Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Although commissioners can't legally stop the development of the property, they agreed to make sure that the developer fulfills obligations to make necessary transportation improvements.
County commissioners say their hands are legally tied when it comes to the zoning of a proposed big-box development on Bloomingdale Avenue east of the Bloomingdale Regional Library. However, County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan told Bloomingdale area residents attending the Wednesday, May 15 county commission meeting that the commission still has control over how developers spend funds for traffic improvements. At Hagan's request, the commission voted unanimously to make sure the property owner, Redstone Properties LLC, uses the funds its required to contribute for transportation improvements in the same area where the development will be constructed. "Constitutionally, the transportation funds don't have to be vested in the project area…
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The County Commissioner from East Hillsborough is running for a countywide seat in 2014, but some are saying his stand on two recent controversial issues will hurt him in the long run. We’d like to get your thoughts!
Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham is in for a fight in 2014 – one that some say he’s going to have an increasingly difficult time winning. The District 4 commissioner from East Hillsborough County is running for a countywide seat on the board. While his strong support base of Eastern Hillsborough Republicans has carried him through in the past, skeptics say Higginbotham is going to have a hard time overcoming his own voting record when residents countywide turn out to the polls in 2014. 2 Possible Sticking Points The Tampa Tribune calls into question Higginbotham’s ability to overcome two recent decisions it says have cast the commissioner in a less-than-positive light with those who don’t share his conservative views. They …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The Hillsborough County Commission has agreed to set aside $6.25 million to repay developers for road construction projects that will ultimately serve customers of Bass Pro’s new location. We’d like to get your thoughts on the issue.
Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan says the math is simple. The county pays out up to $6.5 million to help a developer build roads that will benefit not only Bass Pro Shops, but also a number of other businesses. In return, it will get nearly $3 million in combined property and sales taxes collected on the Brandon area parcel each year. The land only generates about $800 a year in property tax revenues now. Based on those figures, the taxpayers will get their money back in only a few years while continuing to see a large increase in property and sales taxes thanks to the development. Commissioner Kevin Beckner opposed using county dollars to help pay for the road project. He said he fears the county is turning into a “…
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Backers of a plan to allow same-sex couples to enjoy more of the freedoms afforded to married couples aren’t taking no for an answer. Do you agree with them?
Less than two weeks after Hillsborough County Commissioners voted against creating a domestic partnership registry, proponents of the measure are holding their ground. The proposed registry, similar to what has already passed in Pinellas County, would have given same-sex partners more freedom to make financial and medical decisions for their significant others. In late January, the Hillsborough Commission voted 4-3 against creating a registry. Supporters of the registry met Tuesday, Feb. 5 to discuss what they are calling a “temporary” setback, according to The Tampa Tribune. Attendees at the event, which was sponsored by Equality Florida, say they will continue to push for the county to enact a registry. "Hillsborough County is so out of …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The Hillsborough County Commission is considering mandating that employers allow their workers to bring the dogs to the workplace.
Hillsborough County commissioners are taking steps to ensure people with disabilities are able to bring their service dogs to work. Currently the American Disabilities Act does allow service dogs in the workplace for people who need them because of a disability. However, it allows some flexibility on behalf of the employer regarding who they deem should have the dogs at work, said Sandra Sroka, ADA coordinator and acting HIPPA compliance officer for the county. "I think what the citizen is looking for and what we’re trying to explore is a more stringent interpretation where employers would probably have to have good cause or good reason not to allow the dogs," Sroka said. The Hillsborough County Commission discussed the issue at its …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Waste Management Inc. will serve the Bloomingdale-Riverview area.
Hillsborough County commissioners have awarded new contracts for the collection of garbage and recyclables in the county’s service areas. This award caps a successful competitive bidding effort that will lower annual residential collection rates, introduce automation at curbside and, for the first time, bring in revenues to the county from materials to be recycled. Commissioners awarded seven-year contracts, with options for three one-year extensions, to Republic Services of Florida, Waste Management Inc. of Florida, and Waste Services of Florida. The new contracts go into effect Oct. 1. The three companies hold the current contracts and were among six companies which submitted bids. The contracts were awarded for five new residential …
Sunday, January 20, 2013
The Hillsborough County Commission has decided to change the way it handles trash collection.
Following a series of public meetings designed to get residents to talk trash, the Hillsborough County Commission has selected a new option for its residential garbage customers. The “Automated 2-1-1 Garbage Collection” option was unanimously selected Jan. 10 by county commissioners. The plan continues the twice-weekly garbage collection that residents are accustomed to and also offers once-weekly recyclable collection and yard waste collection. What’s different from the county’s old garbage service is the method in which trash and recyclables will be picked up and the overall cost to taxpayers. Under the new system, garbage and recyclables will be delivered to the curb by customers using special wheeled bins the county will provide. …
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Starting October 2013, Hillsborough County will change the way trash is collected.
The way garbage, recyclables and yard waste are collected in unincorporated Hillsborough County could be changing in October 2013. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners wants to know what residents think about the new garbage collection options. As the current solid waste contracts are almost 15 years old, Hillsborough County has asked for bids on four residential collection service options for garbage, recyclables and yard waste. These service options include: Residents pay for garbage, recyclables and yard waste collection service through an annual non-ad valorem assessment on property tax bills. This method of billing would remain the same for any of the new contract options. More information and details are available on…
Friday, November 16, 2012
Yesterday. county commissioners approved a proposal to do away with traditional volunteer fire department and establish a reserve program.
It took Hillsborough County commissioners just a few minutes to do away with a 60-year-old tradition. In a unanimous vote Thursday, Nov. 16, commissioners agreed to extinguish the county's traditional volunteer fire department system and replace it with a reserve responder program. This means the county's six formerly volunteer fire stations, including the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Station at 4705 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, will be staffed by career firefighters starting Jan. 1. However, under the reserve responder program, there still will be plenty of opportunities for volunteers to serve, said Hillsborough County Fire Chief Ron Rogersl "Volunteers have been providing service for 60 years but it is time for change," Rogers told …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Higginbotham attributed his win to grassroots campaigning and hard-working volunteers.
Only an hour and 45 minutes after the polls closed, District 4 Hillsborough County Commission candidate Mark Nash, D-Lithia, knew he'd lost the race. At a gathering with supporters at the Hilton Garden Inn in Riverview, Nash intently watched the computer as the Supervisor of Elections Office released the precinct totals. Carrying just 38 percent of the vote, Nash conceded to incumbent County Commissioner Al Higginbotham, R-Plant City. "I congratulate Al," said Nash. "It's obvious I don't have the votes." However, Nash stopped short of calling his bid for office a failure. "A lot of good things came out of it. I reconnected with a lot of friends and even relatives," said Nash. Among those supporting Nash was a cousin he didn't know he had …
Eric Gardner
8:40 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
It clearly subverts our political process to interpret statutes as preventing our elected officials from meeting with concerned constituents. This is especially true when the public has valid issues with the way that development was approved without any good faith effort to inform the local community, much less permit the residents to attend public hearings before approving any changes to the … more ›