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By MELODY JAMESON
mj@observernews.net
…Backflow Moratorium
Despite recently reported instances of some plumbers inferring that homeowners still are required to install backflow valves, the county’s moratorium on backflow enforcements remains in effect.
Hillsborough county commissioners imposed the moratorium a year ago as Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) began review of state backflow regulations. DEP currently is rewriting the state rule and until it is completed, the county continues to suspend enforcement under its backflow ordinance except in any case of actual cross connection between potable water lines and irrigation or other water sources. Any other decision to install a backflow valve at this point is strictly between a homeowner and his plumber, not a mandate from the county, according to Ed Helvenston, a county attorney familiar with the issues.
Hillsborough is expected eventually to revamp its ordinance dealing with backflow prevention requirements, consistent with the new state rule, and county Water Resource Services managers are on record as favoring elimination of the large, unsightly, theft-prone and expensive RPZ valves once required in favor of smaller, less expensive in-ground equipment accomplishing the same safe water objectives.
…SCC’s Community Plan
The retirement community’s completed formal plan to guide certain development undertakings in its environs during the decades ahead soon will be undergoing scrutiny on the county level.
The plan is expected to be discussed during a Planning Commission workshop on December 12 and then to be presented to Hillsborough’s Board of County commissioners in February or March, according to Anne Cross, who served as facilitator during the local planning process. Upon final approval, the plan will join the other community plans generated by surrounding areas such as Apollo Beach, Riverview and Ruskin as part of the county’s Comprehensive Plan which has the force of law in certain applications.
…Fair Districting Florida
The state-wide signature petition campaign to get an initiative on the 2010 mid-term election ballot requiring that state and congressional districts throughout Florida be drawn fairly has attained 98 percent of the signatures needed. The campaign seeks to outlaw the practice of drawing district lines to satisfy a particular political party or individual.
The FairDistrictsFlorida campaign also has received endorsements from the Florida League of Cities, the Florida League of Mayors and the Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, according to Ellen Freidin, a Dade County attorney and state campaign coordinator. A one-day online effort to generate contributions to help defray expenses involved in verifying the signatures produced $60,000, she added.
The campaign continues at this time, Freidin said, going to the finish line on signatures needed and accepting contributions to underwrite costs. The website address is www.FairDistricsFlorida.org.
Copyright 2009 Melody Jameson
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