On Friday, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity released Lake County’s unemployment rate and it dropped from 10.1 percent in November to 9.9 percent in December, which is the lowest rate since April 2009. It has taken a whopping 31 months for Lake County’s unemployment rate to drop into single digits. This is great news, but much more needs to be done. If you look inside the numbers, some of the reduction was caused by a shrinking workforce, which means more people have given up trying to find a job. Plus, these numbers do not include the thousands who are under-employed with lower paying part-time jobs or reduced hours, but the numbers are moving in the right direction.
The old adage liars can figure, but figures don’t lie clearly can represent the effect the change in local leadership has meant to the unemployed. In November 2010, when Commissioners Leslie Campione and Sean Parks took over for the anti-growth/extreme environmental reign of former Commissioners Elaine Renick and Linda Stewart, Lake County’s unemployment rate was a horrendous 12.6 percent. Since the formation of a more business friendly commission, Lake’s unemployment rate has dropped 22 percent. That’s not luck or just something happening in the business cycle, this drop was manifested because of a positive change in leadership.
The other factor which has become crystal clear since November 2010 is that impact fees do not work; these fees are job killers. Leesburg and Tavares, which have waived impact fees, are seeing growth and opportunity, while those areas in Mount Dora and Eustis that cling on to them have seen accelerated decay. Impact fees do not work because – number one – these fees are a government tax; most importantly, they add no real value to the property. It’s not like when you pay impact fees you get something no other current property owner has. The people in banking and finance cannot quantify the fees to add values; thus, you cannot get financing.
Based on the growth we’ve seen since the suspension of school and transportation impact fees at Lake and the cities of Tavares and Leesburg, the unemployment rate would probably be 10.6 percent if no impact fees were reduced. These numbers were extrapolated from the surrounding counties, which did not react as aggressively in waiving impact fees. In our view, the suspension of impact fees lowered the unemployment rate 0.7 percent.
Bottom line: It does matter who you elect. Some voters contend it doesn’t matter who is elected because, “They’re all the same,” but Lake County is proof positive that is not true. Could you imagine how high the misery and despair index would be in this county had Renick and Stewart kept their seats coupled with the misery created by the Obama administration? Simply put: There would be no hope.
Another argument that has been blown to smithereens since this turndown began is that growth doesn’t pay for itself. If growth doesn’t pay for itself then Lake County should be the richest and most prosperous county in Florida. Just the opposite was proven. Since growth stopped, Lake County is poorer, the cities are poorer, municipal services are butchered, and most of our citizens are making considerably less money.
If you need more convincing that the no-growth/ extreme environmental movement is a failure just look at the City of Tavares compared to its sister cities in the Golden Triangle – Eustis and Mount Dora. The pro-business, no impact fee government of Tavares is growing its tax base; improving its city; but most importantly, creating jobs. Eustis and Mount Dora are holding on to their anti-growth policies of high impact fees and over regulations and these cities are in utter decay. Businesses are closing, the infrastructure is falling apart, and there is a sense by the business community that Mount Dora and Eustis are in decline. This is what happens when liberal, no-growth zealots are in charge.
So while we celebrate the improving unemployment numbers, remember that there is much work still to be done. There are too many dinosaurs in Lake County like those in Mount Dora and Eustis who think the old anti-growth/anti-business high impact-fee model can be successful. Just imagine if all the cities operated as aggressively as Tavares and Leesburg? The unemployment rate would probably be at least a point lower.
Our recommendation to new businesses considering investing in Lake County: Go to the cities and areas where you are welcomed, and the government officials understand they need you more than you need them. Lake County and the cities of Leesburg and Tavares are wonderful areas to plan a project, and hopefully in the next year or so some of these other areas will realize that capital investment has many suitors.
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Once again a blogger has stated on this blog that an unlicensed person by the name of Kevin Lenhart is nursing at the Lake County Jail facility by among other things physically giving flu shots without a nursing license or certificate. A search of state records verifies the unlicensed statement. It is up to the witnesses to verify the actual acts. It is a third degree felony in Florida to practice nursing without a license. It is also a third degree felony in Florida to knowingly hire an unlicensed nurse.
