The developer has still failed to start work, after years of one excuse after the other. It's supposed to be done this October. Nothing hgas happened beyond the photo-op ground breaking ceremony.

City staff and council share blame as well for mismanaging the project. While for years they have said this is high priority, it in fact languished at the bottom of the pile.

Once again the city signed a contract that favors the developer, and minimizes the city's rights.

The city cannot terminate this contract. Only by going to court and getting a judge to compel the developer to work or allow the contract to breach.

The city should bring suit, dump the developer, and go to plan B if having this facility is so important.

City Manager Glen Rojas said the delay in building the Belle Haven police station "is not related to a city/contractor dispute." Instead, he said, it's the result of "a utility line easement issue that is being addressed but is very complicated." We hope to be able to fill Almanac readers in on the details soon.

I've heard this excuse for over six months. How long does it take to resolve an easement issue? Is the developer, contractor and property owner a part of the problem or part of the solution? With the amount of expertise within the city I don't understand why this utility easement was not known during the acquisition process. Doesn't a Preliminary Title Report generally cover easements, rights of way, encumbrances of recrod, and so on? Aren't these steps a customary part of a standard "due diligence" for a real estate purchase? How many tax payer dollars has the City disbursed on this project so far? At the moment, there may be more questions than answers. I'm sure the community will appreciate the Almanac filling in the "Almanac readers in on the details soon......"