The recent article by Yudy Pineiro [Town, county in fight over parks, money, Oct. 8], included comments from a Miami Lakes official suggesting the county was trying to ``beat the money out of us.''

I find it disheartening to read this type of inflammatory rhetoric, especially from elected officials who should be setting an example of responsible conflict resolution. We owe it the youth of this community to continue settling our differences in a civil and responsible manner.

After very costly legal posturing, the county and Miami Lakes successfully resolved the debate over the mitigation payments. Recently, the county approved an agreement to convey title to various park properties. As a condition for executing this transaction, the town was asked to resume its payments for an outstanding debt to the county that had become delinquent. Why the town mayor would deny responsibility for this debt is unclear.

In fact, the town acknowledges this debt obligation in its annual financial reports. The debt is for bonds that were issued in 1999 for the Quality Neighborhood Improvement Program (QNIP). The county completed over a dozen QNIP projects that cost several million dollars in Miami Lakes. Regardless of the specific projects and their exact costs, the payments are calculated as a fair share of the outstanding bond debt.

I call upon the town's elected officials to reconsider their stance on this issue. This should not be a street-level dispute laced with reckless taunts and bravado. The administrators are quite capable of balancing these accounts. We should let the professionals do their job and reconcile this matter respectfully. Let us show our youth how conflicts are resolved peacefully.

NATACHA SEIJAS

COUNTY COMMISSIONER,

DISTRICT 13

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