Margate Cell Tower lawsuit waiting to be heard
The January lawsuit filed against the City of Margate by cell phone provider T-Mobile for denying the company a conditional use permit to place a 100-foot Cell Tower on Margate’s Oriole Golf Course has yet to see the inside of a courtroom.
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Reader Opinion from Oregon
Jane Celltower
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Margate unions wary over freeze in pay steps
Other than changes regarding the wording and scope of various articles within their respective union contracts, issues regarding step pay and overtime rose to the top of third-round union negotiations with the Federation of Public Employees (FPE) and International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 3080 Monday at Margate City Hall.
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Margate Mayor bounces State Rep Hopeful from City Meeting
At the behest of Margate Mayor, Joeseph Varsallone, Florida State Representative Candidate, Scott Yardley, was escorted from Margate city chambers by police Wednesday night after telling Varsallone he was out of order for interrupting Yardley’s three minutes of public speak allowed by law.
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Margate giving away $100,000: Still no takers
Margate has roughly $100,000 in grant money available to employees of businesses located within Margate’s Community Redevelopment Area.
After offering ‘first time home buyer assistance’ to city, county and North Broward Hospital district employees and not getting any takers, the city has approved advertising the grant for MCRA businesses.
Click here to read more.
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Margate Commissioner announces retirement
Margate City Commissioner, Pam Donovan, announced her retirement as a Margate City Commissioner effective the end of her term in 2013.
Donovan is moving to Orlando, she told the public at Wednesday's city commission meeting, to be close to her daughter and grandchildren.
Click here to read more.
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Atlantic Palms owes Margate taxpayers $23,000
The city has given the residents at Atlantic Palms every possible break. The Mayor even worked with their association to help resolve their financial woes and get them back on track so they can once again begin to pay bills.
To no avail, if Atlantic Palms can’t deliver a check to the city for $23,000, or a substantial amount to indicate goodwill by May 1 (Saturday), the city is shutting off their water.
Click here to read more.
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Margate’s share of the Seminole Compact
Once Florida state lawmakers officially sign the Seminole Compact into law, Margate will be one of many cities vying for roughly 3-percent of the $1 billion allotted for state coffers. How much Margate will get is anyone’s guess, said Margate City Manager, Frank Porcella, as no formula is set in place yet to divvy up funds among Broward cities.
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Summer Camp for Margate Kids
The Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital is hosting “Camp Wild” this summer for kids ages 6-12 in eight weekly sessions during the months of June & July. Cost is $200.00 per week ($180 for SNC Members) and includes all activities, T-Shirts and supplies.
Click here to read more.
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Margate Commissioner Fights Unfunded State Mandates in Tallahassee
Margate Commissioner, Pam Donovan attended Broward Days in Tallahassee this month as part of an effort to get Margate’s voice heard during this year’s Florida Legislative Session. With Margate facing a possible $4 million budgetary shortfall in 2010, Donovan and other Broward County elected officials are asking state lawmakers to stop legislating unfunded mandates, as taxpayers in their cities can no longer afford them.
Click here to read more.
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Teens call it "Marghetto"
My jaw dropped when a Margate teenager within earshot referred to Margate as “Marghetto.” I had to ask why and the high-school-age girl responded with “because it’s like a ghetto. That’s why we call it that.”
As it turns out, more of these ‘leaders of tomorrow’ lack a positive image of Margate, which could pose a detriment to the way people perceive the city for generations to come.
Taking with a grain of salt what these teenagers had to say, their perceptions reflect a glimmer of truth.
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Reader Opinion
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Margate Inner City Transit Drivers Face Pay Cut
In a move to save taxpayers more than $200,000 in the upcoming budget year while maintaining local bus service to residents, the Margate city commission directed city staff Wednesday night to proceed negotiating with Limousines of South Florida Inc. (LSF) to run Margate Inner City Transit.
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Reader Opinion
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City making it easier to serve beer at events
In response to frequent requests by private event coordinators across the city to serve beer outdoors at their events, the city’s Development Review Committee introduced an ordinance Thursday that would make it easier for both non-profit and for-profit organizations to set up beer service outdoors.
Click here to read more.
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Margate Mayor: "We want our money back!"
After years of paying the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) for services that Margate doesn’t receive, Margate Mayor, Arthur Bross, along with leaders from other Broward cities, will be demanding that the agency return $6.4 million to cities not under contract with BSO.
Not only does Bross want the money returned for last year, he wants taxpayers reimbursed three years in arrears.
Click here to read more.
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Commission Updates – June 3, 2009 Meeting
1. Motion for red-light camera RFP tabled
2. Budget workshop scheduled for Saturday, June 27th at 10AM at the Northwest Focal Point Senior Center 6009 NW 10th Street (next to Margate Library across the street from the Margate Municipal Complex)
3. Discussion regarding the permitting of bottle clubs will continue
FOURTH OF JULY
Margate will be having fireworks this year at the Banks Road Sports Complex. There may or may not be vendors. Stay tuned.
Attention all active duty military personnel and family members in Margate! Be a Grand Marshall in Margate's July 4th Parade! Call 954-972-6468
Parade Theme: Symbols of Freedom
Parade Time: 9 - 11 a.m.
Parade Route: Margate Boulevard
Enter your float into Margate's July 4th Parade! Deadline is June 30. Call 954-972-6458 for details.
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Margate Boulevard Construction
Using Road Bond money recently approved by Margate voters, Margate Public Works is installing new curbs on Margate Boulevard for the first time in decades. The project is designed to restore the street back to its original grade, so water will drain properly and lanes traveling both ways will be passable in a rainstorm.
Click here to read more.
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More Bulk Pickups in Margate
Margate residents can look forward to 12 bulk pickups a year effective October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2012, resulting from a new franchise agreement between the City of Margate and Waste Management Inc.
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Bulk Pickup Schedule
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City to begin Negotiations with Country Haven Motel
As part of the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency’s ongoing land acquisition plan for downtown Margate, MCRA officials will begin negotiating the purchase of the Country Haven Motel on State Road 7. Motel owners are asking $850,000, but as City Commissioner, Pam Donovan pointed out, the motel is tax assessed at roughly 30 percent less.
Click here to read more.
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