Letter to our City Leaders

You can e mail this to all your members and post to your blog

Dear Council, Mayor, and acting City Manager,      

            

Our city will change in name only; our citizens will not. The people of Polk city will still be friendly, and still say hello and wave as you pass their homes. They will still be there for a neighbor in need, and join together to fight for what is right. They will still have love and friendship for their fellow citizens, and gather for the good times so celebrated in a small city like ours. Just like Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show, will still be ourselves.

As for the utilities issue, the waste water plant has not turned a profit since Polk city took control of it. Furthermore, it has been a persistent drain on Polk City’s finances. This poor fiscal decision has triggered property taxes to rise to a level which will not permit future grown. By raising tax, water, and sewage rates, business who might have located here will probably be turned away, bringing some other city revenue. Polk City has some of the highest tax, water, and sewage rates in Florida. This fact alone will turn prospective home owners running in the other direction, causing valuable homes to sit vacant. Chiefly, a majority of Polk City’s residents will and do not support this purchase- it is bad business.

The city government has failed to notice the blatant red flags staring them in the face regarding not being financially fit for an undertaking such as the Mt. Olive Waste Water Plant. When one has to dip into funds not related to those allocated for the waste water plant, a red flag goes up. When said plant has not turned a profit since its purchase, and is in need of repair, another one flies up in the air. There is no customer, or tax, base to pay the bills for day to day expenses, and there are absolutely no funds allocated for repairs on the plant.

Monumentally, the city owed a defaulted payment to Polk County for its purchase for over two years. If we could afford the payments, why were we in default? Why was there an emergency meeting called to pay a bill? Why was the bill in default? The answer is simple: the city cannot afford the Waste Water Plant.

The tactic of robbing Peter to pay Paul is one the municipality is quite fond of. This method of paying bills is like a Ponzi scheme: it works great until everyone starts calling in their chips. Then the bottom falls out, and after everyone realizes you have no chips, you wind up in deep trouble. More trouble than what would have originally transpired if the correct measure had been taken in the first place. Ask yourself: is the city government prepared for when everyone decides to call in their chips?

I believe our new Mayor was quoted as saying, “we deserve what we have gotten”.

To that I say, “you’re wrong”. We have gotten a Council, Mayor, and acting City Manager which we do not deserve.

The Citizens of Polk City deserve a Council, Mayor, and acting City Manager that listens to the constituents they represent, to the will of the people. They deserve a governing body who conducts city business with utmost honor and integrity, fulfilling their office’s duties with a thoughtful ear towards the Citizen’s wishes.

The people have passionately voiced their will.

There was a petition drive to dissolve the city charter. Comments either online or in person have been pouring into inboxes and psyches. Do the right thing and listen to the wisdom of the Polk County commissioners and citizens.

We have spoken. Are you listening?

GIVE BACK THE MOUNT OLIVE WASTE WATER PLANT

Sincerely

 Mr. Robert W. Bersey, Polk City, FL