September 2020 Tattler
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PRSRT MKTG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Barefoot VERO BEACH, FL the PERMIT 176 A Free Publication POSTAL PATRON 32976 Your South MainlandTattler Monthly Newspaper • Serving Barefoot Bay and the Greater Micco Area 222 Kiwi Dr. Barefoot Bay, FL 32976 • (772) 664-9381 Vol. 42 No. 9 [email protected] • www.barefoottattler.com September 2020 Ballot Referendum BALLOT be voting on this Charter change is that community. There would be a drastic Barefoot Bay Recreation District, BBRD will also lose the ability to enforce loss in income for BBRD. Community Artist of the Month Brevard County, Florida our DOR by not being able to apply any Manager Mr. Coffee has run the num- Lien of Assessment. This could affect the bers and the loss would run between $1 NO.1 new Neighborhood Revitalization Project million to $1.5 million dollars per year. BAREFOOT BAY RECREATION and Violations which are what makes this That is because those who don’t use the DISTRICT CHARTER AMENDMENT community like no other. amenities won’t want to pay for them and ARTICLE VI Prior to 2009 when the BBRD can’t be held to that payment by a lien REVOCATION OF TAXING Assessment Fees were collected in-house on their property to pay the assessment AUTHORITY by staff, the Recreation District was only fee. At that rate of loss, it is projected Shall the Charter be amended to collecting somewhere between 60% to that the Recreation District as a govern- revoke the authority of the Barefoot Bay 65% of the Assessment Fees owed. At ment could last 2.5 years, give or take. If Recreation District to collect its assess- that time BBRD Trustees were doing that were to happen and the Recreation ments in the manner provided for ad some very creative financing to stay District was abolished, there isn’t any valorem taxes? afloat, the staff was underpaid, and the specific or prepared entity designated to YES (for approval)) projects and upkeep were few and far take over. If the county took over all the NO (for rejection between. Currently BBRD is collecting common areas, anyone could come swim over 95%. It is a stark difference! in our pools. It would be the kiss of death You ask, “What does this mean and The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the golf course, followed by lower how does this affect me?” Let’s start with Mr. Tobia’s office has had an issue property values. No Lounge. No 19th what it means, a little history, and how it with BBRD over the Amenities Fees being Hole. Fewer clubs. That’s just to name a may affect you and our community. raised over the CPI, the Consumer Price few changes to life as we know it here in County Commissioner John Tobia Index. The CPI is a measure that exam- the Bay. in May 2020 placed a Referendum on ines the weighted average of prices of a If there was an H.O.A. or a specific, the ballot for the General Election to basket of consumer goods and services, financially prepared, community-vested remove Barefoot Bay Assessment Fees such as transportation, food, and medi- entity that the Trustees could appoint from being collected by the Brevard cal care. It is calculated by taking price to take over, would there be a way of County Tax Collector. Commissioner changes for each item in the predeter- remaining the same? For a change-over Tobia did this without contacting a BBRD mined basket of goods and averaging like that, the BBRD would need to act Trustee, the BBRD Attorney, or the BBRD them. Changes in the CPI are used to immediately if it were to come to fruition. Ruth Feldman is our Artist of the Community Manager, and without calling assess price changes associated with the In closing, there is the possibility that Month, and has been a member of the a local town hall meeting or even mak- cost of living. The CPI is one of the most all of this could just be “all for naught.” I Artists Guild of Barefoot Bay for six ing a public records request for BBRD frequently used statistics for identifying was told by Mr. Coffey on 8/17/20 that years. She is a mixed media artist, and financial records prior to 2009, when periods of inflation or deflation. Trustee Compton, Trustee Maino, Trustee her artworks are in corporate and pri- BBRD was collecting the assessment fees This issue was magnified by Rev. Dr. Loveland and Mr. Repperger, Jr., Esq. vate collections. Ruth says she started in-house. Earl B. Medlen of Barefoot Bay going have an appointment with Commissioner doing art in her 30’s, graduating from What this Referendum doesn’t explain to Commissioner Tobia with his griev- Tobia on Tuesday, August 25th to discuss the Boston Museum of Arts School. She to the Barefoot Bay residents who will ances over the BBRD Assessment Fees this Referendum trying to reach some works in many media, and often com- being collected with your property taxes. common ground. A topic being enter- bines them. Ruth loves experimenting County tax records are public record. The tained is the Recreation District agreeing and works in layers. She tells stories with Rev. Dr. Earl B. Medlen is tax-savvy—he to not raising Assessment Fees over CPI her art, layering about memories and his- What’s Inside pays far less taxes than the rest of us. for the count on this Ballot not being tory. “I explore the paradoxes of life, and Answer Nurse............................. 