Today's Letters: Commissioners' acts mystifying

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published September 20, 2007

Re: Sheriff lashes out over budget, taxpayer anger Sept. 16 story

Unbelievable, the actions of the Hernando County commissioners on Sept. 13! Did they think only a few people would attend the budget hearing? Obviously so!

Sheriff Richard Nugent was correct in the statement that the meeting would be more costly for his staff time than it would have been if held at the fairgrounds. Good sense does not seem to prevail among our elected officials, as witnessed in their approval of the many homes (4,000-plus) on the east side of the county.

Where are the goods and services to come from? Is the sheriff supposed to spread his deputies thin in order for the county to collect impact fees? If any budget needs approval it is that of the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Nugent and his staff do an excellent job promoting safety in this county and I am sure will continue to do so, given the wherewithal to accomplish their goals.

Cutting THE Bus would be another mistake. Many seniors and disabled people have given up their drivers licenses and make use of THE Bus in order to see their doctor, shop or, in many cases, volunteer at local hospitals where they are sorely needed. Would you like to see these people back on the road in unsafe conditions? It is about time the commissioners consider the elders and disabled in this county and cut some frills elsewhere.

The commissioners need to keep in mind that the public has a very long memory and election time is coming. Believe it or not, you can be replaced.

Jini Sommerfeld, Spring Hill

Re: Sheriff lashes out over budget, taxpayer anger Sept. 16 story

Budgets impart a basic lesson

Concerning the proposed budget cuts, if I gave my daughter a weekly allowance of $1,000, she would soon live a standard that requires at least $1,000 a week. Of course, that figure is exaggerated, as is the current budgets in all departments of government at all levels.

If I had to slash her allowance in half, she would be devastated, since her standard of living still requires $1,000 a week. She would have to make adjustments and changes in her lifestyle to now live on $500 a week.

Had I not been so generous in the first place, she easily could live off $500 a week because she would not have had the extra funds for lavish spending.

The budgets of these county departments should never have been raised to the level that they were. What very little they are having to trim from their budget does not even come close to what their budget should be.

So, Sheriff Nugent and department heads, stop crying and run your departments like you would run your own family and budget - tightly and within your means.

J. Michael Collins, Spring Hill

Road alteration invites disaster

I am writing in protest of a recent alteration to the travel lane on County Road 578 (County Line Road dividing Pasco and Hernando counties). For whatever reason, a dedicated left turn lane was carved out of the center of the two-lane road leading into a new storage facility business. This change in the traffic pattern has eliminated all passing in a mile-long passing lane.

Additionally, if traveling eastbound, there is no lane from which to turn into the Beef O'Brady's restaurant across the street; the options are to stop all eastbound traffic (and risk being rear-ended), or to cross the solid line and wait in the "suicide lane," where only oncoming traffic has the right of way.

Why was a heavily-used county highway altered to accommodate a handful of vehicles visiting a single County Line Road address? If this practice were to be carried out for all businesses on County Line Road, driving on the highway would resemble a constantly weaving zigzag pattern.

Multiple traffic studies confirm that County Line Road is the scene of many accidents and near-accidents daily, from the sheer volume of traffic. More than 15,000 vehicles use the stretch of road between Waterfall Drive and Mariner Boulevard each day. This newly created traffic pattern is an invitation to disaster. An eastbound right-turn deceleration lane would have been much more appropriate.

How can Pasco officials refuse other County Line Road business owners who request a dedicated turning lane for their enterprise (in light of Pasco officials permitting this ill-advised anomaly)? A Pasco County official told me the county has adopted an Access Management Rule that requires developers to construct site related access. I am puzzled that a private developer could change an established highway configuration into a zigzag pattern in order to accommodate a single business, effectively rerouting more than 10,000 cars per day, just to accommodate a handful of turning vehicles.

While I'm at it, what sense does it make to have a 50 mph speed limit sign on the Pasco side of County Line Road facing the intersection with Waterfall Drive on the Hernando County side?

Jim Korp, Spring Hill

Re: A ban on pit bulls would save lives Sept. 17 guest column by Mary Kousathanas

Pit bull owners court problems

The problem with the attacks by killer dogs is threefold. First, many dogs are killers by instinct. Since they are bred especially to kill, I cannot imagine why anyone with small children would invite a killer into their house. One brutally mangled and disfigured child cannot be made well by saying that you are sorry or that you were stupid.

Second, we know you are stupid because you cannot control these vicious animals. Sooner or later, they will escape their pens or break their chains and do what they have been bred to do - kill or maim. You may have a child scarred for life, but you are macho for having the baddest dog in your neighborhood.

Third, state law must be changed to ban these known dangerous breeds from our state, and fines for violating the new and proper laws must be high enough to prohibit the irresponsible owners from bringing them into the state. Current law allows a vicious dog to attack you up to three times before it is a candidate for possible euthanasia. Current fines, at least in Hernando County, range from $35 to $500. That's a small price to pay for killing a child.

Come on, people. Wake up!

Raymond A. Wing, Spring Hill

Know the breed before criticizing

After reading Mary Kousathanas' opinion about pit bulls, I had to write. I wonder if she has ever met a pit bull? Does she have any dogs?

Everyone loves to blame someone for everything else but themselves. These dogs are not what everyone thinks. I have been blessed with three different pit bulls in my life and never once have I had a problem. My dogs don't get out and run the neighborhood. Why? Because I'm a responsible dog owner.

Please don't judge all pit bulls; they all haven't earned a bad name. I invite Ms. Kousathanas over to meet my pit bull; she would love to meet you.

Sharon Condron, Brooksville

Your voice counts

We welcome letters from readers for publication. To send a letter from your computer, go to www.tampabay.com/letters and fill in the required information. Type your letter in the space provided on the form, specify that you are writing the Hernando section of the newspaper, and then click "submit." You also may cut and paste a letter that you have prepared elsewhere in your computer.

If you prefer, you may fax your letter to (352) 754-6133, or mail it to: Letters to the Editor, Hernando Times, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613.

All letters should be brief and must include the writer's name, city of residence, mailing address and telephone number. When possible, letters should include a handwritten signature. Addresses and telephone numbers will not be printed. The Times does not publish anonymous letters.

Letters may be edited for clarity, taste, length and accuracy. We regret that not all letters can be printed.

[Last modified September 19, 2007, 20:19:09]