Fasano Fizzles for Hernando County

Although it’s an interesting prospect, the very thought that a $25-million dollar manufacturing plant would be built in Hernando County seems to have come out of nowhere, as in a fairy tale. The annual pay scale of $45,000 to $50,000 makes you wonder if there’s a decimal point missing, making the figure $500 per week, which would bring more in line with jobs that pay little more than minimum wage.

The company, Coastal Caisson with its headquarters in Odessa, FL, is owned by the Bauer Group and makes industrial equipment for the oil industry. The company’s expertise lies with the design and construction of various foundations that can withstand the frigid temperatures of winters, the adverse environment of desert sand with temperatures in excess of 120-dgrees Fahrenheit, and the turbulent conditions of the salty seas.

The 200 jobs that the venture could bring to Hernando County would bring a windfall of opportunities of employment in a county too reliant on the limits of retail and construction industries. Public administration, i.e. local government, also has carries too big a share of employment for the county, as does transportation, utilities and hospitality services. Professional and business, and manufacturing are areas that need to be developed to take the county out of its humdrum, ho hum existence.

The prospects of being awarded what could possibly be a once-in-a-decade opportunity are slim, at best. The original site that Bauer is still considering is outside Houston, but Coastal Caisson and Pasco County economic development officials have brought interest to the area. Enterprise Florida is also playing a large role in promoting the manufacturing facility. With an excess of $400-million dollars in State funds to invest in local and regional economic development, eFlorida (http://www.eflorida.com/) will be a large force to bring the prospect to fruition.

Odds are that if any location were to be chosen in Florida, Pasco County would be given more serious consideration. Zephyr Hills and Lacoochee are just a few miles from Coastal’s headquarters in Odessa. Zephyr Hills is too much of a retirement community, somewhat restricted in possible locations. Lacoochee would be the most ideal site, in closer proximity to Odessa.

State Senator Mike Fasano, whose political endorsements favor Pasco and Pinellas Counties over Hernando and Citrus, has already contacted Governor Charlie Crist for his support of this business opportunity… in Pasco County.

There appears to be no rational reasoning as to how Brooksville has been placed among the possible sites for the 100-acre facility. The land is available, a realty group would be elated at the prospect but the existing infrastructure may not be accommodating.

It appears that Hernando County is destined to remain a bedroom community to take commuters to points outside the area. The best possible scenario would find qualified jobseekers in the area that could zip down the Suncoast Highway for the 30-mile trip for the higher paying positions. That is, if there are any qualified prospective workers here.

Another possible bright side would find those who might work at the proposed facility making their homes in Hernando County. As mentioned, the Suncoast is a prime commuter trail. The cost of living is more accommodating. There are many unoccupied vacant homes, some in bankruptcy, some that developers are willing to discount just to cut their losses before economic conditions worsen. Of course, there are also some 8,000 homes sites that have been approved in the past year at Hickory Hill, Sunrise and Lake Hideaway subdivisions.

At a time that is demanding of a broader tax base than at any other time in its history, Hernando County can only gawk, drool, lay back down and go back to sleep. Complacency among local government and business “leaders” puts their selfishness above what would be best for the overall economic development in the community. As time passes, the likelihood of anything other than increases in the number of residential housing and retail espousing grows exponentially.

Where does Hernando County go from this point in time onward? You might ask Senator Mike Fasano (District 11), Senator Paula Dockery (District 15), House Representative Robert Schenk (District 44), or House Representative Ron Schultz (District 43).

When you shake it all around and turn it upside down you will finally come to the realization that:

(a) The Largest Available Contiguous Parcel of Industrial Zoned Land in Hernando County is

0 acres

(b) The Largest Available Contiguous Parcel of Industrial Zoned Land in Pasco County is
260 acres

(c) 100 acres are required for the facility.

There is no more debate on the subject.

[ This blog entry is in response to an article titled "Brooksville Hopes to lure $25 million facility" written by Hernando Times Staff Writer Chuin-Wei Yap. To view this article that was printed in the March 21,2008, edition of the Hernando Times, please go to http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/article427459.ece. ]

Who can we, the people, turn to?

It’s an occasional subject brought up by County Government officials; talk of attracting higher paying jobs to Hernando County is more of a wishful thinking, cross your fingers idea. It hasn’t come to fruition so far, and unlikely to beIt’s an occasional subject with County Government officials. Talk of attracting higher paying jobs to Hernando County is more of a wishful thinking, cross your fingers idea. It hasn’t come to fruition so far, and unlikely to become a realization any time in the near future. I’m not sure if no one really cares or if there are just no drawing cards that would benefit businesses to invest their futures here.

