News

County heads submit project wish list

By Michael D. Bates | Hernando Today
Published: November 16, 2012

BROOKSVILLE - A major effort is under way to replace all 12,000 water meters in Hernando County with the new 'radio-controlled' variety.

The timeline for replacement is four years and the cost, at $173.20 a meter, is about $8.5 million.

The long-term goal is to improve accuracy and efficiency while reducing overhead and labor costs by eliminating the need for water meter readers to physically walk to each home.

Instead, each meter would have a transmitter attached which sends the data to someone in a central location who "reads" the numbers.

The water meter program is one of scores of new projects included in the newly released and approved fiscal year 2013-17 capital improvement program.

The program is sort of a wish list for the county, which hopes to obtain funding from a variety of different state or federal funding.

"I call it a high priority wish list," said Chief Procurement Officer Russ Wetherington.

Department heads submit projects they believe are most beneficial to the county, based on feasibility and funding sources.

The CIP goes to county commissioners who use it to help guide them during the budget talks.

Projects deemed fundable and of highest concern are budgeted during the next fiscal year and others are left to die on the vine or are revisited at a later time.

County Administrator Len Sossamon said he and the board will examine the plan and see if there is any stormwater or road money available to pay for some of the neediest projects. County commissioners will also look at what shape the general fund is in later next year, he said.

This year's projects include:

The CIP also calls for adding left-turn lanes on U.S. 41 at Lake Lindsey Road. Cost: $305,000.

To view the entire capital improvement program, visit http://hernandocountyfl.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1305&MediaPosition=&ID=7249&CssClass=

mbates@hernandotoday.com (352) 544-5290