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Re: Spring Hill Fire Rescue District.
Editor: Over the years we have been residents of Spring Hill, there have been two concerted efforts by well-organized groups to have Spring Hill incorporated as a city. Fortunately, residents of our community were wise enough to defeat both efforts through voter referendums. They realized that incorporation would do little for the community except to create another layer of government and, in all probability, a significant increase in taxes.
In the years following defeats of the incorporation movements, Hernando County services have increased tremendously to the satisfaction of all but a few.
Originally, we were from a northern metropolitan county where there were many layers of government and, as a result, suffocating real estate taxes from three different sources. As an example, there were 27 different policing agencies within the county when one or two would have sufficed. Today, that county is in deep financial trouble - actually on the verge of bankruptcy. It did not take us long to realize that living in Spring Hill with just one local government was a considerable improvement from where we had been.
And so, we come to the problem of fire protection within Hernando County. If one looks at the situation objectively, it is more than evident that having two different fire departments has to be less efficient and more costly than having a single agency. Consolidation of the two probably would mean the loss of certain privileges and benefits to some firefighters; however, these differences undoubtedly could be resolved over time.
It seems to me this question of having one or two fire departments within the county should be resolved by voter referendum this fall.
Re: Lives retold, June 14 Times:
Editor: Having been to services where the eulogy included stories about the deceased and writings from the family about the loved one they have lost, I appreciated the article. The many memories certainly give a feeling of warmth to the service, as well as a deeper appreciation of the life that is being celebrated.
I was wondering if your readers were aware that the chaplains of Hernando-Pasco Hospice provide a similar service for the families of their patients. They will be there whenever and wherever they are needed, in the home, a chapel, a garden or a funeral home. Their services have been a great comfort and benefit to many families.
Editor: Re: Return to once-a-week watering schedule, June 15 Times editorial.
Why should residents of Spring Hill be subjected to increased water restrictions, supposedly for water conservation, when our illustrious county commissioners never see a new building project they dislike?
Where is the growth plan to mediate or balance new construction with the need for water availability? Why isn't the editorial directing its discontent at the county government instead of further burdening Spring Hill residents with even stricter water rules?
You want water conservation? Slow down the building permits. Increase the assessments for builders and/or new homeowners to allow for replacement of new piping in the county. In a state surrounded by water, why aren't desalination plants being built around the state?
Spring Hill residents have the highest water bills in the county, pay the highest property taxes in the county, and, frankly, supply the bulk of the county income.
Here we have a county government that promised a better water supply and fewer pressure problems as a sales pitch for purchasing the overpriced albatross from Florida Water Services.
And, guess what? We now have an 18-year veteran employee of the Utilities Department just now telling everyone, including our clueless commissioners, that the pipes are too small to handle the current needs, much less any future growth. Another brilliant use of taxpayers money to now fix these overlooked problems, which can be added to the many other wasteful county spending decisions.
My recently purchased expensive home requires mandatory maintenance and appearance requirements and I'll be damned if I'll let my lawn, trees and plants die while the county puts further strain on an inadequate system that I'm already paying too much for at this point.
I cannot wait for the new faces that are coming to this board of commissioners in November. They cannot be any worse than the ones we now have.
Re: Bad water pressure problem deserves increased attention, June 18 letter to the editor:
Editor: Your readers should be made aware of the following facts:
As required by statute, Hernando County held multiple public hearings regarding the Spring Hill Utilities acquisition in 2002 and 2003. Evidence was presented as to the considerations spelled out in the statute that must be reviewed prior to purchase of a private utility system.
The August 2002 feasibility study did not recommend against purchase of Florida Water, but rather noted existing problems and set out reasonable price ranges in light of the problems.
Additionally, the county had a separate study prepared for litigation against Florida Water regarding the quality of service.
That study documented the fact that pressure problems typically experienced during dry months at times of heavy irrigation were primarily a result of pipe sizes in parts of the system, rather than solely one of water supply, as Florida Water claimed. This has been confirmed now that additional water supply, up to 1-million gallons per day, is being fed into the system through the promised 16-inch water line along County Line Road, and minor pressure problems still persist on days with heavy irrigation demands.
The county staff will continue to monitor reported problems and move diligently to fix those problems. Problems were not unexpected and, in fact, were planned for in the bond issue. The bond issue not only funded acquisition of the utility, but also included funds for needed upgrades.
No tax dollars are received or used by the Utilities Department. We are entirely dependent on user charges to support operations and pay debt service, and rely on new connection fees to provide new infrastructure.
Now that additional water supply has been provided, and more additional supply is being planned, the staff will focus on using available funds to upgrade the system's infrastructure limitations. These limitations were well known and documented during the purchase negotiations, and specifically factored into the price paid.
Editor: Re: Sodas removed from school machines, June 18 Times.
Editor: Now they want sodas banned from schools, and replaced by fruit or sports drinks. Has anyone looked at the sugar contents?
Also, parents are responsible for what their children eat and drink. It all starts in the home.
The problem today is not the sodas, but exercise. How much exercise do you, the parents, and your children get? Children sit in front of the television or computer for hours, and do not walk to school but have the advantage of taking school buses. The schools should give more exercise time to the students. This will help a lot, even if it's just walking.
Taking the sodas away will not help. The older students can go out and buy whatever they want, so where are you gaining?
This is a free country and I don't think anyone has the right to tell you what to eat or drink unless it's your own physician or parents.
I am a grandmother and I went to school, I walked, I drank sodas and ate whatever my mother cooked for our family. We walked, had no television or computers, but we didn't miss any fun. A good cold bottle of Coke, especially in the summer, made for pleasant times.
Editor: I am confused! It has been my perception that the county commissioners are supposed to represent the best interests of the public (taxpayers). Now I read in the Times that the commission is accused of pandering to the public. I hope that they continue to represent us.
Do developers ever examine the lack of drinking water in Florida, lawn water, bath water, clothes washing water (you might wash clothes in a brook, if any are left). Apparently, companies that convert seawater to potable are not successful at this point.
Look around you. Everywhere there is a vacant lot east of U.S. 19 between State Road 50 and Spring Hill Drive, home construction is already started or will be in the immediate future. With the advent of the expressway to Tampa, hundreds, if not thousands, of homes are on the way to being built. All of these counties will need water. We cannot look to them for help.
Schools also are affected. They need more teachers. As more folks move in, they will need space for schools in densely populated areas. This means higher school taxes. Many people are retired on fixed incomes, which is another problem and another reason we should look for solutions to control our population growth.
We are not alone. Many counties are having the same problems as we are.
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