HNS REPORTS---MARCH 2, 2010



SHERIFF WILL TALK TO COUNTY BOARD ABOUT TAKING OVER JAIL

Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent says he has a plan to run the County Jail at a lower cost than the current private operator.  According to an announcement from the Sheriff's Office Tuesday, Nugent will make a presentation next week to the County Board about his proposal.  Nugent's office says the move comes amid the current economic condition of the County and the continually rising cost of the County’s contract with Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) to operate the Hernando County Jail.  The announcement says the sheriff has conducted research into the possibility of his office assuming the responsibility of operating the jail.  The results of that review, including discussions with and the assistance of several Sheriff’s Office jail administrators throughout Florida, reportedly indicate that the Sheriff’s Office can provide a better and more efficient service while reducing the County’s cost of operating the jail.
The current County contract with CCA includes an automatic increase of 1% or the current Southern Region CPI (Consumer Price Index), whichever is greater, on October 1, 2010.  Nugent's office says the CPI currently stands at 2.8%.  The Sheriff says he will make the offer to the Board of County Commissioners for his office to operate the County jail at the County’s current budgeted amount for the operation of the jail, allowing the County to avoid the contractual increase of almost 3% that is currently in place.  Additionally, the current jail contract does not guarantee a fixed cost for the operation of the jail, as an increase in jail population (inmates) would increase the cost to the County.  With the Sheriff operating the jail, an increase in the number of inmates will not increase the cost to the County.
Nugent cites what he calls a consistent, proven track record of accountability within his organization and finding cost-efficiencies throughout his operation.  He noted that his office consistently returns any unused budgeted monies to the County at the end of each fiscal year.  He says during the first year of operating the jail, the Sheriff will employ those same management philosophies, seeking operational and cost efficiencies and returning any unused monies to the County, further reducing the County’s cost for the operation of the jail.  Should the Board of County Commissioners decide to transfer the operation of the jail to the Sheriff’s Office, Nugent says he is confident that his office can provide a better service at a lower cost.



SCHOOL BOARD EXPLORES COST SAVING OPTIONS FOR SPORTS

Middle school sports will stay in Hernando County, but school board members say they want more options for cost savings at the same time.  Some members supported some form of pay-for-play, though special plans for multi-sport  or low income students were supported by most.  The board was reacting to options presented by the middle school principals for saving all or some of the $200,000 annual cost of middle school sports.  One of the options was eliminating sports, but all board members say that won't fly.  Instead they asked staff to come back with refined options for keeping sports but saving money at the same time.  Chairman Pat Fagan, who is also county parks and recreation director, urged consideration of involvement with other recreation programs, including sharing facilities.  Diane Bonfield noted the importance of team-building values in all other aspects of life and noted that sports in school could be a key to building those values.

BROOKSVILLE FIRE ASSESSMENTS COULD BE SET THIS SUMMER

Brooksville property owners may soon see a new charge on their tax bill.  City council members Monday unanimously approved on first reading an ordinance change on first reading that would allow fire rescue assessments on property tax bills.  City officials said they weren't ready to recommend assessments yet, but the ordinance allows them to come back to council in May or June with more facts and figures.
The ordinance was proposed so that all properties in the city contribute to fire rescue costs.  Currently properties that are fully or mostly exempt don't pay their share for fire rescue services.  Chief Tim Mossgrove says the average home will probably see a small decrease in the total bill, although it would be more for lower value homes with exemptions and for higher value homes. 

KALISZ PROCESSED INTO LOCAL JAIL FOR ARRAIGNMENT NEXT WEEK

Murder suspect John Kalisz was processed into the Hernando County Jail Monday.  Although online records listed a Tuesday arraignment date in Circuit Judge Jack Springstead's court room, authorities said Tuesday that listing was an error.  In fact, they said the case has been assigned to Crcuit Judge Stephen Rushing, and the arraignment is now set for Tuesday, March 9.
The Sheriff's Office provided the booking photo shortly after Kalisz arrived at the jail.  Though next week's arraignment will be the first time for Kalisz inside a courtroom since the two local murders he's been indicted for, it's not technically his first appearance.  That was provided by County Judge Don Scaglione in an ambulance last month.  Kalisz was shot in the face by Dixie County deputies in the shootout that took the life of one of the officers.  He was allegedly fleeing the scene of a double murder in Hernando County in January in which two women were killed and two others seriously wounded.
Kalisz had been continuing his recovery in the Hillsborough County Jail infirmary until he was medically cleared Monday for transport to Hernando County.



SPRING HILL BURGLAR CAUGHT ON VIDEO

An arrest affidavit says a Spring Hill man was charged with burglary after a neighbor set up a hidden video camera and recorded the man removing prescription drugs from a dresser drawer.  Deputies then arrested 36-year old Jason Nelson of 12383 Spreading Oaks Drive and booked him into the Hernando County Jail.  Nelson's neighbor said he suspected someone was entering his home while he was gone and taking his prescription drugs.  Monday he hid a video camera in a closet, went to he dentist, and returned to find Nelson on tape taking five pills from a prescription bottle.  The affidavit says Nelson admitted the crime and had already ingested the pills.

