HNS REPORTS---MARCH 10, 2010



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

Download | Duration: 00:05:11


HERNANDO JANUARY UNEMPLOYMENT TAKES BIG JUMP

Hernando County's unemployment rate jumped almost a full percentage point in January, going from 14.9 percent in December to 15.7 percent in January.  According to statistics released Wednesday, Hernando's jobless rate remains second worst in  Florida, behind only Flagler County at 17.1 percent.  Statewide, the unemployment rate held steady at 11.9 percent from December to January.  A look back one year, at January 2009, is even more dramatic...Hernando's jobless rate has gone up almost 30 percent in one year, from 12.1 to the current 15.7.
Experts have noted problems with the jobless statistics, which don't count unemployed people who are no longer actively looking for work.  Other officials have suggested that the state measurements don't give a true picture of local unemployment and that the 15.7 percent number might actually overstate the problem.

POLICE SEEK SUSPECT IN CHILD SEXUAL BATTERY CASES

A Spring Hill man who police say is wanted for ten counts of sexual battery to a child was being sought by authorities Wednesday.  The suspect was identified as Javier Ramos-Roldan, whose address was listed as 993 Cobblestone Drive.  Brooksville police say the sexual battery incidents occurred over the past three months at a location near Brooksville.  They said the suspect is from Mexico and has links to Georgia, but very little other information was available.  Anyone with knowledge of the suspect's whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Shawn Terry at the Brooksville Police Department.

BROOKSVILLE MAN JAILED ON MOLESTATION CHARGES

A 72-year old Brooksville man is being held Wednesday on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation in connection with sexual incidents involving a 15-year old girl.  Billie Earl Futrell of 15052 Copeland Way allegedly fondled the girl on at least two occasions and told her in e-mails that he wanted to make love to her.  An arrest affidavit says Futrell admitted the incidents and e-mail under questioning and was arrested Tuesday.  He was also charged with electronic transfer of material harmful to a minor.

SPRING HILL MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING FATHER

A Spring Hill man was jailed on aggravated assault charges Tuesday after he admitted feeling "homicidal" and pointing a pair of scissors at his father's stomach.  A sheriff's report says deputies were called to 1436 Kenlake Avenue where 58-year old Billy Pierce Sr. told officers that he and his 36-year old son Billy Pierce Jr. were having a verbal altercation when the son took a pair of scissors and held it pointed at the father from about a foot away.  Pierce Jr. told deputies he was feeling homicidal and would have stabbed his father if the older Pierce had come any closer.  Billy Pierce Jr was charged with aggravated assault and violating a court order after deputies found an  existing injunction that barred the younger Pierce from being at the residence due to a previous domestic incident.



NEW FIRE COMMISSIONER RESIGNS FIRE POLICE LEADERSHIP POST

Ben Edwards said Wednesday he has resigned as captain in the Spring Hill Fire Police.  Edwards was the top man in the volunteer organization but had to answer to suggestions of conflict when he was appointed to the Spring Hill Fire Board earlier this year.  His leadership role answering to Chief Mike Rampino raised the conflict issue, since he is now one of Rampino's five supervisors.  Though Fire Board attorney Andy Salzman said there was no legal conflict because the law requires a financial interest to rise to conflict status, Edwards said he was stepping down until all the legal issues are resolved.  He said he remains active with the fire police, which is a non-profit volunteer organization.
The fire police status was also a top of discussion at Wednesday's Fire Board meeting.  Commissioner Rob Giammarco said he was concerned about public expenditures on behalf of the fire police volunteers, such as use of vehicles and mileage reimbursement.  Salzman said he would report back at next month's meeting on whether there are issues with the organizational structure of the fire police and the line of authority.

