The Times

6 TIMES/GUIDE Wednesday, January 19, 1977

opinion • editorials • commentary • letters Sharing the load

Poor, poor shareholders of Florida Power and Light. They want a nine per cent profit and they can't get it unless electrical rates are increased. So what is FP&L doing about it? They're asking for a 19 per cent rate increase, of course. Let's not nettle the shareholders. Things are tough all over and we concur with the suggestions of Consumer Advocate Walter Dartland who thinks that shareholders should share in the bad times as well as the good. Furthermore, he offers suggestions in petitions that are circulating the county which advocate opposition to the proposed increase in electrical rates. These include giving discounts for using energy late at night or early in the morning, establishing a lower rate for those who use less than 750 kilowatts a month and people who use less air conditioning during peak loak periods should get a discount. There are other proposals and the names are piling up on the petitions. Nobody minds paying for what they get but when times are bad, there should be some way to help the consumer. Of course when you're dealing with the only show in town it isn't always easy. They seem to forget however, that salaries don't always go up when rates do and shareholders don't always have to worry about things like that.

Goof after goof

Well, Metro has done it again. What is that you ask? It's all right to ask but it gets a little confusing and more than a little expensive along the way. Seems Suniland was to get a fire station at 77th Avenue and 110th Street some time back, but residents opposed its proximity to their homes. So Metro purchased some land at 112th Street and U.S. 1 for $128,750 to build the station. Too close to us, neighbors complained so Metro said, okay, we'll try to find another place. Now land at a different site has been chosen which will cost the county $140,000 and is located at 104th Street and U.S. 1, not too many have complained about that so far. Are you with us? It's all right for citizens to complain, but why buy the land until there's a certainty it will be used? And who knows if the site will be changed again if enough complaints roll in? Meanwhile, we have here, empty, paid for old property and maybe a fire station on new, paid for property. The property books at Metro must be in a terrible mess.

the gables publishing company serving south dade and coral gables since 1926

| jim storey general manager | bea moss managing editor | bob levine advertising manager | richard linn circulation manager | address: 4627 ponce de leon blvd. coral gables, fla. 33146 | telephone: 666-7981

Award recipients Coral Gables Mayor Robert Knight, former Police Chief William Kimbrough and Police Officer Donald Muirheid are congratulated by Curt Haggard, coordinator for the awards ceremony

Coral Gables Kiwanians gather to honor outstanding citizens

eye on south dade ... bea moss The Coral Gables Kiwanis Club meeting at noon Tuesday at the Gables Country Club, looked somewhat like a meeting of who's who in the City Beautiful. The Kiwanians, led by their acting president, Bob Lee, gathered together for their yearly awards ceremony which honors a number of outstanding Gables citizens. One of six women present among approximately 200 men, it was a distinct pleasure for me to note that one of the honorees and recipient of an award, was long-time city employe and former city clerk Loretta Sheehy. Named employe of the year was Charles McCarthy. There in force (no pun intended) was a contingent from the Coral Gables Police Department which included Captains Charles Skalaski, Donald Claremont, Bob Beckerich, Public Information Officer Dennis Koronkiewicz, Youth Resource Secretary Gina Iglesias and Nancy Powell, secretary to the police chief. They were there to see their former boss, Chief William Kimbrough, receive an award along with Officer Donald Muirheid who was named officer of the year which brought with it a check for $500. Some wag in the audience wondered who was "minding the store" but one has to ask if the question was valid since a recent survey reveals that the Gables Police Department is apparently overstaffed anyway so conceivably there, are plenty back at the "store." So much for the survey department. The 32-year-old, seven-year veteran of the force, Officer Muirheid was honored for his "outstanding devotion and performance of your duties while assigned to the Crime Scene Unit of the Detective Division, as well as while assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division during the past year." The citation also stated that Muirheid's efforts resulted in the arrests of several persons and the clearance of various crimes which otherwise might have gone unsolved. Mayor Robert Knight, in addition to receiving the Outstanding Citizen Award, was the guest speaker. He noted that the citizens of Coral Gables owe a debt of gratitude to the police and should become aware of the job that is being done for them by their employes. Chief Kimbrough (it's difficult not to call him "chief" after all these years), thanked the Kiwanians for the help they have always tendered to the police department and noted that he didn't mind his retirement, but took exception to the way it was put to him. Other guests at the gathering included those whom Kiwanians like to call "our friends in the financial houses." They were George Hiss, J. L. Yawn, Jr., Robert V. Walker, Bill Swain, William Waddell, Leyton Johnson, Ben Turner, Kenneth Kamberg, Mrs. Jean Sexoton and Juan M. Suarez. Past Governor of the Florida Kiwanis, Doc Baker and Past Lt. Gov. Olin Taylor were also present and enjoying the camaraderie and country fried steak. Although Commissioner Bob Brake and Bill Kerdyk were not able to attend, nor was City Attorney Charles Spooner, Vice Mayor (soon to be mayor-contender?) Al Jacobson was present as well as Commissioner Bill Chapman. City Manager J. Martin Gainer was also at the ceremonies. The Kiwanians certainly do know how to show appreciation to community servants and I, for one, feel that they, along with other civic organizations in Coral Gables, should be commended for their efforts in the community as well, sort of a turn-the-tables. And speaking of servants, another kind, nobody seemed to mind the dearth of them at the country club because of the strike. Besides, this luncheon was a buffet. Of course if you object to carrying your own plate down a line of potato salad, beans, steak and other assorted goodies, you're in big trouble.