SPOTTED!
Roger Hernstatdt and Mike Cinque About to Enter Building
First, state representative Holly Raschein mistakenly announced a meeting of interested parties involved with Crane Point to discuss the nature area’s finances. Then, suddenly, her office announced the meeting was cancelled.
They lied. They lied to throw the press off. [Please see Holly Raschein’s response to this below.]
A meeting took place – as scheduled – at the training center of Coldwell Banker Schmitt with Keys Realtor Brian Schmitt hosting. Pictured are former Crane Point board chair Lynn Mapes; Mike Cinque, Marathon’s mayor and the ex-officio member of the Crane Point board; and Roger Hernstadt, Marathon city manager, all arriving at the offices of Schmitt Real Estate on June 6th around 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Site With Mapes Car In Foreground
Lynn Mapes Leaves Car
Lynn Mapes Enters Building
Those invited but not seen include current board chair Jeff Smith, county commissioner David Rice, Alison DeFoor, and Chuck Olson.
Also not seen was Holly Raschein who was originally expected to host/attend the meeting.
Opponents of the contentious zip line were not invited.
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REQUEST FOR RETRACTION/CORRECTION OF BLUE PAPER ARTICLE
After reading the article “Spotted!” by Michael Welber, published by the Blue Paper on June 7, 2013, I feel it necessary to request a retraction or correction. The proposed meeting to discuss the future of Crane Point, hosted by my office, was in fact cancelled. I reported this cancellation not only to those involved but to the Blue Paper as well. If several stakeholders decided to meet and have a discussion without my involvement, that is absolutely their right as private citizens. I did not attend any such meeting and I object strongly to the language in the article that not only erroneously suggests I was in attendance, but also outright claims that I lied regarding the cancellation. That accusation was unsubstantiated and incorrect. As always, I believe that Crane Point is an incredible resource for the Florida Keys and I wholeheartedly support the effort to revitalize and preserve this incredible property. I stand ready to assist in any way that I can as State Representative.
— Holly Raschein, State Representative, House District 120
Editor’s Note: Apparently the meeting took place without Representative Raschein’s participation (or knowledge) despite the fact that all who were interested (including the press) had been told in a very public forum (The Keynoter) that the meeting had been cancelled and would be rescheduled. Two of those who were in attendance were Marathon government officials [not “private citizens”]: Mike Cinque, Mayor of Marathon and Roger Hernstadt, Marathon City Manager. County Commissioner David Rice has also confirmed that he did not attend the meeting.
This is everything we would expect out of a few of our politicians these days. They all talk about “transparancy” – well talk is cheap. Does the Sunshine law not apply to any these people? It is obvious some of these people have ‘an agenda’ regarding Crane Point. These elected officials need to remember they were elected BY THE PEOPLE and just as easily they can find themselves OUT. We have long memories and we have done it before – Ask Dixie and a few others 🙂
Wow… a closed meeting… what a surprise… These are some of the same ‘bright lights’ who dreamed up the zip line project as a solution to Crane Point’s financial woes — all without informing or involving its membership. A few years of planning, completely under the community’s radar. And now they’re surprised at the push-back.
Ok , there are three people spotted. Now we need to know who else was there. Maybe there’s nothing to all of this and there was apparently no Sunshine Law violation unless there was another elected official from Marathon there. What about Allison DeFoor or his daughter ( who works as Holly Raschein’s aide).What was discussed and who else attended please?