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John R

needs to get out more

30A Skunkape

Skunky

I told you to stop the insanity and vote Florida Girl onto that council-she wouldn't have stood for this madness!

I told you to stop the insanity and vote Florida Girl onto that council-she wouldn&#039;t have stood for this madness!

Interested Girl

Beach Fanatic

If the change is approved through the local legislation , the, two new seats would be on the ballot in 2010. Write your local House and Senate  reps to object.

Susan Horn

[quote="rapunzel, post: 543864"]Recently, I learned that the Mosquito Control District Commissioners would be increasing in number from 3 to 5. It seems odd that in a time of so much budget slashing, we'd be adding Commissioners. 
 
I couldn't find much online to explain the decision beyond this document -- [URL]http://www.co.walton.fl.us/administration/CommissionMeetings/januarytwentyseven/e.pdf[/URL] I can't find anything that addresses the reasoning.
 
Does anyone else know anything about this? Why it is necessary?[/quote]
 
Did you ever notice how wobbly a three-legged stool can be?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="rapunzel">Recently, I learned that the Mosquito Control District Commissioners would be increasing in number from 3 to 5. It seems odd that in a time of so much budget slashing, we&#039;d be adding Commissioners. 
 
I couldn&#039;t find much online to explain the decision beyond this document -- <a href="http://www.co.walton.fl.us/administration/CommissionMeetings/januarytwentyseven/e.pdf" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.co.walton.fl.us/administration/CommissionMeetings/januarytwentyseven/e.pdf</a> I can&#039;t find anything that addresses the reasoning. 
 
Does anyone else know anything about this? Why it is necessary?</blockquote> 
Did you ever notice how wobbly a three-legged stool can be?

As you drive North on 393 you will pass the Headquarters of the South Walton Fire District on the first Monday monday of each month stop and count the 7 fire commissioners cars in the parking lot. Can you give us a reasonable answer why they need seven?

rapunzel

The question of why seven fire commissioners is best left to another thread.

I'm seriously just asking the question...can anyone point to an article or public statement about the reasoning?  I was speaking with a friend this morning who claimed the commissioners each receive full benefits and $400 per meeting.  Given all the cuts to education and other vital services going on right now, the timing seems odd.  On the other hand, the people that usually rail against growing government and burdens to the taxpayer are silent on this issue.  

Given the lack of controversy over this, I feel like I must be missing something.

The question of why seven fire commissioners is best left to another thread. 
 
I&#039;m seriously just asking the question...can anyone point to an article or public statement about the reasoning? I was speaking with a friend this morning who claimed the commissioners each receive full benefits and $400 per meeting. Given all the cuts to education and other vital services going on right now, the timing seems odd. On the other hand, the people that usually rail against growing government and burdens to the taxpayer are silent on this issue. 
 
Given the lack of controversy over this, I feel like I must be missing something.

The DeFuniak Herald has printed two articles concerning the proposed change in the Board composition. In both of those articles there were reports of  "railing" over the change by the Walton County Taxpayers Association.

Guess the normal "railers" are still trying to shine the light of day on excessive spending.

The DeFuniak Herald has printed two articles concerning the proposed change in the Board composition. In both of those articles there were reports of &quot;railing&quot; over the change by the Walton County Taxpayers Association. 
 
Guess the normal &quot;railers&quot; are still trying to shine the light of day on excessive spending.

I've attended a few SWMCD meetings with a three-member board.  With a three-member board, it is entirely too easy for two members to hijack the agenda, and I've seen it done.  A 5-member board would offer a better chance at balanced decision making.    
 
I've served on a number of boards, nonprofit and gov't, and never heard of one with less than 5 members till I started paying attention to SWMCD.   It took me one meeting to grasp why I'd never before seen, heard of or served on a 3-member board.  Because it's a bad idea.

I&#039;ve attended a few SWMCD meetings with a three-member board. With a three-member board, it is entirely too easy for two members to hijack the agenda, and I&#039;ve seen it done. A 5-member board would offer a better chance at balanced decision making. 
 
