Politics

The week in words

By TIMES STAFF
Published July 29, 2007

Editor's note: The following is a recap of the week's news events, in the words of the newsmakers.

"I think it would be a very sad day in the city to eliminate something like that. Government's job is to maintain but it's also to improve people's morale and the quality of life for citizens."

Karen Beasley, Brooksville Kiwanis Club president, reacting to the loss of city funding.

"I don't want to sit here for 15 months until another rock comes rolling down the pipes. I don't trust the county. There's back-door tactics going on."

George Biro of the Spring Hill Fire Rescue board, on ongoing disputes between the fire board and the county over control of the district.

"We've got taxes and homeowners insurance. Now we have the flood zone maps. That's three strikes."

Ana Trinque of the Hernando County Association of Realtors, on the negative impact the new maps are having on the already stressed real estate market.

"It's a mess. It really is a mess."

Janey Baldwin, on the confusion surrounding the new maps of flood zones in Hernando County. Baldwin is a member of the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Withlacoochee River Basin Board.

"I think that the taxpayers' money can be better spent."

Brooksville City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha, on a recommendation in the city's proposed budget that tax dollars and staff time no longer be used to help run the Christmas Festival and the annual Founders Day event.

"If all of the parties just talk to one another, I think we can resolve these issues in an easier manner."

Spring Hill Fire Chief J.J. Morrison, at left, on the ongoing dispute.

"None of them could handle a pencil."

Joe Clifford, at left, principal of West Hernando Middle School, where a dispute over the assessment tools used to evaluate progress of 28 severely disabled students has led to federal penalties.

"The admissions procedure is broken. It's not working the way it was intended."

Jim Malcolm, at left, of the Hernando County School Board, on problems with the way students are selected for the district's magnet schools.

[Last modified July 28, 2007, 22:08:21]