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Hernando Letters to the Editor

Thoughts and opinions from you and your neighbors.
 
Published Jan. 14, 2019

Connection between garbage bill increase and campaign contributions?

I've never written before, but am I the only one outraged by the Hernando County Board of Commissioners' decision to approve the trash collection fee increase with Republic Waste Management?

On a quarterly basis, I have paid $24.54 since Republic received the contract several years ago. My new quarterly assessment is $40.47.

This increase coincides with announced plans to automate trash pickup with new trucks and supplied trash containers. Why must the public pay for such an investment and why would the county commissioners approve such an increase (60 percent-plus)?

Through automation, the labor associated with trash pickup will be reduced to 1 person per truck — no doubt, a major labor expense reduction for Republic. And the public is expected to fund this effort via increased fees.

Of course, trying to broach this subject with the board is futile. No one answers a phone or returns a message or email.

I am hoping the good folks of the free press can evoke a response from our elected officials. If I didn't know better, I would suspect a campaign contribution served as motivation for approval.

Jerry Peeler, Brooksville

County spending questioned

In the Jan. 11 edition of the Hernando Times, the headline reads: "Commission wants land for boat ramp" — $475,00 for a piece of land and thousands more to renovate it.

Just below that article, (another story says), the commission told county workers that there isn't any money for agreed-upon pay raises, mainly due to out of control spending.

How's that again?

Bob Rosenberger, Spring Hill