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Today's Letters: Let's get real on county's roads

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 29, 2007

Rock roads are rough on county April 18 story

So, property owners don't want to pay for paving their roads and expect the rest of us to cough up (no pun intended) the money out of the general fund for them to get a surface treatment? No way! Spending $500, 000 to do the 5 to 7 miles of temporary treatment is a waste of money. More than 500 miles to pave with no money? It's not going to happen.

First, let the property owners petition their neighbors to get the paving and then let them put it on their taxes for the next 30 years as a special assessment. They probably don't have many neighbors because they chose to live in the outback, so good luck on that one.

Second, cancel the $20-million widening of Elgin Boulevard for only two lanes for 7/10 of a mile to provide funding for the limerock road projects. Cancel any other widening improvements and release that money for the restoration of existing roads that are all falling apart.

Third, since the county Health Department claims that during the three months of dry season this dust is a health hazard, lower the speed limit to 25 mph, water the roads once a month and don't fix them to guarantee the residents will drive slowly around the potholes.

Fourth, since there is no money to pave all these limerock roads, place a ban on any developments in these areas until the developer agrees to pave the road first.

Fifth, get some new county commissioners ASAP, as they are way out of their league trying to run this no longer-sleepy county.

Sixth, Spring Hill really needs to consider incorporating as a city and throw the county out completely.

Doug Adams, Spring Hill

Teacher is upset over complaint 

Schools' half-days are an unnecessary burden April 22 Times editorial

I cannot believe that I am reading yet another complaint about teachers, especially the teachers of Hernando County.

I was disappointed to read in the editorial on "school employees and students are enjoying much more time out of the classroom." I am offended that this is referred to as a "teacher's perk." Perhaps this is true for students, but how for teachers? Does the public even know what teachers do on these days? Do they care that this time is set aside for professional development to further meet the needs of their children? The same children whose parents are complaining about it being an "unnecessary burden?"

I wholeheartedly agree we, as teachers, need increased pay, along with professional development. Perhaps teachers should be paid hourly so these burdened families could see just how hard and long we work preparing lessons, grading papers, conversing with families and trying to come up with creative ways to present material to the young minds of our society.

If School Board members Sandra Nicholson and John Sweeney are in agreement, why haven't they done one thing to help represent the teachers or our union in this county?

Lisa Mazzuco, Weeki Wachee

Insurance hike is all Crist's fault

I can't believe I voted for Governor Crist!

My insurance policy for 2006 was $478. I was canceled in December 2006.

Then, in January, I was offered a renewed policy for $1, 153, a raise of $675.99.

To me, this seems illegal.

Ruthavallee Keefer, Brooksville

Ashamed of water regulations

Hernando County only wants impact fees and your tax dollars. The county tells us we must not water but one time a week, and at hours that do not work if you don't have a sprinkler system. Sprinkler systems cost money to put in. I have lived in Florida for more than 45 years and now go to North Carolina for five to six months of the year. There is no water used at all while we are gone. This should be taken into account.

The county is having inspectors go around and check for people watering at night.

Then the county is considering approving some 1, 700 homes and three golf courses, and they want us to stop watering. The only reason we have this problem is because the county keeps letting the builders do what they want so they can get your taxes and impact fees. Golf courses need to be watered every day, and everybody who puts a lawn in can water for six months.

The county needs to get its act together and take care of the people who have lived here for some time. The people south of Tampa need to get their water from some other source (desalination plants). Several areas in Hernando County that belong to the county water anytime they want and nothing happens to them.

I am ashamed to call myself a resident of Hernando County. If all the people stood up to the county we could cure some of these problems.

Lee C. Wollitz, Brooksville

Your voice counts

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[Last modified April 29, 2007, 07:22:40]