HNS REPORTS---MARCH 9, 2010
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Nugent said CCA's jail budget has increased recently at twice the rate of his own budget. He said he expected to be able to return money to the county, instead of CCA profits leaving the county. Nugent said he didn't think CCA was doing anything wrong, and he said he appreciated CCA allowing a review of their financial records.
CCA officials took up most of a row in the commission chambers and offered to share financial details of jail operation with commissioners as well. They said recent experience in Bay County with sheriff takeover of a former CCA jail showed an increase of $3 million in the jail budget, though Nugent said that after two years that Bay County actually saved a million dollars. And CCA also said they would expect return of some of their investment in the jail if the contract for its operation is terminated early.
After hearing from both sides and the public, the County Board asked staff to come back with more information on costs and process within 30 days.
MURDER SUSPECT KALISZ PLEADS NOT GUILTY
COUNTY, DREDGE CONSULTANT COMPROMISE ON CHANGE ORDER
County officials and dredge consultant Halcrow have reached a compromise in the dispute over the consultant's latest change order request. Halcrow had sought almost $800,000 in additional money, based on late changes in permits for seagrass mitigation. County officials had claimed that the request was out of line and said only about $420,000 was justified. Now Halcrow has written a letter to the county agreeing to take $553,000 as a lump sum for the additional work. The letter reportedly confirms a compromise reached at a meeting last week between county staff and Halcrow representatives. Meanwhile, the dredge project remains on hold pending state regulators' verdict on a new spoil de-watering process aimed at trying to comply with state permit requirements.
COMMISSIONERS WANT CHANGES IN BUILDING PERMIT FEE PROPOSAL
County commissioners balked Tuesday at raising home improvement building permit fees across the board, but they said they wanted to see a revised fee schedule later that would hike permit fees for luxury items while holding the line on other fees. Commissioner David Russell, a pool contractor, said he thought that building department budget concerns could be met if pool permits were raised. He suggested that necessary repairs like air conditioning, roofing and dors and windows should be exempted from any increase. Development Director Mike McHugh said without the fee hikes the building department could run out of money later this year. Commission chair John Druzbick noted there were really no good options...increase fees and keep services, reduce workforce and provide less service, or find some necessity permits to exempt. Druzbick also noted that neighboring counties and the City of Brooksville already had higher fees ihn place. Commissioners told McHugh to come back later with a revised fee schedule with no increases for necessary improvements and higher fees for luxuries.
DECISION SOUGHT ON JUDICIAL CENTER COMMITTEE
TWO TEENAGERS CHARGED IN HERNANDO HIGH SEXUAL ASSAULT
Brooksville police said Monday they arrested a juvenile who just turned 15 for lewd and lascivious molestation of a 15-year old victim whose name and gender were not released. Police say a second juvenile was charged with battery for grabbing the victim's arm during the altercation at Hernando High School last Thursday. Police say they were called to the scene by school officials after the incident was reported. A police media release says both juveniles have admitted that the victim was molested in a sexual manner.
SUPPLIER TRUMPETS GREEN ENERGY AT WEEKI WACHEE HIGH
Chillers work with the IceBank tanks to make ice at night when energy costs are significantly lower. The low-cost stored energy aids the chiller the next day to cool the buildings during peak demand. The combined campuses require 2,200 total tons of cooling capacity. By combining the two central cooling plants into one and adding ice storage, designers were able to reduce the purchased chiller capacity to 1,200 tons. The hybrid cooling system with ice storage reduced not only the HVAC equipment size and refrigerant required for the project but also the peak energy consumption for the campus. The energy storage tanks are estimated to save 10 percent of the school's annual electricity costs.
CALMAC says its tanks are part of what it calls this unique "high school as a small town" design concept. Three academic neighborhoods, an administration and media civic center, athletic and dining facilities and a performing arts town center are clustered around a central landscaped courtyard. The ice storage system is an integral part of the overall energy efficiency of the campus buildings, all running off of one central plant.
FASANO SAYS LICENSE PLATE ADS COULD MAKE STATE MONEY
As Fasano envisions it, companies would pay a fee, and drivers could get a break on the cost of plates by using the company’s logo. The Palm Beach Post noted Monday that this is probably another attempt to generate money for the state. But a Post staffer writes on a legislative blog that the idea is a good one. It’s all voluntary, says the blogger, and seems like it would do no harm.
Fasano said the idea could generate money for the state. He plans to bring legislation to his colleagues during a hearing this week in Tallahassee.
WEBINAR OFFERS PUBLIC CHANCE TO ATTEND MEETING ON COMPUTER
The Hernando County Metropolitan Planning Organization will host a satellite location for an informatinal webinar on the 2060 Florida Transportation Plan on Wednesday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m, at the Hernando County Planning Department Conference Room in the Government Center. During 2010, the Florida Department of Transportation and its partners will be updating the Florida Transportation Plan. The 2060 Plan for all of Florida includes local, regional, and state partners who make decisions about future transportation investments affecting safety, security, preservation, and mobility needs.
MPO staff are encouraging the public to participate in the interactive forum. Interested citizens with access to a computer and internet connection may register for the free webinar at www.2060ftp.org. Citizens without access to a computer are invited to attend the host satellite location above.
The County Commission needs to do the right and ethical thing for our community. Pawning "citizens for profit" is as low as one goes for profit. Raw capitalism or dog-eat-dog capitalism is lower than low when our citizens are articles or objects for profit. I question what our founders would think of pawning citizens for profit. Arrest quotas so that a profit could be made is creepy and for the most part appears un-American. Americans talk about valuing life; there is no value for human life with CCA and its profiteers in our community. Our citizens need to take their community back from the raw capitalist. There is no value to human life and the future of that human life with CCA destroying our community, one life at a time for profit. Each human life in Hernando County show matter and should not be looked upon as a pawn for jail system profit.
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I've never thought that our correctional facilities should be in the hands of a private company. The overall goal of a business is to maintain a profit. This may be contrary to what a jail should be. Government has built in checks and balances and ultimately answer to "we the people". If they aren't doing things to our satisfaction they get voted out and someone better gets voted in. It sounds as if most, if not all of the current employees will still have job at the jail. I would imagine that the Sheriff will put them through a screening process. If they don't pass then they probably should not be guarding prisoners in the first place.
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