Thursday, December 30, 2010

Holiday Recycling Information

Holiday Recycling Information

The Hernando County Utilities, Solid Waste Division, encourages you to remember to recycle after the holidays. Recycle your live Christmas trees by bringing them to the main landfill on U.S. 98 or to the east or west convenience centers during normal business hours. The trees will be mulched which is the best form of recycling. Trees picked up curbside will not be recycled. Remember that all stands, lights, decorations including the metal hooks, and tinsel must be removed from the tree. If your Christmas tree is a live one with a root ball, please plant it!!

All wrapping paper is also recyclable. Artificial Christmas trees cannot be recycled, so place those with your regular garbage.

Below are the hours of operation for the solid waste facilities:

Northwest Solid Waste Management Facility:
14450 Landfill Road
Brooksville, FL 34614
(10 Miles North of Brooksville on west side of US 98 North.)
(352) 754-4112 FAX (352) 754-4118
Hours: Monday - Saturday (except holidays)
8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Closed on Sundays

East Hernando Convenience Center
(Residential use only):
33070 Cortez Blvd.
Ridge Manor FL 33523
(352) 540-6205 Fax (352) 583-2783
(South side of S.R. 50, East Cortez Blvd.
East of Withlacoochee River and approximately 1/2 mile west of U.S. 98)
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday (except holidays)
9:00am - 5:00pm
Closed on Sundays & Mondays

West Hernando Convenience Center
(Residential use only):
2525 Osowaw Boulevard
(Just west of U.S. Highway 19)
(352) 754-4770 FAX (352) 688-5008
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday (except holidays)
9:00am - 5:00pm.
Closed on Sundays and Mondays

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

2011 Water Awareness Series Session

For Immediate Release
December 21, 2010

The Hernando County Utilities Department and Citizens for W.A.T.E.R. invite the public to the Hernando County Water Awareness Series 2010 presentation on Friday, January 7, 2011, from 10:00 AM to Noon at the Hernando County Utilities Department, 21030 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34601.

The topic for the January 7th session is: What you need to know about Rain Water Harvesting and Alternative Water Supplies (AWS). Could cisterns be an answer for your additional irrigation needs? Learn more about the new technology for this ancient way to catch and store rainwater. We will also learn about: What are Alternative Water Supplies or (AWS)? Why are they necessary? An overview from Tampa Bay Water’s experience. The seminar will be presented by:
Brian Gregson, Rainwater Services, St. Petersburg Florida and Dave Bracciano, Tampa Bay Water, Clearwater, Florida

Everyone is welcome to attend this important educational seminar. Light refreshments will be provided.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Homeowners Association questions answered

Q: I am told that, under Florida law, our homeowner association assessments cannot be raised more than 15 percent a year. True or false? If true, to what agency do I go to stop them from increasing it by multiples of 15 percent? It seems ludicrous to hire a lawyer for this.

C.W., Fort Lauderdale

A: The statute does address large increases in assessments, however. If the expense section of the budget, not including reserves, results in a 115 percent increase in assessments over the previous fiscal year, members can require the board to hold a special owners' meeting to consider a substitute budget.

This is a tricky process, with time limits imposed on the owners for calling for the meeting, serving notice to all owners, etc. If they succeed in that, they must have a quorum at the meeting, and if they come up with a new budget, it must be approved by a majority of voting interests. For homeowners associations there is no state agency to report board violations.

Q: Our Master Association just increased our annual fee for 2011. Can the residents refuse to pay this amount and place it in an escrow account while they try to negotiate a more realistic figure?

Can the Master Association close the only entrance and exit road to our homes if we put the money in an escrow account? What would we do to set up this account if the Master Association does not ban us from reaching our homes?

E.K., Tampa

A: No, the board cannot close the roads but it does have the authority to take even more drastic action. It can lien and foreclose on your home, even if you have the money in an escrow account — if the account was not court ordered. You would be considered delinquent on your fees. Not paying fees because you do not like the increase is not a valid reason to stop payments. You have other options for addressing the board and its decisions.

Richard White is a licensed community association manager. He does not offer legal opinions; any other questions and comments concerning association operations can be sent to Richard White, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd., No. 201, Winter Haven FL 33884-4115;

Monday, December 6, 2010

Hard Freeze Warning for Hernando County Tonight

Hard Freeze Warning for Hernando County Tonight
Hernando County Emergency Management has passed along this hard freeze warning which is in effect from 1am through 9am Tuesday for Hernando County.

Tonight, temperatures will fall quickly after sunset with values below freezing before midnight and lasting until mid-morning on Tuesday. Many locations will receive 8 or more hours of freezing temperatures, with the coldest temperatures reaching the lower to mid 20s in the normally coldest inland locations away from the cities. 1 to 4 hours of freezing temperatures in the lower 30s is expected at the beaches and larger cities.

Extremely low temperatures are forecast for the remainder of the week, so please monitor the local media and advisories. Hernando County Emergency Management has provided the attached cold weather tips.

Once again, residents should cover or move indoors any cold sensitive plants and bring pets indoors this evening. For tips on protecting plants from cold temperatures, visit
http://extension.hernandocounty.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=14&Itemid=12

Jericho Road Ministries, located at 1090 Mondon Hill Road, Brooksville, will be open for anyone needing shelter from the cold. The phone number for Jericho Road Ministries is (352) 799-2912.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Freeze Warning/Cold Weather Shelter

Freeze Warning/Cold Weather Shelter
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 2, 2010
2:30 p.m.

