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Re: A mother through the unexpected, May 9 Times:
Editor: I do not live in Timber Pines and find it hard to understand why people want to live in such restricted communities. But one thing is certain: They have certain rules and regulations for their residents, and this is what attracts those who like living there. End of story.
They knew all this going in. If they wanted to live where kids are allowed, where teens drive up and down the streets blasting their CD players or revving their engines, where RVs can be parked on driveways, where boats can be stored in back yards, or where homeowners can paint their houses magenta if they wanted, then they'd be out here with the rest of us.
Yet, they prefer structure and restriction. They pay more for it. They maintain their own roads. They police their own behavior. It's a lifestyle they enjoy.
For that, I agree that the Piersons have to move. It sounds cold, but the Piersons also acknowledge what they are doing is wrong. I am certain the management at Timber Pines will work with them, given that Mrs. Pierson is having some medical problems. To force them out in 30 days would be cruel and heartless. But I am sure all could agree that a six-month window will give the Piersons plenty of time to sell their home, get well and find a new home. Given that Timber Pines residences have good resale value, this should not pose a problem.
On the other hand, if management is forced to allow them to stay there, the lines become blurred, and then what's to stop someone else from wanting to keep kids? Remember, they chose to live in an area with no children.
Who are we to tell them they must accept a change to their rules? We don't live there.
For those who ceaselessly criticize residents of Timber Pines, I have to wonder: Are you jealous? Or resentful of those who chose a structured lifestyle? Or busybodies with nothing better to do than impose your own sense of self-righteousness?
Re: Local firefighters betrayed again by former leaders, May 5 letter to the editor:
Editor: Mrs. Stephen P. "Gunny" Wilson recently elected to lambaste two former Spring Hill Fire Rescue District commissioners for abandoning the men and women of the district and claimed "facts are being manipulated and misconstrued in an effort to destroy the morale and reputation of the fire district and the extraordinary men and women who work there."
I can recall sitting in the audience of a commission meeting in 2000, when former Chief Michael Morgan requested the board make an exception to policy and grant transitional health care benefits for Lt. and Mrs. Wilson. The request was granted unanimously by the board, to include the outspoken Dennis Andrews and Robert Kanner.
The unique and most unfortunate circumstances of Lt. Wilson's case, I felt, were met with compassion and respect. This health care, which was provided at a considerable expense to the district, no doubt assisted the Wilsons during this painful and difficult period in their lives. This benefit could have been declined if these commissioners were as callous as they have been portrayed.
Commissioners are elected to ensure that the best interest of the taxpayers are foremost in everything this department does. The fire administration handles daily operations and personnel matters. A third party, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2794, or "the union," represents members in disputes with management. In the course of conducting business and while they were commissioners, I cannot recall the chief or the union coming before the board with specific grievances against Andrews or Kanner. If these men are so diabolical, where were the complaints?
If you wish to take this matter one step further, why is the employee turnover rate so low in this department? Many employees within the district cannot advance through the ranks as firefighters because promotional vacancies are so infrequent. There is a dichotomy here. Something does not make sense.
In late 2002, upon hearing the rumor that a former commissioner was "scheming" to have the Wilsons' benefits revoked, I spoke with Chief J.J. Morrison, and I asked him to agenda this matter so the current board (only two members of which participated in the initial vote) could revisit this issue and vote to revise the initial agreement. He recommended against doing so. He requested that I "leave this one alone." I assured the chief that my intentions were honorable. I asked him if he was not comfortable about discussing this matter in public might he simply meet with the county finance office and verify that the extension of benefits for the Wilsons was permissible. He again asked me to leave this issue alone. The matter became a nonissue shortly thereafter with the passing of Lt. Wilson.
Trust me when I say this response was not easy to write. It has become apparent to me that a small, disgruntled faction within the ranks of the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District has opted to use this grieving widow and her husband (posthumously) to speak ill of these two men and the generosity of the fire board.
If this nonsense is to continue, add my name to the list of people in support of abolishing the "special district" status of Spring Hill Fire Rescue, thus creating a countywide fire department and eliminating the soap opera antics that frequently appear in the newspapers and, yes, the board of fire commissioners. For the record, that would include me.
Re: Road changes to Linden Drive in East Linden Estates:
Editor: I read that county engineer Charles Mixon plans to install four medians in the road to the tune of $100,000-plus, in an effort to slow the speed of motorists driving through the area.
This sounds like another plan to throw away taxpayers' money to solve a problem that should already be taken care of through our current infrastructure (enforcement by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office). The speed limit should be enforced by the deputies who are already on the payroll. More than $100,000 pays for a lot of overtime for these deputies. The sheriff resides in East Linden Estates; surely you would think speed enforcement would be the deputies' top priority on Linden Drive (plus raising revenue from speeding tickets).
If Mr. Mixon wants to spend $100,000 so badly, how about paving the limerock roads, namely Cooper Road, Aladdin Road and Sullivan Street to Carlton Street? These four roads are surrounded by blacktop roads in all directions. Probably a grand total of 2 miles.
Speaking of grand, the paving of these roads probably would cost only $50,000, not $100,000.
Why do you think the proposed half-percent sales tax for roads got voted down in March? It is because wasteful ideas like this keep popping up. We had to pay out of our own pockets to pave in front of our home.
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