Why Contact Kelly Stargel and Paula Dockery's Offices?

Feeling a little lost about why contacting Paula Dockery and Kelly Stargel's offices are the right thing to do next?

Maybe this will help answer some questions and give you some guidance.  As stated in the previous article Here's How You Can Help the Legislature has the power to step in when municipalities no longer continue to have a reason to exist or if there are problems with how they are being run.  The process that the Legislature uses to determine what needs be done is spelled out in State Statute 189.428 - Special Districts; Oversight Review Process.

(1)  The Legislature finds it to be in the public interest to establish an oversight review process for special districts wherein each special district in the state may be reviewed by the local general-purpose government in which the district exists. The Legislature further finds and determines that such law fulfills an important state interest. It is the intent of the Legislature that the oversight review process shall contribute to informed decision making. These decisions may involve the continuing existence or dissolution of a district, the appropriate future role and focus of a district, improvements in the functioning or delivery of services by a district, and the need for any transition, adjustment, or special implementation periods or provisions. Any final recommendations from the oversight review process that are adopted and implemented by the appropriate level of government shall not be implemented in a manner that would impair the obligation of contracts.

In other words, if there are enough complaints to Kelly Stargel's offices (House of Representatives) and Paula Dockery's offices (State Senate) they will have to look into these concerns closer and they will initiate this review process mentioned above.  

• Tell them about how high your taxes, water, sewer, etc. Bill have gotten while your income whether fixed or reduced due to economic factors has gone down.  
• Tell them how you are having a difficult time to keep paying these bills and have little to no services to show for your hard earned money.  
• Tell them how the cost of living in surrounding areas under the county and other local cities is substantially cheaper, and those areas actually provide most of the services they are supposed to.  
• Tell them how you are concerned that with the mounting debt, mounting law suits against the city, and tiny tax base, and that it will be next to impossible for the city to dig out of this financial hole.  
• Tell them that the new city officials keep promising that they are working on it and things are looking good, but when pressed for details and a solid plan of action to get out of the current financial hole, they look like a deer in the headlights or they promise to get back to us and don't.

 All of these things and more are issues that the individuals at the State level would be very interested in hearing FROM the PEOPLE.  The more concerns that are brought to their attention, the more urgent they will know our situation here in Polk City truly is.  

Another part of this same state statute 189.428 addresses some other specific areas of concern that you personally may be able to shed some light on to these state officials:

(5)  Those conducting the oversight review process shall, at a minimum, consider the listed criteria for evaluating the special district, but may also consider any additional factors relating to the district and its performance. If any of the listed criteria does not apply to the special district being reviewed, it need not be considered. The criteria to be considered by the reviewer include:

(a)  The degree to which the service or services offered by the special district are essential or contribute to the well-being of the community.

(b)  The extent of continuing need for the service or services currently provided by the special district.

(c)  The extent of municipal annexation or incorporation activity occurring or likely to occur within the boundaries of the special district and its impact on the delivery of services by the special district.

(d)  Whether there is a less costly alternative method of delivering the service or services that would adequately provide the district residents with the services provided by the district.

(e)  Whether transfer of the responsibility for delivery of the service or services to an entity other than the special district being reviewed could be accomplished without jeopardizing the district’s existing contracts, bonds, or outstanding indebtedness.

(f)  Whether the Auditor General has notified the Legislative Auditing Committee that the special district’s audit report, reviewed pursuant to s. 11.45(7), indicates that the district has met any of the conditions specified in s. 218.503(1) or that a deteriorating financial condition exists that may cause a condition described in s. 218.503(1) to occur if actions are not taken to address such condition.

(g)  Whether the district is inactive according to the official list of special districts, and whether the district is meeting and discharging its responsibilities as required by its charter, as well as projected increases or decreases in district activity.

(h)  Whether the special district has failed to comply with any of the reporting requirements in this chapter, including preparation of the public facilities report.

(i)  Whether the special district has designated a registered office and agent as required by s. 189.416, and has complied with all open public records and meeting requirements.

I know just from the research we as a group have done to date, there are several of these areas of concern that the city is running into problems.  LET THE PEOPLE BE HEARD AND THINGS WILL HAPPEN!!!  Look at how much we, working together with the public, have accomplished in approximately 1 month since we started Concerned Citizens of Polk City.  Working together we CAN make a difference!!  Contact our representatives TODAY!!