Cameras To Go Up, Tax Rates Go Down

Traffic cameras get green light

An Arizona-based firm that provides eyes in the sky over busy intersections in cities throughout the country will soon do the same in Brooksville.

The City Council in May approved a contract with American Traffic Solutions, or ATS, to install traffic cameras at intersections that see the most accidents and red-light runners. Police Chief George Turner pushed for the program, providing crash statistics that he said would drop if the cameras were installed.

ATS would take $40 from every $125 ticket issued to an offender, leaving $85 for the city. The citations would be civil infractions, not traffic tickets.

The cameras are expected to be up and working at five of the city's busiest intersections by March, Turner said.

City will bill insurance companies for emergency services

Insurance companies will soon get bills from the city of Brooksville for services provided by city police and firefighters at accident scenes, fires and other emergencies.

The council in October in favor of a recommendation by its police and fire chiefs to start a "cost recovery program" to bill insurance companies of out-of-towners and residents alike. City residents will not be charged if their company denies a claim, but the city could go after a non-resident for payment.

Staffers are drawing up a contract with Cost Recovery Corporation, a Dayton, Ohio-based firm that specializes in sending bills to insurance companies and tracking their status. CRC officials told council members the program could bring in a $150,000 a year to offset costs.

The contract should be ready for the council's review in the next couple of months, Fire Chief Tim Mossgrove said.

Tax rate drops, government shrinks

City council members kept their vow not to raise taxes.

The council set a millage rate of 6.069 mills - a quarter mill less than last year. The council approved the rate at its final budget hearing in September.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value. At that rate, a property worth $150,000 with a $50,000 homestead exemption would see a tax bill of $606. The city's total budget is $32.5 million.

The council also agreed to a 2 percent merit raise for employees who receive positive evaluations. And council members lauded City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha for efforts to save money by, for example, reorganizing the city's administration department and contracting with the county to provide information technology services.

City Clerk resigns

Brooksville City Clerk Karen Phillips surprised many last month when she submitted a resignation letter after 21 years on the job.

In the letter, Phillips wrote that the time has come for her to evaluate other opportunities, primarily retirement. Phillips took a salary cut of about $15,000 in September after the city council approved City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha's restructuring plan.

Phillips' last day is Dec. 31. She has groomed Deputy Clerk Janice Peters to replace her, but the hire will ultimately be made by Norman-Vacha.

Familiar face joins council

A familiar face joined the council after Joe Johnston III, who served on the council for 13 years until 2006, defeated Vice-Mayor Frankie Burnett by just 34 votes.

Council member David Pugh Jr. won a decisive victory against Brooksville business owner Cecil Davis IV, who sought to keep Pugh from serving a second four-year term.

In related election news, the city council approved a measure to turn over the city's candidate filing process to the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections office. Council members agreed the move would save money and help make the process more consistent with the rest of the elections in the county.

Partnership with Enrichment Center has shelter as goal

The city entered what council members called an exciting partnership with the Enrichment Center of Hernando County.

The city council agreed earlier this month to lease its Jerome Brown Community Center to the enrichment center, a non-profit organization that offers recreation and education programs mainly to seniors.

The enrichment center board will use $700,000 in state and county money to renovate an old building on the city's Quarry Golf Course for use as a pro shop, permanent home for the enrichment center, and a emergency shelter for special needs residents.

Turmoil continues at housing authority

The Brooksville Housing Authority enters 2009 with a new executive director after the housing board voted in May to fire former director Ronnie McLean. Board members felt McLean didn't have the skills to turn around the troubled authority.

Tommy Brooks started in November. Brooks told the authority board during the interview process that he helped improve the Ocala Housing Authority in the 1990s when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developed mandated corrective action there.

City council members have said they want the county housing board to take over control of the city authority. The respective housing boards have had discussions in recent months but the county board members said they want conditions to improve at the Brooksville authority first.