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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2008

The Blind Leading The Blind
I see in today's paper that the county is planning to resurface Deltona Boulevard only north of Northcliffe Boulevard with a "micro surface" of asphalt. Figures, that part is in fairly decent condition and could use a good "black painting." I can actually trip over the buildup of white lines crossing the street but can twist an ankle in a rut or two on Deltona South of Forest Oaks Boulevard all the way to Spring Hill Drive.

I must commend the commissioners and public works/engineering for developing Deltona Boulevard as a handicapped roadway. It is now possible to drive the entire distance North of Spring Hill Drive using the Braille paving method of Hernando County. No where else in Spring Hill does this method appear to be used so effectively. It's right up there with the Braille marks on the drive through at the bank ATM for being handicapped sensitive. So once I can no longer pass my vision test, I will be able to keep driving? At least half the length of Deltona Boulevard, anyway.

As a passenger, close your eyes and tell the driver with their eyes open where you are and if they are still on the road. If it gets smooth you are in the grass. If you are getting a rhythmic thump on the left side you are on the center line markers. If your teeth start to chip, you are at the intersections of Spring Hill Drive, the schools or Forest Oaks Boulevard. Again, if the ride is fairly smooth, you are off the road.

All this simply because the engineer's office mandates a third turn lane the length of Deltona from Spring Hill Drive to Forest Oaks.

This is the Catch 22 method in use by the county engineer allowing him to say this project is now too expensive to proceed. Therefore, once again, he has to do nothing other than pay a ton of money to the surveyors and planners to design a road improvement that can never be completed.

So who asked for a continuous turn lane? All we ever asked for was at least one sidewalk the length of the road so pedestrians don't get run over.

Keep up the good work, Mr. Mixson and commissioners; the voters are sharpening their aim, looking for places to cut excess and stupidity. If we had a blind county engineer, they would "feel" our issues.

Doug Adams

Spring Hill

Want A Credit Card?

What a nightmare! Anybody who has flown lately on our non-refunding airlines knows that the accepted method of payment is the wondrous credit card.

My computer coughed and quit, so I had to resort to the ugly telephone. I contacted one of the many agents who advertise they can save you money. I got a girl in India on the line who was having trouble with the English language and had a bad accent.

The trip I wanted was from Tampa (TPA) to "Providenciales Island" (PLS) in the Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies. I repeated it many times and she finally said, "I've got it."

She repeated the trip, and the destination sounded fine. I asked for confirmation by mail. Nine days later I still did not have it, so I used a neighbor's computer. Surprise, surprise! The trip and charges were from Tampa to "Providence, Rhode Island!"

This was a simple mistake and easily fixed. OK, just call the agency and change the flight. No! They will do nothing. Called the airline and they were worse, no refunds, "We will do nothing." Called (four times) and wrote letters of explanation to the credit card company. They said, "We will investigate and cancel the late charges; don't pay them as they will be taken care of." One man said, "Cool it! We will take care of the late charges at the end."

Six months later, the late charges are up to $195. I called the credit card company again and got nowhere. "We will forgive one month ($39) of the late charges. Of course, I said, "Gee wiz! or something that rimes with bell!"

No gun was used, and I had just been ripped off of $650. Beware of whom you deal with on the phone.

Earle Perkins

Brooksville

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