CHAPLAIN'S WEBSITE RAISED AGAIN AT FIRE BOARD MEETING

Spring Hill Fire and Rescue District Chaplain Jack Martin criticized the man who raised his District website as an issue Wednesday, saying Ken Fagan puts on a circus every month and it needs to be stopped.  Fagan, who sparked a long discussion of the website last month that ended with the site remaining on public servers while an Attorney General opinion is sought, displayed a large poster of Martin's site at Wednesday's meeting. 
He said Martin's response to last month's meeting "declaring victory" was not appropriate.  At least two Fire Board commissioners said they were open to another citizen's suggestion of requiring Martin to host his own site with a link from the district site, along with a disclaimer of no endorsement of external links.  Meanwhile, attorney Andy Salzman said the Attorney General's office is asking for more information on his request, and he can't say when the opinion might be received.

COMMISSIONERS WANT JAIL ANSWERS NEXT MONTH

Hernando County commissioners listened to glowing predictions from Sheriff Richard Nugent of money to be saved if the sheriff takes over the county jail from private contractor Corrections Corporation of America,then heard CCA's side of the story before deciding to get more information prior to any decision.
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 behind Nugent 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 Bay County actually saved a million dollars.  And CCA officials 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.  The 120-day termination clause in the current contract means notice is needed by June 1 if a local takeover of the jail is to be effective with the new budget year that begins October 1.



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 permit fees 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 in place.  Commissioners told McHugh to come back later with a revised fee schedule with no increases for necessary improvements and higher fees for luxuries.

RECYCLING PICK-UPS CUT IN HALF, HAULER PACTS EXTENDED

County Board members approved a proposal from Utilities Director Joe Stapf to extend garbage hauler contracts for a year at Tuesday's meeting.  Part of the recommendation was cutting curbside recycling pick-ups in Spring Hill to once every two weeks, instead of every week.  Since the county subsidizes the recycling, Stapf estimated that the budget savings would be more than $400,000 a year.  He also said he wanted to get more community input before new hauler contracts are approved.  Instead of ending this October 1, new contracts now won't be needed for another eighteen months.
Commissioners also okayed a lease of the recycling facility at the county landfill to SP Recycling Corporation.  Stapf said privatizing the facility would save the county up to $100,000 a year.  He said he also hoped the new operator would hire not only former county employees but also create new jobs.



SUPPLIER TRUMPETS GREEN ENERGY AT WEEKI WACHEE HIGH

Hernando County school staff have called the new Weeki Wachee High School a "green" school.  A Business Wire story helps explain why.  According to a release from the CALMAC company, the firm announced the installation of 16 IceBank energy storage tanks for the new High School campus and its neighboring K-8 campus. The release says the heating and air conditioning  in the school was specifically designed to help qualify the facility to meet special "GREEN" certification. The central energy plant utilizes an IceBank energy storage system to cool the buildings on both campuses.
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.

BILL APPROVING RED LIGHT CAMERAS ADVANCES IN TALLAHASSEE

The Orlando Sentinel reports Tuesday that a state bill which would let cities and counties statewide use cameras to catch red-light runners was given a green light by the Florida House of Representative’s Health Care Regulation Policy Committee.  House Bill 325, sponsored by state Rep. Ron Reagan, R-Bradenton, would clarify whether or not cities can use remote cameras to catch and fine red-light runners. It’s a controversial practice that the state Attorney General’s Office has concluded is illegal under current state laws, but which dozens of cities and counties including Brooksville use anyway, based on loopholes.  The proposed state law would expand where the red-light cameras can go, and create statewide rules on how cities would use them, and what kinds of equipment they could use. Existing programs like Brooksville’s would get grandfathered.

PUBLIC HELP SOUGHT IN LOCATING THEFT SUSPECTS

  

The three subjects pictured above are suspects in a theft that occurred at Bed Bath and Beyond, 7187 Coastal Bv., Brooksville, on Wednesday, 03-03-10, at 4:00 p.m.  The subjects fled the area in an orange unknown make sport utility vehicle.  If you recognize these subjects, notify District 1 Deputy Junker.   If you wish to remain anonymous or to be eligible for a reward, call the Hernando County Crime Stoppers toll free number 1-866-990-8477 or you may email your tip by clicking below.
 http://www.hernandosheriff.org/Tips/  You may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.


Posted by Hernando News Source at March 9, 2010
Categories: uncategorized
 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this entry
  • No trackbacks exist for this entry.
Comments
  • No comments exist for this entry.
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.