HNS REPORTS---FEBRUARY 9, 2010


LISTEN TO HERNANDO NEWS SOURCE RADIO...
CLICK > ON THE ICON:

Download | Duration: 00:05:55


SPRING HILL TEEN CHARGED IN SCHOOL BURGLARY

 
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office says the two images above are both of 18-year old David Lee Oquinn of 5322 Harbinger Road in Spring Hill.  The grainy black and white image was taken by a surveillance camera at Nature Coast Technical High School in the nighttime hours of January 23 or January 24 and show a man who stole six computers and a projector from the school's Commercial Arts lab.  The second photo is Oquinn's booking picture from his arrest late Monday on charges of burglary and grand theft.  Detectives acting on a tip say they went to Oquinnn's residence Monday and found one of the computers and other stolen items.  They say he admitted breaking into the school twice and stealing the equipment.

OLD HOSPITAL COULD BE NEW JUDICIAL CENTER

The Judicial Center lives...old hospital developer Bill Rain said Tuesday he could make available up to 110,000 square feet for a stand-alone court complex.  He said the work could likely be done for about $18 million, money already in reserve for a judicial center. 
Rain's presentation on turning the center and south wings of the old hospital into courtrooms and judicial offices was followed by County Administrator David Hamilton, who said he wanted commissioners and Chief Judge Dan Merritt, Sr., to know he was still trying to find additional ourtroom space.  He said the new hospital plan was just an option to put on the table.
For his part, Merritt said he was open to options and that new court space is needed now.  Commissioners told Hamilton and Rain to refine the concept further, discuss it with Merritt, and report back to the County Board.  Board members also asked for a financial breakdown of the source of funds now held in reserve.  About seven million of the present fund came from court funds, the rest from county reserves.
Hamilton and Rain said they would update the board next month and come back with a final concept in April.



COUNTY TO BRIGHT HOUSE:  WRONG TIME TO RAISE CABLE RATES

County commissioners voted Tuesday to send Bright House networks a message about a cable TV rate increase...the message is "we're not happy."  James Adkins said it was the "worst time" to increase standard cable rates, which Bright House said will increase three dollars a month, or five dollars for customers with HBO, six in all with additional premium channels.  David Russell said the hike "really frosts me," Jeff Stabins said he had switched to satellite and urged people to "shop around," and Rose Rocco said the county needed to "get them the message that we're dissatisfied."  The board voted unanimously to draft a resolution opposing the increase and requesting Bright House to send someone to explain at the next meeting.  The county lost its limited rate regulation authority several years ago when the FCC determined that satellite providers were "effective competition" in Hernando, and most of the rest of the board's authority over Bright House went away with Florida legislation passed two years ago.

E-VERIFY WORKSHOP SET FOR MARCH 2

A proposal to hold a workshop on using a system called E-verify to keep illegal workers from taking American jobs with county contractors caused some conflict at the County Board Tuesday. 
Commissioner James Adkins asked why a workshop was needed and whether the county could simply go forward now with verifying legality of contractor workers.  But Commissioner Rose Rocco said there were several interested groups that wanted to raise issues about E-verify, and Commissioner David Russell and Chairman John Druzbick said the board needed all the information in front of them at the workshop, rather than "pushing the button" before details of the E-verify program could be presented.  The board consensus was to go forward with a workshop session March 2.

LAKE HIDEAWAY DEVELOPMENT GETS COUNTY APPROVAL

Everything is now in place for a huge new mixed use development in west Hernando County to go forward.  The County Board approved re-zoning for the Lake Hideaway Trust to proceed with plans for the project east of US 19 an south of Hexam Road Tuesday.  The site could eventually be home to more than 3,000 new housing units, though an attorney for developer Lake Hideaway Trust has said it's unlikely any significant construction will take place until the Hernando housing market improves.  The development got its initial approvals two years ago, making Tuesday's board action more formality than anything else.

BUDGET SCHEDULE CHANGES SALUTED BY COMMISSIONERS

County officials are moving up the budget process to try to avoid the last minute issues that arose last year.  A revised time-line was presented to county commissioners Tuesday. 
County Administrator David Hamilton said the new schedule requires accelerated work on everyone's part to meet the new time frames.  Budget chief George Zoettlein said initial budget hearings will start in June rather than in July this year.  The schedule is also broken into phases that board members hoped would expedite the process.  The initial budget phase actually begins this week.  Chairman John Druzbick asked Zoettlein to provide regular updates on how the process works between now and June.  He said a "bit by bit" budget process would help commissioners get through the expected difficult budget year during the usual summer round of hearings.

