TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

County Hopes To Cash In

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: December 20, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando County department managers have made out a Santa wish list, checked it more than twice and are ready to submit it for approval to county commissioners.

But this list, which includes funding for 44 capital improvement projects totaling millions of dollars, may be beyond even Santa's scope.

County officials, and their counterparts across Florida and the nation, have set their sights even higher, and who has bigger money pockets than Mr. Claus: President-elect Barack Obama.

Obama has pledged more than $800 billion of federal stimulus dollars for local government projects that would boost the economy.

County Engineer Charles Mixson said just about every infrastructure project in the hopper has been included on this draft list, from the multi-million County Line Road widening to the planned judicial center (estimated cost: $75 million). Even the Hernando Beach dredge project is on there, at an estimated cost of $9 million.

What projects will make the cut?

Mixson said it's difficult to say, especially since Obama's enormous stimulus package is still being fleshed out. But presumably, Obama's team will be looking for job-creating projects that emphasize roads and energy efficient buildings.

"We put everything in there," Mixson said. "If you don't ask, you don't get."

Even though Hernando County will be competing with counties throughout the nation, Mixson believes some of those federal dollars will make their way here.

County commissioners will try to sift through all the projects during a meeting sometime in January.

County Commissioner Jim Adkins said his top priority for federal money is the dredge project, which would improve safety and benefit the environment.

The long-delayed project calls for widening the channel by about 60 feet and deepen it to six feet, enabling boaters and fishermen to safely reach the Gulf of Mexico.

County Line Road and Elgin Road are also two priorities, he said.

Adkins said he has no problems with the federal government spending mega-billions trying to boost the economy - as long as the money goes to realistic (not "pie-in-the-sky") projects. And as long as the money doesn't line the pockets of some administrator, he added.

Obama's plan must be fully delineated and there has to be checks and balances, otherwise the program could end up hurting rather than helping the economy.

"I'm not an economist, but it could have a detrimental effect on the total economy if the money is not spent wisely," Adkins said.

The draft - top heavy with road projects - includes these big-ticket items:

ROADS:

• The widening of State Road 50 from U.S. 19 to the Suncoast Parkway: $107.5 million.

• The multi-laning and other improvements of Sunshine Grove Road (from S.R. 50 to Ken Austin Parkway): $8 million.

• The widening of Elgin Boulevard from Mariner Boulevard to Village Van Gogh: $6 million.

• The improvements to County Line Road from the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41: $22 million.

• County Line Road widening from East Road to Mariner Boulevard: $89 million.

• Improvements to the Deltona Boulevard/S.R. 50 intersection: $3 million.

• The paving of nine miles of limerock roads: $1.5 million.

UTILITIES PROJECTS:

• The Hexam water treatment plant in Spring Hill: $2.8 million.

• Sunshine Grove Road utilities relocation project: $750,000.

• The U.S. 41 S. water main extension project: $1 million.

MISC:

• The expansion of the county's animal control facility: $350,000.

• The Brooksville Fire station expansion: $400,000.

• A de-greasing station for the county's fleet department: $280,000.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT