Senate Committee of the Whole met on St. John and heard pleas from the developers of Grande
Bay on the edge of Cruz Bay. The developers want zoning changes that would
allow their project to proceed. They
have an empty shell of a building and want to complete it. They also have a
building that spans different lots with different zoning – the developers want
to be able to legitimately operate their planned businesses and need zoning
changes. On the other side the widow of Ivan Jadan pleading that her view was
destroyed by the building and she wants construction to stop where it is. No
action.
The Senators did support plans to rezone a plot outside the
center of town for a new Post Office in Enighted pond area The proposed Post
Office would be a 6,000 square foot facility and cover 77% of the lot.
You already know that the Government is planning to issue
new land tax bills based on the 1998 valuation – the last valuation that is uncontested. Now Lieutenant Governor Gregory Francis announced
new draft rules for the property tax payments. Tax bills would be due 60 days
after they are issued but if you pay within 30 days you get 5% off. But if you owe back taxes you can’t pay the
current bills in installments. But if they pay the current bill in a lump sum,
they can strike a deal to pay back taxes in increments.
Sad news that Senator Adlah “Fonsie” Donastorg faced charges
in a domestic violence case. The Senator
turned himself into police yesterday and was released on his own recognizance. Magistrate Alan Smith is expected to advise
Donastorg of his rights today in the
Magistrate Division of the V.I. Superior Court located in Barbel Plaza, St.
Thomas
What is Puerto Rico brewing up now. an Amendment in the US Congress to the Rum
Cover over tax that would “destroy the economy of the Virgin Islands” according
to Governor John DeJongh. Florida
Senator George LeMieux offered the amendment to a jobs bill that would remake
the rum cover-over tax. Right now the rum tax is based on the site of production. The change would apportion the tax rebate on
the basis of population , basically taking our rum revenues and giving them to Puerto
Rico. Government House says that overturns 100 years of precedent. The Governor
says “The proposed amendment takes
excise tax revenue paid by Virgin Islands rum makers on rum produced in the
Virgin Islands and directly transfers it to Puerto Rico’s government coffers. Puerto
Rico would end up with billions of dollars generated by rum production in the
Virgin Islands.” Worse, if the plan passes, the Virgin Islands Government would
default on millions of dollars of bonds that are backed by the rum tax rebates.
CAHS distributed period report cards yesterday to student in
10, 11 and 12th grades. TODAY Parents of 9th graders are
asked to come to meet teachers on Friday at the Ruth E. Thomas Auditorium.
Progress report will be distributed and parents will receive
Edline codes and vital testing reports.
Would you like to become
a firefighter? The Division of Personnel us offering testing to enter the
firefighters academy. Sign up END TODAY.
For more information call 774-8588.
Senate
Committee of the Whole is meeting at 6:00 PM at the Earle B. Ottley legislative
Hall on St. Thomas - At issue are plans for Bolongo Investments wants to turn
lots 18M and 18H in Estaste Bovoni into
a retail shopping center with restaurants, warehouses, product assembly
factories equipment sales maybe a post office and brokers warehouses. Bovoni
Investments wants to take Parcel 18M1 and others for a dry dock, marine
terminal warehouse, concrete products factory, water storage and distillation
plant and sewage treatment plant. Also on the agenda are changes to the Tramway
properties to develop condos. And
Springhouse LLC wants to relocate an architectural firm to Parcels 15 and 15B
in Estate Smith Bay. Nick Pourzal plans
for Estate Bakkero have been pulled out of tonight’s hearings.
The Cultural Heritage Institute and the Department of Education's
Cultural Education and the Council on the Arts will host the Territory's Fourth
Annual March Music Series, titled "Tradition Meets 21st
Century". the 21st Century Band will perform a series of
public concerts: on Croix - Friday, the 5th
at 6:00 PM at the Frederiksted Beach. On St. John on Saturday, the 6th at 6:00
PM at the Cruz Bay bandstand. On St. Thomas on Sunday March 7th at
6:00 PM at Franklin Roosevelt - Veterans Memorial Park; and a final concert Tuesday,
March 9th in Emancipation Garden from 10:00 AM to noon 30.
Good News for a turtle.
A hawksbill turtle got hooked near frenchtown and Kevin Maddox and Villa
Olga manager Doug Metzger saved the turtle.
Renatta Platenberf, the Fish and Wildlife biologist said they did the
right thing – Call Fish and Wildlife get the turtle to a vet and Michelle
Mehalick treated the turtle at St. Croix Island Animal Clinic. The turtle took a second plane ride courtesy of
seaborne aviation and was released in the waters near Frenchtown. If you see a
turtle in trouble call 690-0474.