LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Government Failed; Move On

Mr. Russell, thank you for stating the obvious. I think getting rid of THE Bus is a good idea. No matter who put up the $19K for the study, our tax dollars were used to pay for it, whether they were local or federal funds. I believe those funds were wasted. I'm all for American enterprise and happy that consultants can turn profits, but why can't the county decipher its own records?

Thanks for looking at the big picture about THE Bus. I, too, feel bad for the current riders that will have to find other transportation. It seems they were lucky to fit into the finite routes offered. I know I'm not near enough to any stops to use THE Bus.

If since 2002 there were records showing a deficit for this service, why was it not "tweaked" back then? Yes, Ms. Rowden, mass transit is not a money-making endeavor in most communities. It should have at least been breaking somewhere more near even. With any evidence that it was not paying for itself to operate, a review should have been done by the accounting staff, then management and so forth, up every level to you, the commissioners. For losses to occur for six years is insane. Your constituents are making it intuitively obvious to the most casual observer that we don't need THE Bus or we'd all be using it.

Ms. Rocco, that's just tough for Tampa, Hillsborough and Pasco counties that Hernando County can't justify spending on a transit system that would link with theirs. Let them make a case to the state of Florida. Good idea but not new, your rolling ads (revenue makers) should have been considered long ago, too. Most transit systems in the country have done that for decades. Too late, missed THE Bus on that one.

Please, don't waste good money after bad on a route study to come to the same conclusion. "Yes" for six years the "government" has not made this work. You failed, move on, and make it history.

Deborah McMurrough

Spring HIll

Making Public

Transportation Work

I live in Hernando County, yet I work in Tampa as that is where my job is. I lived in New York (Brooklyn) for many years and I am still amazed at the fact that the metropolises are so far behind the times. In New York the buses run every 5 to 10 minutes or so and you can even get a transfer to catch another bus to your destination.

You cannot spend hours a day waiting on a bus to take you to work, to the mall, etc. It needs to be efficient. With that you will find more users.

My wife works at the courthouse and she might consider parking her car if there was an efficient bus system. I am surprised at Tampa and the surrounding cities that haven't grasped this picture. Mayor Pam Irio going on a three-city venture to view other systems and how they operate is a good idea, but it should have been done years ago.

Miami has a monorail system that runs to West. Palm Beach. Why couldn't this be done? It could run from Tampa to Brooksville, but you need an efficient bus system that will take you to your destination or at least close enough so the walk is only a couple of city blocks.

One point that needs to be clear is that all the counties and cities need to come to the table and get on board and not make this a me, me, me event. What am I going to get out of this?

Government needs to remember this very important fact: They work for the people, not the other way around. Make it affordable and the system will work. Then the funds will be there to keep it operating.

Ralph A. Malpeso Jr.

Hernando County

Garden Club Needs Help

Since 1978, the Spring Hill Garden Club has been maintaining the waterfall entrance at U.S. 19 and Spring Hill Drive. The club is now faced with a dilemma and needs the support of the community.

Due to the club's decline in membership and the advancing ages of its members, we are no longer able to adequately take care of the two islands at the entrance, which involves mowing, weeding, planting, pruning and keeping the irrigation system functional. Cost for all of this is assumed by the garden club from the profits of sales at its plant nursery.

Since the property belongs to Hernando County, we have the option of returning the maintenance back to the county. The county has already assumed the maintenance of the sign and the waterfall. Due to budget constraints, it is doubtful that there will be the finances and manpower necessary to accomplish the task of maintaining the landscaping.

Another option is to ask the residents of Spring Hill for their support. While we can always use financial support, we would also deeply appreciate volunteer workers who would be willing to give up a few hours a week to this endeavor. At the current time, garden club members are working at the waterfall from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Middleton Lawn & Pest Control is currently donating its pest control services. It would be ideal if a lawn service company would be willing to mow the two islands, thus relieving our members of this task and our club of the expense of keeping our equipment in operational order.

In addition to taking care of the waterfall entrance, garden club members maintain the club's plant nursery and the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, both located at 1489 Parker Ave. in Spring Hill. Those who have visited the nursery and the gardens are amazed at what has been accomplished and is being done by a handful of volunteers.

If you have not done so, please visit us and see why the gardens are called "the best kept secret in Hernando County." The gardens are open daily from sunup to sundown and the nursery is open from 9 a.m. until noon Mondays and Saturdays. Plants that grow well in this area are available at reasonable prices. You may visit us online at www.naturecoastbotanicalgardens.com.

If you are interested in assisting the Spring Hill Garden Club, please call Deb Swanson at 352-686-2013. Anything that our residents can do to help us keep this entrance to our community attractive will be greatly appreciated.

Shirley Jacques

Spring Hill