Keys eager to hear 'pool's open'

Florida Keys News

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Keys eager to hear 'pool's open'

Experts heed caution on shipwreck that can be fun but fatal

BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

With its 100-foot-tall towering super structure and 522-foot-long hull, the USS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg was chosen to be the Florida Keys' next artificial reef because it is tall enough to accommodate the most novice of snorkelers and the most advanced of divers.

Twenty-four hours after the vessel is sunk -- tentatively scheduled for May 26 to June 1 -- it will become an...

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Eager people?

Submitted on Sun, 05/10/2009 - 7:30am

Are these the same hypocrits who bashed the project since its inception or just since the county funded a portion of the project? Fair weather fans. Even the KW Comrade is profiting from the sinking. I remember what you said and how you said it and so do a lot of other people. I stand by my recommendation to fund this project as much today as I did over three years ago. It is amazing how many people are coming out of the woodwork to pat themselves on the back now that the project is a success, as if they had a role in it. Short-sighted people just can't help themselves. Congratulations to Reef Makers and Joe Weatherby for a job well done. Tom Willi Former County Administrator

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Back pats

Submitted on Fri, 05/15/2009 - 9:21pm

Before your backs get too red. This is quite a ways from over yet. Everybody can share plenty of credit once its on the bottom. RIGHT SIDE UP. Don't bet big....

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Oh, good heavens...

Submitted on Sun, 05/10/2009 - 10:21pm by *.*

that's what we need - an 'I told you so' from Tom Willi? We really don't care what you think or what you endorse. Your bad decisions cost us enough money. You got your 'golden parachute' when you left and we really don't give a damn what you think and we certainly don't need little comments planted online from you.

And indeed, this project should have been scrapped years ago when it failed to come in under the original budget. It will be a short-term benefit to Key West, unfortunately - a year, maybe a year and a half and it will be old news.

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Loser?

Submitted on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 7:31am

This community is full of them. Nasty people like yourself who won't and can't do anything for themselves except complain and make negative comments while remaining unnamed. You need a reality check, a lesson on what type of government Monroe County is and a life. I see you can't help but spout your lack of economic expertise. I TOLD YOU SO! PS I sleep well every night. Bet that will give you and your simple mind something to be miserable about for the next month.

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I'm glad the Citizens Voice item reminded me to check this

Submitted on Thu, 05/14/2009 - 9:26am by *.*

piece. The above post by Mr. Willi is pretty doggone petty and small-minded. So anyone who disagrees with his "wisdom" is a loser and has no economic expertise? Mr. Willi exhibits a lot of nerve, to make such comments after what he did to the people of Monroe County. And at least I didn't purchase a home that's now valued at $400,000, with loan balance in neighborhood of $800,000 and was purchased for $1.3 million. Now THAT'S real economic genius.

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Mr. Willi

Submitted on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 1:46pm

Assuming correct figures, he's already paid down $500,000 of that while still living the high life. Where could all that money have come from, Mr. DeGennaro? Only in Key West.

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Looks like Tom Willi is stewing in venom

Submitted on Thu, 05/14/2009 - 9:20am

Of course you sleep well every night, Tom Willi. After all, you literally robbed the people of Monroe County with the slick deal handed to you by your buddies, the Gang of Three. Who else gets hundreds of thousands for doing a BAD job and costing taxpayers a ton of money with your inept management style. You're NOT welcome here. It's a shame we couldn't vote you 'off the island' along with the breakup of the old BOCC 'Gang of Three'.

You're no better and no smarter than Acevedo and his Bubba Bums. AND btw, my background IS Economics. I earn my money honestly. I don't make money by slick under-the-table deals with corrupt commissioners for a nice little golden parachute just to 'go away'. YOU were the driving power behind every bad decision in county government the past few years.

Back to Economics, I find it amazing you'd trash a poster about lack of economic expertise when you are the one responsible for so many economic losses to the county.

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Only reason this story

Submitted on Fri, 05/15/2009 - 8:27am

is still here is so Tom Tuell can continue to beat up on Tom Willi. Willi was paid the terms of his contract. The person or persons to blame were the county commissioners. Dixie made the motion that caused the payout and they approved of every dime spent in the county. I also notice Willi signed his post. Why don't you other know it alls sign yours?

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Wa-a-a-a Call the Wa-a-a-ambulance!

Submitted on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 8:36am by *.*

I don't think there's a single person in Monroe County who feels the least bit sorry for Willi or who values a word he says. I'm surprised he has the balls to stay in Monroe County after what he did.

Willi's contract wouldn't have mattered if he'd been held accountable for the poor management and losses he caused the county. But instead he and the Gang of Three colluded to (1) appear to get rid of him in a lame attempt to try to save their political careers while (2) lining his pockets. The right thing would've been to fire him based on failure to fulfill HIS portion of the contract and for not doing his job properly. The fix was in and Willi was rewarded for his very poor management and the taxpayers are the ones who paid.

For him to make an arrogant, hateful DiGennaro-esque post such as he did here shows his contempt for the people of this county and for actual fiscal responsibility. As one poster mentioned, his economic acumen can be clearly seen in his own personal property situation.

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You need

Submitted on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 10:21am

professional help dude. You must be one of the useless people Willi fired. Take it a little personally huh? LMAO

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Nope...I haven't and wouldn't work for government ever

Submitted on Sun, 05/17/2009 - 11:24am by *.*

I refuse to play the games that are involved and don't desire having tens of thousands of taxpayer bosses. Nope, I'm just an honest, hard-working self-employed taxpayer who hates waste and hates to see incompetence and ignorance running the show.

And...I always take it personally when an employee steals or wastes money that is not his. As a taxpayer, Willi was one of MY employees. He worked for all of us but it appears those masters he served the most (for all that extra compensation, of course) were the Gang of Three members.