Commission: Explore Emergency Management Merger

BROOKSVILLE - As expected, a unanimous county commission voiced support for an investigation into whether the county's emergency management duties should be handled by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

Commissioners supported County Administrator David Hamilton's recommendation to explore how such a change could be enacted and what the financial savings might be.

"I'm thrilled with the concept," Commissioner Dave Russell said. "This is keeping with everything this board's been talking about in past few months in streamlining. Frankly, I can't find a downside to it."

"I think it would help in the budget process," Commissioner Rose Rocco said.

Rocco did voice concern about whether there might be disadvantages to placing the emergency management duties under the sheriff, an elected constitutional officer, and that there should be "fail-safe" measures in place to ensure the board retains a level of control.

County Attorney Garth Coller said state law sets some guidelines in that area. He noted the commission chairman would still work in conjunction with the Emergency Operations Center to declare and respond to emergencies.

Hamilton, who offered the idea after firing emergency management director Tom Leto for questionable management practices, noted the structure has worked in other counties. Nugent has said the idea is likely a viable one.

One of the main advantages, Hamilton said, will likely be the ability to eliminate redundancies between the existing emergency management department and Sheriff Richard Nugent's operation.

"There are an awful lot of synergies to be made in the existing organization," Hamilton said.

"It will be interesting to see the structural and financial outlines of how this can be implemented," Chairman Chris Kingsley said, then turned to Hamilton and asked: "In the meantime, do we feel confident the way (the emergency management department) is being operated?"

"Yes, Mr. Chairman," Hamilton replied.

Commission OKs new lease for dredge spoil site

Also Tuesday, the commission approved a new lease with a property owner on Eagle Nest Drive in Hernando Beach to allow for temporary storage of the slurry dredged from the bottom of the nearby channel.

The lease with Manuel LLC runs from June 1 of this year to Dec. 31, 2009, or until the dredge project is complete. The price to the county: $10.

In return, the county will leave enough material to raise by three feet an upland portion of the property. The Manuel family of Brooksville plans to develop the site with no more than 11 residential lots.

Assistant County Engineer Gregg Sutton said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is "fine-tuning" the county's permit request to allow for the spoil disposal. He estimated the permit would come within the next couple of weeks.

(DEP) is not asking for any more information," Sutton said. "It's not a matter of whether the permit will be issued; it's a matter of when."

Sutton said the long-awaited $9 million project will likely be put out for bid this summer so dredging could begin by the fall.