HNS REPORTS---FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010
JARDIN TAKES STAND IN DOUBLE MURDER TRIAL
Robert Jardin took the witness stand Friday in his defense against two first degree murder charges. Jardin told the 12 jury members and two alternates that he went with two men he knew only as "Rick" and "Bub" thinking they were going to get cocaine. He said they pulled into the driveway of a home in a remote area and told him to wait in the car.
Jardin said he was later told to come in the house, where he saw the bodies of murder victims Patrick and Evelyn DePalma. He said he felt sick and drank milk from a jug to settle his stomach. Later, after the trio had left the home, he said he was warned not to say anything about what he saw, and he fled the vehicle. He said he later found a vacuum cleaner and a stereo that he recognized as being taken from the murder scene placed in the bed of his truck.
On cross-examination prosecutor Pete Magrino zeroed in on the number of times Jardin told lies to sheriff's investigators when questioned about the DePalma murders. Magrino also tried to bring out inconsistencies in Jardin's description of the events of October, 2006, when the elderly DePalmas were killed. And he also asked about conflicts with other statements Jardin gave investigators during two interrogations in 2008. Investigators and crime technicians testified Thursday that Jardin's DNA was found on the milk jug, and the vacuum and stereo were later discovered at Jardin's residence. And Jardin admitted he was "with the wrong people, at the wrong place, at the wrong time."
The defense rested, and the state had no more witnesses. After a short recess, Judge Jack Springstead gave the jury the choice of coming back after lunch for closing arguments and instructions, or coming back Saturday or Monday. The jury chose to return Monday at 8:30 a.m.
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GENERAL FUND SHORTFALL DOWN TO $331,313, ADVISOR WARNS ON RATINGS
Budget Director George Zoettlein told county commissioners in an agenda memo Thursday that he's succeeded in reducing the General Fund budget shortfall to $331,313. Zoettlein said he got the numbers down from over a million last week, and more than $10 million a few months ago, by some adjustments and cutting five positions. The memo says $200,000 is being saved by reducing investment interest, increasing balance forward cash by $156,395, cutting $200,000 from a special fund for cleaning up the former DPW compound, changing Reserve policy to gain $622,170, cutting five positions for $273,123, and "miscellaneous adjustments" for $15,396.
Meanwhile, Zoettlein's memo attaches a letter from county financial advisor RBC Capital Markets, which has a warning: continued use of one-time revenue sources and reserves to balance the budget "could result in the County's underlying ratings being downgraded, which would increase the County's cost of future borrowings and reflect a decline in the County's financial position."
The letter from Julie Santamaria of RBC says rating agencies "frown upon...hesitation in recognizing the need to increase taxes, use of non-recurring revenues for recurring expenses, changes in . . . previously approved reserve policies, deferral of payments . . . [and] deferring reductions of operating expenses, including reduction of staffing levels."
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SHERIFF TAKES OVER COUNTY JAIL
As of 12:01 a.m. Friday, it's no longer the CCA Hernando County Jail. Sheriff Rich Nugent completed his takeover of the detention facility a minute after midnight, and he's promised big changes. Nugent says the sheriff's office can run the jail for less than the county paid CCA, which had operated the facility for 22 years. Nugent has decreased the staff, but will pay higher salaries to fewer detention deputies. He also plans to put inmates to work inside and outside the jail, instead of letting them watch TV or eat delivery pizza. And Nugent also hopes to fill empty beds with federal prisoners by resuming a contract with immigration officials, who pulled out of a deal with CCA two years ago.
Meanwhile, the county is moving forward with an engineering firm to go over the jail and decide how much repair work is needed. A three-million dollar jail fix fund was set aside earlier this summer, but preliminary reports suggest the repair price tag will be less, possibly much less. Some of the fixes could be traced back to CCA maintenance responsibilities, with some eventual reimbursement possible.
