County Bosses Tackle Road Issues

BROOKSVILLE - When a contractor requests a change order for a project, it usually means the county has to break open its checkbook.

But today, the situation will be reversed.

Commissioners will be asked to approve a change order from Kearney Construction for a cost reduction.

It turns out that about 4,000 feet of a 12-inch water line did not have to be removed, which will reduce the amount of the project by $42,872.

The original cost of the Barclay Road project has now gone from $324,152 to $281,279. Transportation issues dominate today's county commission meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

Also today, Public Works Director Charles Mixson will present three items related to the locally funded agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation as it relates to the County Line Road widening project.

In May 2004, Hernando County entered into the agreement for design and advance right of way for two sections of County Line Road: from Mariner Boulevard to the Suncoast Parkway and from the parkway to U.S. 41 at Ayers Road.

Mixson will also discuss the right of way phase from Cobblestone Road to Mariner Boulevard.

Also during today's meeting, officials from Progress Energy are slated to give the commission an update on the company's efforts to select a path for transmission lines through Hernando County from a new nuclear power plant proposed for Levy County. The presentation is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The company unveiled three possible corridors for the lines at two public meetings in Spring Hill last month. The next step is to select one and offer a proposal to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for review by the first week of June, said Progress spokeswoman Cherie Jacobs.