SPRING HILL - For years, residents of the Vista Grand retirement facility on Quality Drive have plead with county officials to construct a 1,000 foot section of sidewalk, connecting the facility with a local shopping plaza.
The problem is that most of the residents of Vista Grand have mobility issues, and some depend on wheelchairs and scooters to access a nearby shopping plaza and local medical facilities.
There are even concerns for students of nearby Suncoast Elementary School, where sidewalks exist to the east of the school but there are none to the west.
Resident Sharon Wilson explained “when it rains, my wheelchair can’t make it through the sand and grass.” During an earlier interview with RNRF reporter Danny Aiello, Wilson said “With schools, hospitals, and a retirement home, why in the world they didn’t put sidewalks in is beyond me… It should have been put in twelve years ago when that school was built.”
Wheelchair confined resident, Arlene Sollis, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, spearheaded the campaign in 2012. But after years of frustration, she finally reached out to U.S. Congressman Rich Nugent for help.
In shock at the bureaucratic red tape, Congressmen Nugent attended last Tuesday’s County Commissioners meeting and plead with Commissioners to expedite the project, stating “I Implore you, I ask you, look into your hearts and see if there’s a way to help this young lady in her eighties Survive.” He went on to tell commissioners “I understand the bureaucratic process, trust me, and you all do a much better job than Washington D.C.”
Even Hernando County Sheriff, Al Nienhuis, stepped to the podium and offered to provide labor from County Jail Inmates.
According to officials, the project was slotted for completion in 2018 but residents say that’s just too long to wait.
Commissioners were open to suggestions on how to speed up the process, so they asked Brian Malmberg, Director of Transportation Services, to explain what it would take and how much it would cost. According to Malmberg, the total cost for construction is around $60,000 for the 1,000 foot stretch. He also explained that at best he could shave off of the project was maybe 4 to 6 months, but Commissioner Nick Nicholson questioned the value in disrupting the flow and potentially taking money away from projects that were already in line to receive their funding. Nicholson said “We’ve been trying to fast-track this project but unlike private industry, things don’t happen that quickly.”
Malmberg further explained that there is no dedicated sidewalk funding, so they use what’s called “Transportation alternative dollars.”
We’ll continue to follow this story and report on the final decision by officials.
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I just wonder why when the county approved these buildings they didn’t require them to provide the funds for this project.. seems when they approve developments they require certain funds to improve roads or sewage… just seems like what’s good for some isn’t good for all…
Tax the surrounding lots to pay for it like they do in the county, it’s only fair.
$60,000? I’m sure Argos or Cemex would step up to the plate to help with the cement in some capacity. Sheriffs Dept has already pledged labor. Why is this even an issue?
Commissioner NicholsDick with his disheveled tie and bedhead can find money
to pay for services of a prostitute, not to mention gas, to take said prostitute
to buy DRUGS, you would think he could find money for the elderly needs! smdh
He should be ashamed of himself going into a public meeting looking so sloppy!
He is such an *** wipe!!!!
Thats the wrong side of the street for the children. you will have them cross a busy street in front of the vista grand to get to that sidewalk with no crossing guard. That’s an accident waiting to happen.
I guess I am just used to how things work in the private sector. Let be honest, that is 10K job at most, and is only 60K when government gets involved. Here’s my solution: Tell any construction, cement, or other like business in the county that if they build it now, they can directly take the $60,000 off their property tax bill for as many years as it takes.
This is ludicrous to not take care of our elderly disabled citizens, and to take 2 yrs for 1000th of sidewalk and the cost is ridiculous and yes I do know, As for Nicholson I will buy him a bottle of shampoo to wash that greasy hair heck you could fry chicken with all that grease Shame shame on these people, There but for the grace of GOD GO ANYONE OF US! yes even you Nicholson .
Yep Sophia you are right, 10,000 may even be a little high With the right company that has the knowledge, probably a 2 to 3 day job and no way is it 60,000. Let the private sector do it get some bids and get it done for these people, Keep the politics out of it. Thank you.
Surprised Nugent would get off his do-nothing congress butt to do anything!
I guess this doesn’t fit their agenda of pet projects. Simple solution is to put it ahead of any other projects coming up.
It amazes me that we can put sidewalks to nowhere but can’t put one in where it is really needed
Why doesn’t the facility “Vista Grand” provide transportation for their residents? Isn’t that a private (for profit) facility? Don’t they have a van, bus, or car for shopping trips? Most do. Once or twice a week? Not sure how wise it is to let an 80+ lady go shopping alone in her wheelchair. Go with a buddy or a group. The facility should provide transportation and assistance.