Hernando County Freeze Warning/Cold Weather Shelter

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Division has advised that the National Weather Service is predicting a freeze warning for Hernando County from 2 AM TO 8 AM Friday, December 3rd. A freeze warning is issued for 3 or more hours of temperatures between 27 and 32 over a widespread area.

Tonight into Friday morning, temperatures will fall below freezing across inland portions of Levy, Citrus, Sumter and Hernando Counties. Temperatures will drop below freezing after 2 a.m. Friday morning and remain there until around 8 a.m. with the lows bottoming out in the mid to upper 20's around sunrise.

Residents should cover or move indoors any cold sensitive plants and bring pets indoors this evening.

Jericho Road Ministries, located at 1090 Mondon Hill Road, Brooksville, will be open for anyone needing shelter from the cold. The phone number for Jericho Road Ministries is (352) 799-2912.

For more information about Hernando County's preparations for the cold weather may be obtained by calling Emergency Management at (352) 754-4083.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Three Month Appeals Period Begins for Updated Flood Maps

Three Month Appeals Period Begins for Updated Flood Maps
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 1, 2010

Three-Month Appeal Period Begins for Updated Hernando County Flood Maps

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has notified Hernando County that December 3rd is the beginning date for the three-month time period during which residents may file appeals and protests pertaining to the new digital flood hazard maps which were released last summer. The maps were developed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), in partnership with FEMA and Hernando County and show the extent to which areas throughout Hernando County are at risk for flooding. Used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements, the new maps replace maps that are approximately 25 years old.

The process included an extensive, multi-year review of the changes brought about by environmental, land use and other forces, the use of state-of-the-art aerial mapping and risk modeling techniques, and a comprehensive pre- and post-release review.

Residents and business owners can use the maps to obtain reliable information about their flood risk on a property-by-property basis. The maps also provide flood zone and elevation data to help community planners, engineers, builders and others decide where and how new structures, developments, and remodeling projects should be built.

The maps may be viewed online at www.hernandocounty.us/floodmap or in person at the Development Services Department, 789 Providence Blvd., Brooksville, Florida. The maps were displayed at two public workshops last August. Property owners are encouraged to check out the new flood maps and how their flood risk may have changed. Even though the maps are highly accurate, it is possible that owners may have more current or better data. If a property owner believes that the map is inaccurate regarding their property, they may file an appeal. Scientific or technical data must be submitted in support of the appeal. More information for filing an appeal is available at http://www.hernandocounty.us/floodmap/factsheets.asp or by calling the Flood Map Information Line at (352) 540-6300.

Residents can learn more about the new flood maps at a workshop on Friday, December 3, 2010, at 10 a.m. at the Hernando County Utilities Administration Building, 21010 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, Florida. Representatives from FEMA, Hernando County and SWFWMD will be on hand to explain the map updates and answer questions.

Lawn Irrigation Advice for the Winter Months

Lawn Irrigation Advice for the Winter Months
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 1, 2010

District asks homeowners to "Skip a Week" of irrigation this winter

Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and disease

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to “Skip a Week” of watering during the cooler months of December, January and February.

According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during the cooler months. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient. In fact, if your lawn has received any significant rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and operate it manually as needed.

“Overwatering in the winter can encourage pests and disease in your lawn,” said Sylvia Durell, Florida-friendly landscaping project manager. Skipping a week of watering is as easy as “off” for residents with irrigation timers. “Turn the timer to ‘off’ for the week that you want to skip, and ‘on’ for the week that you want to water,” said Durell.

Homeowners can determine when their grass needs water when:

• Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on 30 percent of the lawn.
• Grass blades are blue-gray.
• Footprints remain on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it.

Skipping a week of irrigation will help conserve drinking water supplies that the public needs for critical uses during the dry season. In fact, if everyone skipped one week of irrigation this season, it could save an estimated 1.7 billion gallons of water.

In addition to entering the dry season, the region has experienced an extremely dry fall, with dry conditions expected to continue through next spring. All 16 counties within the District are under a Phase I water shortage alert.

Christmas on Main Street" in Downtown Brooksville

Christmas on Main Street" in Downtown Brooksville
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 29, 2010

The City of Brooksville and Hernando County Government invite you to join them in the 2010 "Christmas on Main Street" on Thursday, December 9, 2010, from 5:00 until 8:30 pm. Stroll down Main Street in downtown Brooksville and enjoy an old fashioned Christmas! Many downtown merchants will be open extended hours as well as offering holiday treats and entertainment! A Winter Art Gallery Reception will be held at Brooksville City Hall from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring the Hernando County High School Culinary Arts Program Cookie Contest. Enjoy a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Ida Lillies just one block from City Hall and directly across from the historic Courthouse.

At 7:30 p.m. enjoy the lighting of the Courthouse Christmas Tree, followed by one hour of holiday entertainment provided by Live Oak Theatre Company, Brooksville Academy of the Arts and members of the Weeki Wachee High School Chorus. The program will be videotaped by Hernando County Government Broadcasting and aired throughout the holidays on Bright House Channel 622 and webstreamed at www.hernandocounty.us. Be sure to bring your own chairs.