BOCC

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) discussed, however did not vote on a new panhandling ordinance.  At the February 23, 2021 meeting, the board agreed that they will create a solid plan to limit the areas in which panhandling will be allowed. The main issue to consider carefully is that such an ordinance may be unconstitutional. Panhandling and begging, like other forms of charitable solicitation, is a form of protected speech that occurs in a public forum such as sidewalk spaces. 

Hernando County has received funding for the third phase of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act Program from the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management.  County Administrator Jeff Rogers introduced the spending plan at the Board Of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on January 26, 2021 for the board to discuss.   The commission approved the spending plan unanimously.

A first public hearing was held at the regular Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on Jan. 26, 2021, to allow the county administration to move their offices into a building at the Brooksville - Tampa Regional Airport (BKV).  This move to 15470 Flight Path Drive (the Tracers Building) will also constitute an expansion of the Hernando County Seat.

Charles R. "Chuck" Smith passed away at his Brooksville home on Sunday, January 3, 2021.  He was 92.

By LISA MACNEIL
[email protected]

On January 12, 2021 the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hear a request by developer D. Dewey Mitchell to approve a revised Master Plan to allow for 234 homesites to be built north of Village Van Gogh.  The property is located at the northern terminus of Fenian Drive, eastern terminus of Killian Street and south side of Highgrove Road.

Several residents in the area are resistant to this new development, and at least 45 have signed a petition against it. 

Commissioners at the October 13, 2020 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting voted unanimously to approve a small scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM 20-03) to change the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) from Residential to Commercial on 9 acres on the north side of County Line Road, 1500 feet west of Oak Chase Boulevard.

A “small scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment” is one that is able to be adopted during the regular meeting and transmitted to the state shortly thereafter.   

At the regular Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on October 27, 2020, the board voted to approve a rezoning petition by Tommy Evans of Sport Fisherman’s Landing Inc from CM-1 to PDP-CM2 with specific deviations, which will allow the business to continue operations while complying with conditions set forth during the meeting.

At the October 13, 2020 regular meeting, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)  unanimously approved a bid by Cardno, Inc. for engineering services for the Lake Townsend Park Boat Ramp Project for $55,515. 

One other proposal was received from Land & Water Engineering Science of St. Petersburg, FL.