One look at Wednesday's agenda for the Hillsborough County Commission meeting and it was shaping up to be one of the most interesting shows meetings of the year. Recent meetings have made Ringling's 3 rings appear dull and this one had potential. Would Commissioners give embattled County Administrator, Pat Bean, her walking papers? Or would they keep her around and give the County Mayor proponents all they need to get that measure approved in the future (which would give the voters the power to fire the leadership).Commissioner Mark Sharpe came out early telling the press he would call for new leadership during the meeting.
Also on the agenda the contentious issue of Cone Ranch. Clearly the citizens of Hillborough County have made no secret about the fact that they want the Commission to give the land to ELAPP. The 12,800 acre parcel (already owned by the public) has been in jeopardy before when Commissioner Jim the Athletic Supporter Norman wanted to develop the land into a regional soccer complex called Championship Park. That idea failed. Most recently the County Commission headed by Chairman Ken Hagan, took a proposal from a private group seriously to buy and subdivide the land and cooked up a panel to vet the idea. After six meetings, on your dime, the panel recommendations are in and they go right along with the citizen's wishes (not without fierce participation from the public at the panel meetings). Today the panel's recommendation will be given to the board. Will the Commission do the right thing? Funny that the press knew when this would be on the agenda weeks ago but it was only officially added last minute as an addendum. Doesn't Ms. Bean control the agenda?
First up the little matter of the Consent Agenda. Commissioners voted to approve an additional $99,317.50 increase in a contract with HDR for their services regarding Race Track Rd. Recall HDR is the same company that designed the cracking reservoir. And later down that same Consent Agenda another increase in a different HDR contract for an additional $901,630 for their work on a wastewater treatment plant. Looks like they were wrong on their costs for two projects costing the county over a million extra dollars! Why do we keep giving them contracts?
This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2009.