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Hernando Today

New Board Takes Over

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: November 19, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The "new look" county commission took its seats for the first time Tuesday when Administrative Circuit Judge Daniel Merritt Sr. officially swore in County Commissioners James Adkins, John Druzbick and incumbent Jeff Stabins.

Commissioner Rose Rocco, formerly vice chairwoman, took over as commission chairwoman - at least until the formal installation of new officers in January.

As the sole Democrat on the board, Rocco congratulated her new colleagues and said she will work not let partisanship get in the way of being a team player.

Druzbick and Adkins interjected several comments during the meeting and were involved in a few motions during a busy agenda.

Here's a wrap-up of events:

• As expected, Wal-Mart's settlement agreement to build its fourth supercenter, this one off County Line Road, passed easily at Tuesday's commission meeting.

There was no commissioner debate and no public comment.

The 185,000-square-foot store would be located on a 32-acre tract on the northeast corner of the Suncoast Parkway and County Line Road.

• The board approved County Engineer Charles Mixson's pavement management program for 2008-09.

Hernando County Department of Public Works is on its 12th year of the program and has completed 1,122 miles of roadway paving, reconstruction, micro-surfacing and crack sealing to date.

Phase 1 of the 2008-09 pavement program consists of an additional 77.32 miles of road renovation.

Mixson said there is $2.5 million in funding for the first phase and roads were prioritized as to current conditions.

• Commissioners postponed until Dec. 16 a petition to create a Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) to pave Flock Avenue from Madrid Avenue east to Marston Road, in the Royal Highlands subdivision.

Among other things, board members want to make sure the petition has the requisite number of property owners who want to pay for the roadwork.

Under MSBU terms, the county is responsible to pay for one-third, or $34,963 of the construction cost and the property owners the remaining two-thirds, or $82,080.

• Commissioners approved a development agreement between the county and DBSI One Hernando Center North LLC, for the construction of up to 3.2 million square feet of distribution warehouse-industrial space located on the east side of Kettering Road, north of the existing Wal-Mart distribution facility.

The agreement anticipates an initial 500,000-square-foot cube warehouse distribution building will be built to generate economic activity in the area.

• To the chagrin of County Commissioner David Russell, the state has asked the county to do more off-site sampling of the contaminated former public works compound in downtown Brooksville.

"Every time we turn around, we're asked to jump through another hoop," Russell said. "This is ridiculous."

Russell said he wants to start final cleanup on the site and instead is told to do "more damn studies," Russell said.

Mixson said he anticipates a remedial action plan completed by the end of the year, paving the way for that cleanup.

Mixson agreed the delays are frustrating but the state wants to be sure all sampling is done.

County commissioners presented a resolution recognizing the Islamic community and CAIR-FL for establishing the annual Ramadan Thanksgiving Food Basket Program.

The program, which coincides with the Muslims' holy season of Ramadan, helps needy families and veterans in Hernando County.

Program organizers presented a $5,000 check to commissioners.

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

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