Joan and I still love Port Orange, Fl. The former vision of Port Orange by city government was so family orientated and we are still reaping the wonderful advantages of such vision.
But, frankly, it appears to me, that ever since Allen Green became mayor again, on the very night that he took office, and said goodbye to the previous mayor, Dorothy Hukill, who was sitting in the
audience in city hall with her son by her, I noticed an ominous change in the vision of city management.
I vividly remember that night, how Mayor Green explained all the projects he wanted to embark on, now that he was mayor. I wondered, what had been stopping him from pursuing all those projects when he was on the city council as a member?
And then, I rejoiced when I heard that a Riverwalk park would be built on the Halifax River in Port Orange. And then my
heart and hopes for Port Orange sank, when I heard that
17 story condos would be built in the park.
And then I heard, as families protested being asked to vacate Port Orange in order that the Riverwalk Park could be built with the condo's, one city council member voicing her conviction that "we have to be fair to the developers".
The Port Orange planning commission wanted to recommend to the city council that a moratorium be placed on future developments in Port Orange The city manager denied its request to present the recommendation to the city council, but asked that the suggestion be "work shopped: (to death?).
We in Port Orange, got more developments in the west, and more traffic problems. Money was not found to fix all the traffic problems on the west side of Port Orange, and yet development goes on.
Yesterday, I rode the entire length of Town West, through that large development area which is still under construction. That road goes from S. Williamson Blvd. to Rt. 415. ( I bet there will be speeders on that route, as they rush into Port Orange to get to the possible second Wal Mart in Port Orange being planned for Madeline Ave. and Nova Road.)
More development, some might say in violation of concurrency rules, makes for the need for more public services, paid by whom?
Somehow, I think it is you and I, who pay the taxes, although we would have liked not to see the city over run with developers and construction industry.
New procedures were put into place, so that requests for construction permits would be answered in a more timely and efficient manner. I wanted to build a concrete patio in my small courtyard, and my project was held up, because my survey did not have a raised seal. I complained and when I threatened to cancel the construction work, my patio builder went to city hall, and the city did find a way to accommodate me and my patio builder.
I often say to my fellow dog lovers, if you want a dog park in the City of Port Orange, (and it wouldn't cost very much) tell the mayor that you would like to see a building constructed at the dog park,
for rest rooms and perhaps a place to hold dogs overnight
by the Port Orange Animal Control Officers. I say, see the interest and the light in the Mayor's eyes as the idea is presented.
Remember the bathrooms suggested for the people who
attend those wonderful free entertainment and concerts at the amphitheater? Look at those proposed bathrooms now? They come with a banquet hall. This mayor is very good for construction.
I may be all wrong and put the blame too much where it does not belong. But I am of the opinion that we don't hear enough from our city council members, about what they really are thinking, and what people are really telling them. Yes, we can go to the city council meetings, or watch them on POG TV, but rarely do we hear background information or should I say background information which leads a council member to vote in a certain way.
We know that through the city manager, and by communication between developers and city council members, it is before the city council meeting takes place, that perhaps most decisions have been made. Somehow, I don't think we are getting all of the information when we watch a city council meeting.
I have urged the city council members to express their opinions on the City Web site. But I get no response from them.
And thus, I fear, the former vision of "We Are Family" for the city of Port Orange, has been changed to "We are Construction and Development".
I imagine, because I have heard it before, that the first response from members of the city council to an editorial like mine, would be "You don't have all the facts", As if I didn't know that! And who's fault is that. Damn it it, communicate to us! Really communicate to us. Use your great city web site, and put up a web page for each council member to state what he/she is really thinking about issues.
The city says it wants to hear from us, and I say to it, we want to hear from you.
The banks and the developers have all the money. They lend, borrow and build. And we pick up the tab. More traffic congestion, more taxes, and no new fire station, police station, or additional police officers. If you want to see the new vision of Port Orange,
see for yourself. Ride down Town West Road, from S. Williamson Blvd. to Rt. 415.
Ride up S. Williamson from Taylor Road to Airport Road.
I still like Port Orange. I miss Mayor Dorothy Hukill.
Sincerely, Hank Springer, Aug. 15, 2007 at 6:53 AM
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