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Wayne Saunders
(Articles are in reverse chronological order)
Tab 10
That's all changed. The "Gem of the Hills" is caught in a vise grip of growth. Suddenly, big
money is floating everywhere, and high stakes ride on the votes of council members.
Outsiders come to town with pockets of cash that they wish to invest in south Lake County -
provided, of course, that the city is friendly and will accommodate them. Developers use their
best schmoozing techniques to convince council members that their housing is tops.
Suddenly, the council has more decisions to make than ever before - big ones. What's fair to
developers? What weight should residents' views get? When is it time to say, "Enough?"
To say, "Pay up?" To tell those who already live there that the community must expand?
How much growth is good, and when does it become a disaster for residents? For the
community? Against this new backdrop comes the power squabbles. Factions have formed, and
there is often a 3-2 vote on the council.
That's not so bad - democracy is just another word for debate - but it is destructive and divisive
when the caterwauling reaches a personal level. And in Clermont, it has. Can the atmosphere be
changed? It can, but it requires the cooperation - no, the steely determination - of those
personalities involved.
First, stop the subterfuge. Those who have problems with Saunders should step into his office
and demand explanations. After all, he works for all the council members and none of the
outsiders. If he has adopted sides or played favorites, if he's got a political agenda, council
members should put a stop to it because it's not good for anyone.
Secondly: Focus. Drop the petty nonsense about what happened in town 15 years ago. What's
done is done, and it is time to start anew. Turn the bright spotlight on where Clermont is now and
what its needs are.
Third, hammer out and articulate a cohesive philosophy of where the community is going,
particularly in terms of growth and the needs it brings. Find some practical steps to at least begin
getting there. Clermont is one cool place. It's a dash of old Florida with a pinch of artsy
downtown and a big helping of Little League, all set on a charming waterfront.
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