HNS REPORTS---WEEK IN REVIEW---AUGUST 29-30, 2009
Here are the top stories covered this week at Hernando News Source:
KENNEL OPERATOR FACES COURT HEARING AFTER SEIZURE OF DOGS
Hernando County Animal Services will ask a judge this week to determine whether a Brooksville woman can keep any of the malnourished dogs found in a search of her kennel operation on Sweet Gum Road. Authorities say they received an anonymous tip that the dogs at the kennel run by Vicki Effertz were not being properly cared for. Animal Services officers found 45 dogs in various conditions of neglect, 33 of them so malnourished that they had to be put down. A court order allowed the seizure and disposition of the dogs, and the hearing on Thursday will determine Effertz' fitness to retain three of the dogs that the woman wants to keep.
[POSTSCRIPT: The hearing was canceled because Effertz could not be served with notice. She reportedly went out of state and left the three dogs she wants to retain in the care of a neighbor.]
BROWN-WAITE'S TOWN HALL MEETING DRAWS OVERFLOW CROWD
Media crowd estimates varied from the Orlando Senitnel's 300 to WDBO radio's 1000, but it's certain that a lot of people crowded into the Minneola City Hall chambers in Lake County for a town-hall meeting on health-care reform with Fifth District Representative Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville Monday. The Sentinel reported that the number of people exceeded capacity inside the chambers, prompting additional people to listen to the meeting inside the city's recreation department gymnasium. The Congresswoman read a number of questions compiled by staff members from cards residents filled out before the meeting. According to the Sentinel report, Brown-Waite said a public plan would force people to use that plan instead of remaining with their current providers from private insurers. The Congresswoman also addressed the idea of government-sponsored "death panels," and said "That is not in this bill." A panel of doctors and other health care professionals also participated and said a public plan will bog down doctors and hospitals and drive up taxes. Meanwhile, WDBO reported some attendees were unhappy with the way the questions were pre-selected. One Citrus County man said he drove 55 miles to get to the town hall location and was disappointed he didn't get a chance to ask a question.
AG TELLS COUNTY TO DELIVER SPRING HILL FIRE RECORDS
Spring Hill fire district records should be on their way from the county to the new independent district, now that the Attorney General says that's where they belong. County lawyers say they're pleased with Bill McCollum's formal opinion saying the records need to be delivered to Spring Hill officials. They said all along they just needed official guidance to make sure they were handling the records correctly. The opinion says the independent Spring Hill Fire and Emergency Medical Services district is the successor in interest to the former county-controlled district, based on language in a stipulated court judgment. County lawyers had been concerned that the public records law spoke of transferring records to a successor in office, which indicated records in the control of a specific officer. But McCollum's opinion gives them the green light to give the records to the new district, which Chief Mike Rampino had been asking for since the independence bill was signed into law in June.
STABINS: BALANCE COUNTY BUDGET BY EXTENDING JAIL CONTRACT
The County Board decided Tuesday to have a special meeting next week to meet face-to-face with CCA officials. The special meeting was set after Commissioner Jeff Stabins called for balancing the county budget with concessions by jail operator CCA in return for a three-year contract extension. But County Administrator David Hamilton said continuing increases in jail costs should be dealt with by competitive bidding for a new jail contract when the current contract expires next year. Stabins responded that CCA does not control jail inmate population and that increasing costs are a function of sentences handed down by local judges. As discussion of Hamilton's recommendations and Stabins' ideas began Tuesday, both Stabins and Adkins said they had tried to negotiate terms with CCA for reducing the $13 million set aside in the budget for the jail. At the end, commissioners decided they needed to talk directly to CCA at next week's meeting. Time and date will be set after talking with CCA. When concerns about CCA's presence was raised, Chairman Dave Russell said simply, "They will be here."
