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Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
WEST PALM BEACH — The City Center fight appears headed for the August or November election ballot, setting the stage for a fierce, head-to-head battle between Mayor Lois Frankel and Carolyn Wright, chairwoman of the Alliance of Concerned Taxpayers political action committee.
A majority of city commissioners said Wednesday they liked the idea of getting it over with sooner rather than later now that the Florida Supreme Court has issued a ruling letting stand an appellate decision that orders the city to put the ballot questions before voters.
“Let’s just get to the main act and move forward,” Commissioner Jeri Muoio said.
That’s a striking difference from the stance of commissioners in June 2006, when they decided to challenge the legality of petitions, signed by about 3,000 residents each, for ballot questions the committee says could halt City Center, a city hall and library complex.
The looming campaign comes with commercial real estate brokers saying the building on Clematis Street, now just 10 months from completion, might be difficult to unload in the private sector if it can’t be used for its public purpose.
At stake is an enormous cost. The city is on the hook for at least $111 million in design, construction, permitting and bond-issue expenses. The total cost is $154 million, but that includes the cost of the land and a 600-space garage across from the city hall and library.
Until now, it appeared there could very well be two separate special elections. In the first, voters would have been asked whether there should be a vote to decide whether to move the city hall and library. If they said yes, a second would have been held asking whether they should, in fact, be moved.
But Commissioners Muoio, Molly Douglas and Bill Moss all said Wednesday that they wanted to dispense with that vote-to-have-a-vote scenario.

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The general contractor for Granby Tower has filed a series of liens in Norfolk Circuit Court seeking more than $16 million for past work on the stalled condominium project.
Turner Construction Co. said in the court filings that it was owed the money for services provided in connection with the planned 31-story tower, parking garage and adjoining town homes.
The Turner liens bring the total filed against Granby Tower’s developer, a partnership headed by Buddy Gadams, to about $20 million. They represent the first ones brought by the general contractor, which expressed support for Gadams shortly after work stopped in mid-September.
"We’re confident in Buddy and are standing by him," Turner Vice President Chris Jahrling said then.
The filings could also further complicate any efforts to revive work on the $180 million complex, which has been hobbled by problems lining up necessary financing.
Since then, subcontractors have removed pile drivers, cranes and other equipment from the construction site on Granby Street at Brambleton Avenue. Construction crews were still in the process of preparing the project’s foundation when work stopped.
It wasn’t clear from Turner’s 14 different filings, which occurred about three weeks ago, how many might be duplicated. John S. Norris Jr., a Virginia Beach attorney who filed the liens on behalf of Turner, declined to comment on the contractor’s actions. He referred inquiries to Turner’s general counsel, who could not be reached Thursday.

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Mills Ace Hardware, 2047 NE 22nd St., Eng. Structures, Inc., $15,000, foundation only deferred plan review; Nordic Motel, 2133 NW Inlet Ave., William Constr., $52,000, balcony addition; Olivia Beach, 2640 SW Anemone Ave., Current Development, $187,234, single family residence/after hours inspection fee; Anderson Homes, 1299 SE 2nd Pl., Anderson Homes, $10,000, revisions issued; Redbox, 4060 N. Hwy 101, Baumgart. Constr., $10,000, video vending machine; Quandi, 2717 NW Jetty, Central Coast Bldrs., $278,685, single family residence; John Beinwagon, 2430 NE 14th St., 17 Indian Shores, Stone Creek Bldrs., after hours inspection fee; Nike Retail, 1500 SE EDL Rd. #105, DeJager Constr., after hours inspection fee; Siletz Tribe, 3245 NE 50th St., Sheets Constr., $225,000, storage building; Teeters, 4616 SW Beach Ave., owner, $3,000, frame garage opening; Olivia Beach, 585 SW 27th Way, Current Development, $121,000, single family residence; Olivia Beach, 585 SW 27th Way, Curr. Dev., $27,454, garage; Olivia Beach 611 SW 27th Way, Curr. Dev., $103,582 single family residence; Olivia Beach, 603 SW 27th Way, Curr. Dev., $103,582, single family residence; Van Antwerp, 5801 NE Voyage Way, Creekside Bldrs., $259,905, single family residence; Morgan/IGA, 2429 NW Hwy 101, Quade Constr., $85,000, interior improvements; St. James Episcopal Church, 2490 NE Hwy 101, Central Coast Bldrs., $110,000, kitchen remodel and addition; Gorge Leasing, 4069 NW Logan Rd., Clark Signs, $4,650, sign repair; Marilyn Kauffman, 1220 NE Lake Dr., owner, reinstate expired permit; Terrace Garden Apts., 3456 NE WDL Rd., Kip Hayes, $7,000, deck repair; Roy Sharif, 3733 SW Hwy 101, Coastal Signs, $8,591, construct sign; Olivia Beach, 2627 SW Barnacle Ave., Curr. Dev., $10,000, garage; Olivia Beach, 695 DW 26th Lane, Curr. Dev. Revision issued: Olivia Beach, 293 SW Anemone Ave., Curr Dev. $122,000, single family residence; David Weiss, 321 SE Reef Ave., Palm Harbor, M/H placement; Gary Patterson, 4224 SW Beach Ave., owner, reinstate expired permit; City of Lincoln City, 540 NE Hwy 101, Axemaker, $47,000, interior improvements; Bob Ronnaw, 3595 NE Surf Ave., Hertz Constr., $1500, roof sheeting repair; Roy Sharif, 3733 SW Hwy 101, Edgecliff Motel, additional inspection; Koshuba, 3027 SE Duna Ave., NW Living, Temp C of O; Michael McAfee, 1107 NW 7th St., Central Coast Bldrs., Temp C of O; Spencer/Hemming, 2430 NE 14th St., 14 Indian Shores, owner, reinspection fee; Iraj Talepasand, 3590 NE Reef Dr., Dynasty Constr., reinspection fee; Michael McAfee, 144 SE Hwy 101, Martin Bros, $9,140, construct sign; Paul Mistretta, 1343 NW 13th St., owner, reinstate expired permit; Beacon Crest, 2895 NE 47th St., Wm. Lovelace Constr., $5,840,000 , apartment units; Bob Neff, 6403 SW Ebb Ave., Nettwork Bldrs., Temp C of O; David King, 5400 NE Surf Ave., David King, Temp C of O; Donald and Dorothy Edy, 1634 NW 25th St., Veach Constr., reinstate expired permit; Aaron Smith, 2684 NW Lee Ave., What A Guy, reinstate expired permit.

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