Firefighter overtime poses financial risk to Margate taxpayers
Margate firefighters have already burned through $250,000 in overtime the first eight months of Fiscal Year 2010 and have been granted another $50,000 to cover OT costs through to September.
Last year, Fire Department OT reached $250,000 in the city and in 2008 fire rescue overtime cost taxpayers roughly half a million dollars – ten times the amount originally adopted by elected officials that year.
What are Margate officials doing about out-of-control overtime costs during one of the most cash-strapped times in Margate history since city coffers ran red in the 1980s?
Read more…
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Scathing allegations made by former youth football official
Confirming fears of some Margate city officials, the Northwest Broward Raiders youth football team might not "play by the rules." A source once close to the league in which the Raiders play told MargateNews.net that the organization has ethics problems, whereas kids and their families are paid to play for the team and parents and coaches wager on games.
“Coaches bet $4,000 on last year’s championship,” said the source.
Read more…
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The value of Margate labor unions dwindling in the eyes of residents
Speaking with several in attendance at Margate's City Commission meeting Wednesday night, Margate residents say they would like to see both union pay and benefits cut for all three Margate unions (General Employee, Police, Fire).
Margate residents say they are genuinely offended by the fire union’s recent request for pay raises and are giving second thoughts as to whether to support the union any longer.
Read more...
Fire Department direct salary and wages
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Paradise Gardens III Towing Cars?
According to a Paradise Gardens III Margate homeowner, eight cars were towed off PG III streets on Mother’s Day by his homeowners association. Add to that his HOA covenants have been amended to include ‘no parking allowed’ on either side of the street.
Both moves conflict with Margate law, says City Attorney, Eugene Steinfeld.
Click here to read more.
Reader Opinion.
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Firefighter Code of Ethics sorely needed
Unethical behavior among firefighters is a growing problem nationwide; the focus of a fire service reputation report that aims to identify the detrimental impact of immoral and inappropriate behavior by fire rescue personnel on the departments and communities they serve.
“Like every other profession, we in the fire service suffer from the embarrassment and damage to our hard-earned reputation because of the very few who choose to break the law or rules. While that may be unfair; it is our reality in today’s world of instant, mass communication.”
- Kelvin Cochran, United States Fire Administrator
Click here to read more.
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Atlantic Palms Condominium plagued with mortgage fraud?
A 990 Square foot condominium at the 76-unit Atlantic Palms condominium complex at 400 Atlantic Boulevard in Margate sold for $172,900 in January 2008.
Two years later in March 2010, the condominium unit - originally purchased with a HUD backed loan - was sold to a new owner for $24,600, an almost 700 percent drop in value.
Click here to read more.
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Margate trails Broward County average in responding to U.S. Census
Only 52% of Margate residents have mailed in their census forms vs. 54% on average for Broward County cities. Margate city officials are urging residents who have not yet mailed in their census to do so promptly, so that Margate doesn’t lose its fair share of state and federal funding based on population.
“The more people we have accounted for the more money we get,” said Margate Commissioner, Frank Talerico.
Click here to read more.
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Is Florida Governor Charlie Crist telling the truth?
In December, the Sun-sentinel published a video interview with Florida Governor, Charlie Crist, about his dealings with fraudster and ponzi scheme elitist,Scott Rothstein, a South Florida attorney who bilked Florida taxpayers out of millions. Rothstein donated $2.8 million to Republican concerns in 2006, much of which hasn't been rightfully returned to the taxpayers to whom the money belongs.
Click here to read more.
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Kentucky Sheriff says Florida is killing his Citizens
Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program takes effect in December, which lawmakers hope will bring some relief to the problems caused by the proliferation of pain clinics in South Florida, states a report by Florida State Attorney, Michael J. Satz.
“Until Florida gets off the pot and does something about this problem, they’re just killing us all,” said Sheriff Terry Keelin of Boyd County, Kentucky. “They’re killing our citizens. It’s a mess.”*
Click here to read more.
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Local Heroes Honored
At Margate’s Second Annual Street Festival along Margate Boulevard last week, local politicians and business leaders presented gift baskets and plaques to local military troops committed to American efforts in the global war on terror.
Remembered at the festival were the more than 1,000 American soldiers reported killed in wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Yemen, and the more than 4,000 American troops who have sacrified their lives fighting for democracy in Iraq.
Click here for list of those awarded.
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Margate Resident Saves Gull
As car after car passed a struggling seagull with a leg injury in commuter traffic on Rock Island Road, one concerned Margate resident pulled over to help the bird. After stopping traffic and shuffling the bird into a cage, the resident, who requested to remain anonymous, called the Wildlife Care Center in Fort Lauderdale for help.
Click here to read more.
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Recycle Wrapping Paper
Every year tons of discarded holiday wrapping paper and trees needlessly make it to county landfills. Much of it can either be reused or recycled, saving Mother Nature countless ‘hundreds of years’ trying to break this stuff down. Let’s work together to reduce this year’s holiday carbon footprint.
Click here to read more.
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Red Light Cameras Approved for Margate
Margate City Commissioners selected a Red Light Camera vendor last Wednesday to install the devices at numerous intersections in Margate. Wasting no time, crews have already hit the road and have begun putting the cameras atop poles across the city.
Click here for tips on how to avoid a ticket.
