County Ranks Stimulus Projects

They started off with 10. Now there are nine.

County commissioners earlier this week whittled down the projects they hope will qualify for federal funding under President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan.

Commissioners, taking the recommendations of their leadership team members, believe the chosen projects have the potential for creating the most jobs and would be ready to begin construction the fastest.

County Commissioner David Russell said Hernando County is now "well-postured" in vying with the other 67 counties for a piece of the stimulus money.

Florida's share is an estimated $12 billion. The final number should be known in March.

The board divided the projects into three categories and ranked them, in the following order of importance:

Water and sewer projects:

• The Glen Wastewater Treatment Plant - $20 million.

• Hexam Water Treatment Plant - $2.8 million.

• Hexam Waste Treatment Plant Transmission System - $4 million.

Transportation projects:

• County Line Road - $20 million.

• Sunshine Grove Road (encompassing State Road 50 to Ken Austin Parkway) - $8 million.

• Limerock roads - $3 million.

Economic development projects:

• Southwest Airport Industrial Park - $5.7 million.

• South Brooksville improvements - $5 million.

• Judicial Complex - $50 million.