At its January 2 organizational meeting. the six commissioners present split 3-3 on a vote to re-confirm commissioner Larry Spataro as the city’s vice mayor. See how today’s debates played out.
Aside from an unfinished low-rise condo development and the Parmenter O’Toole law firm, the property has attracted no businesses. The city collects no taxes from the MAREC facility.
Recent traffic studies delivered to the city indicated that traffic levels at many segments of roads in the city are too low for traffic signals to remain, and the study recommended the city to remove them.
After the down vote, the city commission voted 4-1 to send out a request for proposals for private companies to provide a comparable service to city residents after the current city program funding expires. Commissioner Willie German voted against this measure.
The contests that received the greatest candidate attendance and debate were 14th circuit court judge, county clerk and the county commission seat for district 6. Sheriff and prosecutor contests each had a pair of candidates in attendance.
City Clerk Ann Marie Cummings noted at Tuesday’s meeting that the new plan reduces “split” precincts, where a border between two of the city’s four wards runs right down the middle of a precinct. Reorganizing precincts will also give each city commissioner a nearly equal-sized ward to represent.