County, City Forge Ahead On Projects

In a spirit of cooperation, the county and city have launched a committee that meets monthly to examine issues that affect the city of Brooksville.

And while the focus is on South Brooksville, the emphasis will be on attracting jobs and improving conditions in the entire downtown area, County Commissioner Rose Rocco said.

"What we're trying to do is bring back the feeling that we really do care and the only way we're really going to get things accomplished is work together," said Rocco, who is on the Community Initiative Team (CIT).

The team consists of representatives from various departments of county government and city of Brooksville staffers who will work in conjunction with South Brooksville community residents.

The goal is to create a strategic plan to address certain issues.

There's a lot of things we can work together on to achieve some common goals and with more affordability," Rocco said.

In July 2008, Hamilton recommended county commissioners start the CIT to address the needs of communities within the unincorporated areas of the county.

Since then the team has met twice with representatives from the city of Brooksville and South Brooksville to discuss various infrastructure concerns.

First on the list is the repair of a drainage ditch.

The CIT decided that a surface level, open drainage ditch system is a health, safety and welfare problem that requires permanent and on-going maintenance by the county's Department of Public Works and the city.

Currently, the county and city do not regularly conduct maintenance on the entire ditch system because they do not have a drainage easement across the residential property that the ditches run across.

Twenty years ago, the county and city made engineering enhancements to improve the drainage, but never obtained easements or right of entry permission from property owners.

The county's attorney's office has determined that a formal easement is required. However, that can't occur without a legal description of the ditch system.

To that end, County Engineer Charles Mixson has obtained several quotes of about $15,000 to survey the portion of the ditch system within the county.

Rocco also stressed that there is an ongoing effort to get more street lighting in South Brooksville. Several residents during the community meetings had mentioned that better lighting was needed to deter crime and make it easier for walking.

The CIT in October organized a community cleanup project that helped clear up drainage ditches, culverts and overgrown foliage in the South Brooksville area.

Office of Business Development Director Michael McHugh, who just joined the CIT, said he will be doing what he can to attract new businesses to South Brooksville.

The renovation of the old Brooksville Regional Hospital is nearly complete with the planned opening of an assisted living facility and other offices.

That complex is expected to bring jobs to the area.

But the effort is more than just jobs, McHugh said.

It's about improving the quality of life for the people who live there, and looking at everything from cleanups and youth programs to educational opportunities and public safety.

"It's a whole community effort," McHugh said.

City Councilwoman Lara Bradburn believes the CIT is not one of those committees that meets briefly and flame out without accomplishing its stated goals.

Not only are the team members committed, but they have already taken action with the drainage system.

"Creating a master drainage plan is imperative for the city because we have new areas that can't grow until we address that and quality development demands we take care of this first," Bradburn said.

The next meeting of the Community Initiative Team is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 in the 4th floor conference room, County Administration, room 460, Hernando County Government Center, 20 N. Main St., Brooksville.