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Hernando Today

County Boss Unhappy With Committees

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: March 13, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - When the newly christened business and economic development standing committee sits down to meet Tuesday, member Jim Adkins won't be there.

Adkins, one of two county commissioners on the five-person committee, will be in Tallahassee lobbying on behalf of the Hernando County Farm Bureau, of which he is a board director.

Adkins joked taxpayers will get more "bang for the buck" by him being there advocating for local small business and taxpayer concerns.

Adkins has not been shy about voicing his displeasure about the two committees recently formed by County Administrator David Hamilton and consisting of two commissioners and three citizens who have expertise in their particular fields.

The idea is to bring before committee members hot topic issues that require more detailed debate before they get to a full vote of the county commission at one of its regular meetings.

But Adkins sees them as a waste of taxpayer and staff time, at least in their current makeup.

Adkins said most of the committee business would be better done during regular meetings with the five commissioners elected for that purpose.

"We're being paid to make decisions," Adkins said.

Adkins is not downplaying the input from the citizens on the committees which, he believes, will help guide commissioners.

But their input could just as well be made during regular meetings, he said.

To accommodate the economic development committee and the budget committee, the board had to reduce to two the number of regular meetings per month.

That is another mistake, Adkins said.

The same people and staffers who attend the committee gatherings will be the same ones at the regular meetings, which creates redundancy, Adkins said.

Worse than that, it delays the decision-making process, he said.

"My concern is if you have things that need to be acted upon for the benefit of the people, why should we stall it for another month and put it in a committee?" he asked.

Adkins got his way this week when he refused to have his idea of a short-term moratorium on impact fees shunted off to a committee, as his colleagues had wanted to do.

Instead, Adkins asked for and finally got approval to bring the matter back as a formal agenda item on the regular March 24 meeting.

If these committees are to mean anything, they must focus more on long-term issues, he said.

For example, he said the budget committee could start discussing potential shortfalls for the 2010 budget year.

The economic committee, he said, could debate ways the government can better attract clean industry to Hernando County and create trained workers.

Items such as whether to revise or scrap the county's tuition reimbursement program, which went before the budget committee March 3, had no business in that venue, he said. As it was, the committee ended up tabling the item to its April meeting.

Adkins praised the board for dealing quickly with the landfill issue and the inaction from the state that could lead to a huge drain on the budget. Commissioners scheduled a special workshop right after last Tuesday's regular meeting instead of sending it off to committee, he said.

Commissioner Rose Rocco, who is chairwoman of the budget committee, said Adkins' comments are premature, especially since his economic development committee hasn't met yet.

Rocco said if it seems to her the twin committees are redundant and "a waste of time," she will be the first to call for their abolishment.

But at least give them a chance, she said.

"I think we owe it to ourselves to at least try it," Rocco said.

Meanwhile, while in Tallahassee, Adkins said he will be lobbying against a proposed federal government plan that would require Florida and other states to follow California's lead in vehicle emissions standards.

He will also be lobbying to expand the current $25,000 tangible personal property tax exemption designed to bring relief to small business owners in Hernando County.

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

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