FORMER SHERIFF HONORED WITH STREET RENAMING

The Brooksville City Council approved a name change for a portion of Clinton Blvd. on the city's west side at their meeting Monday night.  The part of the road from Cortez Blvd. west past the Hernando County Sheriff's Office will now be called Sheriff Mylander Way.  That's a slight change from the proposed "boulevard" but council members said it was appropriate since the retired sheriff usually ran things his "way."
In a nod to local developer Gary Grubbs, who named Clinton many years ago after one of his children, the part of the street east of Cortez to Providence Blvd. at the county building department offices will remain as "Clinton Drive."
Current Sheriff Richard Nugent thanked council members for honoring Mylander, who is credited with making the sheriff's office a professional law enforcement organization during his three terms in the 1980's and 90's.



PARENTS WILL GET INPUT ON SCHOOL START TIMES

School starting times could be changing next year as part of a school district effort to save money on transportation costs.  Board consensus at Tuesday's workshop was in favor of a proposal that features later start times for high schools.  District transportation officials said almost a half million dollars could be saved by going to the new start times because fewer bus routes would be needed.  They said each bus route costs about $56,000 a year. Only board chair Pat Fagan argued strongly for a different proposal with later start times for elementary schools.
Board members were also in agreement that now is not the time to make changes in the bus transport zones.  Officials estimated savings of $1.5 million if transportation for students who live within two miles of a school was dropped.  They also suggested that designating some schools as neighborhood schools while leaving others with transportation could save up to a million dollars a year.  But the unanimous consensus of the board was that sidewalk deficiencies throughout the county made changes in the two mile policy too dangerous for students.
The start time proposals will be refined through meetings with parents and decided within the next two months by the School Board.  Several members said their final decision would be weighed heavily in favor of what officials hear at the parent meetings.

COUNTY WORKSHOP EXPLORES E-VERIFY, RADIOS, JAIL COSTS

Hernando county commissioners learned a lot Tuesday about what the E-Verify program does, and what it doesn't do.  A representative of the federal Homeland Security Department gave a presentation on how the program is used to determine who is authorized to work in the country.  Also present were the Human Resources Director and an assistant county attorney from Hillsborough County, which uses not only E-Verify but also has a separate program from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement which backs up E-Verify by working with federal agents to enforce work violations. 
County staff warned board members that the costs of using federal programs need to be weighed against the benefits.  Contracting chief Jim Gantt said compliance checking for contractors and vendors will add costs to his office's work.  Hernando HR director Cheryl Marsden also said she would likely need additional resources for using E-Verify in the hiring process.
Commissioners asked staff for more information on the enforcement component and directed further staff talks with Hillsborough County, which is now implementing the enforcement program.  They also asked for a better focus on the additional costs and accuracy of the E-Verify program.  County Administrator David Hamilton promised to bring back an update at next month's board workshop.
Board members also heard staff report that aging emergency radio equipment needs some costly upgrading.  Officials said they hoped state and federal grant funding might pay for some replacements, and commissioners agreed to consider the matter for the county capital improvements budget this summer.
And a plan to put minor offenders with weekend jail sentences to work on community service projects will come back to the County Board again for more consideration.  It's estimated the plan, which is modeled after programs in other counties, could save up to $55,000 yearly on jail costs.



TWO DEPUTIES WITH TASERS NEEDED TO SUBDUE ANGRY MAN

An arrest affidavit says two deputies with tasers spent several minutes Monday night trying to subdue an angry Spring Hill man who kept trying to grab their stun weapons.  Once the man was finally in custody, he was taken to jail.  The affidavit identified him as 30-year old David Anthony Camp of 2357 Restmere Lane.  Deputies said they went to Camp's home after a report of a verbal altercation.  But when Camp refused to comply with safety commands, took a fighting stance and allegedly said he would kill them, the officers attempted to subdue him with taser jolts.  But Camp apparently had other ideas, trying to snatch first one deputy's weapon, then the other.  The affidavit does not say whether the tasers were used to bring Camp under control.  It does say that he was finally subdued and booked into the Hernando County Jail on charges of resisting arrest, attempting to deprive an officer of a communications device, and two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer.

POLICE CHARGE SUSPECT WITH GRAND THEFT AUTO AND HIT AND RUN

Brooksville Police said Tuesday they arrested 29-year old Heriberto Rodriguez and charged him with grand theft auto and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries.  Police say Rodriguez stole a vehicle from a bar on South Broad Street and was involved in an accident at Cortez Boulevard and Broad a few minutes later.  The vehicle reportedly fled the scene and was located later near Broad Street and VFW Road.  Police say they questioned three suspects and then arrested Rodriguez when he reportedly admitted stealing the vehicle.  Police said the incident occurred inj the early morning hours on Sunday.

VILLAGES REPUBLICAN FILES TO CHALLENGE BROWN-WAITE

The state Division of Elections says there are now two challengers to incumbent 5th District U.S. Representative Ginny Brown-Waite.  According to state records, Leodon L. Killinger Sr. filed to run against the four-term congresswoman on February 24.  He lists an address in The Villages, a massive development in northeast Sumter County. 

Posted by Hernando News Source at March 1, 2010
Categories: uncategorized
 

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