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HAMILTON PLAN CALLS FOR CUTTING JOBS, CONSOLIDATING DEPARTMENTS
County Administrator David Hamilton has been talking for weeks about his re-organization plan and how it could save enough money to balance the budget this year. Now the long-awaited details of the plan on next Tuesday's County Board agenda instead call for eliminating a few jobs and putting a lot of departments together. Hamilton's bottom line is immediate general fund savings of $330,000, with other staff reductions and class reviews reaching a possible savings of more than a half million dollars.
According to Hamilton's presentation, some top-dollar jobs like Sue Rupe's Toruism Director spot and Harry Johnson's Recreation Director position would go, Rupe's on her pending retirement and Johnson's apparently immediately. Other current department directors would be re-titled and pay adjusted when their departments are folded into six county divisions: Administrative Services, with Hamilton as leader; Community Development, under Jean Rags; Environmental Services, headed by Joe Stapf; Land Services, with Ron Pianta at the top; Public Safety, steered by Mike Nickerson; and Transportation Infrastructure, in the charge of Interim Public Works Director Susan Goebel.
The move to fewer divisions will also mean that some current directors, like Business Development leader Mike McHugh, budget chief George Zoettlein and Human Resources Director Cheryl Marsden will be reclassified to managers.
The document in next week's agenda package also says there will be further review of the number of district fire chiefs, which reportedly eats up almost $600,000 in funds from fire assessments.
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COMMISSIONERS URGED TO GET LEGAL OFFICE TIME STUDY
Lisa Hammond, the county's purchasing consultant, says the Chamber of Commerce focus group that reviewed the County Attorney's Office should "assist with conducting their recommended time study analysis." The three Chamber members whose presentation sparked a call for outside counsel proposals by Jim Adkins would provide an analysis that would be combined with staff research to craft a scope of services. Hammond says the County Board would then need to decide on whether to issue a Request for Proposals, where price could be a major factor, or a Request for Qualifications, where the emphasis would be on a firm's resume.
Hammond said the board needs to act within the next two months, since County Attorney Garth Coller's annual contract has a 15-day window for notifying him as to whether the contract will be renewed. This year the only meeting date where that could be decided would be on October 26.
Coller, who is paid $139,000 a year, has been Hernando's County Attorney for more than ten years. His staff of assistant attorneys has been reduced from four to two in the last year and a half.
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TEEN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT FOR PULLING KNIFE
A bystander who reportedly tried to intervene in a physical altercation between a 17-year old and his girlfirend found himself staring at the sharp end of a knife a few minutes later, according to a sheriff's office report. Deputies said they charged 17-year old James Thomas Campbell with aggravated assault after he confronted Manny Gonzalez on Ashland Drive in southwest Spring Hill Thursday. Campbell was also charged with battery for pushing his 17-year old girlfriend. Deputies said Campbell was booked on the charges at the Hernando County Jail and then released to his parents. The sheriff's report says the timing of the incident may have been fortuitous for Campbell, since Saturday is his 18th birthday and he wouldn't have qualified for intake as a juvenile.
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THREE ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED HOME INVASION
Sheriff's deputies said Thursday that three men they arrested Wednesday have been charged with attempted home invasion, with bond set at $50,000 each. Investigators say the men, who were identified as 21-year old Edward Young Jr. of Brooksville, 21-year old Tony Lee Smith, Jr. and 20-year old Denzel Devon Smith, both of Bushnell, were approaching 25205 LaRuth Road early Wednesday when the resident, Eric Adams, spotted them and called deputies. Adams said at least two of the three men were armed. The suspects fled when deputies arrived, and all three were captured about three hours later in the Gordon Loop area with aid from a helicopter and K-9 units. Investigators said none of the trio have been connected to a home invasion Tuesday night on Weatherly Road.
Later Thursday all three suspects were booked again on a second felony count for armed burglary. Arrest affidavits say the new charges were filed because the three men allegedly broke into a vacant home on WPA Road to use for surveillance of the Adams home.
