Jim Eatrides, owner of the Alpha Omega company located at Whitney Plaza on Longboat Key, has once again requested at least a half hour of the commission's time, including the expensive town attorney, to hear Eatrides' complaints about the recent telecommunications report to the town commission by TE Connectivity. TE Connectivity is a communications industry giant that was selected by the town to provide a comprehevsive, objective recommendation about the best way to solve Longboat Key's communications. In 2011, TE Connectivity had $14.3 Billion annual net sales. The TE report states that DAS will provide better service than the 150 foot cell tower being hawked to the town by Eatrides for the past four years or more.
Office of Jim Eatrides' company Alpha Omega at Whitney Plaza
Signs on the window of the Alpha Omega office
Note the T-Shirt shop has been closed for many months
Office of Jim Eatrides' company Alpha Omega at Whitney Plaza
Jim Eatrides is being granted special status in that most any other citizen is usually allowed 3 minutes of input to the town at commission meetings. Eatrides has no licensing or certification in telecommunications. Eatrides has not submitted any sort of proposal or plan that has managed to meet the town's requirements, despite four attempts. Why is Eatrides being continually granted specific and unusual access to town government on all levels? The same can be said for a few other selected special interest efforts, where certain individuals are allowed to consume taxpayer dollars and town resources to further private agendas.
I estimate that the town has spent in the vicinity of $100,000.00 directly addressing Eatrides sales pitch, including staff and town attorney time.
It is time to charge Eatrides for town services, just like there are charges for subdividing property, remodeling a kitchen, or expanding the Key Club.
Enough is enough! We as a community can to better than this.
Jim was gone now he is back (but not on longboat) ... surely no good can come of this for howeowners & taxpayers ... give it a break no more plans for old and risky technology ... lets go with a program can can actually help customers who think that they have a problem -- a customer based solution
ReplyDeletebill
Eatrides has been a "sore" on Longboat key for way too long! let's make the commissioners follow the rules....
ReplyDeleteWhat really is required is more publication describing options other than the 150' tower, technology that is currently available and has been in use, with results that are quite satisfactory, for a number of years. One might surmise somebody(s)on the commision stands to gain something by having the tower installed. It's time to get real.
ReplyDeleteThe TE Connectivity final report on the town's web site is a good analysis of need and resolution. DAS is in municipal use around the world. Small cell technology, which has no history as it is THE new technology, will replace towers for one reason - it costs the carriers half as much as macro towers for even better in-house coverage. Google small cell wireless to learn about today's technology. Your thoughts add to the conversation- thanks
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