Brooksville City Council held its final public hearing to present the FY 2019 budget on September 12, 2018. Without citizen comments, and little discussion at the dais, Resolution 2018-14, the balancing of the budget at the 6.2000 millage rate was approved unanimously. The new millage rate is an 11.14% decrease from the prior year’s rollback rate of 6.9775 mills.
Spring Center, the 440-acre planned development project in Spring Hill will undergo rezoning to accommodate the town center, with surrounding multi-family and single-family homes. In a 5-0 vote, the Board of County Commissioners voted on September 11, 2018 to approve the rezoning petition with modified conditions and clarifications of language in some portions of the development’s plan.
In a special meeting held on August 27, 2018, the Brooksville City Council met to discuss items stemming from the previous budget meeting on August 13, 2018. Included in this meeting were results of a water and sewer rate study performed by the Florida Rural Water Association, the usage of enterprise fund reserves, and employee salary increases. Water and sewer rate increases were passed as well as 5% salary increases for non-management city staff.
Water and Sewer Rates
The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners recognized Kyle Walker for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Walker graduated from Springstead High School in June and will be attending boot camp for the US Coast Guard in October 2018.
Potential Eagle Scouts must complete a community project. Walker chose to build two picnic shelters at the Lake House in Spring Hill after consulting with the Parks and Recreation Department. He was responsible for the fundraising, documentation and construction efforts.
The owners of TreeUmph! Adventure Course in Brooksville decided to close the park on Monday Aug. 20, 2018. The closure of TreeUmph! was discussed briefly at the County Commission meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
A discussion about creating an Airport Advisory Committee during the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Aug. 28, 2018, reflected on the solid performance of an existing Hernando County committee: the Hernando County Port Authority. The Port Authority was honored by the BOCC with a resolution that morning recognizing their contributions to improving waterways within the county.
by SUE QUIGLEY
HERNANDO SUN WRITER
A new set of multi-million dollar projects totaling more than $78 million are on the horizon for Oak Hill Hospital by parent company HCA Healthcare of Nashville, Tennessee.
Three major expansions plus a host of other infrastructure renovations are planned, firmly cementing Oak Hill Hospital’s aim to meet the medical needs of the residents in Hernando County and its surrounding communities.
According to the U.S. census in 2010, the population in Hernando County was estimated at 172,000 and seven years later that number rose to 186,000.
The rise of the population means more land development which in turn means more wildlife habitat lost especially for one particular species that holds an extremely valuable place in our ecosystem: The Florida Gopher Tortoise.
