Funding for 2 cleanups moves ahead

Legislative budget negotiators have earmarked $1-million for Chassahowitzka and $750,000 for Homosassa for wastewater treatment projects. Many steps remain, though.

By JOSH ZIMMER

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 20, 2000

CHASSAHOWITZKA -- House and Senate budget negotiators on Wednesday awarded funds to two important wastewater treatment projects in Homosassa and Chassahowitzka.

Chassahowitzka was awarded $1-million, while House and Senate members decided to earmark $750,000 for Homosassa.

In recent weeks, top Citrus County officials have lobbied legislators for both projects while fighting a war of words with Chassahowitzka's leading advocate, Lutz resident Mickey Newberger.

County officials feel both projects are important, but note that the Homosassa project is further along and therefore funding is more critical. Researchers are still examining the situation in Chassahowitzka to determine sources of the river's pollution.

State Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River, heard about the latest numbers Tuesday from State Rep. Charles Sembler, R-Vero Beach.

"We're very lucky in Citrus County," she said. "We wanted as much money for our projects as possible. Mr. Newberger accused us of having money for only one."

Argenziano said she regretted water quality projects for Cooter Pond in Inverness and Kings Bay in Crystal River failed to get funding.

The Homosassa and Chassahowitzka proposals now go to the full Legislature, where they will be voted up or down in the next few weeks. Gov. Jeb Bush will then decide whether to accept or veto the expenditures.

Bush, who shocked legislators by vetoing all wastewater projects last year, has an integral interest in this year's proposals because he established a special water advisory panel to assess the applications. As a result, the House-Senate conference decision should carry weight with the governor, Bush spokeswoman Liz Hirst said.

"The fact that these projects have gone through the panel and criteria have been made out to determine the benefits and value to Florida citizens speaks highly of the projects," she said.

In recent weeks, Argenziano and county officials feared Homosassa would attract no funding at all. While the Senate allotted $1-million for Chassahowitzka and $750,000 for Homosassa, House members decided to shut out Homosassa while setting aside $525,000 for Chassahowitzka.

An intense lobbying effort ensued in which Argenziano and County Commissioner Gary Bartell argued that Chassahowitzka should be funded but that Homosassa should be the No. 1 priority. It took a special amendment by Argenziano to keep the Homosassa project alive.

Newberger accused them of trying to scuttle the Chassahowitzka project. Newberger, a Chassahowitzka River property owner who spent many hours lobbying in Tallahassee, said he simply outworked the officials.

Neither side seemed willing to bury the hatchet Wednesday.

"Well, I'm glad that Homosassa got some money," Newberger said. "It just wasn't my project. It's unfortunate that it developed into what it did as far as pitting one against the other."

Argenziano said Newberger had spread wrong information by accusing the county of undercutting Chassahowitzka, where a yearlong study is under way to determine the extent and source of water pollution along the canals.

Newberger, who pushed for a lawsuit against two state agencies for failing to enforce anti-pollution regulations, says faulty septic tanks have caused the damage.

Argenziano said she fears the $1-million will be lost if the money cannot be used soon enough.

"He failed to realize we were also concerned about Chassahowitzka," Argenziano said. "Now we have to watch. If the studies don't come back in time we've got to hang on to the money."

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