, and a Coast Guard
representative was there to confirm that.
The commissioners voted unanimously to reject Industrial
Communications' settlement offer, but it was by no means an automatic
win. There was a heart-stopping moment when it appeared the motion
to reject was going to die for a lack of a second. (Moved by
Neugent, seconded by Spehar.) The commissioners are all to be
commended for their vote on this issue. Those who are inclined to
thank their public officials when they do right, please thank them.
It isn't an absolute victory, though. The case is still in
federal appeals court, and the court could yet decide against the
county. This victory just headed off an end-run the tower company
tried.
Item P-5 - Restoration of Bed-tax funding mix
(advertising vs. capital projects) to Pre-9/11 level
This was Commissioner George Neugent's item, in response (at least
partly) to Last Stand's
request in March to restore "bricks & mortar" spending to the pre-9/11
level of 30% of bed-tax revenues, and to return $500K in emergency
advertising funds that were borrowed from capital funds. (See
Last Stand's request here.)
Commissioner Neugent withdrew the item because the TDC has agreed to the
return to 30% for "brick & mortar" spending, and the $500K will be
discussed at a later date. |
