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Hernando Today

DPW Chief Returns To Work Today

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: September 16, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Department of Public Works Director Charles Mixson, suspended without pay the last two weeks after a scathing disciplinary notice, returns to work today.

For Mixson, it means a much tighter leash on his management duties and a weekly monitoring conference with his boss, County Administrator David Hamilton. That first meeting is slated for Thursday.

But what does it mean for taxpayers?
South Brooksville residents hope it means a faster resolution to the cleanup of the contaminated public works compound at the five-acre site at 201 West Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Hamilton said he wanted Mixson to provide him with a clearer plan for resolving that 17-year-old problem and to be more "transparent" in dealing with the community.

For taxpayers of Hernando Beach, it means moving ahead quicker on getting a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection so the long-delayed channel dredging project gets underway.

What Hamilton will especially be looking for from Mixson starting today is more responsible supervision on those projects and for better accountability of his time.

He returns to the job under a six-month probation.

If he doesn't live up to Hamilton's expectations, he will be fired.

Mixson won't have much time to catch his breath. He is scheduled today to give status reports on three separate projects, including the controversial Elgin Boulevard four-laning.

Widening of a 0.8-mile stretch of Elgin Boulevard east to Village Van Gogh was stalled because of a 70 percent falloff in impact fee collections in that district.

The county has been unable to acquire many of the properties and right of way along Elgin in advance of the widening.

Mixson will ask county commissioners today to approve a $2 million state grant match that would allow the Department of Public Works to continue acquiring those properties.

Mixson will also update the board on new uniform guidelines and standards of all public roads and related infrastructure.

Today's meeting is at 9 a.m. at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

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

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