Post political era to begin with new CF president. Selection will bring fresh, and hopefully non political CF President.
Known for attempting
to set Public Policy from CF educational job, Charles Dessance has stepped down creating an era of education.
The
Public Policy Institute of Marion County is an inappropriate political forum for a non elected public official serving as
a College President. The attempt at "Regional Political Clout" has all but dissolved in the post Dessance non political posturing of CF.
As
the leading political forum for Regional Water Policy CF may have diverted from its Core Mission.
Current Art Committee Selection Committee Members for the Courthouse is Clerk of the Court David Ellspermann a staff member and Judges McCune and Ohlman.
______________________
Fresh new opportunity for the Central Florida Community
Dr. James Henningsen takes over the leadership of Central Florida College
The College of Central Florida
issued the following press release:
The community will have an opportunity to meet Dr. James Henningsen, the new president of
College of Central Florida, at a reception on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Ocala Campus.
The reception, hosted by the CF District Board of Trustees, begins
at 5 p.m. and will be held in the Ewers Century Center, 3001 S.W. College Road. Community members who would like to attend
are requested to RSVP by calling 352-873-5808 or emailing Sticknel@cf.edu.
The College of Central Florida issued the following press release
today:
The community will have an opportunity to meet Dr. James Henningsen, the new president of College of Central Florida,
at a reception on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Ocala Campus.
The reception, hosted by the CF District Board of Trustees, begins at 5 p.m. and will be
held in the Ewers Century Center, 3001 S.W. College Road. Community members who would like to attend are requested to RSVP
by calling 352-873-5808 or emailing Sticknel@cf.edu.
In new CF era Ellspermann may change images
Selected after main Art Selection Committee Selections.
Citizens ask for CF to replace highly controversial renderings of Women, Youth and Christian religious depictions.
Muslim
vs Christian highly charged war images seem to not meet Constitutional guarantees to a fair trial if Jurors are influenced
during selection and exposure in the courthouse setting.
Normal non contriversial "Art in Public Buildings"
is considered appropriate a fair opportunity for all judicial experience. Marion County has a chance to set the record
straight with the hiring of a new CF president.
Art titled Courthouse Construction Crew is reinstated
in the courthouse over the objections of County Judge Jim McCune.
Citizens ask, was it a "sour grapes"
jesture puting in in the Men's Room cubical off the main lobby? Teachers showing students art will hardly be expected
to stand in the way of the Men's Room entry to view art.
On the other side of the same wall, in the lobby area, there
is a blank wall waiting for display. The question of Clerk of the Court working for the people or is he under the direction
of the judges in the courthouse?
Going into a first time republican primary challenge may answer the question.
CFPPI was developed to give a counter point public policy
input from the private sector to balance the CF Sponsored Political Public Policy Institute and Heart of Florida Political
Regional Influence developed with Tax Dollars.
Keeping on mission may require a sign-off for all future use of CF for political
action.
CF Mission: "College of Central Florida offers educational opportunities which
are accessible, affordable and high quality. In a climate that nurtures excellence, CF provides undergraduate instruction
and awards associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees and certificates; prepares students for careers requiring professional
and technical training; encourages student success through a variety of support services; and promotes the economic, social
and cultural development of the community." The non elected nature of the CF presidency position calls for resignation
if there is political disagreement with public policy advanced by CF Officials. We recommend Public Policy be
left to public officials elected to set public policy and private citizens. Dr Dessance public policy efforts were less
as a private citizen and mostly as the president of CF. We hope CF as a political organization stays in the past.
Under attack, Governor Rick Scott's record actually shows considerable results in stopping dysfunctional government. High on the list is a direct focus on
highly dysfunctional Water District's growth and policy policy problems. Much of Governor Scott's efforts promote fair
and balanced job growth efforts. Ethics by governmental officials is a core principle of Scott's reform efforts. Fairness
to all parties must be a guiding principle when reforming deeply ingrained ethics issues.
State of Florida Ethics Commission asked to interprete Florida Statute 112.3136 Standard of conduct for officers and employees of entities
serving as chief administrative officer of political subdivisions. http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/ethics/Chapter_112.html#ch1123136
"Public officer" includes any person elected
or appointed to hold office in any agency, including any person serving on an advisory body.
(4)No appointed public officer shall participate in any matter which would inure
to the officer's special private gain or loss; which the officer knows would inure to the special private gain or loss of
any principal by whom he or she is retained or to the parent organization or subsidiary of a corporate principal by which
he or she is retained; or which he or she knows would inure to the special private gain or loss of a relative or business
associate of the public officer, without first disclosing the nature of his or her interest in the matter.
Marion
County Commissioners are struggling with conflict of interest issues arising from contracts for goods and services awarded
to persons on both the marketing and governing board of the Ocala Visitor and Convention Agency of Marion County.
