Disappointed

To the editor:

Some recent actions of the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners have deeply disappointed me as a voter and let us all down as taxpayers.

First was the decision to place a moratorium on transportation impact fees for commercial developments.  While it may sound good at first, all a moratorium really does is make existing residents and businesses pay millions for roadway improvements while new developments get a free ride.

This might be OK if the commission had targeted the moratorium at high-paying industries, but it didn’t. I hope all Osceola County residents register their disapproval with their commissioners when they’re paying for the new roads needed for low-wage establishments like already planned hotel expansions, retail stores and fast-food restaurants that are built during the moratorium.

The most recent disappointment was the decision by the board to limit the selection of engineering firms that can be used on smaller projects to only a handful of firms located in Osceola County. Again, this is something that sounds good, but is actually detrimental to taxpayers.

While I am all for local businesses succeeding, there’s no person who can truthfully say that Osceola firms can always offer the best service at the best price for every project. Limiting competition in this area will mean higher prices and lower quality work for Osceola County taxpayers. Simply put, this is a decision that benefits few at the expense of many.

What’s most surprising about both of these decisions is that the actions were pushed largely by Republicans on the board who supposedly believe in free markets and the benefits of competition.  Apparently, these principles don’t apply when benefits can be had by buddies, associates and campaign contributors.

Ray Walls
Harmony

By the ‘Speedway’

To the editor:

This is for Sheila Spafford (Jan. 6 letter). I know how you feel with the noise that the airboats make. But do you hear it 24-7? Do you hear it during inclement weather? We, who live on the Osceola “Speedway” hear it constantly. Either it’s from boom boxes, motorcycles or big rigs with the stacks, meaning the exhaust systems that are higher than the wall we have now in BVL.

But the commissioners are giving us a wall that is eight feet high. They feel that this 8-foot wall is high enough to keep out the noise and pollution that comes from these vehicles. We were told that we should be glad that they're giving us an eight-foot wall. They feel that a wall higher than 8-feet would ruin the artistic value of our community.

Artistic value, the six-lane highway goes right through the middle of BVL.

As for the health and safety of the residents, the eight-foot wall will do nothing to protect us from this noise and pollution. Also, with the economy the way it is, my house is not worth what it should be worth and even less with the highway behind my house.

My homeowners insurance went up because of the highway in my backyard. With the raising of taxes, fire fees, utilities, raises for the people who work for Osceola County, and for the people who get terminated in Osceola County (with the large severance packages) it makes it impossible to live a normal, healthy lifestyle in Osceola County, especially for someone who lives on a fixed income.

Richard Appleton
Kissimmee

Sign ordinance

To the editor:

I would like to commend the Kissimmee City Commission for taking the human signs off our streets. I believe that not only are the signs a distraction to drivers, they are unattractive in our city. I would hope that would also include human political sign-waving and human fundraising signs.

This past political season at the corner of Orange Blossom Trail and U.S. Highway 192 I saw human sign-waving on all four corners more than one time. How distracting is that?

Don Felgenhauer
Kissimmee