Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Digest

Former director of WTI found dead in home

By TIMES STAFF
Published January 6, 2007

Steve Kinard, former director of the Withlacoochee Technical Institute, was found dead in his Inverness home early Friday. 

County looks to privatize shelter

To cut costs and address personnel problems, officials are considering privatizing the county's animal shelter, Assistant County Administrator Tom Dick said Friday. Next week, Dick and director of Public Safety Charles Poliseno will meet with representatives from the Humanitarians of Florida to discuss the idea. "Hopefully it would provide the animals with a better opportunity to be adopted," Dick said. To privatize the shelter, the county would need to use a competitive bidding process. But next week's meeting is just a preliminary step to gauge interest, Dick said. Last month, Xan Rawls resigned as Animal Services director, citing personal reasons. And an investigation into employee complaints has resulted in disciplinary action against several workers and a recommendation that two staffers be fired. The Humanitarians, Dick said, have successfully run shelters elsewhere. "We'll see what they may have to offer," he said.

Former A&P could house county staff

A downtown building owned by Citrus Memorial Health System once housed an A&P and served as an annex for First Baptist Church. Now, it may be the first step in easing the county's office space crunch. Officials from the county and the hospital have discussed leasing the space for Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill. Assistant County Administrator Tom Dick said the county hopes to lease the building for three to five years. "They don't have immediate plans for a hospital function in there," he said. "It looks like it may be a win-win situation."

Go native with your landscaping

Citrus County's Florida Yards & Neighborhoods, a program of the Citrus County Extension Service, is offering an eight-week landscape design class from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Jan. 17. The course will cover basic principles of Florida friendly landscaping, native plants, functions of the yard, ecosystems and budgeting. Cost of the course is $20, deadline to register is Wednesday. Call Gina at 527-5700.

[Last modified January 6, 2007, 07:20:47]