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Margate upholds Separation of Church and State...or not
Separation of Church and State around the holidays typically comes in the form of arguments regarding the placement of religious symbols on city-owned land. This year in Margate, it’s about whether to allow the Hebrew Academy on State Road 7 to portray the City of Margate as a sponsor in marketing materials for an upcoming event.
Click here to read more.
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Margate perfect for first time homebuyers
In so many respects Margate is ideal for first time homebuyers and young professionals in search of a good place to settle down. As Broward County’s first city west, Margate’s housing stock is old and primarily cement block – so you know your house can weather the storm. To sweeten the deal, 2/2s are selling anywhere from $75K and up.
Click here to read more.
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There is still time to appeal your property tax
Although the official deadline for appealing your property tax has passed, a local company continues to bring appeals before the county tax office with a 100% success rate. For a nominal one-time fee, Pat Kennedy of CORE Associates can help homeowners reduce the tax-assessed value of their homes, even if they’ve already paid this year’s tax.
Click here to read more.
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The Human Cannonball and Daredevil Globe of Death
Cole Bros. Circus of the Stars, The World's Largest Circus Under the Big Top, guarantees to delight children and adults of all ages with a two-hour show filled with thrilling human performers and amazing animals on the year of the legendary Circus’ 125th Anniversary.
It’s all happening at the Old Swap Shop grounds at Margate Blvd and State Road 7 on November 12-15. The event is presented by the Margate Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.
Click here to read more.
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Vicious Dog Owner Caught on Tape at Margate City Hall
Luis Rivera of Margate recently failed in an attempt to appeal a ruling that determined his Pit Bull was dangerous. The dog got loose one day, got away from Rivera and attacked a neighbor walking his dog.
Representing himself before a Margate Magistrate last week, Rivera makes a solid case for a profile recently established by the Journal of Forensic Sciences that points to a heightened level of psychopathy among vicious dog owners.
Check out this shocking YouTube video of Rivera’s testimony in Margate Chambers.
Click here to read more.
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Margate Born NASCAR Bound
Son of a Florida Highway Patrolman of 27 years, Margate-born, Brian Blum is off to the races next week as he joins the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Team for races in Tennessee, Virginia and Taladega Alabama.
Blending frozen concoctions over the summer, Blum, a Computer Networking graduate from Atlantic Technical Center in Margate, is paying his bills selling Ritter’s Frozen Custard for now, but has his eyes set on the NASCAR truck circuit and eventually winning a few bucks competing there.
Click here to read more.
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Margate’s First Parks & Recreation Director, George Mudd, Dies
George Mudd, 75, Margate’s original Parks & Recreation Director, later promoted to Deputy City Manager, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2009 surrounded by his family at Boca Raton Hospital.
“He was a fantastic guy,” said Margate City Commissioner, David McLean, he got me involved in the city when I was a kid. He’s one of those guys that would do anything for you.”
Click here to read more.
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Margate Swim Team more than Competitive
After a five-year hiatus, the Margate Motion swim team is back. Led by Coach Eric Smith Norman and sister Kaitlin, Motion took home a trophy this year, competed in four meets and won 100 ribbons.
“I’m proud to bring it back,” said Norman. “It’s our first year and the team has done well.”
Click here to read more.
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City Commission Out of Order
South Florida is no stranger to poorly planned land deals and developments gone awry. It’s been the nature of our beast for years. Somebody always makes out like a bandit, but it’s never a city or its residents – if it were, we wouldn’t be buried in budget shortfalls, joblessness, crime and a governor who says we can’t effectively fund education without casino gambling.
Click here to read more.
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If a Hurricane Hits
In an effort to dispatch early responders to areas of the county hardest hit after a hurricane, Broward County encourages residents to call 311 and report damage to their home, or complete a brief home damage assessment online form as soon as it is safe to go outside and survey storm damage.
Click here to read more.
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Margate Aztec RV Resort to show city economic promise
Why would a Class-A Recreational Vehicle owner want to park their rig in Margate? A: hundreds of great restaurants within a 2-mile radius, seven months of beautiful weather, less than a 30-minute drive to Fort Lauderdale and Deerfield beaches, two casinos within ten miles and fresh water sport fishing inland for snook, tarpin and peacock bass. Add to that two 18-hole golf courses and the priceless benefits and convenience of urban sprawl and discount shopping.
But will wealthy RVers spend money in Margate? The answer depends on what Margate businesses have to offer.
Click here to read more.
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More to Margate T-Mobile Cell Tower Lawsuit than Meets the Eye
Many of you have read in the local Forum that Margate is being sued by cell provider, T-Mobile, for denying the company cell towers in Margate on two occasions: first in Centennial Park and again on Oriole Golf Course. Both times, Margate City Attorney, Eugene Steinfeld, warned elected officials that denial could result in a federal lawsuit, as FCC regulations block cities from saying no to site approval.
Click here to read more.
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Resident at Large: Rich Popovic
Rich Popovic attends just about every Margate City Commission meeting. Each time, he takes advantage of the three minutes every resident is entitled to speak about how the City of Margate is run. He often addresses the commission in an unpleasant way, lambasting elected officials for what he refers to as their ineptness, poor oversight, haphazard policy making and overall lack of integrity in the political process.
Commissioners sometimes thrash back at Popovic and come just short of having him removed from city meetings.
Click here to read more.
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