125.0104 FS, is currently interpreted
to allow a conflict of interest as in County Officials awarding their own companies contracts that appear to be in direct
violation of Statute not allowing financial gain from official acts. Governor Scott may have to settle the apparent
waving of Conflict of Interest Law by parties benefiting financially directly from their official actions.
Florida
Statute used to allow special conflict of interest.
125.0104 Tourist development tax; procedure for levying; authorized uses;
referendum; enforcement.—
Section 4. (e) The governing board of each
county which levies and imposes a tourist development tax under this section shall appoint an advisory council to be known
as the “ (name
of county) Tourist Development Council.” The council shall
be established by ordinance and composed of nine members who shall be appointed by the governing board. The chair of the governing
board of the county or any other member of the governing board as designated by the chair shall serve on the council. Two
members of the council shall be elected municipal officials, at least one of whom shall be from the most populous municipality
in the county or subcounty special taxing district in which the tax is levied. Six members of the council shall be persons
who are involved in the tourist industry and who have demonstrated an interest in tourist development, of which members, not
less than three nor more than four shall be owners or operators of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist
accommodations in the county and subject to the tax.
County Tourism
Agency chairman Asks Marion County to change its name to Ocala Visitor and Convention Bureau. Many in the rest of Marion County are in disbelief. Marion County Chairman Stan McClain
stated that he is troubled by the many issues swirling around the Marion County agency Ocala Visitor and Convention Bureau.
There is a need to clarify the apparent conflict of interest Florida Statutes have us in as we exercise our official
oversite duties of a county agency.
County commissioner Kathy Bryant commented, "Ocala is the County
Seat and is the logical destination for tourism promotion." "We find that few tourist plan to visit a "county
seat" on their next vacation." "Governmnet buildings are not high on the list of leading tourist distinations
nationally with the possible exception of Washington DC." Stated Best Florida Visit director Don Browning.
Do we really need
to spend an extra $175,000 in salary to a single person working for the Ocala EDC?
Given the last 10 years, it appears Ocala alone benefits from Ocala branding.
When will Marion County be valid enough to have its own name promoted to the world? Would a change to Ocala County complete the deal?
Ocala Marion County Commission Branding Selection
Ocala picked as the best name for Marion County promotion.
The People's Think
tank. Finding solutions for everyday political problems. Rhetoric from a grass roots prospective.
As
Central Florida Median incomes drop it takes more "Average Families" to keep Full Employment in the Econmic Development
Ranks. Leading Marion County is the Department of Economic Development headed by Dr. Lee Niblock Administrator of Marion
County.
Mr. Rick Michaels currently is directly empowered by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners to
promote Economic Development along with the Tourism Development Effort of Marion County.
Ocala Takes Over
The renaming of Marion
County as Ocala for branding purposes is coming to an end apparently. TDC Marion has developed a strategy to prove empirically
that Marion County cam be branded. Apparently the forces that convinced the Marion County Commission to adopt "Ocala"
as the Brand Name for Marion County Florida has lost its influence.
Ocala EDC headed by Mr. Pete
Tesh also may lose funding according to reports from inside the Commission. Automatically budgeted for funding, the
private firm Ocala EDC needs County tax funding to keep up the almost daily advertisments in the Ocala News Media. Clearly
the Ocala EDC needs funds more than the Median Family Homeowner as 100% employment of just the director requires nearly 20%
on the $1, Million Dollar Budget. the Director's Salary is reportedly $175,000 and that requires a considerable portion
of the Ocala and Marion County taxing district contributions.
Home Owners can Give More
According to the most recent MSTU reports, the Median
Income of $40,000 divides the lower income population from the more well-off population of Marion County. With higher
unemployment and home mortgage foreclosure numbers increasing it is estimated that the lower income level homeowner group
who will likely benefit more from the Ocala EDC efforts will be forced to contribute perhaps as much as 10% more as their
group demographic shrinks. Some in the lower half of the median homeowner group are beginning to question the proportionately
high income levels of the EDC officials. Mr Tesh receiving $175,000 and EDC Board Chairman Mr Pervis $600,000 range
saleries are often considered an unnecessarily heavy financial burden on the lower half Ad Valorem tax group. It doesn't
always follow that the lower income group pays less in Ad Valorem taxes but the 25% of adjusted gross income defines housing
expenditures per family.
Marion County Questions
the need for a second EDC
Despite the support for renaming Marion County
Ocala, Commissioners are beginning to hear questions from tax payers questioning the need for a second EDC if the Marion County
EDC program funded by the tax payers is effective.
Solutions from the Citizen's Point of View
Put on your thinking cap, join the fun!
Marion County citizen effort to address systemic problems through understanding and logic. Classical
reasoning based on local discussion. An exchange of arguments to arrive at truth.
Understanding
our home, history, and impacting our future. Linking with political leaders of our day to achieve a better tomorrow.
