Letters to the Editors

Respect city's heritage

Editor: I am so pleased Commissioner Nancy Robinson came into serious negotiations recently to bring a compromise that is generous and timely to the Brooksville city expansion south and west, in its effort to build both a tax base and revenues for its water and sewer system.

Brooksville has a proud heritage that goes back generations and should be given some deference in considerations to benefit this incorporated community. Residents and leaders here are friendly, Southern and hold a special charm themselves in the hope and promise for the respect of responsible growth and continued pride in its government, city administration, businesses and banking.

Brooksville is the county seat and a visit to the downtown library will allow anyone interested an opportunity to peruse its history in several well-documented books that tell the story of a Mecca here in Hernando County dubbed, The Belle of the South. One only needs to take a walking tour in the downtown sector along its brick-paved streets to see three-story stately homes with their Southern flower-and-plant gardens and spreading oaks to appreciate the lure of this pleasant community.

Otherwise, one might want to drive to the outside edge of Brooksville to note its rolling pastures and bucolic scenery, settled by native residents who still consider themselves preserving the dignity and culture of Southern people.

Our county commissioners owe a debt of gratitude to this old, staid county seat, and our county leaders should take more time to sit across the bargaining table with city leaders to broker efforts that are fair and just, given the rich cultural influence Brooksville has upon Hernando County.
-- Deron Mikal, Brooksville

Fix water pressure problems now

Editor: Every day you turn on your water there is no water pressure. The water seems to just trickle out of your faucet. It takes an hour to an hour-and-a-half to fill up your washing machine. You stand at your sink waiting patiently to get a glass of water, which takes forever to fill up. And what once was very easy for you, to water your lawn, is now a chore because with the lack of pressure the sprinkler system does not work adequately.

So, who do you call? Florida Water Services. You call and they tell you they are looking into the problem, but the problem continues week after week. As a customer, I feel that I am not getting the service that I pay for and expect to get.

How about a refund? So, I turn to the county and they say they are looking into the problem. So, what is the problem? Some say they need more wells and some say it is a distribution problem. And it seems that the county officials don't know what the problem is and neither does Florida Water.

Find the problem and fix it. Make it the No. 1 priority. The system needs to be fixed by the so-called experts. Seems that neither the county nor Florida Water cares about the customers -- the taxpayers. They are taking their time about solving our problem.

Water is precious to us. It sustains life. The water situation is not a game. It is real. It is a matter of life and death. I have driven around Spring Hill and have noticed hundreds of homeowners watering their lawns after 10 a.m. and before 4 p.m., and also watering on the days they are not supposed to. Why isn't the law enforced on this issue and these violators ticketed? If they were, and they had to pay the $100 fine for watering when they were not supposed to, they would think twice about the rules and regulations. Then maybe we could get some pressure back to our water lines.

Another solution would be to cut back on all this new construction in the county, at least for the time being, until the water situation gets rectified. I'm sure new construction is putting a strain on our water systems.

Let's all put the pressure on Florida Water and the county to get our water pressure back. It is unfair; we have suffered enough. The county and Florida Water Services must do what has to be done.
Michael J. Kowalik, Spring Hill

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright