Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Code Compliance Month

Hernando County commissioners Tuesday approved an ordinance change that would allow a "code compliance month." Assistant County Attorney Jon Jouben said the amendment would let commissioners approve a special month for people with liens for code violations to reduce the amount of the liens by complying with code requirements. Under the change, a lien could be reduced by board action if an application for reduction is approved by staff.

The proposal would authorize a compliance month to be scheduled each in May. Property owners that remain in violation or where costs of county clean-up exceeded lien amounts would not be eligible. The proposal was criticized by one former violator who complained that the process required a non-refundable $30 application fee, but commissioners voted unanimously to approve the change.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

New Location and Office Hours for Code Enforcement Department

Hernando County Code Enforcement has moved from its former location on the first floor in the Hernando County Government Center. They are now co-located with Animal Services, 19150 Oliver Street, Brooksville, Florida 34601. The phone number will stay the same, 352-754-4056, but the fax number has changed to 352-796-3746. The Code Enforcement staff appreciates the patience of the public as they make the transition and offers the following new service hours.

New Office Hours Beginning March 29, 2010
Monday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday

Phone Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Hurricane and Safety Expo

PLANS SET FOR 2010 HURRICANE EXPO

The Emergency Management division of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office will host a Hurricane and Safety Expo from 9AM to 2PM on Saturday, May 1, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on Spring Hill Drive. Guest speaker this year is Channel 10 Meteorologist Tammie Souza, who will discuss the upcoming hurricane season and answer questions.

The Hurricane and Safety Expo is an educational event for the entire family, with planned activities including: a high voltage demonstration, marine safety, a Kids Korner and emergency vehicle displays. Vendors of safety products, personal disaster preparedness and home retrofit products will be on hand to as well.

2010 Census - List of Questionnaire Assistance Centers

2010 Census - List of Questionnaire Assistance Centers
2010 Census

Do You Have a Question or Need Assistance Completing Your Census Questionnaire? Here is a list of locations in Hernando County where you can go to get assistance or additional information about the 2010 Census:

Questionnaire Assistance Centers:

Withlacoochee Bicentennial Hall
16257 Lingle Road
Istachatta, Florida
March 19 thru April 17
Tuesday thru Saturday
11am - 2pm

Hernando County Airport
15800 Flight Path Drive
Brooksville, Florida
March 19 thru April 23
Monday thru Friday
11am - 2pm

Hernando County Government Center
20 N. Main St.
Brooksville, Florida
March 19 thru April 23
Monday thru Friday
11am - 2pm

Brooksville Wesleyan Church
8168 Jasmine Dr.
Brooksville, FL
Mon-Fri 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Jericho Road Ministries - Sunrise Plaza Thrift Store
31170 Cortez Blvd.
Brooksville, FL
Mon thru Fri 9 am to 12 pm

Jericho Road Ministries - Food Pantry
1163 Howell Avenue
Brooksville, FL
Mon - Fri 9 am to 12 pm

Jericho Road Ministries - Wiscon Thrift Store
16479 Wiscon Road
Brooksville, FL
Mon - Fri 9 am to 12 pm

Jericho Road Ministries - Winchester Plaza Thrift Store
5260 Commercial Way
Spring Hill, FL
Mon - Fri 9 am to 12 pm

South Brooksville Neighborhood Assoc.
1203 E. Jefferson St.
Brooksville, FL
Mon - Fri 11 am to 2 pm

Vision Temple Ministries
715 Daniel Ave.
Brooksville, FL
Mon - Fri 11 am to 2 pm

Grace World Outreach Church
20366 Cortez Blvd.
Brooksville,FL
Monday - 9 am to 4 pm

Christian Church in the Wildwood
10051 Country Road
Weeki Wachee, FL
Mon - Fri 9 am to 12 pm


"Be Counted" Sites - to obtain Census information (no Census staff present):

All Hernando County Library Branches
First Baptist Church of Brooksville, 420 Howell Avenue, Brooksville
First Presbyterian Church, 250 Bell Avenue, Brooksville
First United Methodist Church, 109 S. Broad St., Brooksville
South Brooksville Community Center, 601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Brooksville

For more information about the 2010 Census, visit www.2010census.gov or www.hernandocounty.us

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Preston Hollow Homeowners’ Neighborhood Crime Watch Alert

On Friday March 12th a Preston Hollow home located on Forest Wood Court was burglarized some time between 6:00 AM & 10:00 AM. The Preston Hollow Homeowners’ Association Board of Directors is asking every homeowner to keep a watchful eye out, not only on his or her own property but also for the neighbors as well. Randi Rosmarin, who coordinates our local Crime Watch, is always looking for more volunteers to act as block captains. She can be contacted at 796-7016. Please do your part to help keep our neighborhood safe. If you see something out of place or suspicious please contact the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office at 754-6830. Dial 911 for emergency situations.

