All the smoke

In this morning's newspaper, county administrator, Gary Kuhl was quoted as saying the insurance issues seem insurmountable and there seems to be no interest in changing usage designation of the old hospital from medical to storage. Mr. Kuhl also said that he had received three or four inquiries for the purchase of the old hospital. Any clear thinking individual can understand the frustration of Commissioner Stabins by the road blocks set up by the county administration staff. The Hernando County Board of Commission gave clear, concise direction for the old hospital at a previous meeting but have been mired down in red tape. Where did this red tape come from? Was it Gary Kuhl for not following the direction given to him by the full board of county commissioners by a consensus vote? Was the red tape created by Commissioners' Rowden and Kingsley acting outside the authority of the entire board of commission to push their personal agenda to sell the hospital? As each month creeps away in this endless bureaucratic cycle another $74,000 a month in tax payer money evaporates in upkeep for this vacant facility. Commissioner Stabins, Robinson and Hogan should be asking to see the three or four purchase inquires mentioned by Mr. Kuhl since they are subject to open public records regulation. This is not the first time the administrator has not carried out the direction of the board in a timely fashion. Mr. Kuhl did not have the ordinance for the 4/5 majority vote on the comprehensive plan prepared on the date directed by the county commissioners and had to be prompted to grudgingly submit it a week later. The county website has the general job guidelines for the county administrator which reads, in part: The county administrator is the Chief Administrative Officer appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. It is the responsibility of the County Administrator to effectively implement all decisions, policies, ordinances and motions made by the Board of County Commissioners. What part of implement all decisions, policies, ordinances and motions does the county administrator not understand in his job title? Taxpayers are having a hard time with all the smoke that is being blown at the hospital issue. It is time Commissioners Stabins' plan be removed from life support by the majority of the commissioners at their next meeting and breath some fresh air into this issue.