Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Digest

Sprayer's error sticks county with $6,750 fine

By Times staff
Published January 10, 2007

SPRAYER'S ERROR STICKS COUNTY WITH $6,750 FINE

It stinks, but Hernando County is stuck with a $6,750 fine for dumping treated wastewater in the wrong place. A hauler took treated wastewater from Airport Industrial Park and sprayed it on a Citrus County lot. The hauler didn't realize that the county didn't have a permit to spray there. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection noticed the violation Nov. 2. Since then, the county applied for the needed permit - which it could have done before the violation. Unfortunately, the county is liable for the hauler's honest mistake, DEP spokeswoman Pamala Vazquez said. "We can't pick and choose what to enforce," she said. The county is pursuing recompense from the hauler, Deputy County Administrator Larry Jennings said.

County endorses insurance changes

The County Commission on Tuesday afternoon unanimously called for the state to take cost-cutting measures to stem the rise in property insurance prices. Pasco County has done the same thing. Now, county residents bear the double burden of perceived sinkhole risks and "the 70-year storm event" - a big hurricane - the commission said in its resolution. Commissioners want to see the changes called for by the Governor's Property and Casualty Insurance Reform Committee.

County's power refund: $107,156

The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative handed Hernando County its profit-sharing check for 2006: $107,156. The electric company, owned in part by each of its customers, gives back its profits to its "owners" at the end of every year. "Great," quipped newly elected commission Chairman Jeff Stabins. "You really light up our life."

County prepares for 2-year budgets

The County Commission is moving forward with a new, two-year budgeting process. It will allow for better long-range planning, budget director George Zoettlein said. In year one, the commission will set spending priorities and department budgets, he said. In year two, it will tweak the budget to reflect any unexpected gains or losses. County Administrator Gary Kuhl said the two-year budgeting process works well in Hillsborough and Orange counties. Year one - arguably the toughest - will occur in odd-numbered years, circumventing some of the political calculation that goes along with spending tax money in an election year. But it doesn't eliminate public comment or the possibility of an election-year change in course.

Public meetings

Hernando County Commission: 9 a.m. today, County Commission chambers, Hernando County Government Center, 20 N Main St., Brooksville. Land-use meeting. Televised on Hernando County Government Broadcasting, Bright House cable Channel 19.

Mid-Florida Community Services Governing Board: 10 a.m. today, 820 Kennedy Blvd., Brooksville.

Spring Hill Fire Rescue Commission: Workshop, 7 p.m. today, 3445 Bob Hartung Court, Spring Hill.

[Last modified January 10, 2007, 07:36:59]