The close proximity to Tampa thus far hasn’t proven to offer the opportunities that would appear to be of primary consideration. The SunCoast Highway is a designated commuter route, generally taking residents out of the county rather than attracting workers to our location. Sure, there are definite benefits of wage earners bringing their paychecks to be spent Hernando County but the loss of revenue to broaden our tax base is sorely lost to communities to the south.

Too much land has been rezoned from agriculture to residential. It has proven to be poor planning from the first designs of the future of the County. Impact fees have never paid the full cost of providing services to newcomers so the impact of suburban growth is negative from the very moment a tract of land is purchased. And yet, with Hickory Hill and Sunrise, and other developments north on US 19 near Citrus County, there are plenty of shortcomings in progress.

What we have are a broad array of homes but nothing else for the weak efforts of County Commissioners have shown to diversify the economy. Property values are down and, although property taxes are exorbitant for most homes purchased in the past few year, the results all point to an unbalanced budget for the needs of the County. New construction appears to be subdued for foreseeable future so the purchasing power of residents to support what businesses that are already here is limited.

It is, to say the least, a disappointment to have gone through the County Connection program to learn the processes of local government and learn the average income is $28,000 per year. I took the class this past Spring. Viewing the official Hernando County WebPages, it was shocking to find the median income is now less than $26,000! What a shame.

We are stuck in a retail wasteland, sure to find the working population will decline. Wal-Mart can stock every Made In China product available, but people still have to budget their moneys for food and housing expenses. Foreign clothing will place third in consumer spending as families are forced to put the basic needs of life above their wants and desires.

The close proximity to Tampa thus far hasn’t proven to offer the opportunities that would appear to be of primary consideration. The SunCoast Highway is a designated commuter route, generally taking residents out of the county rather than attracting workers to our location. Sure, there are definite benefits of wage earners bringing their paychecks to be spent Hernando County but the loss of revenue to broaden our tax base is sorely lost to communities to the south.

I-75 is more of a Hernando County by-pass than an exit for business interests. Heck, it's location has already proven to be more attractive as a housing bonanza than a gateway to business opportunities. This is another example of urban sprawl, exposing our lands to vulnerability of resiential real estate mongers.

Too much land has been rezoned from agriculture to residential. It has proven to be poor planning from the first designs of the future of the County. Impact fees have never paid the full cost of providing services to newcomers so the impact of suburban growth is negative from the very moment a tract of land is purchased. And yet, with Hickory Hill and Sunrise, and other developments north on US 19 near Citrus County, there are plenty of shortcomings in progress.

What we have are a broad array of homes but nothing else for the weak efforts of County Commissioners have shown to diversify the economy. Property values are down and, although property taxes are exorbitant for most homes purchased in the past few year, the results all point to an unbalanced budget for the needs of the County. New construction appears to be subdued for foreseeable future so the purchasing power of residents to support what businesses that are already here is limited.

It is, to say the least, a disappointment to have gone through the County Connection program to learn the processes of local government and learn the average income is $28,000 per year. I took the class this past Spring. Viewing the official Hernando County WebPages, it was shocking to find the median income is now less than $26,000! What a shame.

We are stuck in a retail wasteland, sure to find the working population will decline. Wal-Mart can stock every Made In China product available, but people still have to budget their moneys for food and housing expenses. Foreign clothing will place third in consumer spending as families are forced to put the basic needs of life above their wants and desires.

So, what’s the County to do? County Commissioners and their department heads have continuously displayed their lack of progressive thinking, and actions, on supplementing the limited manufacturing jobs already established. This is surely not their expertise. It may point to the inherent shortcomings of elected officials with little or no business backgrounds.

Candidates vying to defeat Commissioners Diane Rowden, Chris Kingsley and Jeff Stabins may not offer anything other than the same inaction. A realtor. A construction manager. A property appraiser. Rub-a-dub, three candidates in the same old rusty tub. Curbing county spending and promises of attracting higher paid industry jobs sound admirable, but their prospecting for gold with those exorbitant salaries won’t necessarily bring the necessary results. This is not to suggest they don’t deserve voter consideration but specifics, please!

So, who else can we turn to address our needs of attracting alternate sources of revenues… and jobs? If you label local government as the “rock” and federal government the “hard place” guess what’s left.

We're stuck in the middle with are our friends in Tallahassee. Senators Mike Fasano and Paula Dockery, and Representatives Robert Schenk and Ron Schultz. Can we rely on their political influences and business associations to fill the gaps and crevasses of our economic void? Hey, guys and gal, how about throwing a little pork into our barrel?