County Commish Suarez visits Village Council

County Commissioner Xavier Suarez spoke at last night's Village Council meeting. He was quite funny and has a great sense of humor.

He swore in the newest council member David Himmel and then spoke a bit about the County budget, promising that taxes will be going down. He also had great news about the libraries that were threatened to be closed as cost saving measures.

He insisted that the Virrick Library (3255 Plaza Street) will be staying open and so should all the rest of the 13 threatened libraries in the county, which were on the cutting block this week, thought to be a method of saving taxes.

Regarding the tree massacre, he said that in the future an arborist would be part of the projects from day one, including FDOT projects for simple street projects. He did not agree with the destruction of trees and said had he been part of the 27th Avenue renovation project, he would have done it differently.

Comm. Suarez said that he is working on the Playhouse issue and will be heading that project. He said that he will announce all major Coconut Grove projects at Village Council meetings and if the Council has a problem with a project, he will not push it further until the Council is happy.

Before he left the meeting, Suarez handed a little gift to the Village Council -- a check for $2500 to the Village Council, which came from County Mayor Carlos Gimenez's office.