COUNTY BOARD REJECTS PRIVATIZING GOVERNMENT BROADCASTING
Hernando County Government Broadcasting will remain as a county-operated function after a vote Tuesday to retain two video staff members with funding sufficient to continue video of commission and planning meetings. The action means two current staffers won't be funded in the coming budget year, and it also jeopardizes continued services to the City of Brooksville, Spring Hill, and public affairs programming. County Administrator David Hamilton had recommended further staff cuts by privatizing the government broadcasting services through contract with a private sector operation. The County Board also directed staff to include $75,000 for mental health services in the budget and to find other places to cut the tentative spending plan.
STUDENT BUS RIDER CHARGED FOR EXPLODING DEVICE
Sheriff's deputies say a 17-year old Springstead High School student faces a felony charge after he allegedly mixed chemicals in a bottle on a school bus Tuesday morning and set off an explosion. According to an arrest affidavit, Gunnar Gunderson put bleach and rubbing alcohol in a bottle and placed the bottle outside the bus window. An explosion occurred seconds later, according to witnesses on the bus. A woman identified as Julie Shire was driving behind the bus and saw and felt the explosion. Deputies said the chemicals hit the hood of her car and got in her eyes, but she said she would not pursue separate charges. After conferring with Springstead assistant principal Steve Crognale, Guunderson was charged on the third degree felony of making and possessing an explosive device. The affidavit says Gunderson was to be released on home detention.
COMMISSIONERS SALUTE COMMUNITY VISION PLAN
A vision plan for the South Brooksville community won plaudits from county commissioners Tuesday, with the hope that revitalizing the neglected community could spur economic development. Community Initiatives Team leader Frankie Burnett saluted the progress he was seeing toward solutions to issues. [audio] After the plan proposing city and county comp plan charges was presented by Coastal Engineering staff, commissioner Rose Rocco noted the economic development potential. [audio] Commissioners also approved filing a legal action to get control of drainage ditches in the community so county public works staff can maintain the ditches to reduce flooding hazards.
COUNTY APPROVES ADDED LIGHTING FOR S. BROOKSVILLE
South Brooksville will soon be a little brighter, thanks to Sheriff Richard Nugent and county commissioners Tuesday. The County Board approved an assessment district for the community that builds on a $20,000 contribution from the sheriff's drug forfeiture funds by billing property owners for ongoing lighting costs, as well as one year of installation costs not covered by the sheriff's donation. The south Brooksville community contributes more than its share to crime, and officials hope the additional lighting, along with a sheriff's substation that will double as a community center, will cut that crime rate.
SPRING HILL FIRE TAX AUTHORITY LIMITED BY COUNTY
County Commissioners passed on ordinance Tuesday that county lawyers said would prevent levy of a tangible personal property tax in the Spring Hill Fire and Rescue District. The measure limited tax authority to "jurisdictional lands," the same language used in the independence law for the new district's tax authority. Two Spring Hill residents asked why the tax had not been imposed before, given a legal opinion that says it was constitutionally required. Chairman David Russell responded that previous boards chose not to levy the tangible tax, though it's not clear from records of the County Board or the Spring Hill Fire District that anyone ever proposed the tax.
REFERENDUM DATE, BALLOT LANGUAGE APPROVED FOR SPRING HILL FIRE
The date has been set---August 24, 2010, primary election day next year---and the language on the ballot was confirmed by County Board resolution Tuesday. The ballot language tracks the special law granting the Spring Hill Fire District its independence, and county attorneys say an initial objection from a lawyer representing the district was withdrawn.
FORMER DIRECTOR BLAMES ADMINISTRATOR FOR "RAMPANT FEAR"
Retired county Code Enforcement Director Frank McDowell told county commissioners Tuesday that low morale among county employees is the fault of County Administrator David Hamilton. [audio] McDowell said the lack of positive communication has fostered mistrust between workers and administrators. He also blamed a vote for Teamsters Union representation on Hamilton and criticized the early leave buyout program for the impending loss of historical and institutional knowledge. Hamilton's only response was to cite a union negotiator's comments that the union vote was based on long-standing concerns from prior administrations.