Therefore if these allegations are proven to be true both Mr. Lenhart and Sheriff Borders, Major Mass and any others who is knowingly a part of this ongoing crime should he charged accordingly. The blogger also mentions the fact that the whistleblower has received repercussions for reporting these crimes. The FS- 464.016 does not exempt a public official from committing this crime. Therefore, those with knowledge should pursue a criminal investigation into this matter through the below provided resources. Admittedly neither the Governor or any other law enforcement agencies including federal has any track records of enforcing laws against the culture of corruption in Lake County, the people should not give in and quit trying to bring these crimes to light.
Information concerning the governor’s authority to investigate criminal activity of public officials:
Who performs investigations on public officials and special investigations ordered by the Governor?
FDLE Executive Investigations handles investigations ordered by the Governor and conducts complex cases where public officials are suspected of criminal activity. In addition, Executive Investigations conducts background checks for governmental agencies (statutory authority is required).
Call: (850) 488-4505 or email Governor Rick Scott at rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com
When can Executive Investigations conduct an investigation?
For any of the following three reasons: There is an alleged crime; On specific direction in writing from the Governor; By joint resolution of the Florida House and Senate
FS.- 943.03 Department of Law Enforcement.—
(2) Upon specific direction by the Governor in writing to the executive director, the department shall investigate the misconduct, in connection with their official duties, of public officials and employees and of members of public corporations and authorities subject to suspension or removal by the Governor. All records related to such investigation, including any correspondence from the Governor, are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) until such time as the investigation is completed or ceases to be active. For purposes of this subsection, an investigation is considered “active” while the investigation is being conducted by the department with a reasonable, good faith belief that it may lead to the filing of criminal proceedings or gubernatorial action. An investigation does not cease to be active if the department is proceeding with reasonable dispatch and there is a good faith belief that either gubernatorial action or action by the department or other administrative or law enforcement agency may be initiated.
Offenses that constitute a third degree felony in Florida with relation to nursing are practicing nursing without a license, using or even trying to use a suspended or revoked license, and knowingly hiring a person who does not hold a nursing license.
Title XXXII
REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
464.016 Violations and penalties.—
(1) Each of the following acts constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084:
(a) Practicing advanced or specialized, professional, or practical nursing, as defined in this part, unless holding an active license or certificate to do so.
(b) Using or attempting to use a license or certificate which has been suspended or revoked.
(c) Knowingly employing unlicensed persons in the practice of nursing.
(d) Obtaining or attempting to obtain a license or certificate under this part by misleading statements or knowing misrepresentation.
Lenhart got his job just like everyone else has promotions and raises from the boss. He blew his way to it! What about jail CO’s with no law enforcement accreditation running shift’s with real deputies riding the roads in dog trucks. All they can legally track is escaped prisoners from the jail. They have no arrest power and can not legally respond to calls, but they do!
Don’t forget all that support staff and firefighters brigade. running interference for this criminal in charge? Ralph Smith, Lauren Ritchie, Sean Parks, Jimmy Conner, Lt. Pelton, Peyton Grinnell, Jeff Taylor, Todd Luce and the chief manipulation of them all Bob McKee, the untouchable godfather himself. [list is too long to finish] All either covering for him and/ or continuously putting out one fire after another for him. It’s going to be a long hot summer before this election is over.
