HNS REPORTS---SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
LISTEN TO THE CURRENT NEWSCAST...
CLICK > ON THE ICON:
COUNTY, CCA AGREE ON CONTRACT CHANGES, BUDGET SAVINGS
County commissioners and CCA officials went back and forth for three hours Tuesday before agreeing on changes in the jail contract that county officials said would save about $100,000 over prior budget projections. CCA came back with the eventual successful proposal after commissioners voted down their first counter. As a result, the jail contract would be extended two years, rather than the three that CCA wanted. The county's per diem payment for county inmates would be lowered to $53 dollars a day, CCA gives up a claim to almost a half million dollars in disputed revenue for out-of-county prisoners, and the county gives up the contract provision for revenue sharing that led to the dispute.
The successful contract vote came after an administration-recommended proposal for a three-year extension and a $54 per diem payment was voted down in a 3-2 vote. The County Board majority was unhappy that there was no specific budget savings in the first proposal, only the abstract savings from avoiding possible litigation exposure over the revenue-sharing dispute. CCA officials huddled and came back with the approved terms, which eliminate about 80 percent of a remaining county general fund budget shortfall. Overall jail costs in the budget are now projected at just over $11 million.
Commissioners also said they wanted to look at more jail savings by working with local judges on a program to keep minor offenders out of the jail with monitoring using ankle bracelets that would alert authorities to the location of people who would otherwise be sentenced to jail time.
STABINS: ADMINISTRATOR HAD ULTERIOR MOTIVES IN CCA TALKS
County commissioner Jeff Stabins went public Tuesday with his unhappiness over County Administrator David Hamilton's role in the negotiations with Corrections Corporation of America. Stabins has said that he didn't think Hamilton's tactics were aimed at leading to a resolution of the contract dispute with the jail operator. He said the way the talks played out made it appear that Hamilton was more interested in seeing a new jail operator next year than in resolving the issues that led to a special meeting Tuesday, which saw a Hamilton-recommended CCA proposal rejected by a 3-2 County Board vote. Stabins said early on in the meeting, "I've had a concern from the beginning that our administrator has had his mind made up on this whole issue, based on his original letter, and the fact that every proposal has basically been rejected out of line." Stabins asked contracts chief Jim Gantt and Clerk's Finance Director Amy Gillis to brief the board on jail contract cost numbers, saying, "I think its important that we have budget people rather than just the administrator and his lieutenant comment."
HYDRANT FUND, RECORDS STILL DIVIDE COUNTY AND FIRE DISTRICT
Spring Hill Fire District staff say they still don't have a final resolution on two issues with Hernando County. Chief Mike Rampino and attorney Andrew Salzman reported Monday night that they are still working on getting a hydrant maintenance process in place. The hydrant funds held by the county total more than $191,000, and there's no agreement yet on what will happen to that money and who will take care of checking fire flows and keeping the hydrants maintained now that the independent district can no longer rely on the money collected by a separate assessment unit. County utilities officials and lawyers will continue discussions with Spring Hill staff on how the hydrants will be checked and maintained.
Salzman also reported last night that county personnel staff are still refusing to provide records for Spring Hill employees who terminated or retired before the district's independence became official in June. He says that's contrary to an Attorney General's opinion issued last week, but he also said he still hopes that talks with county lawyers will find a way to deal with the records of former employees.
SPRING HILL WANTS OWN FIRE PREVENTION CODE
The Spring Hill Fire Board gave preliminary approval Monday night to a proposal for what was labeled a fire prevention "ordinance" and directed Fire District staff to refer the proposal for legal review. The document was prepared because inspectors say the new independent district needs its own enforceable fire prevention code. The document was based on state requirements and codes from other fire districts. It extends and amplifies on existing fire prevention codes that are a part of the Hernando County Code but was adapted for separate enforcement by Spring Hill inspectors.
In other action, the fire commissioners held a public hearing for the location of a new fire station on vacant property off Santoro Street a block north of Spring Hill Drive. Although landowners within 500 feet received notice of the hearing, only two people showed up, but they arrived late after the hearing had been closed. The proposed site is still subject to additional hearings and county zoning approval. The station site would be located at the far north end of the vacant property and would be leased long term from the church that plans to build on the southern half of the parcel.