COUNTY APPROVES LANDFILL GUN RANGE, TRAINING CENTER

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is on the way to getting its own facility for training and shooting practice.  The County Board approved a plan Tuesday for use of a portion of county landfill property for the new facility.
Sheriff's spokesman Royce Decker said the unneeded landfill property would save the sheriff current expenses and staff time lost to sending deputies to an out-of-county training facility.  Utilities chief Joe Stapf said the property likely has no current or future landfill use. 
County commissioner David Russell even suggested inviting the Dixie County sheriff's office to make use of the facility for "target practice."

DUI MANSLAUGHTER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN HERNANDO

A man accused in a fatal accident near Fort Myers in September was arrested in Glen Lakes Monday and charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter.  Jail records show 61-year old Michael Gordon Hickman was arrested at the home of a relative on New Orleans Drive and booked into the Hernando County Jail.  Fort Myers area media reports said Hickman, then living in North Fort Myers, collided with a vehicle carrying two nuns who taught at a Cape Coral catholic school.  The two women, 80-year old Sister Karinne O’Malley and 84-year-old Sister Ann McFall were both killed at the scene, while a third nun driving the compact car was treated for minor injuries at a hospital.  Troopers told Fort Myers media that Hickman's blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit. 

ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR HONORED IN RESOLUTION

Two-term Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams, her husband and her mother were at the County Board meeting Tuesday to receive a resolution saluting her for her 37-year career in the elections office.  Williams was  honored in a resolution that declares February 20 as Annie Williams Day and which also declares February as African-American History month.

BROOKSVILLE COUNCIL SAYS NO TO SPECIAL ELECTION

There will be no special election in Brooksville this year, and appointed councilman Frankie Burnett, Jr., will apparently serve until the next city election in November.  Brooksville City Council members voted to approve a revision to the city's election code Monday that eliminates a special election requirement for filling a vacancy.  An ordinance to change the code was given unanimous approval after councilman Joe Johnston III proposed amendments to provide for filling vacancies at the next regular or county-wide special election.  The move would save the estimated $25-30,000 special election cost.  A second reading of the code change will take place at a special meeting later this month.
Johnston and Burnett
Last week Vice-Mayor Richard Lewis was a strong opponent of changing the rules after the resignation of council member David Pugh, and Johnston joined him in voting against eliminating the special election.  This time, with Johnston supporting the ordinance with his amendments, Lewis said he thought civility was more important than fighting on alone for his view.
First reading approval of the ordinance came at a special meeting called to resolve the legal limbo the election was placed in last week when Burnett voted against a resolution for a special election following his appointment and the original defeat of the ordinance.  City Attorney Tom Hogan noted that Ethics Commission opinions left Burnett in a position where he was required to vote on the issue, even though it effectively lengthens his appointed term.

MANAGER HAS STATUS REPORT ON CAMERAS, S. BROOKSVILLE


Brooksville City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha told Hernando News Source Monday that a planned council workshop on red light cameras was canceled on advice of city lawyers based on the continuing litigation against the city over the issue.  The manager also explained that she was out on Thursday and Friday last week, when Hernando News Source reported that she had not responded to e-mailed requests for comment on two city matters.
Though the red light cameras are in litigation, the suit has been pending since before January 4, when council members agreed to a February 8 workshop on making the controversial program fairer.  However, in the meantime the suit's filing was reported in Hernando News Source and a supporter of changes in the program, councilman David Pugh, resigned. 
The other issue Norman-Vacha addressed was progress on south Brooksville improvements.  She said the proposed interlocal agreement with the county was still in discussions between the government staffs and would be presented to council for action when its provisions were worked out.  Additionally, Hernando News Source has learned that the specifics previously missing from a draft south Brooksville agreement have now been added by city attorneys, but no date for consideration by either city or county has been announced yet.

Posted by Hernando News Source at February 8, 2010
Categories: uncategorized
 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this entry
  • No trackbacks exist for this entry.
Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

  • February 9, 2010 steve34609 wrote:
    Isn't it amazing that the HCBOCC will unanimously vote to strafe Brighthouse on a three dollar per month rate increase but continues to spend,spend,spend,approve new,unneeded single family home projects,give county government employees raises against constituents' strenuous objections, dip into funds not designated for that specific use, continue to plan to build a twenty million dollar judicial center, rip off business people that want to do business with parks and rec...the list goes on!Why? Because Brighthouse is an easy target.This is obviously a cheap move,costing each Board member zero in political capital and creating the illusion for voters that the HCBOCC are all their champions.They are not.In fact,these people are the nemesises of taxpayers everywhere.
    Reply to this
  • February 18, 2010 Reality wrote:
    steve34609 - fact-county employees (except for Sheriff's employees) have not a raise in 3 years-this year they had their pay cut 4% through furloughs-we all know you hate government so much-my question-exactly what don't you want the bad old gov to not provide you, your neighbors, or people in the county you just plain don't know? Spell it out please and go dunk some more Teabags.
    Reply to this
Leave a comment

Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.

 Enter the above security code (required)

 Name

 Email (will not be published)

 Website

Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.