I&#039;ve served on a number of boards, nonprofit and gov&#039;t, and never heard of one with less than 5 members till I started paying attention to SWMCD. It took me one meeting to grasp why I&#039;d never before seen, heard of or served on a 3-member board. Because it&#039;s a bad idea.

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert

If a 3 person board is not the best way to do it, I am all for changes - but find it VERY odd that mere months after an official election for Mosquito Commissioners, we are suddenly adding more seats.

And I can certainly think of better ways to spend our limited funds than by ADDING commissioners when we are having to make tough decisions about school budgets etc. Especially since 3 commissioners can steer the agenda of a committee of 5 pretty effectively.........and that's just one more person than the current majority.

P.S. What exactly do Mosquito Commissioners do?

If a 3 person board is not the best way to do it, I am all for changes - but find it VERY odd that mere months after an official election for Mosquito Commissioners, we are suddenly adding more seats. 
 
And I can certainly think of better ways to spend our limited funds than by ADDING commissioners when we are having to make tough decisions about school budgets etc. Especially since 3 commissioners can steer the agenda of a committee of 5 pretty effectively.........and that&#039;s just one more person than the current majority. 
 
P.S. What exactly do Mosquito Commissioners do?

BeachSiO2

Not to confuse the issue, but isn't Mosquito District funded out of a special assessment instead of General Revenue or School Revenue.  I don't believe that by adding Commissioners it would impact the availability of General revenue or school revenue for programs or services that are currently on the chopping block.  On the other hand I guess you could argue that they should lower the special assessment rate, but that doesn't mean that people would necessarily support raising the others to fund those programs and services that are being cut.

I don't necessarily know what they do so am unaware of how 3 versus 5 would make a difference.

Not to confuse the issue, but isn&#039;t Mosquito District funded out of a special assessment instead of General Revenue or School Revenue. I don&#039;t believe that by adding Commissioners it would impact the availability of General revenue or school revenue for programs or services that are currently on the chopping block. On the other hand I guess you could argue that they should lower the special assessment rate, but that doesn&#039;t mean that people would necessarily support raising the others to fund those programs and services that are being cut. 
 
I don&#039;t necessarily know what they do so am unaware of how 3 versus 5 would make a difference.

Smiling JOe

I think you guys are thinking too much of solely the accounting side. So they add two people at $400 per month (per meeting), plus group benefits. What could these additional two people cut in expenses that the small three-person good ole boy network could otherwise shove down our throats?   Remember this past election, two of the potential Commissioners were brothers. 

I am for smaller gov't, but I think a bit more potential for variety (than three Commissioners) is a good thing for us all, especially with this particular Mass Poison Spraying division of gov't.

I think you guys are thinking too much of solely the accounting side. So they add two people at $400 per month (per meeting), plus group benefits. What could these additional two people cut in expenses that the small three-person good ole boy network could otherwise shove down our throats? Remember this past election, two of the potential Commissioners were brothers. 
 
I am for smaller gov&#039;t, but I think a bit more potential for variety (than three Commissioners) is a good thing for us all, especially with this particular Mass Poison Spraying division of gov&#039;t.

Busta Hustle

They are 1 of 3 to raise millage in 2008. On top of the local bug guys is the nwf bug guys for a total of .591 mils to your prop tax bill. Kill the bugs and the idea of 2 more bug guys!

Here4Good

I didn't see a response to the question above - what exactly do they do?

I didn&#039;t see a response to the question above - what exactly do they do?

It's an elected body....it seems like more transparency would do as much to address the board being hijacked as more commissioners.

It&#039;s an elected body....it seems like more transparency would do as much to address the board being hijacked as more commissioners.

I am still trying to figure out: 
1) what exactly they do 
2) what major decisions they are discussing that makes it necessary to add more members to make it harder to sway them on such important decisions
3) how exactly these 2 new members would be added - considered my opinion of one former candidate and the legal issues of another, I would like some PUBLIC input - which we had a few months ago during the election

Yes, 2 brothers were running - but since they weren't both elected, I don't think that's exactly a smoking gun of collusion.

