County attorney gets new contract

County Attorney Garth Coller expressed satisfaction Tuesday after county commissioners voted unanimously to give him a new one-year contract.

The pact automatically renews for an additional one-year term unless the board votes to terminate. And even then, the board must hold two advertised public hearings beforehand.

The contract requires him to take 10 unpaid furlough days and forego his $300 monthly fuel allowance.

Coller, who started working for Hernando County in March 2000, makes $132,829 a year (about $170,700 with benefits).

At a suggestion from County Commissioner Jim Adkins, the board will explore making all future contracts expire at the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. That will allow commissioners to plan better for future budgets, Adkins said.

Also Tuesday:

•For the second consecutive year, the 140-plus tenants at the Hernando County Airport complex will catch a break on their leases because of the bad economy.

The airport derives its income from ground leases from small businesses. The majority of those leases have annual built-in rate increases.

Airport Director Don Silvernell, to help small businesses and individuals currently leasing airport land and hangars, asked to postpone all lease payment increases for one year starting Jan.1, 2010.

There would be no impact to the county general fund or to the airport budget.

Commissioners unanimously approved the request.

•Tax Collector Juanita Sikes returned $3.35 million of excess fees to the county. A total of $2.47 million goes back to the general fund.

Last year, Sikes returned $3.78 million in overall fees.

By state law, Sikes must return all unused fees collected from taxing authorities and the school board.

•David Russell Sr., who served as county commissioner during the 1980s, died Tuesday morning, Commissioner Rose Rocco announced at the beginning of Tuesday's board meeting. He was the father of County Commission Chairman Dave Russell.