STIMULUS PHASE 2 ROAD PROJECTS APPROVED
The Hernando County Metropolitan Transportation Organization approved a new list of county road projects Tuesday to be funded by the second phase of the federal government's stimulus program. Spring Lake Highway has two spots on the list, where officials say pavement has reached the end of its useful life. Widening and repaving is planned, with one of the two projects due to start in the next six months. Also on tap for construction start before the end of the year is the four-laning of Sunshine Grove Road from Cortez to Ken Austin Parkway. The rest of the list is for repaving or improvement projects to start in 2010, including resurfacing projects for multiple county roads and bicycle and pedestrian faciliities such as the Good Neighbor Trail.
BROOKSVILLE COUNCIL WANTS MORE INFO ON ELECTIONS ISSUE
For the second time this year the Brooksville City Council has put off a decision on turning over pre-election duties to the county Supervisor of Elections. Council members at a budget workshop Tuesday said they wanted more information before delegating charter responsibilities such as candidate qualifying to the county elections office. The idea first surfaced back in January and was put off, but Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams was unable to attend Tuesday night due to a lengthy County Commission budget session. The four council members in attendance were apparently evenly divided on whether to pursue the matter further, so they agreed to have staff get more information and consider the issue again later.
BROOKSVILLE CONSIDERS ADDING PARAMEDICS
Brooksville fire chief Tim Mossgrove told city council members at a budget workshop Tuesday night that the most practical first step toward providing advanced life support services may be a cooperation agreement with Hernando County. Mossgrove outlined several options for hiring the city's first ALS paramedic unit, including buying and staffing a fully equipped ambulance, which could cost more than $200,000 just to acquire and put in service. He also noted that non-transport ALS service could be provided more cheaply, but said his talks with Hernando County Fire Rescue Chief Mike Nickerson suggested that a cooperation agreement with the county would be the most cost-effective way to start a program. Vice-mayor Lara Bradburn said she was anxious to see advanced life support in the city because it could save lives.
HEALTH DEPT. PLANS FLU VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
The Hernando County Health Department says that H1N1 influenza is still occurring in Hernando County, and the department is continuing to monitor the situation. Officiais say H1N1 vaccine is expected to begin arriving in mid October and they are planning mass vaccination clinics with community partners in health, education, emergency services, childcare and healthcare. Vaccinations will target the specific populations at highest risk for complications from the flu. The department says it is working closely with community and partnering agencies to develop strategies and implement the vaccination campaign.
HUDSON MAN ARRESTED IN HOAX BOMB PHARMACY ROBBERY
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office reported 29-year old Troy Anderson of Hudson was arrested Thursday in a pharmacy robbery in Spring Hill. Deputies say Anderson entered the Suncoast Vital Care Pharmacy at 5330 Spring Hill Drive just before noon, opened his coat and displayed a device he said was a bomb, took a bottle of Oxycontin pills and fled the store. Responding deputies were notified of a suspicious person report just before the robbery from the same area, describing a motorcycle and tag number. The bike was spotted a few minutes later at a nearby convenience store, and Anderson was reportedly found hiding in the store's bathroom. They also found a coat and the hoax bomb device in a trash can outside the store. A media release says the robber was described by a pharmacy employee who recognized him as a previous customer and says the suspect in custody matched the description. Anderson has been charged with robbery with a deadly weapon, possession of a hoax bomb during the commission of a felony, and trafficking in oxycodone. He's being held at the Hernando County Jail on $200,000 bond, and sheriff's officials say there's still an outstanding warrant from Tampa to be accounted for.