Preston Hollow Board of Directors

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Informational Webinar Scheduled Re: 2060 Florida Transportation Plan

INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR -
2060 FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION PLAN

The Hernando County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will host a satellite location for an informatinal webinar on the 2060 Florida Transportation Plan on Wednesday, MARCH 10, 2010, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., at the Hernando County Planning Department Conference Room, 20 N. Main Street, Room 261, Brooksville, Florida. During 2010, the Florida Department of Transportation and its partners will be updating the Florida Transportation Plan (FTP). The 2060 FTP is a plan for all of Florida, including local, regional, and state partners who make decisions about future transportation investments affecting safety, security, preservation, and mobility needs.

The public is encouraged to participate in this interactive forum. Interested citizens with access to a computer and internet connection may register for the free webinar at www.2060ftp.org. Citizens without access to a computer are invited to attend the host satellite location listed above.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons who require special accommodations for the meeting location under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Dennis Dix, MPO Coordinator, Hernando County Metropolitan Planning Organization, 20 N. Main Street, Room 262, Brooksville, FL 34601, telephone (352) 754-4057, no later than three (3) days prior to the meeting. If hearing impaired, please call 1-800-676-3777 for assistance.

Free H1N1 Vaccinations Offered by Health Department

Free H1N1 Vaccinations Offered by Health Department

For Immediate Release
Contact: Ann-Gayl Ellis, PIO
March 4, 2010
352-540-6817/352-279-1949

Free H1N1 Vaccination Offered Wednesdays and Fridays in Brooksville

Brooksville- The majority of influenza currently circulating continues to be H1N1. The Hernando County Health Department reminds residents and visitors that it’s not too late to get vaccinated. Beginning Wednesday, March 10, the health department will offer free H1N1 vaccination to all county residents and visitors on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings at their Brooksville clinic location, 300 S. Main Street. Wednesday vaccination hours are 1-5pm and Friday vaccinations hours are 9am until 1:00pm. No appointment is necessary and there is no charge for vaccination.

For more information, please call 540-6855.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

2010 Census - Stand and Be Counted, Hernando County!

2010 Census - Stand and Be Counted, Hernando County!
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 26, 2010

Hernando County residents will receive the 2010 Census questionnaires in their mailboxes within the next couple of weeks. Some residents in the more remote areas of the county may be counted in person by a census taker. All citizens will be counted – both citizens and non-citizens

Why is it so important to complete and return the questionnaire? The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once every 10 years to count the population and determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. The count is also used to determine boundaries for state and local legislative and congressional districts and to determine federal funding allocations to state and local governments. This funding is used for community services, such as school lunch programs, senior citizen centers and new construction for highways.

One of the shortest census forms in U.S. Census history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Responses to the census questionnaire should include everyone who will be living at that address as of Census Day, April 1, 2010. Census questionnaires should be returned as soon as possible in the postage-paid envelopes provided. Beginning in May, census takers will visit households that did not return the questionnaires by mail.

Mailing back the questionnaire ensures an accurate count and lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door to door to collect census data. In fact, about $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s responses with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs) will be established in Hernando County to assist residents in completing the forms. Also, all Hernando County library branches will have the census forms available as well as additional information about the 2010 Census. The QAC locations are as follows:

Withlacoochee Bicentennial Hall
16257 Lingle Road
Istachatta, Florida
March 19 thru April 17
Tuesday thru Saturday
11am - 2pm

Hernando County Airport
15800 Flight Path Drive
Brooksville, Florida
March 19 thru April 23
Monday thru Friday
11am - 2pm

Hernando County Government Center
20 N. Main St.
Brooksville, Florida
March 19 thru April 23
Monday thru Friday
11am - 2pm

Mail it back, Hernando County – stand and be counted!
For additional information, visit www.2010.census.gov., call the Hernando County Planning Department at (352) 754-4057 or the local Census Office at 1-866-861-2010 or 277-3096.

2010 Census www.2010census.gov