Letters to the Editors

Steps must be taken to enforce gun laws

Editor: Re: Lawyer: Gun rule laxity led to killing, March 5 Citrus Times:

I agree with the Durling family, which lost a daughter, that the county should hold some culpability for not enforcing its ordinances. It also seems irresponsible that the state can pass a law shielding the county to a maximum of $200,000.

County Attorney Robert Battista says the gun ordinance is no different than a tree ordinance. No rule will be effective unless it is enforced. We can't just wait for people to be killed or trees to be removed before doing something. The gun seller in this case paid a $350 fine and 50 hours of community service. Some penalty!

Sheriff Jeff Dawsy says it isn't his job to educate gun sellers. He says his job is to enforce the laws. Well, I don't think anyone can say the gun law was enforced.

I think the pattern is clear. Our representatives pass laws but don't put in the mechanisms -- proper people and funding -- to enforce them.

It is tragic that the Durling girl had to be killed to reveal this to all of us.
-- Harvey Roberts, Lecanto

Inverness roads are plagued by vehicles running red lights

Editor: I thought that red meant to stop, but it seems that has changed.

Inverness seems to be the worst for cars and trucks running red lights.
-- Allan Hayward, Inverness

Combining wastewater projects was right move

Editor: Re: the Homosassa Phase IV sewer and wastewater project:

Although a private citizen wants to give the impression that combining the Homosassa and Chassahowitzka projects was not the correct thing to do, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Had these two projects not been combined, the county would not have received the funding for the projects, which are really one because the sewer and wastewater lines that will be installed will all carry the sewage to the Meadowcrest Wastewater Treatment Plant for processing.

Our elected officials, in particular, Citrus County Commissioner Gary Bartell, state Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River, with the help of state Sens. Anna Cowin, R-Leesburg, Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, and Richard Mitchell, D-Jasper, and Gov. Jeb Bush have so far been successful in getting state funding for both the Homosassa and Chassahowitzka sewer and wastewater projects.

The County Commission, with Commissioner Bartell taking the lead, wisely decided to call the entire Project "Homosassa Phase IV" so the project would be recognized as an ongoing project. Having the project identified as an "ongoing" project is crucial to receiving funding from the state because the governor has very wisely given the Senate and House budget guidance that in this time of fiscal crisis, that any new project would not only be carefully scrutinized, but in all probability not be approved.

Funding for the Homosassa Phase IV project has been a team effort, and no one person should try to take credit for what the aforementioned outstanding elected officials have accomplished. The efforts of private citizens are greatly appreciated, but it should be recognized that many of us have worked very hard to make this project viable.

When the state sends the funds to the county for the Homosassa Phase IV project, the County Commission very wisely uses this money to obtain matching funds from the Coastal River Basin Board and, to date, they have been very successful. By using the funds budgeted by the Senate and the House and approved by the governor as matching funds, and making a matching fund request to the Coastal River Basin Board, the funds that are then available for the project are for the most part doubled. I consider this to be government at its best and the very wise use of taxpayers' money.

The ongoing efforts to clean up the Homosassa and Chassahowitzka are an absolute necessity, and the major way to reduce pollution on these rivers is to install sewer and wastewater lines to everyone living on or near these rivers, and get rid of the septic tanks that are leaking pollution into these Outstanding Florida Waterways.

Hopefully, in the future, with the support of the press and residents of Citrus County, we will be able to extend similar projects to the Crystal River, in areas like Indian Waters.
-- Weston L. Stow, vice chairman, Coastal River Basin Board, Crystal River

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