ALEXANDER PACT OK'D, INTERIM SCHOOL CHIEF CONSIDERED
Hernando County School Board members approved an agreement with Superintendent Wayne Alexander Thursday that calls for his early departure on September 11. At the same special meeting board members also agreed to put off a decision on an interim superintendent until next Tuesday when they hope to interview potential candidates. Alexander's agreement pays him more than $14,000 in salary and benefits for leaving nine months early, due to loss of board support. Chair Dianne Bonfield said she thought former employee and long-time district administrator Ed Poore would be a good candidate for interim superintendent while the ongoing search for a permanent replacement goes on. Other board members suggested recently appointed assistant superintendent Sonya Jackson for the interim post. Member Pat Fagan suggested former board member Jim Malcolm as well as local resident Lisa Hammond. Member Sandra Nicholson said she had a person in mind but declined to give a name. District lawyer Paul Carland said he would contact those named by board members and seek to arrange for interviews at next Tuesday afternoon's board workshop. Members said they wanted to have someone on board by Alexander's departure date, barely two weeks away, although there was some disagreement about whether the interim choice should promise not to apply for the permanent job.
PRELIMINARY STUDENT COUNTS MOSTLY ON PROJECTION TARGETS
Initial student counts from the first few days of school pleased Hernando County School Board member John Sweeney, who commented on the counts at the end of a special Thursday board meeting. According to Sweeney, the counts are close to projections for most schools, in contrast to previous years when the projected counts first tended low during the housing boom years, then trended higher than reality as the bubble burst. This year, with the exception of Springstead High, Sweeney says the counts are pretty much what was expected. Springstead is dealing with an initial student population more than 130 students higher than projected. Sweeney said he was pleasantly surprised with enrollment at Nature Coast Tech, where officials were apprehensive after the board voted to allow all Hernando students on the waiting list to attend the magnet school after they decided to re-admit some students from Pasco County to resolve a lawsuit. Despite that approval, the Nature Coast counts are not significantly higher than what officials were predicting. Sweeney's information will be updated by school officials after the first ten days of classes when the so-called "ten day count" is made and announced.
CCA PROPOSAL FOR REVISED JAIL CONTRACT UNDER COUNTY REVIEW
County officials were meeting Thursday to consider a new proposal from Corrections Corporation of America which CCA says could save the county $730,000 on its jail contract in the next budget year. The figures are based on changing the methodology for accounting for out-of-county inmates that are housed at the jail. The new concept provides for a lower county per diem payment to CCA for county inmates if more out-of-county prisoners can be housed at the jail on a space available basis. Achieving the promised savings could require some changes in judicial sentencing, since it's based on a county inmate population which would likely depend on how many arrests are made in the coming year and how those arrestees are dealt with by the courts. CCA officials were also promising to drop a claim for more than $420,000 for the current contract year, which county officials have disputed, if the new methodology is approved. The proposal repeats CCA's position that it does not want to negotiate contract terms in the public meeting the County Board has scheduled for next Tuesday. Instead, CCA says it wants an agreement in place before the meeting is held. That meeting was scheduled after Commissioner Jeff Stabins said he wanted to save county jobs by getting reductions in jail costs from CCA in return for other contract concessions. Wednesday CCA officials from the company's Nashville headquarters sought to meet privately with commissioners, but except for Stabins, none were willing to do that after getting a memo from County Administration advising against private meetings. Instead the CCA officials huddled privately with county staff and provided the new proposal at the end of those discussions.
[POSTSCRIPT: After a busy day Friday with CCA officials and county staff exchanging proposals and counter-proposals, Stabins reportedly said that CCA's latest offer to compromise some contract issues in exchange for a contract extension is not a good deal for the county and doesn't match verbal discussions he had with other CCA officials last week. At last word, Tuesday's special meeting is still on.]
CCA AND THE SUNSHINE LAW?
