USDA Ad hoc Committee

RE: In follow up to the motion-vote-consent that carried at our KBPOA meeting - - to halt the Fire Station adjacent to King's Bay.

by Miles Maronto posted April 2013:

We just received final word from U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtenin's Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, regarding some great news for King's Bay.

After eight days of meetings with various decision-makers from the Dept. of Agriculture to the United States Congress -- we have successfully stopped Federal Bill HR 417 -- and shut down Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest's ill-advised fire station at the USDA Subtropical property . . . adjacent to Kings Bay.

We were able to convince the Dept. of Agriculture not to remain neutral on the bill and then got to our U.S. Congresswoman, its sponsor. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtenin's demeanor impressed me. She had an open ear and mind and listened to our Summary of reasons as to why a fire station didn't belong at the USDA, on top of King's Bay.

Even though she was the sponsor of this bill, she saw a new perspective in our Summary, and did the right thing in killing it . . . At the political cost of having to call and tell the Mayors of Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay that their fire station was pulled in the 11th hour from passing.

We had met with the local USDA Director and other local civic groups . . . six days later the Dept. of Agriculture Region Director flew in town to meet with us, and we presented our Summary of Request.

I'm appreciative of the effort and teamwork by many who made this outcome possible, particularly I thank the committee who went 100 mph putting time into meetings, emails, and the phone. Thanks Ivette Cavé, Marilyn Cesarano, Rod Dickinson and Pura Martin.

Attached is our Summary of Request (representing our interests) calling for the fire station bill to be rescinded.

Thanks,

Miles Maronto

milesbysea@gmail.com

305 502.3000