HNS REPORTS---APRIL 1, 2010
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COUNTY STRUGGLING WITH DREDGE PROJECT
The Hernando Beach channel dredge apparently won't be resumed any time soon. County officials said Thursday they had missed a deadline for submitting additional information requested by state regulators who halted the project in January for permit violations. The Department of Environmental Protection had requested additional information about a county proposal to address issues of cloudy discharge water. The county was supposed to respond by March 30, but staffers were still trying to pull the information together Thursday.
Meanwhile the County Attorney's Office has written to the dredge contractor reminding of contract details and seeking a new work schedule and plan to address the cloudy discharge problem. The letter says the contractor, Orion, needs to come up with the details for the county to provide state regulators about dealing with the permit issues, and indicates the county's delay in responding is because of lack of cooperation from Orion.
Officially the county says it remains in constant communication with state regulators and the contractor to get the project back on track as soon as possible. State funding for the project could be in jeopardy if it's not done by June 30, though the county now says it is "exercising all available options to secure the state funding."
NEW SUPERINTENDENT REPORTS FOR DUTY
Thursday is the first official day on the job for Hernando County's new school superintendent, Bryan Blavatt, and the incoming district chief has a full plate already. After a formal swearing-in and signing off on paperwork, Blavatt found a desk with a full in-box in his new office. He's inheriting a mass protest from teachers and parents who want an elementary principal replaced, and he's jumping into controversial budget issues and magnet school policy concerns. Blavatt comes from a job in a Kentucky school district where he retired two years ago, only to find he wasn't ready to let go of education administration. He was a unanimous choice of Hernando school board members in January over a field of local, state and national candidates. Blavatt and his wife reportedly plan to move into a home in the Silverthorn community later in April.
MARCH FORECLOSURES DROP, SINGLE FAMILY PERMITS STEADY
Foreclosure filings dropped dramatically in March, according to case filing statistics from the Clerk of Circuit Court. Despite a longer month, there were almost 25% fewer filings in March than in February. And the 224 cases were a third fewer than were filed in March of 2009. That month marked the peak of local foreclosure filings, with more than 320 cases docketed.
Meanwhile, single family permit activity continued at about the same pace as the last few months at the county Development Department. There were 20 new single family dwelling permits issued, most of them apparently for spec homes being built by Pulte and Lennar in their south county subdivisions, Trillium and Avalon. Two additional permits were pulled for converting model homes to single family use and one for relocating a house from Elgin Blvd. The permit activity was consistent with the first three months of the county's experiment in half-price impact fees for single family homes.
BRUSH FIRES FLARE THURSDAY
Fire crews were busy Thursday afternoon dealing with numerous reports of brush fires. There were two in the Ridge Manor-Croom area, including one multi-acre blaze that sent smoke over much of the eastern end of the county. Another fire was reported later Thursday afternoon in the Weeki Wachee Preserve west of U.S. 19, near Osowaw and Buccaneer Boulevard.
COUNTY BOARD WORKSHOP TOPICS ANNOUNCED
It looks like the charter government workshop that Commissioner Jim Adkins has been asking for over the past several months will finally happen next week. County officials announced the topics for the April 6 workshop Thursday. In addition to the charter government discussion, which was listed last among five topics, the County Board will get a follow-up report on an immigrations enforcement program that was touted as a better alternative to E-Verify. Several speakers at a meeting early this month said participation in the IMAGE program might go farther toward board goals of stopping illegal workers than the E-Verify program would.
Other topics for next Tuesday's workshop are the business development plan, the sign ordinance, and minimum manning levels for Hernando County fire engines.
LANDFILL OPPONENTS UP IN ARMS OVER OWNER'S NEW FENCING
Opponents of the construction and demolition debris landfill off Cortez Blvd. in east Hernando are fighting mad about some changes in the landfill owner's property. They said Thursday that fencing was placed along an easement used to access a private property, and that county emergency officials say it would be difficult to reach the property if weather gets drier or wetter. A spokesperson for the opponents said they tried to get relief from the sheriff's office and the County Attorney's Office, but as for now the best they could get was a visit from an assistant fire chief and the assurance that officials are working on the situation.
TRAFFIC BACKUPS LIKELY FOR I-75 REPAIR
The Florida Highway Patrol says the northbound left lane of I-75 at the Pasco-Hernando County line had to be shut down Thursday morning because of a two-foot wide pothole. Road crews were headed to the scene for repairs, but the lane closure will likely mean backups for northbound traffic. The hole is at mile marker 294, which is between the Spring Lake exit in Pasco County and the Cortez Blvd. interchange in Hernando. There was no immediate word on how long the repairs might take.
COUNTY, CITY OFFICES CLOSED FOR FRIDAY HOLIDAY
Hernando County Government Offices and facilities will be closed Friday in observance of the Good Friday holiday. The Northwest Solid Waste Facility and East\West Transfer Stations will be open.
City Hall will also be closed. State offices other than those in the Government Center will be open.
CITY MAY DONATE METAL BUILDING FOR HERNANDO HIGH PRACTICE FIELD
A metal building bought nine years ago by the City of Brooksville could be donated for a Hernando High School practice field shelter if the city council agrees next week. The plan was presented by Hernando High coaches at a school board workshop Tuesday. Facilities chief Roland Bavota says installing the building at the field on Oakwood Drive could be a $400,000 project, but school officials said they expected most if not all of the site and building work will be donated through the efforts of boosters. The city originally planned to use the building for parks department maintenance but never assembled the building. School officials said the shelter was needed because of the quarter-mile distance from the practice field to existing facilities. It would initially be used for storage and bad weather shelter but could eventually provide locker room space as well.
BROOKSVILLE FRAUD SUSPECT NOW CALLED "GRANNY SCAMMER"
Like a Nigerian Lottery Internet scheme, the story of Doris Siegel's arrest for fraud in Brooksville last week has gone viral among the mainstream media. Wednesday's ABC News story on the "Granny scammer" is typical, like the post Tuesday at CBS's "48 Hours: Crime Insider" site and Thursday's New York Magazine item. The ABC report says:
Florida cops are trying to figure out what alleged "granny scammer" Doris Siegel did with the more than $1 million that police say she bilked out of her friends and her pastor.
Police are also asking people to come forward if they believe they are victims of Siegel's alleged scam.
"We have had more victims come in, but we're still seeking more victims," Brooksville Police Chief George Turner told ABC News Wednesday.
Siegel, who is 78, was arrested last Wednesday. She remains in jail inl ieu of $50,000 in bond.
DEPUTIES ASK PUBLIC HELP FINDING THEFT SUSPECT
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The subject pictured above is a suspect in a theft of Newport cigarettes that occurred at 7-11, 15310 Cortez Bv., Brooksville, on Sunday 03-14-10, at approximately 11:50 p.m. The suspect had a pierced tongue and unknown tattoos on both calves. She fled in the passenger seat of a black 90's model, mid sized vehicle. If anyone recognizes the subject pictured above, notify District 1 Deputy McCarthy. If you wish to remain anonymous or to be eligible for a reward, call the Hernando County |
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