Hernando News Source has learned that the Fifth Circuit State Attorney's Office requested and received a briefing on the CCA negotiations in view of Sunshine Law questions raised by a Thursday print media article. The article indicated that CCA was pressing to negotiate the terms of a revised Jail contract directly with commissioners, but did not want to do so in a public meeting. A state attorney's official was told that any CCA meetings are with individual commissioners, and that county staff and lawyers are taking all steps to prevent intentional or accidental Sunshine Law violations. Generally, the Attorney General has stated that meetings with individual board members about a pending legislative matter are proper, so long as parties to the meetings are not used and do not act as conduits for private communication between the elected officials. The state attorney's office was told Thursday that the Sunshine Law limitations have been explained to commissioners and CCA, and the assistant state attorney reportedly said the explanation was satisfactory.
KENNEL OPERATOR FACES COURT HEARING AFTER SEIZURE OF DOGS
[POSTSCRIPT: The hearing was canceled because Effertz could not be served with notice. She reportedly went out of state and left the three dogs she wants to retain in the care of a neighbor.]
BROWN-WAITE'S TOWN HALL MEETING DRAWS OVERFLOW CROWD
AG TELLS COUNTY TO DELIVER SPRING HILL FIRE RECORDS
STABINS: BALANCE COUNTY BUDGET BY EXTENDING JAIL CONTRACT
COUNTY BOARD REJECTS PRIVATIZING GOVERNMENT BROADCASTING
STUDENT BUS RIDER CHARGED FOR EXPLODING DEVICE
COMMISSIONERS SALUTE COMMUNITY VISION PLAN
COUNTY APPROVES ADDED LIGHTING FOR S. BROOKSVILLE
SPRING HILL FIRE TAX AUTHORITY LIMITED BY COUNTY
REFERENDUM DATE, BALLOT LANGUAGE APPROVED FOR SPRING HILL FIRE
The date has been set---August 24, 2010, primary election day next year---and the language on the ballot was confirmed by County Board resolution Tuesday. The ballot language tracks the special law granting the Spring Hill Fire District its independence, and county attorneys say an initial objection from a lawyer representing the district was withdrawn.
FORMER DIRECTOR BLAMES ADMINISTRATOR FOR "RAMPANT FEAR"
Retired county Code Enforcement Director Frank McDowell told county commissioners Tuesday that low morale among county employees is the fault of County Administrator David Hamilton. [audio] McDowell said the lack of positive communication has fostered mistrust between workers and administrators. He also blamed a vote for Teamsters Union representation on Hamilton and criticized the early leave buyout program for the impending loss of historical and institutional knowledge. Hamilton's only response was to cite a union negotiator's comments that the union vote was based on long-standing concerns from prior administrations.
STIMULUS PHASE 2 ROAD PROJECTS APPROVED
The Hernando County Metropolitan Transportation Organization approved a new list of county road projects Tuesday to be funded by the second phase of the federal government's stimulus program. Spring Lake Highway has two spots on the list, where officials say pavement has reached the end of its useful life. Widening and repaving is planned, with one of the two projects due to start in the next six months. Also on tap for construction start before the end of the year is the four-laning of Sunshine Grove Road from Cortez to Ken Austin Parkway. The rest of the list is for repaving or improvement projects to start in 2010, including resurfacing projects for multiple county roads and bicycle and pedestrian faciliities such as the Good Neighbor Trail.
BROOKSVILLE COUNCIL WANTS MORE INFO ON ELECTIONS ISSUE
BROOKSVILLE CONSIDERS ADDING PARAMEDICS
Brooksville fire chief Tim Mossgrove told city council members at a budget workshop Tuesday night that the most practical first step toward providing advanced life support services may be a cooperation agreement with Hernando County. Mossgrove outlined several options for hiring the city's first ALS paramedic unit, including buying and staffing a fully equipped ambulance, which could cost more than $200,000 just to acquire and put in service. He also noted that non-transport ALS service could be provided more cheaply, but said his talks with Hernando County Fire Rescue Chief Mike Nickerson suggested that a cooperation agreement with the county would be the most cost-effective way to start a program. Vice-mayor Lara Bradburn said she was anxious to see advanced life support in the city because it could save lives.
