Posted on 08/01/2009 12:22:50 PM PDT by devane617
CLEARWATER (Bay News 9) -- Money is so tight in Clearwater that the city can no longer afford to fly the American flag.
The city's parks and recreation director ordered the removal of more than a dozen flagpoles from across the city this week, saying that budget cuts make it impossible to properly care for the flags.
According to Bay News 9's partner paper, the St. Petersburg Times, the city says lighting flags at night and removing them if they are damaged are tasks the city cannot afford to worry about anymore.
Can anyone from Clearwater give us some idea as to what was retained in the budget.
Want to know how to order a pizza in 2012? Click the link and see.
http://aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf
Let me guess...and they hav e not laid off 1 useless city ee.
Isn’t Clearwater under occupation by the Church of Scientology?
OK, shut down the lights, maybe ask for boy scout or other civic group volunteers to pull flag duty daily, but why spend money to remove the flag poles? Afraid someone will raise the Gadsden Flag?
Maybe they could have given the task to some boy scouts, if it was about the money.
Now that would be a crack-up, if it weren’t so feasible these days. My guess is all that hype about HIPPA and patient confidentiality in recent years, is about to go by the wayside, as the children of the state take over.
Ridiculous.
Yes it is. Perhaps that is the actual reason for this “decision”.
Talk about no info....Check out the P&R page at the City of Clearwater website:
http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/parksrec/index.asp
No names anywhere that I can find...
Oh, my gosh! That’s well done.
LOL! Now, that's a good idea.
Not too sure how many flagpoles Clearwater has, but my neighbor in Chicago spent about $300 last year to light his single flagpole.
Removal of flagpoles probably helps prevent vandalism and slows down deterioration of the poles.
Why pay workers to remove the flagpoles if there is no money?
I gotta think removing the flagpole will cost more that $300 and there will be no more vandalism on an empty pole than it receives now. Spending dollars to save pennies ... gotta be the gubermint.
I’m sure if they would contact the local VFW, they could probably find some folks that would volunteer to take care of the flags. Contact a local flag company and see about getting some flags in exchange for some free advertising.
I wouldn’t want to fly an American flag either, if we go Socialist.
I’m not so quick to jump on them. To start with, those are probably extra large American flags. Assuming 8x12 foot, they are priced from $100-$130 each (if larger, MUCH more expensive), and with constant use, they probably only last in those conditions (Gulf Coast) from 1-3 months, less a week for every time it rains or has a high wind.
Lighting is even more expensive, perhaps $100/night. Add those costs for each and every flag. Then add the expense of weekly maintenance, along with “repair/replace when damaged”.
It starts to add up in a hurry.
Between the scientology take over, the crooks, and feeble minded fools on the council, they've run just about every business out of the downtown area, and the hotel/motel business is disappearing with high rise condos taking over the gulf front. Say good bye to the tourist dollars, say hello to tax hikes and more squandering of money.
May they all go to the big 'round about' in the sky, or I should say below, wherever it may be. (The Clearwater people will get my drift.)
Might also have to do with liability. In construction, we recommend removal of scaffolding by a certain date during the construction (i.e. within 15 days of completion of tuckpointing) so other subcontractors can’t use it for their purposes. Often, the sub who specified the scaffolding asks to be indeminified.
Since the town of Clearwater can’t get everyone to hold the town harmless or indemnify it, removal was likely a cheap option. Whether the town is self-insured or uses a commercial company, somebody probably told them the unmaintained poles would be a liability issue.
B.S. alarm on that one.
Where I am, a 500 watt light costs just over $1/day if left on 24 hours.
In Florida, rates are somewhat higher, but then the utility is paying wholesale rates. So it is still going to be less than $1/night.
“Where can we cut the budget that would draw the most attention and sympathy for our plight?”
Exactly. The money tear them down would probably pay for the upkeep for a couple of years. OTH the Unibama whole-heartedly supports the plan.
My error.
OK, shut down the lights, maybe ask for boy scout or other civic group volunteers to pull flag duty daily, but why spend money to remove the flag poles? Afraid someone will raise the Gadsden Flag?”
It is beyond my comprehension that there would not be enough Scouts- Veterans- military retirees, etc, who would be very glad to take over these chores.
Clearwater should be ashamed of itself.
Outrageous
Let them know: do not email as they will make your address public. Write, phone or FAX
http://www.myclearwater.com/gov/city_council/biographies/bio1.asp
Frank V. Hibbard (Mayor) - Seat 1 CAN YOU BELIEVE HE’s REPUBLICAN!
John Doran - Seat 2
George N. Cretekos - Seat 3
Carlen A. Petersen - Seat 4
Paul F. Gibson (Vice-Mayor) - Seat 5
Mailing Address:
Official Records and Legislative Services Department
P.O. Box 4748
Clearwater, FL 33758-4748
Location Address:
Clearwater City Hall
112 S. Osceola Ave.
Clearwater, FL 33756
Telephone:
(727) 562-4090
Fax:
(727) 562-4086
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:00am-5:00pm
I posted a link to the Parks and Recreation website above. Although, it does not list any names in the org chart. I have no idea who the P&R manager is, although he was quoted as the person who ordered the removal of the fags and poles.
TJ was right, "price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Keep watching, my FRiends.
Thanks for that added information. I know someone thinking of moving to Clearwater. I forwarded them this article and suggested they might want to rethink their decision.
Would like to update them if this indeed turns out to be not what really occurs.
(I still warn them about the Scientologists in Clearwater, however....)
Good work!!! I suspect Clearwater City Hall was getting the phone system and email system loaded...Probably will be huge mess tomorrow.
No credit claim here ... spoke to a friend who knew some people and this is what they came back with. But it is a good win for us all.
Any updates on this story????
and
American flag will remain at Clearwater parks, buildings (Update:Clearwater,FL)
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