Wilton Manors residents have zero excuses to not vote. People waiting to cast their ballot on Nov. 5, the official election day, can get free rides to the polls.

Circuit will be free the entire day to pick you up and take you to the polls in Wilton Manors. Circuit is also adjusting its hours, and will start running at 7 a.m., when the polls open.

The cost is being underwritten by Jake Valentine, a westside resident who is very involved in the city.

“It’s the most important election of our lives. Everyone should get out and vote, Republican or Democrat, and there should be no obstacles.”

Library Still Under Attack

During their meeting on Oct. 22, commissioners were given an Organizational Analysis for the departments of Leisure Services and Emergency Management/Utilities.

At one point, it was mentioned that Wilton Manors’ independent library budget was included in the Leisure Services budget.

Commissioner Chris Caputo, who ran unopposed for reelection and will start his new term in November, again expressed his support for outsourcing the library to the Broward County library system.

This was a point of contention during the budget process over the summer, as the library’s budget is about $1,000,000. Of course, it would still cost money to run. The question is who would be paying.

Supporters of the library say the benefit of having an independent library is, well, independence. The state can come in with a heavy hand and demand books be censored, hidden, or removed altogether.

Having an independent library adds an extra layer of defense. At Caputo’s urging, City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson said she would again reach out to people at the county.

Hotel Moves Forward

Also at the meeting, Henderson announced that Broward County had given all of its approvals for the new hotel to be built in Wilton Manors on Dixie Hwy. by Five Points.

The project cleared all city hurdles earlier this year. Demolition of the old mortuary and hotel construction is expected to take about 30 months. No date for groundbreaking has been announced.

Outsider Looking In

Regarding the aforementioned report, commissioners were underwhelmed by its results.

Independent firm Baker Tilly was contracted to look at Leisure Services and Emergency Management/Utilities, and their findings were openly derided.

It found people in their departments were happy with their department but intra-department communications could be improved. It also made several recommendations that were called “basic.”

One commissioner said the report was “cookie cutter” and another said the city should never use this company again.

Commissioner Paul Rolli may have summed it up best, saying, “It’s a pretty lame report.”