HEALTH DEPT. PLANS FLU VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
The Hernando County Health Department says that H1N1 influenza is still occurring in Hernando County, and the department is continuing to monitor the situation. Officiais say H1N1 vaccine is expected to begin arriving in mid October and they are planning mass vaccination clinics with community partners in health, education, emergency services, childcare and healthcare. Vaccinations will target the specific populations at highest risk for complications from the flu. The department says it is working closely with community and partnering agencies to develop strategies and implement the vaccination campaign.
HUDSON MAN ARRESTED IN HOAX BOMB PHARMACY ROBBERY
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office reported 29-year old Troy Anderson of Hudson was arrested Thursday in a pharmacy robbery in Spring Hill. Deputies say Anderson entered the Suncoast Vital Care Pharmacy at 5330 Spring Hill Drive just before noon, opened his coat and displayed a device he said was a bomb, took a bottle of Oxycontin pills and fled the store. Responding deputies were notified of a suspicious person report just before the robbery from the same area, describing a motorcycle and tag number. The bike was spotted a few minutes later at a nearby convenience store, and Anderson was reportedly found hiding in the store's bathroom. They also found a coat and the hoax bomb device in a trash can outside the store. A media release says the robber was described by a pharmacy employee who recognized him as a previous customer and says the suspect in custody matched the description. Anderson has been charged with robbery with a deadly weapon, possession of a hoax bomb during the commission of a felony, and trafficking in oxycodone. He's being held at the Hernando County Jail on $200,000 bond, and sheriff's officials say there's still an outstanding warrant from Tampa to be accounted for.
ALEXANDER PACT OK'D, INTERIM SCHOOL CHIEF CONSIDERED
PRELIMINARY STUDENT COUNTS MOSTLY ON PROJECTION TARGETS
Initial student counts from the first few days of school pleased Hernando County School Board member John Sweeney, who commented on the counts at the end of a special Thursday board meeting. According to Sweeney, the counts are close to projections for most schools, in contrast to previous years when the projected counts first tended low during the housing boom years, then trended higher than reality as the bubble burst. This year, with the exception of Springstead High, Sweeney says the counts are pretty much what was expected. Springstead is dealing with an initial student population more than 130 students higher than projected. Sweeney said he was pleasantly surprised with enrollment at Nature Coast Tech, where officials were apprehensive after the board voted to allow all Hernando students on the waiting list to attend the magnet school after they decided to re-admit some students from Pasco County to resolve a lawsuit. Despite that approval, the Nature Coast counts are not significantly higher than what officials were predicting. Sweeney's information will be updated by school officials after the first ten days of classes when the so-called "ten day count" is made and announced.
CCA PROPOSAL FOR REVISED JAIL CONTRACT UNDER COUNTY REVIEW
[POSTSCRIPT: After a busy day Friday with CCA officials and county staff exchanging proposals and counter-proposals, Stabins reportedly said that CCA's latest offer to compromise some contract issues in exchange for a contract extension is not a good deal for the county and doesn't match verbal discussions he had with other CCA officials last week. At last word, Tuesday's special meeting is still on.]
CCA AND THE SUNSHINE LAW?
Hernando News Source has learned that the Fifth Circuit State Attorney's Office requested and received a briefing on the CCA negotiations in view of Sunshine Law questions raised by a Thursday print media article. The article indicated that CCA was pressing to negotiate the terms of a revised Jail contract directly with commissioners, but did not want to do so in a public meeting. A state attorney's official was told that any CCA meetings are with individual commissioners, and that county staff and lawyers are taking all steps to prevent intentional or accidental Sunshine Law violations. Generally, the Attorney General has stated that meetings with individual board members about a pending legislative matter are proper, so long as parties to the meetings are not used and do not act as conduits for private communication between the elected officials. The state attorney's office was told Thursday that the Sunshine Law limitations have been explained to commissioners and CCA, and the assistant state attorney reportedly said the explanation was satisfactory.
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