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Re: Opposition to tax increase still doesn't resolve the problem, Feb. 25 letter to the editor:
Editor: While Neil Hilmer made some pertinent points in his dissertation, he fails to realize that better schools in Hernando will only lead to more students realizing that Hernando County offers little in the way of a real career path and cultural centers, compared to so many other areas of Florida, not to mention the rest of the states.
Educated, degreed students will see that the local "high wage offerings" averaging $8 an hour (if you're lucky) pale in comparison to other areas with more progressive community visions and valuation of skilled workers.
Florida is a major retiree destination that needs health service workers, especially as the Baby Boomer generation is approaching retirement. I and a plethora of others find these substandard wages to be rather pathetic and unacceptable. I even contacted the AARP about this, and they never responded.
Local health care facilities catering to the elderly, such as assisted living facilities, continue to offer low wages for support staff, as well as terrible benefits. Do you think those employees will continue to endure the low wages and conditions when area retailers pay more?
Technologically advanced schools are always a wonderful thing, but Hernando needs some radical changes and fast-educated and skilled people don't stay in low wage-low benefit areas for long. Businesses attempting to support the community without a sufficient financial base will vacate as well.
I know I have touched on many subjects here, but feel it is time that Hernando pulls its tail from between its legs and emerges into the new millennium.
Editor: We the business owners and taxpayers located on U.S. 19 just south of River Country are amazed that the county could allow River Country residents to cause commotion and confusion by voicing their opinion. Well, now we wish to voice ours and would like to be heard.
Northbound on U.S. 19 there used to be a lane that allowed a vehicle to U-turn in front of the River Country entrance in order for the public to access our businesses, such as Park Place, the Cracked Egg, Quality Car Care, Kingsley Auto Sales, Plug Masters, Down Under Scuba and Harold's. These businesses depend on proper road design and easy access for their customers. Now, erected there is a "No U-Turn" sign, and as many as five police cars are sitting there handing out $86-$140 tickets to very confused people who make the U-turn.
With no disrespect to the officers, a crime scene would have less. Not to mention they are stopping these people to ticket them either in our parking lots or right in front of our entrances and exits.
We are being negatively affected by this. We pay our taxes and they are more than any one resident in River Country, so why should our businesses suffer or our patrons have to be inconvenienced? To get to our businesses, our patrons have actually had to pull into River Country, make a U-turn there, which you cannot see due to the overgrown hedges that the county should make them trim, or make a left turn onto Frontage Road (which you cannot see due to the hedges and also a dip in the road coming east on River Country Drive), or stay northbound to Northcliffe only to backtrack south again.
Why? Because River Country complained? How many roads do they need to get into their development? Frontage Road was created to give these people access to U.S. 19 northbound and southbound via in front of Park Place. There is no reason for people traveling east on River Country Drive to turn right onto U.S. 19 when they can turn right on Frontage Road and accomplish the same thing.
This is not rocket science: Same distance and safer. Why do these residents need the exit and entrance straight onto U.S. 19? No access should be allowed to U.S. 19 from River Country Drive. The wall that was put up should be across River Country Drive also, or simply put up a sign, "No Right Turn."
And, if this is a way for Hernando County to get extra revenue, as quoted in the Feb. 18 Hernando Times, "stake out this area. Beside saving lives, you may increase your traffic ticket income." There is a U-turn south of River Country at Plyma Street for people traveling south to U-turn north, which we are all happy about.
We are now requesting that consideration be made to remove the "No U-Turn" sign and close off the entrance to River Country via River Country Drive. That would solve the problem all the way around, and even the small businesses inside River Country should be okay with that. Then, River Country residents could enter and exit their community safely (even though they could before). Most of the people in River Country do have enough common sense to make a right onto the frontage instead of U.S. 19. Only a few don't.
All we are asking for is the right to stay in business and offer all our customers the most convenient and safest way to do business with us. As it stands now, River Country has three entrances and exits; we only have one and we are all small business owners who cannot afford to lose our customers due to petty issues created by those who have nothing better to do than complain about something or feel the need to create havoc.
You have an access road. Use it and give our much needed U-turn back. Hernando County, please take down the signs and let us live.
I am submitting this letter on behalf of the owners of Kingsley Auto Sales, Quality Car Care, Plug Masters, the Cracked Egg Restaurant, Down Under Scuba and Harold's.
Re: School sales tax proposal:
Editor: Shame, shame and double shame. A sales tax is undoubtedly the fairest way to go when money is needed in a community. But instead of complaining about it, we should all embrace it. But not just a half-cent, why not a whole cent? Maybe we would then have some in escrow for future needs.
Why anybody would deny children a decent school and education is beyond me. This area has grown immensely and needs have changed, whether we like it or not. A sales tax is fair.
Would whiners like some cheese and crackers?