Trash creates division

Cities that got windfall asked to pay fees

“Do the right thing” or “Take the money and run?”

That’s the dilemma facing seven of Broward County’s smaller cities, who are reaping thousands of dollars in a settlement over the dispersal of assets from a now-defunct city-county garbage alliance, but who never contributed a penny to the legal cost of that fight.

The 18 cities that challenged the county racked up a half-million dollars in legal bills while hammering out a settlement that gives 25 cities $32 million, plus the proceeds from the future sale of property currently valued at $6 million.

They want the cities that sat out the litigation to contribute 1.5 percent of their settlement money to help defray the costs. But the county is giving those other cities the option of getting all their money with no strings attached.

Lauderdale Lakes commissioners unanimously decided last week to take the county up on its deal, while Wilton Manors commissioners voted to pay the city’s share of the legal fees.

“Our city agreed that participating in the fees was the right thing to do,” Wilton Manors Assistant City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson said.

Oakland Park, West Park, Pembroke Park, Sea Ranch Lakes and Hillsboro Beach will be making their decisions in the coming weeks.

Another city that was part of the city-county board, Lazy Lake, produces so little garbage that its share of the proceeds and legal bills amounted to nothing.

County officials see the no-legal-fees option as their

way of saying “thank you” to cities that didn’t sue.

Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan called it a “divide and conquer effort by the county,” trying to keep cities from banding together in future disputes that may arise.

“In the end, we have proven once again that we, as municipalities, are stronger together than apart,” Ryan wrote in an email asking for unity.

It’s not like the suing cities can’t absorb the cost. The total portion owed by the seven cities is about $45,000. Lauderdale Lakes, which will receive about $647,000, was being asked to pay about $10,000.

Pembroke Park commissioners could hear two different recommendations when they take the issue up.

“I think it’s right that we pay our share,” Pembroke Park Town Manager Robert Levy said. “You know, there is some honor among cities. ”

But Chris Ryan, the town’s attorney, said he will be recommending the opposite.

“They hadn’t agreed to participate, so I don’t think they should pay the costs,” he said. lbarszewski@tribpub.com or 954-356-4556