Tourism center, educational facility on commission agenda
BROOKSVILLE — County staffers Tuesday will suggest three possible locations for the construction of a visitor information center at Interstate 75.
They also will identify two potential sites for an educational-tourism center: On Osowaw Boulevard, at the entrance to the Weekiwachee Preserve, or a separate site somewhere along the preserve.
If commissioners agree to move forward, staffers will recommend hiring an architectural engineering team to take a closer look at the ideas.
County commissioners have not decided how to spend a $3 million state allocation to build an educational-tourism center in Hernando County. Commissioners have agreed to match the $3 million.
But several sites the staff has recommended have come under fire by county residents. Even commissioners have disagreed about where to build what they tentatively are calling the Nature Coast Educational and Tourism Center.
Last month, for the first time, they considered breaking the project into two concepts: a tourism office on the east side of the county near I-75 and the educational facility somewhere on the west side, preferably near the preserve.
The county commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.
Also on Tuesday’s agenda:
♦ Commissioners will recognize Patrick and Shirley Miketinac for their work to petition and collect signatures to try and get a proposed referendum banning red-light cameras on the November ballot.
Because of legal issues, that referendum likely will be delayed to a special election sometime in the future.
♦ The board will recognize the Spring Hill Dixie Baseball all-star teams “for their hard work and determination displayed in the World Series, and their achievements during the summer season.”
♦ George Zoettlein, assistant county administrator of budget and business development, will present a five-year capital improvement program.
To view the proposed capital improvement plan and see the entire agenda, visit http://hernandocountyfl.iqm2.com/citizens/.
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