In the interim it’s cheaper than 60K for Pete’s Sake. That’s government talking. $$$$$$$
I venture to say that you can get 1,000′ of paved asphalt for less than 10K. That’s a long driveway.
Millings would be cheaper.
Get real. It isn’t pretty but it will work.
None of it makes sense: Sidewalks to nowhere on the East side that no one uses for miles and miles….
Mabel, Vista Grand is an independent living facility. It is in all ways like a normal apartment complex, just with the caveat of being 55 and older. There are no meals or nurses on staff and they are a tax credit property.
I did some figuring. The concrete would only cost about 8000 plus the cost of the form boards. Easily 10k in material . Sounds like someone is trying to get rich.
Lmao Charlie I got quoted 10k for a driveway. With your estimation my driveway could be done for 2k. Please come do mine for that price.. Tell you what, I’ll pull up and dispose of the old concrete, and form board it myself, you provide the concrete and the labor for 2k you got the job.. Let’s be real, That number isn’t even close to accurate.
First get private competitive bids for the sidewalk without the hacks from the county involved. Than the incompetent, tax eating Hernando County Commissioner’s should each pay a portion of the sidewalk costs out of there (OUR) money they are paid for their part time jobs. I believe they make a mere $60K. per year plus benefits for doing nothing.
Mabel, well said! The sidewalks on Hwy 50 and U.S. 19 were not county projects
Just look at the above pictures of our county leaders and there lays the problem. IMPOTENT county commissioners led by a jerk (ole prostitute/druggie nick) and his self serving board of junior jerks. VOTERS, keep this in mind on election day and for those commissioners who own business’s in hernando county, shop else where, send the message.
Hey why dont we do it, lets get them forms up that would be cheapest.
Mabel, Vista Grand is not an assisted living facility but yes I do agree. There should also be a sidewalk across the street for the students when walking home. They have to walk through weeds and burrs and whatever else may be in all that brush. There is no reason to wait so long for that sidewalk to be put in. Maybe they are waiting for someone to be hit or killed before they get off their fat lazy asses to do something that just might be right. They need to get rid of that dopey slob Nichols in the county seat and replace him with someone who cares. Screw the Red Tape.
No sidewalks, Narrow neighborhood roads, Poor street lighting, Is it any wonder that folks are not safe walking or riding bikes on these streets. Very Poor planing.
It’s a sidewalk….not a runway….these A-holes could screw up a LEMONADE stand….
And how about all the needless sidewalks that border US 19 North of 50, Talk about a waste of money, Is it just a lack of common sense or what?
As soon as a child gets killed walking to school the process will speed up, just like when the child got killed on California Street. I even placed a call last year to the school Safety Official when I saw children walking along the road so close to cars passing them.
The county commissioners need to travel to Quality Drive and look for themselves. They will see how important of an issue this is.
Here’s an idea put the commissioners in wheel chairs and scooters on the next rainy day and see how they get from point a to point b Rain would help Nicholson hair some!!
I love the comment, “this isn’t the private sector, things don’t work that fast.” Why not? Why don’t we contract private companies and pay employees by the job, not the hour. In construction, you get paid by the job. The faster you complete the job the sooner you get to make more money by going onto the next one.
Funny how your police and fire services make a significant amount less or equivalent to the construction workers and how there’s a bunch of secretaries and office positions required to do a simple job of making a sidewalk.
A backhoe, some guys to build forms and pour cement does not take 4-6 years. The job could be done in a month max.
They put sidewalks all the way up 19 to the Citrus county line which never get used. They should have used that cement to do Quality Drive with school, seniors, hospital, medical buildings. I know the county did not pay for it. Put sidewalks where needed, not up 19 where no one walks!!! Is Nugent up for re-election? Is that why he came to Spring Hill?
Upon further review, I thought it was an ALF. Never mind - Miss Emily Latella.
There is more to it than just Vista Grand……poor planning.
I still say 60K is out of line unless that it includes both sides, crosswalks, handrails, lights, & music
Hope the sidewalk is in sooner.
With all the sidewalks to nowhere as on 50 or 19 this should be a no brainer.
B.E.Callaghanthe PROBLEM is the county COMMISSIONERS have no brains….like Rowden handing a contract for trash to her employer at the time…Republic…Waste Management paid twice as better than Republic…Republic pays peanuts….
Sidewalks? In Hernando County? HAHAHAHAHA WOW …no, seriously…wait for it…”it’s not earmarked for the budget. it may impact other portions of our county. we need it to feed the starving unicorns in front of the leprechaun’s house that stands sentry over the pot of gold we’ve stolen off of ridiculous property taxes and will affect out budget for traffic citation paper”