Dredge Petitioners Seek Delay Of Hearing

The Browning family of Brooksville has asked a judge to delay a hearing on the county's plan to dump dredged material from the Hernando Beach channel onto a county-owned piece of property off Shoal Line Boulevard.

The Brownings, through their attorney Jake Varn, has asked the state's Dvision of Administrative Hearings to postpone the hearing slated for May 19 because of a scheduling conflict. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is poised to issue a permit for the county's plan to dewater the briny slurry on the former wastewater treatment plant site and spread out the remaining sand and rock.

The Browning family owns property on Minnow Creek and maintains the plan will harm the creek and surrounding wetlands.

The county opposes the postponement, according to the motion. DEP did not object.