tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317770170474039861.post6718854834988853157..comments2024-03-28T22:53:23.117-05:00Comments on Jeff Bergosh Blog: How $92 Million Was Given Away, and Nobody is Held to Account, Part IJeff Bergoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12638001957494810839noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317770170474039861.post-72765253496655165692018-12-13T22:57:54.262-06:002018-12-13T22:57:54.262-06:00Commissioner: You do good work. I’m pleased you ...Commissioner: You do good work. I’m pleased you serve our county. However, in this unfortunate circumstance, you and your fellow commissioners are directly at fault since you have direct authority over SRIA actions. You can delegate authority, but not responsibility/accountability.<br /><br />If I understand this issue correctly, these multi family residences renewed their leases early. That should have been the lever used to compel them to accept a market rate.<br /><br />Furthermore, revenues from Pensacola Beach are being mismanaged entirely. The Commission should be actively pursuing fee simple. Fee Simple would make more properties taxable ($1.3 million per year in added taxes according to Chris Jones). In addition, beach property values are depressed due to the unwieldy lease system. Fee simple would lead to higher values leading to higher County tax revenues. It is unfortunate that the Commission allowed itself to be kowtowed by Dianne Krumel and her acolytes at the PNJ.The last sane person on Earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08133400723847044879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1317770170474039861.post-6389293867981474232018-12-13T08:24:46.128-06:002018-12-13T08:24:46.128-06:00Commissioner Bergosh,
Our beach lease has the fol...Commissioner Bergosh,<br /><br />Our beach lease has the following language; "The Leesee, if not in default hereunder, may renew this lease for an additional term of 99 years upon the same taxes, conditions, and rentals, by giving written notice of renewal at least 6 months prior to the expiration of this term." I'm guessing this language is not unique and is some type of boiler plate language that may exist in may other land leases on Pensacola Beach. <br /><br />Given this language, how do you propose to negate the terms and conditions that exist in the lease? I'm not an attorney, but it seems to me whatever rate was negotiated in 1959 for our land lease will remain in effect until 2058 if we're not in default. This may be true for other land leases, too. Do you know if the 2 land lease renewals that offend you were just a renewal at the same terms and conditions of the original 99 year lease? If they were, how did the county lose millions of dollars? If they were not the same renewals, could you explain how they were different than the original land lease? <br /><br />I can't speak for our association, but it seems that any change like the change you're proposing would be met with another class action type lawsuit like the one against Chris Jones. At this point the county has already spent millions of dollars on that lawsuit and lost (requiring the county to refund millions of dollars). If funds are an issue, how can you justify another action by the county that will undoubtedly be challenged by lease holders at Pensacola Beach?<br /><br />One more point - at a SRIA meeting this past year when they discussed some of the ramifications of your 100 year lease language, one SRIA board member brought up the fact that such action would harm them in getting funding for beach renourishment from the state. Are you aware of this, and if so, could you clarify why the language change would impede state funding?<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Bill Ray<br /><br /><br /><br />WRayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678455306823808711noreply@blogger.com