PAGE 3 - August 12, 2009
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Squawk Box
Dean’s modified barn "after the
- Continued from page 1
fact application" complete
countability and Enhancement Act of 2006. Every year the Post Office has to write out a
check for this 5.4 billion. The Postal Service also does not get any appropriations from the
Citrus County Administrator Brad Thorpe said Monday that
government to operate. They have to pay their own way. So with the poor economy, internet
State Sen. Charles Dean, R-Inverness, has submitted an after-the-fact ap-
usage instead of letters and mandates by the government for delivery of mail to everyone,
plication for his barn with residential components. County building and
the Postal Service has to find answers.
development officials said the application appears complete and will now
Independent surveys show the majority of Americans would prefer 5 day delivery to the
be reviewed.
other options such as another price increase, closing their local post office or return to a tax
Dean said he had built the structure along the Withlacoochee
subsidized Post Office which would in the end cost the people.
Increased water restrictions for
River east of Inverness believing it was exempt from fees and permitting
under an agricultural exemption law for non-residential farm structures,
and the county had agreed because no one had permanent residence there.
Citrus Springs, Pine Ridge, Sugarmill
Sen. Dean
When the exemption was challenged, however, the issue was put to the
state attorney general, who subsequently said it had residential components of a nature that
Citrus County code enforcement officers will begin conducting increased enforce-
made it not exempt.
ment of watering restrictions in Sugarmill Woods beginning Saturday, Aug 8. The county
County officials said the application that was delivered Friday appeared in order
is under a consent order with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to reduce
and the review should be finished Tuesday afternoon. The application included all the
pumping from county wells supplying Sugarmill Woods, as well as two other large subdivi-
normally required elements such as site plans, construction drawings, health department
sions, Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs.
approval of septic system and elevation certificates. Unless there were any code compliance
While the trend is down for all, Sugarmill Woods use is over the level allowed in
issues to be resolved after the review, the fees would be collected and the permit issued, said
its water withdrawal permit, and the county could face fines that could get passed on to the
Building Division Director Dennis MacNeil.
water customers. Robert Knight, the county’s Director of Water Resources, said, “Most of
There would then be an inspection to make sure any final issues were resolved.
the citizens there are complying with the restrictions and for that I’m grateful. However,
Normally a certificate of occupancy would then be issued, but since this would be an after-
the highest water using homes there are using an average of 44,000 gallons a month. And,
the-fact permit, the inspection would be the final action, unless something still needed to be
there are more than 400 homes using this amount. “This equals 675 gallons per person per
resolved upon inspection, MacNeil said.
day - which is four and a half times the amount the Water Management District establishes
Dean was not required to pay an impact fee on the structure because there had been
as reasonable and beneficial.
a mobile home on the property prior to the new structure. That is normal procedure in re-
Given all the rain we’ve been having, it’s astonishing that so many homes are still
placement of a structure. Dean’s application includes a permit to remove the mobile home.
using so much water.” Utility officials said the increased enforcement could continue into
future weeks, depending on the level of compliance. Watering restriction violations result
GENERAL (QUARTERLY) MEETING
in an initial warning and then a $100 fine. A third violation results in a $250 fine.
For houses with addresses whose number ends in 0 or 1, watering is allowed only
WITHLACOOCHEE AREA RESIDENTS, INC.
on Monday; for addresses ending 2 or 3, it is allowed only on Tuesday; addresses ending
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2009
in 4 or 5, only on Wednesday; 6 or 7, only on Thursday; 8 or 9 (and locations without a
discernible address) only on Friday. Watering is allowed once a day, before 8 a.m. or after
PUBLIC INVITED
6 p.m. for properties less than two acres, and before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. for properties
two acres and larger.
For more information about restrictions, call the water district’s Water Restriction
Hotline: 1-800-848-0499 (It is automated, but personal assistance is available during busi-
WHERE: Yankeetown-Inglis Women’s Club
ness hours) or go to watermatters.org online. The county Internet site also has information
5 56th Street (Next to the Yankeetown Library)
at: http://www.bocc.citrus.fl.us. Click on “Departments” at the top of the page, then “Water
Yankeetown, Florida 34498
Resources,” then “Utilities” and finally on “Watering Schedule” or call 527-7648.
Thirty Year old Dunnellon Wastewater
WHEN: 6:30-9:00 pm - Refreshments Served
7:00 pm - Call Meeting to Order
Plant Scheduled For Shut Down
JOIN US TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING
Citrus County utility officials have received a state permit that will allow the
IN YOUR COMMUNITY’S ENVIRONMENT
county to take the small package wastewater treatment plant in South Dunnellon offline and
put its customers on the county’s Citrus Springs system.
GET INVOLVED!
The move will also provide a force main line south down U.S. 41 for future busi-
nesses to hook up to when they locate in the commercial zone.
The South Dunnellon Wastewater Treatment Plant is a small stand-alone plant built
A.B.A.
almost 30 years ago that the county took over when the plant went into receivership years
ago. It currently serves less than 100 customers.
A/C & Heating,Inc.
Several years ago, replacement parts necessary to keep the system running became
unavailable, and since then those parts have had to be made in-house by the county Utilities
Division personnel. In addition, the basic structures and vessels of the old plant have lost
“Your Electric Bill Reduction Specialists”
some of their wall thicknesses and are nearing the end of their functional life.
• Visa & MasterCard
• Commercial
Faced with either extensive refurbishment of the facility or taking the wastewater
• 30 Years Experience
through a force main to the county’s Citrus Springs plant, the county chose the latter. Engi-
Refrigeration
neering estimates for refurbishment exceeded $500,000.
• Residential
• Commercial
R&M
Ask Us About
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
• Mobile Homes
Ultra Violet Air Filtering
Rebuilt - Repaired - Resealed
• 100% Financing
Complete Auto Repairs
Removes nearly 100%
A/C - Brakes - Front End - Exhaust - TuneUps
of germs & dust
Computer Diagnostics
Reduce Sickness & Allergies
Oil Changes While You Wait
4X4 s - RV s - Trucks - Autos
Family Owned & Operated
Free Estimates
Foreign & Domestic
352-447-0704
Visa - Mastercard - Discover
352-447-3040
Licensed & Insured
Accepted
Fax Line 447-6040
License #CACO 57707