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Hernando Today

Streamlining Plan Approved

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: January 28, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - County commissioners Tuesday gave their ringing endorsement of a new government streamlining plan that will attempt to pare down the current unwieldy system of 24 separate department heads to eight divisional managers.

Those managers will form a leadership team and be joined by as many elected Constitutional Officers who care to take part.

Crafted by County Administrator David Hamilton, the reorganization plan emphasizes government transparency, accountability and increased communication.

The ultimate benefactors will be taxpayers who should see better efficiency from government, commissioners said.

"It's truly a bold move to finally right-size government," Commissioner John Druzbick said.

Druzbick stressed that the plan is a work in progress and will be tweaked to adapt to the changing needs of the county.

"This is a long time coming," Commission Chairman Dave Russell said.

While the plan does not eliminate all 24 departments, it does consolidate them under tighter headings, overseen by a divisional leader.

For example, County Engineer Charles Mixson will head up the transportation services, which will incorporate fleet, mosquito control and facilities.

Planning Department Director Ron Pianta will focus on land services, which includes parks and recreation, county waterways and transportation planning.

Hamilton does not foresee anyone losing their jobs. But there is expected to be a shift in employee positions as the plan fully takes shape in the coming months.

The leadership team will meet regularly, discuss the top items of the day, recommend policy changes and take their ideas to county commissioners for discussion.

Mixson said he has been with the county about 20 years and remembers when there was a smaller group of department managers and staffers who could meet the needs of a less populous county.

But as Hernando County grew, the layers of government increased correspondingly.

"I think this brings it back to a tight group of people (where) we were 20 years ago," Mixson said.

He added that he is "really encouraged" by this new direction.

Also Tuesday, commissioners approved the formation of two standing committees: one that will address budget-finance, the other business-economic development.

The committees will consist of two county commissioners and three citizens. Commissioner Rose Rocco will chair the budget committee and Commissioner John Druzbick will chair the economic development committee.

A citizen appointee would serve as vice chair on a rotating basis and would be elected by the entire committee.

All final decision-making authority will remain with county commissioners and will be based on the committees' recommendations.

Hamilton said the first priority will be to address the budget, which falls in the purview of both committees.

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

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