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Hernando Today

Year In Review

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

DEC. 1

Teachers, County, City Workers To Get Paid

BROOKSVILLE - School, county and city officials rushed to assure their employees that they will be able to cover payroll checks despite a freeze on a state-run investment pool fund.

Speculation had surfaced that that fund may be in trouble. That fear worsened when Gov. Charlie Crist and other top state officials froze the fund, preventing local governments from withdrawing money. That raised questions whether the county and school district could have problems meeting payroll and other employee obligations.

Crist made the move after investors made a run on the state-run investment pool.

Dec. 5

Pugh To Serve Another

Term As Mayor

BROOKSVILLE - Mayor David Pugh was tapped by his fellow council members to serve another term.

However, the selection wasn't without a bit of awkwardness and a challenge from a south Brooksville resident who made a not-so-subtle hint that the decision smacked of racism.

Dec. 6

Developers Will Have

To Think 'Greener'

BROOKSVILLE - Developers may have to 'think greener' when planning future subdivisions.

County commissioners unanimously approved holding two public hearings to consider amending the county's land development regulations requiring developers to build neighborhood parks in their subdivisions.

The park requirement would only apply to developments with 50 or more homes and the facilities would be maintained by mandatory homeowner associations.

The size of the park would depend on the size of the subdivision and range from a minimum 3 acres and a maximum 20 acres.

The first public hearing is at the Jan. 14 planning and zoning meeting. The second hearing is at the Feb. 13 land use hearing.

Dec. 9

County's Housing

Slump Worsens

BROOKSVILLE - The housing market in Hernando County continued its decline.

In November, Hernando County recorded only 29 single-family home permits, almost setting a new record. The last time permits were that low for a single month was 12 years ago, in October 1995.

Even more glaring: Hernando County issued 2,694 single-family home permits from January to November 2006. For that same period in 2007, the building department issued just 776 permits, a 71 percent decrease.

"Those numbers are scary - absolutely scary," Hernando County Building Director Grant Tolbert said.

The multi-family market "is completely dead," said Tolbert, who hasn't approved a single apartment or condominium permit in months.

Dec. 12

County Picks New Utilities Director

BROOKSVILLE - County commissioners hired Joseph Stapf as their new utilities director.

Stapf has 17 years experience in that position with the city of Wyoming, Mich. and boasts an extensive background in utilities and engineering. The position has been vacant since May 2007, when former county utilities director Kay Adams died.

Dec. 13

County OKs

Golf Club Resort

BROOKSVILLE - Golfers who regularly play the Oak Hills Golf Club in Spring Hill can look forward to major improvements in the course and the surrounding landscape.

County commissioners Wednesday voted to approve the rezoning that paves the way for a resort at Oak Hills.

The developer and project engineer spent months tweaking the project to get the backing of homeowners.

Alan Garman, the project engineer, said the changes to the 30-year-old course will make it more competitive and bring more amenities to the area.

Dec. 17

Teachers Vote

On New Contract

BROOKSVILLE - Teachers turned out in record numbers to vote on a new contract that will close the salary gap between Hernando County and surrounding districts.

With all the district's 21 schools reporting, 97 percent of voting members of the Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association union approved a 6.04 percent raise , plus coverage of a 1 percent increase in health care premiums.

Dec. 18

Cracker Barrel Sets Sights On U.S. 19 Location

SPRING HILL - Cracker Barrel announced it is planning to build one of its restaurants-stores off U.S. 19 in Spring Hill, southeast of the under-construction Nature Coast Commons.

Terri Stokes, the county's site plan review coordinator, said the project is already zoned commercial and is in the final stages of the permitting process.

Barring any unforeseen problems, the project should be cleared by January, she said.

Dec. 18

City Council Votes

To Remove Zeledon

BROOKSVILLE - The Brooksville City Council voted 4-1 to remove Brooksville Housing Authority Board Chairman Steve Zeledon.

The council agreed with Mayor David Pugh that evidence showed Zeledon had allowed disruptive behavior at board meetings, failed to ensure the authority kept proper financial records, failed to follow appropriate hiring procedures for housing authority staff and did not provide detailed agenda packets for the board.

Dec. 19

13 Deputies Suspended For Car Chase

BROOKSVILLE - Twelve deputies and their supervisor were suspended without pay for their role in a high-speed chase.

Sheriff Richard Nugent said he believes the unprecedented mass discipline will serve as a warning to deputies considering unnecessary pursuits in the future.

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