I am still trying to figure out: 
1) what exactly they do 
2) what major decisions they are discussing that makes it necessary to add more members to make it harder to sway them on such important decisions 
3) how exactly these 2 new members would be added - considered my opinion of one former candidate and the legal issues of another, I would like some PUBLIC input - which we had a few months ago during the election 
 
Yes, 2 brothers were running - but since they weren&#039;t both elected, I don&#039;t think that&#039;s exactly a smoking gun of collusion.

[quote="Susan Horn, post: 543887"]Did you ever notice how wobbly a three-legged stool can be?[/quote]

Actually that is the most stable design for a stool, also why most cameras etc. use a tripod for stability - so not a good analogy.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Susan Horn">Did you ever notice how wobbly a three-legged stool can be?</blockquote> 
Actually that is the most stable design for a stool, also why most cameras etc. use a tripod for stability - so not a good analogy.

Anybody want to attend a meeting and report back?  There's one tomorrow...

[url]http://www.southwaltonmosquitocontrol.com/[/url]

Anybody want to attend a meeting and report back? There&#039;s one tomorrow... 
 
<a href="http://www.southwaltonmosquitocontrol.com/" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.southwaltonmosquitocontrol.com/</a>

[quote="scooterbug44, post: 544119"]Actually that is the most stable design for a stool, also why most cameras etc. use a tripod for stability - so not a good analogy.[/quote]
It may be more stable, but probably also more tilted. Camera tripods would be un-level if they didn't have adjustable legs. ;-)

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="scooterbug44">Actually that is the most stable design for a stool, also why most cameras etc. use a tripod for stability - so not a good analogy.</blockquote>It may be more stable, but probably also more tilted. Camera tripods would be un-level if they didn&#039;t have adjustable legs. ;-)

30ashopper

SoWal Insider

[quote="scooterbug44, post: 544116"]I am still trying to figure out: 
1) [B]what exactly they do[/B] 
2) what major decisions they are discussing that makes it necessary to add more members to make it harder to sway them on such important decisions
3) how exactly these 2 new members would be added - considered my opinion of one former candidate and the legal issues of another, I would like some PUBLIC input - which we had a few months ago during the election
 
Yes, 2 brothers were running - but since they weren't both elected, I don't think that's exactly a smoking gun of collusion.[/quote]
 
I agree with the question.. why do we need three "Mosquito Control District Commissioners", let alone five?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="scooterbug44">I am still trying to figure out: 
1) what exactly they do 
2) what major decisions they are discussing that makes it necessary to add more members to make it harder to sway them on such important decisions 
3) how exactly these 2 new members would be added - considered my opinion of one former candidate and the legal issues of another, I would like some PUBLIC input - which we had a few months ago during the election 
 
Yes, 2 brothers were running - but since they weren&#039;t both elected, I don&#039;t think that&#039;s exactly a smoking gun of collusion.</blockquote> 
I agree with the question.. why do we need three &quot;Mosquito Control District Commissioners&quot;, let alone five?

Recently, I learned that the Mosquito Control District Commissioners would be increasing in number from 3 to 5.  It seems odd that in a time of so much budget slashing, we'd be adding Commissioners.  

I couldn't find much online to explain the decision beyond this document -- [URL="http://www.co.walton.fl.us/administration/CommissionMeetings/januarytwentyseven/e.pdf"]http://www.co.walton.fl.us/administration/CommissionMeetings/januarytwentyseven/e.pdf[/URL]  I can't find anything that addresses the reasoning.

Does anyone else know anything about this?  Why it is necessary?

Recently, I learned that the Mosquito Control District Commissioners would be increasing in number from 3 to 5. It seems odd that in a time of so much budget slashing, we&#039;d be adding Commissioners. 
 
I couldn&#039;t find much online to explain the decision beyond this document -- <a href="http://www.co.walton.fl.us/administration/CommissionMeetings/januarytwentyseven/e.pdf" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.co.walton.fl.us/administration/CommissionMeetings/januarytwentyseven/e.pdf</a> I can&#039;t find anything that addresses the reasoning. 
 
Does anyone else know anything about this? Why it is necessary?

Mosquito Commissioners Up from 3 to 5?

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Mosquito Commissioners Up from 3 to 5?

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