the medical director at the lake county jail administered flu shots to employees himself. the medical director kevin lenhart has zero medical training. he is a paper pusher. zero medical education. he is in charge of the jail medical department and has no medical certifications. how do you get hired as the medical director without any medical training. well according to kevin lenhart, his relationship with the sheriff was enough. why would a sheriff hire a medical director who has no medical certification at all. he takes care of the payroll, scheduling and hiring processes. so why was he administering flu shots personally to employees? apparently there is an investigation on this. the whistleblower on the director has been punished, his work days have dwindles from near full-time to about three days a month. the sheriff knows all this info, why doesnt he help the employee? because lenhart can blow the whistle on the sheriff about their relationship. the sheriff’s list of favors for past relationships seems to never end. everyone knows about them. lee piper, kevin lenhart, bail bondsman, scott stone, robert myers, chuck theobald, dave mass, dep. harmon, greg lynch, yea greg lynchs ex- wife spilled the beans as to why greg left the jail, and why greg and the then major stopped hanging out. the list goes on and on. not to mention his green isle harem. he is the laughing stock of the florida sheriffs association. he is the “butt” of many jokes from sheriffs that are married with children and cannot abide that type of lifestyle. the inside scoop is that he is being pressured to run for sheriff again by members of his command staff who have covered up for him for years. they know they dont have job security if he doesnt run. once again sheriff, you should run for the citizens of lake county not for your command staff..
One thing we know for sure those ignorant derilicts you refer too might be dancing to a different drum but he keeps them around for their ability to deflect the truth off him. You can be sure they will come to the surface when this election gets into full swing. He’ll have David Pelton and his friend the old hag from the rag and others spinning those anti-lying bloggers stories about what a great person the sheriff is and how he spent he whole life “handling children” like he put on one job application for a hobby,
On that abortion story. You asked if the judge know what he was getting into? It depends on which judge it was. Some are in this click and some are not. For instance when the failed to well check Michael Green from midnight to 6 AM and the incoming shift found him comotose later that morning they took him before Judge Baxley using the old video they had and had Baxley release him from jail time served. John Herrell made the news release and even called Green a former jail inmate. Insiders say Baxley didn’t know he was releasing a dead man.
Someone should check the medical expenses at the jail. Lenhart giving flu shots and oxy on the billings. Due to HIPPA you can’t find out what patient is getting what but if we taxpayers is paying for all this stuff we should be able to find out what meds and procedures we are paying for. Someone has opened up a good can of worms right here not to mention the aids meds on the employee payouts.
I can tell you what is going on around here. We have got a person with a taxpayers checkbook with $65 million dollars a year being dumped into it who has never done anything in his life but boss around convicts at his mercy in a jail. His hobby has been hanging around little boys since he himself was 20 years old. Because he doesn’t want to look deficient he drags up the most ignorant derilicts he can find and rewards them for what he thinks is their loyalty to him with our money. We have the chief drunk Grinnell (at least he’s straight) chasing and catching everything he can. We’ve got Captain Moss who has been to the Green Isle Boys Ranch with Borders and Baby Ann and others. We have the short of Longo (laughing every chance he gets about all this when he thinks no one is looking) and the pansy Theobold looking for his nxt nice young catch from police school. We have Major gambling debtor Mass who owes so many of his jail employee’s $25-30 thousand bucks at a lick he lost gambling. And we have the chief law enforcement officer of Lake County making Lake County the laughing stock of the Florida Law Enforcement community for his relationships. then we have the decent employee’s who just want to do the right thing, get their honest pay and go home to their families. Unfortunately they are the ones who also have to shop area stores and attend area events and hear the public remarks about the public agency they work for and wish to heck they could be proud to do so.
Apparently some female socialist, communist, liberal by the name of Weaver wrote an article in the local bird cage floor covering. I did not get to read the article nor would I have probably wanted too. Someone responded to the article in a very professional and authorative manner. I noticed at this writing there is two blogs attacking the writers Christian faith and his anti Obama facts. Funny how close and similar the words communist and columnist are: Just replace the first M with an L and move U before the second M and you transform a communist into a columnist.
They have been doing this for 60 years now. The actual numbers in existance are unknown. Where do people who know no better get their news! From the lame stream media columnist who were made from the communist. You don’t even have to be intelligent to see this. 700 people at the Santorium rally in Lady Lake on Monday witnessed an event where Lake Deputies drug protesters from the event. The video of this event is all over the news and internet. The protesters were protesting Rick Santorium’s anti-gay stance on marriage and other gay issues.
