CMF Public Media » 12/10/09 http://cmfmedia.org Issues and Voices that Matter Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:15:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Commentary http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/commentary-3/ http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/commentary-3/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:24:55 +0000 Webmaster http://cmfmedia.org/?p=1237 commentary-dec-10
A feature of every Central Florida Matters is a 3-minute commentary presented by a voice that matters on an issue that voice believes matters.

The voice you’ll hear next is that of John C. Maingot, Mayor of the City of Longwood commenting on the on the mayor’s role in his city’s government. Length – 4:04

(Commentary remarks by John C. Maingot, Mayor of the City of Longwood)

Central Florida Matters encourages you to post your own reaction to this commentary. Visit the “commentary” segment on-line at cmfmedia.org. While there you’ll find useful links related to the commentary, including a transcript, biographical information and related pictures.

Should you wish to be considered for a commentary segment on Central Florida Matters, please click on the “contact” link to send us an email which should include adequate information for us to understand your issue. And please include a daytime telephone number where we may reach you.

Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.
John C. Maingot, Mayor City of Longwood, Fl

Additional Feature Information

]]> http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/commentary-3/feed/ 0 ICONS of Seminole County http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/icons-of-seminole-county/ http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/icons-of-seminole-county/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:23:52 +0000 Webmaster http://cmfmedia.org/?p=1232 icons-dec-10Historically, water towers dotted the sky line.  They have served and still serve an important utility purpose; usually storing water for drinking or for fire protection. Many city-located towers become an iconic beacon of the community. Some say that is increasingly the case in Oviedo, Fl., with two towers featured in this series.

Arthur Evans and Susan Howard take on a role in the interview as “water tower keeper’s” for their respective water tower owning organizations  – Nelson & Company and Duda, in themselves, local business ICONS in the county. Length – 14:07

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck)

Please note – we’ve populated the Website with lots of pictures of these water towers, making this audio adventure more meaningful. Also included is a map showing where each tower is located in Oviedo, actually only about 2 1/2 miles separate them.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.
Duda tower:
Susan Howard Susan Howard at tower base
Susan Howard and Stephen McKenney Steck
Extended interview (15:37)
Duda water tower Duda water tower 1980 aerial view – Duda water tower 1980 aerial view – Duda water tower
Nelson & Co tower:
Arthur Evans
Arthur Evans and Stephen McKenney Steck
Extended interview (22:06)
Nelson tower Nelson tower Nelson tower showing external water level guage
Nelson tower Nelson tower Nelson tower showing safety device on ladder

Area Map

View Larger Map with Details

Additional Feature Information

]]> http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/icons-of-seminole-county/feed/ 1 Coping with the Economy in Seminole County: Child Care http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/coping-with-the-economy-in-seminole-county-child-care/ http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/coping-with-the-economy-in-seminole-county-child-care/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:22:48 +0000 Webmaster http://cmfmedia.org/?p=1230 coping-dec-10Local child care centers have felt the impact of high unemployment and tight family incomes.  Enrollment has shrunk and government funding for low income parents is hard hit.   Even as their businesses are suffering, the three owners we spoke to felt their greatest worry was for the children who were not receiving good quality services and education. Feature Length – 16:29

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner)

Coping with the economy has put a strain on child care centers just as it has on other businesses. As unemployment rates have climbed, parents who lose their job or have their hours at work reduced are forced to take their children out of day care.

With enrollment down and government subsidies declining, child care operators have had to find ways to cut their costs to match the reduced levels of revenue.

David Jackson owner of All About Kidz in Oviedo, Karen Nelson owner of the Oviedo Montessori School and Cindi Seda of A Tots World in Winter Springs and Longwood, are all hands-on participants in the daily work of their centers.

David Jackson came to the child care business five and a half years ago after a career in law enforcement. He bought All About Kidz three years ago and also owns a second center in Brevard County.

Karen Nelson has owned Oviedo Montessori School for more than 7 years. She offers an alternative school day VPK program at the school.

Cindi Seda was a nurse until she moved into the child care business 12 years ago. She owned and operated three centers A Tots World I, II, and III until she had to close one to consolidate during this downturn in the economy. Her knowledge and experience make her a spokesperson for child care in many instances.

Parents, through tuition, pay 50% of the cost of the care of a child in a day care center. Various government funding sources cover the remaining 50%. Community Coordinated Child Care or 4C subsidies low income families but there are waiting lists for assistance. The federal government supplies subsidies for children who qualify for free or reduced lunch service. The subsidies help improve nutrition for low income children.

Unfortunately, these funding sources do not cover the costs of providing services for many centers.