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AUTHORITIES SEEK SPRING HILL DRUG STORE ROBBER
Sheriff's deputies are looking for a man who robbed the CVS Pharmacy at Spring Hill Drive and Mariner Blvd. early Thursday, displayed a knife, demanded oxycodone pills, took an unknown amount of prescription medicine and fled. Authorities said the robbery occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. The suspect was described as a white male, 25 to 30 years old, six feet tall and about 185 pounds, with either blue or green eyes, and short dark hair. Deputies said he was wearing a white hooded sweat shirt with a black patterned design covering it, dark colored pants, possibly black jeans and black shoes. He also had a white colored mask covering the lower part of his face from the nose downward, with the hood of the sweat shirt covering the top of the head and pulled down to just above his eyes. He was reportedly wearing white cloth gloves over his hands and was armed with a small knife.
Deputies asked anyone in the public with information on the robbery to contact the sheriff's office or call the Crime Stoppers line at 866-990-TIPS.
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DREDGE CHALLENGE DEADLINE IS FRIDAY
County officials say the next potential roadblock for the Hernando Beach dredge project comes Friday with a deadline for filing a challenge to the modified dredge permit. According to county documents received this week, some concerns have been raised about water quality in Minnow Creek, which has its headwaters east of the dredge spoil site at the old county sewer plant and runs along the north side of the site.
The revised permit contemplates large settling ponds, more equipment, and use of a chemical coagulant to separate sediment from dredge discharge. Officials are concerned that a challenge to the permit and resulting litigation could further delay the stalled project. According to a time-line furnished by dredge contractor Orion Services, the earliest possible project completion date is now July 4, 2011.
Hernando News Source learned Friday that no challenge is expected from Manuel LLC, and an amended agreement with the Manuels to account for the modified dredge permit is on Tuesday's County Board agenda.
Reports that some dredge contractor's equipment is being removed from the site have been confirmed by county officials. Orion Services said that equipment for dredging would likely still return later, after the new dewatering equipment and settling ponds are constructed and dredging can begin again.
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PINE ISLAND SWIMMING ADVISORY WARNS OF BACTERIA
The Hernando County Health Department has issued a swimming advisory for Pine Island Beach effective immediately. Bacteriological test results received Thursday indicate the current water quality is in the poor range and may pose an increased risk of disease exposure, especially to very young children, older adults and those who have weakened immune systems.
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WEEKEND EVENT FROM NATURALLY HERNANDO.ORG
Saturday, August 28, 2010
29th ANNUAL RED MULE RUNNERS McKETHAN LAKE 5-K
| Registration begins 6:30am; Race time: 8:00am McKETHAN LAKE PARK - 7 miles north of downtown Brooksville on US-41. 5000-meter flat paved course with large oaks for maximum shade. Refreshments and fresh fruit provided. T-Shirts guaranteed to all pre-registered runners. 5-K pre-registration: $20.00; Day of race: $25.00. |
www.active.com
Well Mike, guess Jean Rags out kissed Hamilton's rear end - but you know she is sooooooooooooo good at that.
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Please people - understand that this County is BROKE AND GETTING BROKER - that's the leadership you have elected over the last two elections - conservatism at its best.
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this peice of shinola needs to go what a waste of oxgen
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What a sham - this whole thing is being orchestrated by Nicolai and the Hogan Law firm - they are already the City of Brooksville's attorneys - Nicolai's and have at their root, one of the most powerful "policital" families in the County - kinda incestuous don't you think - but this is good old Hernando County where the real decisions are made way out of the public's view.
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I think Karen Nicolai's whole dept needs to be autdited and looked at. Maybe the fox is watching the henhouse?? Putting a character like Hammond in the clerk's dept is not watching our money very wisely!
