Commentary
Anna Liisa Covell
Do you have questions about the upcoming Blueberry Festival? Don't feel alone because many people are scratching their heads for answers. Like ...
Why is all the work for the Blueberry Festival being done without a building permit or tree removal permit at Hernando Park on Fort Dade?
How much money is this event costing city taxpayers - money for city employees devoting numerous man hours working under the direction of the Blueberry Festival director since last July?
How much money have the organizers of the Blueberry Festival donated to the city for office space at city hall since last summer?
Have the organizers of the Blueberry Festival informed county government they intend to run a "Beer Garden" on a county parking lot?
Did the organizers of the event bother to tell county government officials they plan on installing Port-A-Potties on the county parking lot?
Why did the organizer of the Blueberry Festival say the road closure decision wasn't complete in a news report several weeks ago when the Brooksville City Council approved it (road closures) by resolution at their December 19, 2011 meeting?
Why have so many people in Brooksville gotten upset at Blueberry Festival organizers?
Where are all the event attendees supposed to park since all the major roads into the city are being closed?
Who is providing security and oversight for all the vendor tents and art exhibits during the off-hours when the event is not open?
Will residential neighbors along Hale Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard be impacted by traffic diverted from US41 road closures for 2-1/2 days?
Will Blueberry Festival organizers compensate downtown business owners for loss of revenue because all the streets are closed in downtown area?
Has the city of Brooksville compiled a budgetary figure of costs for police and emergency services, like it does for every other event that takes place in the city? And who is paying for these costs?
Does the count government realize the event organizers are planning on lining up Port-A-Potties along the front of the Library on Howell Avenue?
Have the event organizers posted a bond to relieve taxpayers of any liability during the event?
Why did Brooksville City Council members decide this event was worthy of city sponsorship while abandoning their support for the Kiwanis Christmas Parade,Veterans Appreciation Parade and events relating to Martin Luther King celebrations?
These are just a few concerns that have been floating around for weeks. Hopefully, we will have answers sooner rather than later.
You failed to mention that all of those things are being done without a written contract, or agreement, between the County and the Organizers. It is being done with a verbal agreement, which will not be enforceable in a Court of Law.
ReplyDeleteThe commissioners voted 5-0 on March 13 to allow the Brooksville Vision Foundation to go forward with drastic renovations to the park with no specified expiration date on the temporary use of the park. I have requested several times by e-mail to Ron Pianta and Chairman Dukes and have yet to get an expiration date. Cliff Manuel stated he would personally take care of any damages to the tennis courts. I hope he has $20,000 per court for resurfacing!
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