LATEST STATS SHOW HOUSING MARKET NOT IN RECOVERY YET
August foreclosure statistics from the Hernando County Clerk's Office are a mixed bag for those seeking signs of an improving housing market. On the one hand, the 258 foreclosure cases filed in August represent a ten percent drop from the 286 cases that were started in July. But it's still more than ten new cases for every business day of the month. And it's almost the same as the 259 cases filed in August of last year, indicating that lenders are not seeing a decrease in the number of homeowners that can't make their payments. Put together with the area's continuing, though smaller, slide in housing prices, the foreclosure filings suggest the housing crisis is not nearing an end in Hernando yet.
COUNTY DELAYS DPW DEMOLITION, SEEKS TO SATISFY STATE
County Engineer Charles Mixson says the Public Works Department has postponed demolition of a home next to the former south Brooksville DPW compound until the county can fix a paperwork glitch that stopped the project last week. The first of two houses on A Street adjacent to the compound was demolished, but before a county crew could start on a second house (foreground left above), an inspector from the state environmental protection department stopped the work. According to the state, the county failed to fill out the proper form to begin the work and submit the form ten days in advance of the project. County officials will re-do the paperwork and await the state's okay to proceed. They will also seek a meeting with state officials to discuss a potential fine for violating the paperwork rules.
The two houses to be demolished were purchased earlier this year by the county to expedite cleanup of off-site contamination from the former public works compound.
DID SUSPENDED SPRINGSTEAD STUDENT LIE ABOUT FLAG PLEDGE?
After local news media trumpeted the story of a Springstead High School student suspended for criticizing another student's head covering and alleged lack of respect during the flag pledge, school officials now say the student didn't tell the truth. Even though Heather Lawrence's suspension has reportedly been reduced from five to three days, the school principal says she is satisfied from the evidence that Lawrence's complaint about the other girl's failure to stand during the pledge was not factual.
The teacher involved says the girl did stand, and other evidence reportedly indicates that Lawrence could not have been in a position to observe the incident. Meanwhile. Lawrence's father is quoted as defending his daughter and suggesting that the reduction in the suspension is a kind of "damage control."
SAVINGS-MINDED RESIDENTS CROWD TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE
Hernando residents hoping to get a break on auto tag and license renewals jammed the parking lot and roadways adjacent to the Tax Collector's office at the Westside Government Center Monday. But just finding a parking place was no guarantee of quick entry to the office. The last minute rush was an effort to beat the big increase in tag and license fees that takes effect September 1. For drivers with two vehicles, the long wait to get in pays off in about $75 in yearly savings over the increases mandated by the state to help balance the budget this year.
POLICE BEAT: JUVENILE ESCAPE, FOX BITE, DRUG ARREST
Sheriff's deputies say they had to catch a 14-year old Star Center student twice after he tried to get away from custody Monday. The male student first ran after deputies arrived to investigate a fight. The suspect allegedly hit another student in the face and held another in a headlock during a disturbance while waiting to board buses. A deputy caught him with help from Brooksville police and returned him to the Star Center office. Then when deputies noticed a clear plastic baggie fall to the floor, the handcuffed student ran again and had to be returned. The baggie allegedly contained three grams of marijuana. The juvenile was charged with battery, pot possession, resisting arrest and escape, and deputies said he was turned over to juvenile justice officials and booked on the charges at the Hernando County Jail.
A sheriff's report says a 55-year old woman was bitten by a fox at the Hidden Valley Campground on Cortez Boulevard east of Brooksville Monday. Debra Smith reportedly had superficial bite marks on the upper right calf. She declined treatment at the scene and said she would transport herself to an emergency room. The fox could not be immediately located, and animal control officers expected to set traps for the animal on Tuesday. Two persons bitten by a fox at the same campground earlier this summer had to undergo rabies treatments after the fox in those incidents was found to have the disease.
A 42-year old Spring Hill woman was arrested for having 57 pills of a controlled substance called Alprazolam and also for crack cocaine after she reportedly consented to a search of her purse. Deputies called in investigate a verbal disturbance on Alderwood Street took Deborah Anne Lalancette of 9478 Purdy Street into custody after finding the pills. They added the crack cocaine charge after taking her to jail when they found a crack cocaine rock in the rear of the patrol car she was transported in.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASKS PUBLIC HELP IN SOLVING TARGET THEFT
If you wish to remain anonymous or to be eligible for a reward, call the Hernando County
Crime Stoppers toll free number 1-866-990-8477 or you may email your tip by clicking below.
http://www.hernandosheriff.org/Tips/ You may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
CLICK > ON THE ICON:
Download | Duration: 00:04:54
COUNTY, CCA AGREE ON CONTRACT CHANGES, BUDGET SAVINGS
County commissioners and CCA officials went back and forth for three hours Tuesday before agreeing on changes in the jail contract that county officials said would save about $100,000 over prior budget projections. CCA came back with the eventual successful proposal after commissioners voted down their first counter. As a result, the jail contract would be extended two years, rather than the three that CCA wanted. The county's per diem payment for county inmates would be lowered to $53 dollars a day, CCA gives up a claim to almost a half million dollars in disputed revenue for out-of-county prisoners, and the county gives up the contract provision for revenue sharing that led to the dispute.