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As the Sheriff takes over the jail it seems either Nugent or the Reporters are fixated on the Pizza. CCA would offer Pizza to the inmates a few dollars over cost once a week. The profit went to different charities in the area. Thousands of dollars had been raised over the years doing this. By the way there was one 25" TV per cell section mounted on the wall in the day room. Each section houses about 20, 2 or more man cells. So it isn't exactly ideal for movie viewing, with your pizza.
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Harry Johnson is the heart & soul of the Rec Dept. More money could be saved by eliminating Pat Fagan's position.
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I agree
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Harry Johnson's position as Recreation Manager was reduced to coordinator last year. You can call him whatever you would like to call him but as I have seen from my own eyes this man runs the recreation department. He manages field scheduling for the leagues, runs the HCRD mens softball & flag football leagues. He also assist with the staff in setup, breakdown & running several events through out the year. Halloween Harvest Fest, Father Daughter Dance, Mother Son Day, Reggae Sunfest, Summer Camps, Bluesapalooza and the list goes on. This would be a big mistake to remove Mr Johnson from the rec department. If Mr Johnson is gone & Ruby Turner goes to Tourist Development that will leave 3 staff. 3 staff to take care of customer, handle phones, setup events, programs, league scheduling, and this list goes on and on. I'm not sure if anyone out there realizes what it takes to do an event the size of Halloween Harvest Fest, Reggae, Father Daughter Dance and so on.
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I am sure if you asked, you could get good business volunteers to help. These events helps them too! We should not be paying for alll these events from tax dollars!
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I'm a business volunteer, I would like to tell; Mindful your full BS you have know idea what it takes to put on an event. Without the help of the county
employees nothing gets done. As a general rule most volunteers are in it for short run and give up before the finish line leaving the paid employees to pick up the slack and the mess the volunteers have left behind. Your taxes are not paying for the TDC dollars being spent, it comes from the bed tax, just another reminder of your lack of knowledge. Mr. Hamilton should read the state statutes before he make a total fool of himself, we need more county employees like; Sue Rupe, Harry Johnston and Mike McHugh. We could use a lot less of the David Hamilton's with big ideas and no knowledge of the law...
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Hamilton doesn't care about the law - just power
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Under hamy's plan the environmental dept (utilities) would get mosquito control and stormwater. Those depts are tax payer funded. The Utilities dept is funded by rate payers only no general fund money. If you are a rate payer you are also a tax payer. So if stormwater which is a specified amount on your tax bill each year is now under utilities than the rate payers are being charged twice. I know hamy said the funding for departments will not change but how can a director being paid by rate payers oversee a tax payer dept. Will he charge by the hour when he must work on a stormwater issue? I would like to see an article detailing how the Utilities dept is separate from the general fund and how rate payer money is spent on all infrastructure upgrades and payroll. To my knowledge no tax payer money is used.There were no staff decreases in Utilities because it wouldn't have saved anything for the general fund.This would help those who are way misinformed on how the county works and enlighten some to a new controversy in my opinion.
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Just some everyone knows, there are no certified engineers working in the Department of Public Works (the last PE just quit)- go figure.
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THE DREDGE
BOCC just don't get it let this project DIE!!!! we don't need it just how many shrimp boats use this could someone in hernando county tell me ? it is the same crap over and over start stop start stop we DON'T HAVE THE MONEY and i for one will never use this channel but Mr. H can go from one Dept to another telling workers it is Doom and Gloom BOCC wake up or go dig it yourself. There is roads in hernando county falling apart and this dredge workers with job cuts coming and we just keep Pi$$ing in the pot. if this is so important let them move there wood boats to deeper water and paddle in. This project needs to STOP!!! were broke and must die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Do the taxpayers and commissioners know that Mr. H. has purchased a LEMON (maybe EDSEL's a better word)with their new INTERIM DPW director and leadership team member? Mr. De WItt, Mr. Bates - this woman can't leagally sign, stamp, or seal plans! And the only person that could was told to not bother to apply! Well,he's in SUMTER now. And she still can't sign, seal, or stamp!. Mo Money. Mo Money. Mo Money. !!!
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