Another source of funding comes from the Florida Department of Education which sponsors the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program for 4 year olds. It provides 540 hours of educational curriculum to prepare 4 year olds to be “ready to learn” when they start kindergarten. This important program is funded at the rate of $4.76 /hour /child and sets high standards for teaching staff and student/teacher ratios. Since the state pays for the 3 hours in the classroom, parents only have to cover any additional hours the child stays at the center, the wrap around time.” This is an attractive bargain for parents but with state funding being reduced this year, it has put the centers in a squeeze.

When their income is reduced, parents have to look for the lowest price they can get for child care. This has led to many children being cared for at a neighbor or at less expensive centers. Our three child care professionals worried that this could result in lower quality care for the children with fewer educational and social services.

Parents and providers are both hoping that as the economy improves and jobs return, the squeeze on income and revenue will ease. And the children will grow and learn in a safe secure environment.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.
Cindi Seda, A Tot’s World
Cindi Seda and Desta Horner
Extended interview (22:05)
David Jackson, All About Kidz
David Jackson and Desta Horner
Extended interview (13:40)
Karen Nelson, Oviedo Montessori School
Karen Nelson and Desta Horner
Extended interview (5:36)

Additional Feature Information

]]> http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/coping-with-the-economy-in-seminole-county-child-care/feed/ 2 Dallari: One-on-One (part 1) http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/dallari-one-on-one-part-1/ http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/dallari-one-on-one-part-1/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:21:43 +0000 Webmaster http://cmfmedia.org/?p=1228 dallari-part-1bAt the start of his second term as chairman of the Seminole County, Fl., Board of County Commissioners, Bob Dallari sits for a 60-minute, one on one interview addressing key issues in his first term as chairman and looking ahead to the tasks the commission and he must confront during his second term. Length – 21:06

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck)

In November 2009, the Seminole County, Fl., Board of County Commissioners re-elected its incumbent chair to serve another term as chair through 2010

The interview is divided into 2-parts, with this being the first. You may hear the 2nd part when it is posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009.

This first part includes Dallari’s remarks about 7 key subjects – groundwater withdrawal, budget cuts, staff reductions, level of service to residents, the School Board’s one cent sales tax extension, commuter rail and consideration of a strong mayor form of county government.

Part 2 of “Dallari: One on One,” will be posted Thursday, December 31, 2009. In it Dallari addresses other issues the commission confronted last year or will confront in 2010. Those issues include the termination of County Manger Cynthia Coto; the qualities of experience the commission is hoping to find in the candidates for that position; the relationship status between Dallari and the other 4 commissioners as well as with Orange County, the 7 cities in Seminole County, the state legislative delegation and the school board.

(See additional information below about Seminole County Government)

Extended Interviews & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.
Bob Dallari, Chairman, Seminole County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Dallari in his “accessible” office – no door, no hinges
Bob Dallari and Stephen McKenney Steck
Extended interview (30:43)

Context: Seminole County Board of County Commissioners

The government of Seminole County, Florida is led by a 5-person elected board of commissioners. Each commissioner is elected county-wide but must reside in and serve a particular district of the county.

Each commissioner serves a 4 year term in office and may be reelected as often as they continue to qualify for office and the electors vote them into office.

In 2010, each commissioner is paid an annual salary of 80,358. This salary has essentially remained at that level for the previous two years. The county considers the position of commissioner a full time job. Each commissioner has one full time executive assistant.

The board sets and controls an annual budget for the expenses necessary to run county government. For 2010 – the current budget year, they approved expenses totaling $466.2 million dollars. In the previous year, that budget was $490.4 million dollars, and in the year prior to that, it was $485.1 million dollars.

The county currently employs1,354 staff members. Last year that total was 1,459, and the year prior they employed 1,515

Each November – from among the 5 commissioners – they select a chair to serve a 1 year term. The chair — other than facilitating the commission meetings, signing official documents and externally representing county government to its residents — has no greater authority than any of the other 4 commissioners.

This is known as a “commission-manager” form of government in that the commission hires a county manager to administer the activities of the county as established by the resident-elected commission. The board also hires the county attorney. Both the manager and the attorney report to the commission. All other staff report to the county manager.

Additional Feature Information

]]> http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/dallari-one-on-one-part-1/feed/ 0 Central Florida Matters (6th Edition) http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/central-florida-matters-6/ http://cmfmedia.org/2009/12/central-florida-matters-6/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:20:36 +0000 Webmaster http://cmfmedia.org/?p=1225 cfm-dec-10-bWelcome to the 6th edition of Central Florida Matters, posted on 12/10/09.   One-on-one with the Chairman of Seminole County, Fl., government; how local child care centers are coping with the economy; the history and lore of iconic water towers in Oviedo, Fl.; and commentary from the Mayor of Longwood, Fl. These are the issues and voices you’ll hear in a traditional radio-style format on this complete version of Central Florida Matters.

(Presented and hosted by Stephen McKenney Steck and Desta Horner)
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