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By Investigative Reporter, Linda Sutter -April 9, 2026
Well, Lent is over—which means I’ve returned to Harbor District meetings. Sadly, unlike chocolate and wine, dysfunction was never given up for the season.
Commissioner Rick Shepherd is once again troubled—not by the Harbor’s condition—but by the fact that people are talking about it.
Apparently, questioning public finances now qualifies as “saying horrible things.” Meanwhile, Commissioners Shepherd and Evans continue their standing ovation for Harbormaster Rademaker and Finance Officer Sandy Moreno, whose greatest achievement appears to be making confusion look like a strategy.
Let’s talk about checks—literally. Commissioner Annie Nehmer refused to sign them. Why? Because the budget doesn’t balance. A radical concept, I know. Her position: you don’t sign off on spending money you can’t account for. Simple. Logical. Responsible.
But according to Commissioner Evans, that’s a problem. He insists it’s her “fiduciary duty” to sign checks. Which raises an important question: does he know what “fiduciary duty” means, or is he just fond of saying it out loud? Because fiduciary duty actually requires oversight, prudence, and—brace yourself—not blindly approving questionable finances.
Then came the phrase of the evening: “debt restructuring process,” courtesy of Rademaker. For those fluent in plain English, that translates to: things are not going well. Some might even call it edging toward bankruptcy, but we’re apparently workshopping softer language.
Sandy Moreno added her own linguistic gymnastics, explaining the Harbor is “not in compliance” with USDA obligations—while carefully dancing around the word “default.” Unless, of course, it slips out accidentally, in which case it’s apparently acceptable.
For the public, however, using the word “default” is strictly forbidden. Transparency, but make it selective.
And then—because no Harbor meeting is complete without a plot twist—pornography entered the conversation. According to Moreno, the Harbor’s internet service was suspended due to inappropriate use. That’s right. Not financial mismanagement. Not unpaid obligations. Pornography.
Naturally, this raises questions. Serious ones. Because internet providers don’t typically shut down service over casual browsing habits. So what exactly was happening on Harbor networks? This is now the second time this issue has been raised publicly—yet no clarification, no investigation, no accountability. Just… moving on.
Meanwhile, Rademaker has expressed a willingness to give second chances to registered sex offenders by renting to them in Harbor RV parks. A generous sentiment—until you remember that RV parks are often filled with traveling families and children, and restrictions exist for a reason. It’s not compassion people are questioning—it’s judgment.
As for actual Harbor business? Nothing accomplished. Again.
Ask the Harbormaster about progress and you’ll get the usual greatest hits: “It’s on the radar,” or “It’s in the works.” At this point, the radar must be broken and the works permanently under construction.
The Harbor Facility Plan? Not done.
The 2024 audits? Still missing.
Developer agreements due December 31, 2024? Still “negotiating.”
But don’t worry—there’s always time to produce hundred-page court filings and spin tales of a mysterious $10 million windfall apparently growing on an invisible money tree somewhere behind the Harbor office.
So yes, everything is fine. Nothing to see here.
Except a governing body where accountability is treated like a nuisance, financial oversight is optional, and criticism is dismissed as negativity rather than recognized as concern.
Because in the Harbor District, the real problem isn’t what’s happening.
It’s that people keep noticing.