8 In a phone conversation, Mr. Tobia counted. Of course, this is up in the air how our memories affect our present and Area Happenings........................ 19 kept dropping cryptic innuendos about being written before August 25th. We’ll future.” She says it’s all a journey! Ruth’s Chairman’s Report...................... 2 the effectiveness of the BBRD attorney see what happens, as it has the potential art is sold on Instagram. Church News...............................16 Clifford Repperger and implied that we to drastically change life in Barefoot Bay Club News...................................10 (BBRD Staff and residents) would find as we know it! Community Fund.........................3 out soon enough. Well, we found out. CVO............................................ 4 In essence, Commissioner Tobia went Obituaries...................................13 behind the backs of this entire commu- Ramblings of a Retired Mind.......15 nity in putting this Referendum on the Recreation District Trustees......... 3 November 2020 General Election Ballot Shout Out....................................7 and making our Attorney look inad- Sports........................................ 18 equate. Tracy Masters............................. 9 How it may affect you and our com- Trustee Candidate Forum............ 5 munity Veterans..................................... 14 If this Referendum should pass, it has the potential to dramatically change this Volunteers desperately needed to deliver meals just one hour one day per week in the Barefoot Bay area between 11 :30-12:30. By becoming a meals on wheels volun- teer, deliver the hope that together we can help stop senior hunger. Please call your coordinator, Jodi (772) 202-4441 HOME • FLOOD • AUTO (772) 664-3154 MANUFACTURED HOME • RV • BOAT Schneider &Insurance Associates Agencies 7960 U.S. Highway 1, Micco, FL 32976 PERSONAL UMBRELLA • RENTERS CYAN MEGENTA YELLOW BLACK Page 2 Barefoot Tattler / September 2020 A Word From Your Glass & Screen Recreation District Chair Repaired Trustee Joe Klosky Power washing, Tiling & Painting Aloha Kahahiaka! Greetings! Well, DOR violation 20-000564 935 Oriole Insulated Glass Repaired here we are already in the month of Circle. August, and I hope you all are enjoy- DOR violation 20-000260 921 Laurel ing this hot weather. As if we don’t have Circle. (772) 453-4636 enough to sweat about already, we had All thee cases were turned over to the a lucky escape from Hurricane Isiais. attorney for legal action. A Polish salad called “Mizeria” of sliced Manager’s Report cold cucumbers in sour cream and dill The District transitioned from the will cool you off. MailChimp bulk email distribution service Covid-19 is still here, and it just will to CivicReady. To keep citizens safe and not leave us. While the virus is still hang- informed, CivicReady will allow BBRD ing around, we need to do our part. Wear to issue urgent notifications, emergency your mask, social distance six feet apart, instructions, warnings, and routine com- don’t touch your face, and wash your munications to subscribed residents via hands often (20 seconds; sing Happy email. Go to BBRD.org to subscribe. Birthday). We are still in Re-opening Parkit Construction began the Building Phase 2 and the Lounge and 19th Hole A kitchen renovation project on August First Choice will stay closed until further notice. 10. The kitchen, which is used by Food The Board of Trustees had two BOT & Beverage, residents, BBRD clubs and meetings in July 2020: July 16th and caterers, will be renovated to include a Properties, Inc. July 28th. new fire suppression system, a hot and Unfinished Business: cold line to improve food production, a REALTOR Phased Re-opening Discussion—The catering prep and cooking area, a dish BOT consensus was to stay in Phase 2 washing area and a walk-in cooler and until the next meeting. At the July 28th freezer. BOT meeting the Board took no action ARCC Meetings 772-664-0066 and is staying in Phase 2. Mr. Coffey stat- July 21—22 consent items approved; ed that Shaw Medical Group has offered 5 old business (permit extensions) 7656 US Highway 1, Micco, FL. 32976 to handle all employee testing moving approved; 6 other items, 4 approved, 1 forward at no cost to BBRD.