Not only did the local bird cage floor covering completely leave this event out of their first article on Santorium, when they wrote the second article they left out not only the fact that the protesters flung “fairy dust” on Santorium but the entire issue that caused the event. The article started with “the protesters being warned outside” but never mentioned what they were protesting! Are they afraid to bring up gay or anti-gay issues in Lake County? By withholding the truth and/ or changing the facts reported Is the Leesburg bird cage floor cover as well as the bankrupt out of town rag represented by the ole hag communist inspired? I would darn well say so! Providing the people information where the truth is either distorted or totally suppressed is an act of communism. We have arrived on the steps of the mother load. If the people do not demand a stop to this we are on the brinks of total destruction of our free nation within a short period of time. Remember not only was there 700 eye witnesses to this event there is also 100′s of thousands of video watchers
hey lauren ritchie. here’s a story for ya. several employees of the jail became concerned when the jail administration and the top medical person arranged for an inmate to have an abortion at the jail’s expense. after word got out, they realized what a political blunder this would be for the sheriff, so they got a judge to let her out of jail, 4 months early! i wonder if the judge knew what the real situation was or was he just going by what was presented to him. republican, pro-life , christian, family, loves children. i think not. this article is not about the inmate that was let out, it is about how twisted the thinking is when it comes to the jail administration.do ya think borders and grinnell knew about this? of course they knew, major mass wont take a **** without telling them first., remember the inmates identity is not important, she is just a pawn in the this. how many abortions have we the taxpayers paid for at the lake county jail. i hope the jail can protect this woman’s identity and medical info better than they protected this story from being leeked.
Not under 30 and not brainwashed into thinking this is the greatest nation ever created. Maybe the most corrupt, but that can be blamed on the conservative cronies. Educated beyond belief to see the bigger picture and not stupid enough to fall for FOX News, thank you very much.
Them food stamps use to have a glue on them that caused serious mental deficiencies in the receiptients licking them. Experts say that was the primary cause of such society ails as Obamaism. That is why they went to those flag credit card looking EBT cards. The next time your messiah is on television take a look at the European gold colored tapestry hanging behind his majesty. A lot of times they even forget to display any American flags. Personally I hope you are in the under 30 age group because people like you who are hell bent on destroying the greatest nation ever on earth need to live for a long time in this hell you are creating!
I really hope that the ignorant folks that read your blog get the “real” news from other sources. But, you do write some entertaining fiction. Obama has done a great job. McCain would have just perpetrated the same old, same old. Now, we actually have to fix the problems created by a conservative regime. To those fools that really believe that he is Muslim (he’s actually Christian, like you all claim), Socialist/Communist (look up the definitions, you are either one or the other, and he is neither. He is for the common good of the American people as a whole, not just the 1 % which really ticks your types off.), wake up! It’s Congress that has held him back. I just blame him for caving to their ridiculous demands all along. Look who he is going to be running against, and honestly tell me he isn’t the best candidate. I love watching the Republicans self-destruct.
Brains are necessary in all fruitful decsions and statement makings! We didn’t even know who Barrack/ Barry was just a short 4 years ago. Now we have seen his socialist, communist, muslim agenda. If road and bridge building to a starving nation are considered jobs we can all have employment just as soon as we commit crimes, are sentenced to the state prison and get on the road gang! Problem solved 0% unemployment. No brains necessary.
Obama has created a 42% increase in our already overextended debt! From $10 to $15 trillion in just 3 years and he’s still got until January 20, 2013, almost another full year. On his new fast track that’s long enough to add another trillion if the no-brains congress will sign off on it and the Rockefellers, Chases and Rothschilds will let Bernake fund the loans with their Chinese money.
The people in this country had better wake up we are on the brink of the biggest “Ah S**T” moment this country has ever seen. All the while you have the brain dead like this “everything is wonderful” blogger on one hand and a bunch of theives in Lake County cleaning out the coffers faster than we can fill them. God Bless the USA and especially Lake County, Fl. for it is I who has to live here!
President Obama has created far more jobs in 4 years than Bush did in 8