Commissioners also said they wanted to look at more jail savings by working with local judges on a program to keep minor offenders out of the jail with monitoring using ankle bracelets that would alert authorities to the location of people who would otherwise be sentenced to jail time.
STABINS: ADMINISTRATOR HAD ULTERIOR MOTIVES IN CCA TALKS
HYDRANT FUND, RECORDS STILL DIVIDE COUNTY AND FIRE DISTRICT
Salzman also reported last night that county personnel staff are still refusing to provide records for Spring Hill employees who terminated or retired before the district's independence became official in June. He says that's contrary to an Attorney General's opinion issued last week, but he also said he still hopes that talks with county lawyers will find a way to deal with the records of former employees.
SPRING HILL WANTS OWN FIRE PREVENTION CODE
In other action, the fire commissioners held a public hearing for the location of a new fire station on vacant property off Santoro Street a block north of Spring Hill Drive. Although landowners within 500 feet received notice of the hearing, only two people showed up, but they arrived late after the hearing had been closed. The proposed site is still subject to additional hearings and county zoning approval. The station site would be located at the far north end of the vacant property and would be leased long term from the church that plans to build on the southern half of the parcel.
LATEST STATS SHOW HOUSING MARKET NOT IN RECOVERY YET
COUNTY DELAYS DPW DEMOLITION, SEEKS TO SATISFY STATE
The two houses to be demolished were purchased earlier this year by the county to expedite cleanup of off-site contamination from the former public works compound.
DID SUSPENDED SPRINGSTEAD STUDENT LIE ABOUT FLAG PLEDGE?
The teacher involved says the girl did stand, and other evidence reportedly indicates that Lawrence could not have been in a position to observe the incident. Meanwhile. Lawrence's father is quoted as defending his daughter and suggesting that the reduction in the suspension is a kind of "damage control."
SAVINGS-MINDED RESIDENTS CROWD TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE
POLICE BEAT: JUVENILE ESCAPE, FOX BITE, DRUG ARREST
Sheriff's deputies say they had to catch a 14-year old Star Center student twice after he tried to get away from custody Monday. The male student first ran after deputies arrived to investigate a fight. The suspect allegedly hit another student in the face and held another in a headlock during a disturbance while waiting to board buses. A deputy caught him with help from Brooksville police and returned him to the Star Center office. Then when deputies noticed a clear plastic baggie fall to the floor, the handcuffed student ran again and had to be returned. The baggie allegedly contained three grams of marijuana. The juvenile was charged with battery, pot possession, resisting arrest and escape, and deputies said he was turned over to juvenile justice officials and booked on the charges at the Hernando County Jail.
A sheriff's report says a 55-year old woman was bitten by a fox at the Hidden Valley Campground on Cortez Boulevard east of Brooksville Monday. Debra Smith reportedly had superficial bite marks on the upper right calf. She declined treatment at the scene and said she would transport herself to an emergency room. The fox could not be immediately located, and animal control officers expected to set traps for the animal on Tuesday. Two persons bitten by a fox at the same campground earlier this summer had to undergo rabies treatments after the fox in those incidents was found to have the disease.
A 42-year old Spring Hill woman was arrested for having 57 pills of a controlled substance called Alprazolam and also for crack cocaine after she reportedly consented to a search of her purse. Deputies called in investigate a verbal disturbance on Alderwood Street took Deborah Anne Lalancette of 9478 Purdy Street into custody after finding the pills. They added the crack cocaine charge after taking her to jail when they found a crack cocaine rock in the rear of the patrol car she was transported in.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASKS PUBLIC HELP IN SOLVING TARGET THEFT
 |  |
|
If you recognize the vehicle pictured above, notify District 3 Deputy Weeks. If you wish to remain anonymous or be eligible for a reward, see the below box.
| |
Crime Stoppers toll free number 1-866-990-8477 or you may email your tip by clicking below.
http://www.hernandosheriff.org/Tips/ You may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
Comments