The Hernando Beach Dredge Project:
1. October 2005 Our Engineers go on record stating that the Florida DEP will not permit filling wetlands on the Eagle Nest property.
2. March 2006 Same Engineers attach our NEEDED dredge project to the filling of the wetlands on the Eagle Nest property and submit it to the Florida DEP.
3. March 2006…..on Misinform the citizens of Hernando County regarding the project to hide what is really going on and why.
Result: Two years of wasted time and over $200,000 wasted taxpayer money (so far). UPDATE APRIL 2009: THREE YEARS and OVER $1,000,000 WASTED TAXPAYER MONEY
We hope that the information contained in this site leads our citizens to act to clean up Our County.As long as this type of influence exists – all of the tax reform will be meaningless. Our money will be wasted through mismanagement. We are asking everyone to stand-up for OUR COUNTY and send an email or a letter to Governor Crist asking him to please have the Florida Attorney General’s Office investigate our county (this project) for mismanagement.
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Contact Attorney General Bill McCollum
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Thanks to Mrs. M for your support. Your idea is great! We are asking that everyone who emails the Governor or Attorney General or both, to either copy or forward us at hbdredge@yahoo.com . We will put all of our letters together to make one giant petition. United we make a loud voice.
I have always wondered why on project of this importance and magnitude, the county would put a assistant county engineer in charge.
Is anyone aware of a conflict of interest between county engineer Mixson and Cliff Manuel that the taxpayers of Hernando County might be interested in?. How about other county commissioners or even state representitives?
Why is Sutton in charge? How do we know the project costs 9 million dollars when not one cost study was done?
50K extra on the Petit site sounds like a bargin now knowing that the county has force fed the Manuel site down DEP’S throat costing the taxpayers of Hernando County 200% MORE THAN THE PETIT SITE, AND WE COULD HAVE HAD THE PERMIT IN FEB.
I wonder how many more weeks we will hear the same thing from Sutton ( I am expecting an NOI by Friday) ? The e-mails prove the County’s money and the citizen’s interest were not what was most important. How can a County not have checks and balances? Even most of our County Commissioners are at fault for either turning their cheek or for participating in the Circus. They turned a deaf ear time and again when the residents brought numerous complaints to them. The project should have been completed by now. If you talk to any Dredge Contractor they would tell you this is a small project. The lease can be terminated. The county tells you otherwise. Let me ask who would be STUPID enough to create a lease that had to be followed through at any COST and for as long as it takes. If any of our county Attorney’s actually created a lease prior to permitting with that language they should be fired!!! We are tired of excuses. Move the dredge to Petit or fill a canal.
This is a perfect case of small town politics and the “good ol boy” system. Another example of this is the Brooksville Regional Hospital. The property was owned by prominent “good ol boy’s” from Brooksville. The “shakers and movers” get things done with this system, and guess what? They own all the property around the hospital. The rich get richer… It’s about time our county listens to the residents and the best interests of the people instead of giving in to the “who’s who” and worrying about upsetting them if they don’t get their way!
This is completely ridicoulous! I cannot believe another mistake by a bunch of rednecks who were given a town! I am so glad I moved to Tampa. There is no problems here at all. The police don’t mess with you because they are bored, and everyone goes about their business. I am sorry but Hernando is mini new york and its just trash.
Another week, another broken promise of an impending Notic-of-Intent from the DEP. I heard that the DEP was out this week at the Manuel site taking soil samples where the proposed berm is to be constructed. Sounds to me, and I’m no expert, that the DEP still has serious problems with the Manuel site. Now, let’s add this up. The County filed the original permit for the dredge project in March 2006, now 26 months ago! Back in December 2007, the DEP said that an alternate spoil disposal site could be permitted by Valentine’s Day 2008. So, on Wednesday this week, it will be 90 days since we could have had this project fully permitted by the DEP. What a crock! It’s time to clean house at the Public Works Department. The new county administrator has fired the HR Director and Emergency Management Director. How about firing the Public Works Director!
If I have this correct, the original site on Petit lane that the county engineers said would cost $50,000 more and would close the boat ramp for at least a year and would prevent 300+ people from using their canal is now going to be used.
If I have this correct, the county has used an additional $200,000+ dollars in change orders to force the Eagle Nest site to be used and now they are leasing the Petit Lane which would have been approved months ago by all residence and the FDEP and the dredge project could have been started already.
If I have this correct, the county is irresponsibly using the taxpayers money by saving $50,000 to spend $200,000+ more and the project is still on hold.
Why do our county Commissioners put up with this? Why has Rose Rocco not stepped in since this is her district? Why are all these delays and additional cost not accounted for? Who is getting paid off to send this project down a road to failure?
If I have this correct,
Ben Duked
I’m a recently retired from a major company in the Detroit area.
I am familiar with Hernando County and specifically, Hernando Beach(where’s the beach?). I am also interested in moving from the frigid north to Florida but now wonder if all Florida local and possibly state governments are run in such a dubious manner as Hernando County is.
The “good ol’ boy” system appears to be alive and well there as evidenced by the debacle of the dredge project at Hernando Beach. With state-protected wetlands bordering the area around Eagle’s Nest Dr. it should be a matter of serious concern whether the environment will be adversely affected or not. I’ve seen first-hand the wildlife in its natural habitat there and it must be protected! Greed and money are at the core of this issue. Mr. Manuel wants to sell lots in the area for a lot of money but wants free fill material to raise the height of the land by four feet or so to make the land more attractive and to possibly conform to county ordinances. A little “grease” (money) here and there can make things happen favorably for anyone when dealing with local governments.
People of Hernando County: do not let your guard down. Be relentless and demand complete disclosure from your elected officials concerning monies and plans for your community. Remember too: Our government is one that is “Of the people, by the people, and FOR the people!” Federal, state, and local governments are not your bosses or masters; YOU ARE THE BOSSES! Make your government work for you and answer to you.
Meanwhile I will watch and wait to see how this matter is finally settled before I bring all my assets to your state and beautiful county.
Will B. Watchin