“At least those liens equal a quarter million dollars that we had our taxpayers pay to have something removed that we may or may not get back,” City Commissioner Debbie McDowell noted. “Just because there’s a lien doesn’t mean we get reimbursed; we’re at the bottom of the list.”
McDowell, who joined the board in November 2016, is the only commissioner remaining from the members who adopted that 2017 ordinance. Mayor Jill Luke was elected to the board after that, through a special election.
Faced with the task of cutting costs in the 2021-22 budget, board members decided that it was time to eliminate the portion of the ordinance empowering the city to trim growth on vacant lots and then bill the property owner.
Sunshine refresher course
At the very first meeting of the newly elected Islamorada Village Council, Pete Bacheler was elected vice mayor. And then Vice Mayor Pete asked to have a discussion of public record requests added to the agenda that night.
From the 11/19/2020 Village Council meeting minutes:
âThis item was heard at 8:06 p.m. Vice Mayor Pete Bacheler asked the Village Attorney, Roget Bryan, if there was a way to limit public records requests due to the amount of staff time involved. The Village Attorney stated information could be provided to him.â
What? The village attorney didnât say, âVice Mayor Pete, absolutely not! Iâll give you a copy of the Sunshine Manual.â