Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Residents Urged to Protect Themselves Against Mosquitoes

Media Release

June 29, 2010

Residents Urged to Protect Themselves Against Mosquitoes
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 29, 2010

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Cases in Neighboring Counties

Mosquito Control Director Dr. Guangye Hu wants Hernando County residents to know that two horses - in Pasco and Hillsborough counties - have been reported euthanized in June as a result of contracting Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Two horses in Central Florida (Osceola County) were also reported to have the disease. So far, this year, 16 horses have been confirmed with EEE in Florida. Transmitted by mosquitoes, EEE causes 90% mortality of horses and 50% of humans.

On June 18th, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson urged horse owners to check with their veterinarian to make sure their animals have received current vaccinations and booster shots against EEE and West Nile Virus.

In 2009, there was an outbreak of Dengue Fever in the Florida Keys, and there have been nine locally-acquired cases this year. Dengue returned to Florida after over 50 years and is transmitted by container-bred mosquitoes around residential homes.

Dr. Hu stated, "It is very important that our residents protect themselves against mosquitoes by wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants and applying mosquito repellents while going out - especially during the evening hours. Residents should check their own property for mosquito-breeding habitats, dump all containers that hold water and flush bromeliads and bird baths weekly." If mosquitoes continue to be a problem after taking these actions, residents are encouraged to call the Mosquito Control Division at (352) 540-6554 to request mosquito control services.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Just and update for everyone regarding the street lights

Just and update for everyone regarding the street lights. Al Walker spoke with the WREC repairman that was in the neighborhood last week he was informed that they have to run a new line to all six lights that are out and replace those small electrical boxes next to the light poles. Hopefully they will be done with this on Monday or Tuesday of this week. I will email WREC asking for a credit of all the six lights once we know exactly how days they have been out. If you have any questions please call or email.
Alan Setelius

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Preston Hollow Street Lights

FYI

The first six street lights coming into Preston Hollow from County Line Rd. have been out since Saturday Night 6/5/2010. I filed a report with WREC online that night giving them the eight digit street pole numbers they request to identify where the problem lights are located. On Monday I followed up with a phone call making sure they had received my repair request and to let them know this was a safety issue. Al Walker made a similiar call Tuesday and the WREC people told him they would be out Tuesday afternoon to address our light issue. On Wednesday late afternoon I received a phone call from one of their repairmen who asked me to identify which lights we were having a problem with. I gave him the information he requested and asked if the problem would be repaired and he advised me that he would look at the lights to see what the problem was. He said that if the problem was a line issue where they needed to run a new line underground it might take a couple of days longer. If you have any questions please email me or call me at 796-6869.


I also put in another request for them to look at the light in Rugby Court. I don't think they repaired it properly last time.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Utilities Customer Service Centers Consolidated

Utilities Customer Service Centers Consolidated
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 26, 2010

Effective June 14, 2010, the Hernando County Utilities Department, Customer Service Center, located at 21030 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, will be closed and personnel will be relocated to our Spring Hill Customer Service Center located at 7425 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill.

Consolidating our Customer Service Centers into a single location enables us to sustain an affordable level of customer service during these times of fiscal restraint and reduced funding.

Customers will be notified with a billing message and public service announcement printed in the newspaper and posted to our Web site. Additionally, staff will provide a printout at the payment window to all walk-in customers. This notification will begin on May 21, 2010 and continue through June 11, 2010.

For your convenience, we will continue to accept utility payments in the night deposit drop box located at the front of the building at 20130 Cortez Blvd.

Residents requiring new service, account inquiries or any customer service related questions are asked to call (352) 754-4037.

Customer Service
7425 Spring Hill Drive
Spring Hill, FL 34606
Fax (352) 688-5012

Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PAYMENT OPTIONS AT NO ADDITIONAL FEE TO OUR CUSTOMERS

·Over the phone payments call 352-754-4037
·Online payments http://www.hernandocounty.us/utils/Customer_Service/ccpayment.asp
·Convenient Drive Thru open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at 7425 Spring Hill Drive
·Electronic Funds Transfer –no checks to write, save postage, save gasoline
Master and Visa Accepted

Monday, May 24, 2010

County Government Offices Closed for Memorial Day Holiday

County Government Offices Closed for Memorial Day Holiday
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 25, 2010

Hernando County Government Offices will be closed Monday, May 31st, 2010, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. The Northwest Hernando County Solid Waste Facility will be open for business; however, the east and west solid waste convenience centers are always closed on Mondays.

All offices and facilities will re-open on Tuesday, June 1st, at 8:00 a.m.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

SWFWMD Schedules Controlled Burns for June/July

SWFWMD Schedules Controlled Burns for June/July
Southwest Florida Water Management District
Kevin Love
1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 24, 2010

Controlled burns scheduled for Annutteliga Hammock and Weeki Wachee Preserve Properties

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during June and July in two areas of Hernando County - the District’s Annutteliga Hammock property and the Weeki Wachee Preserve property..

The Annutteliga Hammock property is located in the Royal Highlands area of northwest Hernando County, just south of Citrus County’s Sugarmill Woods development. Approximately 555 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.

The Weekiwachee Preserve property is located approximately one mile west of Spring Hill. Approximately 825 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.

The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District.

According to District Land Manager Kevin W. Love, burns are conducted to mimic natural fire cycles under a controlled situation. The object is to avoid uncontrolled wildfires and enhance the area’s natural conditions by maintaining the ecological and wildlife habitat values. Prescribed burns are only conducted when weather conditions allow the objectives to be met while minimizing impacts to the public.

Every effort will be made to ensure that smoke will not affect homes or highways. However, vehicle operators should exercise caution in case smoke does lead to reduced visibility on the area’s roads or highways.

The District owns and manages approximately 436,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands for water resource and natural systems protection.

For more information, please call the District at (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Series of Community Meetings Scheduled

Series of Community Meetings Scheduled
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 20, 2010

During the month of May, Hernando County residents will have the opportunity to learn about the proposed FY 2010-2011 Hernando County Government budget. During a series of public meetings scheduled throughout the community, Director of Budget and Administrative Services George Zoettlein along with County Administrator David Hamilton will present budget proposals and options and address comments and questions from those in attendance. The meeting dates/locations are shown below:

Tuesday, May 4th @ 6:30 p.m.
Coast Guard Auxiliary Building
4340 Calienta St.
Hernando Beach, FL

Thursday, May 13th @ 6:30 p.m.
VFW Post 10209
14736 Edward R. Noll Drive
Brooksville, FL

Wednesday, May 19th @ 3:00 p.m.
East Hernando Library
6457 Windmere St.
Brooksville, FL

In addition, a second series of similar community meetings will be held in August to review the finalized proposed budget at the same locations - specific dates to be announced. For more information about the meetings, please contact the Hernando County Communications Office at (352) 540-6780.