Council approves disaster shelter

A longtime city council agenda item was approved Monday concerning an agreement between city officials and the Enrichment Center Inc. to open a new disaster shelter and renovate a city-owned structure.

During the Brooksville City Council meeting, council members voted 4-0 to approve a construction and occupancy agreement helping to establish a special needs disaster shelter. Council Member Joe Johnston was absent from the meeting.

The agreement allows the Enrichment Center to use a city-owned building at 800 John Gary Grubbs Boulevard adjacent to John W. "Bud" McKethan Park for an emergency shelter. Using $600,000 from the state and $100,000 allocated through Hernando County appropriations, city and Enrichment Center officials will have the structure renovated for use by both the Quarry Golf Course and - in emergencies - as a shelter.

Under the agreement, the city would be responsible for utilities and maintenance.

In other business, council members voted 4-0 to:

Approve rezoning about 7.71-acre tract to Planned Development Project located north of State Road 50 between Hale and Mildred avenues.

Approve a $3,822 fee waiver for the annual Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Approve a $275 fee waiver for the Humane Society of Nature Coast's Second Annual Fur Fest on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Approve purchasing of a telemetry system for $37,199 plus shipping and applicable taxes.

Purchase of rear-loader garbage truck for no more than $178,857.