County To Elect New Officers At Land Use Hearing

BROOKSVILLE - County commissioners will play musical chairs prior to the start of their Land Use Hearing on Wednesday as a new chairman and seconds-in-command are chosen.
After a year holding the gavel, Jeff Stabins will retire his center seat to the new chairman, expected to be Chris Kingsley, who spent last year as first vice chairman.
Commissioner Rose Rocco, who served as second vice chairwoman this year, would presumably move up a notch.
Commissioners are not bound by those moves.
But to ease the transitions between leadership positions, a previous board decided to follow a natural step-up progression every January.
Stabins said he tried to do his best as chairman and "tried to err on the side of free speech" during the meetings.
The Land Use Hearing will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.
Also at that hearing:
- County commissioners will consider a developer's plan to build a 250,000-square-foot commercial center on the southwest corner of Yontz Road and U.S. 98, about one-half mile from the Brooksville city limits.
Cynthia Tarapani, with New Port Richey-based Florida Design Consultants, told county planners her client is considering a shopping center and seven outparcels.
- Commissioners will consider amending their future land use map from residential to mining to allow six separate parcels, totaling 157 acres, be turned over to Florida Crushed Stone.
The mining company has identified hard and soft limerock resources on the property.
Last month, planning and zoning board members unanimously recommended transmitting the proposed amendment to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for review.
- County Purchasing Director James Gantt is recommending commissioners award a $535,305 bid to Brooksville-based Adco Construction Inc. to build two pre-fabricated steel hangars at the Hernando County Airport and perform related electrical and plumbing work.