BROOKSVILLE — A $1 million price tag usually draws a fight from the Hernando County Commission. This one drew a consensus.
All five commissioners lined up Aug. 11 behind a plan to build a 50-foot galvanized steel observation tower at Linda Pedersen Park, paid for largely with bonds repaid by tourist development taxes.
What sold them was the arithmetic on the back end: a metal tower could stand as long as 90 years, roughly three times the life of the tower it would replace and could be repainted rather than rebuilt when weather and vandals take their toll.
The price is high, commissioners acknowledged, but worth it for a structure that would anchor an area that could include a lawn and a gathering place for tourists and residents.
Community Services Director Chris Linsbeck introduced three conceptual designs for the replacement tower, presented by OWA Architecture in coordination with Coastal Engineering. Staff members were seeking direction on which design to pursue.
The third concept addressed the long-term cost and maintenance problems that dogged the first two, an OWA representative told the board. It would sit on the same base as the other designs but rise 50 or 60 feet, with two platform levels and improved views from each.
“We looked at a tower that is built out of galvanized steel,” the representative said.
Some costs have been verified with local vendors, and the total for the base and tower could reach about $1 million. Building to 50 feet instead of 60 would produce only “marginal” savings of 10% to 15%, the representative said, because most of the work happens at the lower levels.
The tower would serve as a beacon for the community and a visual landmark, he said.
On July 17, the Parks and Recreation Department met with the Tourism Department, the Sierra Club and Audubon representatives for an initial review of the concepts. Some participants preferred a design without a lawn because of concerns over fertilizer runoff.
Commissioner John Allocco said the metal option was the only one he would consider.
“Thirty years from now, we don’t want to be doing this again,” he said. Weather and vandalism have been the biggest challenges, he said, and damaged wood has to be replaced.
“You can repaint the metal,” he said.
Amenities can always be added later, Allocco said, but the priority now is getting the tower up.
The other commissioners agreed. Commissioner Ryan Amsler said $1 million is a lot of money but spread over a century it is “like a no-brainer, almost.”
County Administrator Jeff Rogers said the goal is to issue a bond and use tourist taxes to cover the debt service, and that staff members could pursue grants to offset the cost.
“This is a win,” Commissioner Steve Champion said. “And this is what we should be using tourism tax dollars for.”
Linsbeck also raised questions about security and lighting.
Commission Chairman Jerry Campbell said he heard consensus for a 50-foot tower with a lawn.
The presentation begins on page 1,479 of the agenda packet for the Aug. 11 meeting, available at hernandocountyfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Mitten again
Since John Mitten’s appointment to the District 2 seat, several residents and Champion have spoken out against it because Mitten does not live in the district.
Champion has repeatedly said he has no objection to Mitten personally but contends the appointment came at the behest of Sheriff Al Nienhuis, who Champion said went to Gov. Ron DeSantis to protect his agency’s 10% budget increase. Champion said he wanted John Carroll appointed instead and noted that Mitten has voted to approve tax increases.
One proposal circulating is that the winner of the Aug. 18 primary be appointed to the seat immediately, replacing Mitten.
Mitten said he viewed the appointment as a call from God to serve the community, and that is why he accepted.
Once again, County Attorney Jon Jouben offered a legal opinion that members appointed by the governor are not required to live in the districts they represent.
Ethics
For the first time in months, approval of the commission agenda was not unanimous.
Champion cast the lone dissenting vote, objecting to item O, a discussion of a preliminary draft ordinance that would set additional ethics and conflict-of-interest standards for commissioners. He said he views the proposal as a political attack on him because he is not aligned with a faction on the board.
Champion and Campbell clashed at the previous meeting over the proposal, which grew out of the purchase of tax deeds. Champion has described at length how he learned to buy tax deeds, how he has used them and how he has shown others to do the same.
Commissioners have to walk a fine line, because all five have business interests and careers outside their elected duties. Allocco said there is constant talk about avoiding “professional politicians” who draw a public paycheck and benefits as their sole job, yet commissioners are also expected to give up careers they held before taking office and will return to after leaving it.
The discussion also turned to the District 4 County Commission candidacy of Marvin Baynham.
Campbell said he wishes local politics were about policy and positions rather than personal attacks, but that he cannot control what others do.
Mitten’s presence on the commission came up again. After Mitten responded, Campbell moved the board to the next item.
In other action
Two people applied for the Planning and Zoning Commission seat left vacant by Kathryn Birren, who resigned to run for County Commission. Commissioners voted 5-0 to appoint Mike Fulford to the seat, which runs through Dec. 31, 2026.