The five-member Sunny Hill MSBU Advisory Board spent two and one-half hours Tuesday night hashing over issues dealing with making Sunny Hills a better community.
by Kathy Foster
MSBU Board Chairman Brian Goddin noted, “We’re here to make our community better”. He was joined by Board member Steve Healis who stressed, “We as a group bring ideas from the community to the Washington County Board of County Commissioners and we are making some progress.”
Issues addressed at Tuesday night’s meeting included the following:
- Erection of an electronic information sign on the Boulevard to keep residents informed of local happenings. Advisory Board member Steve Healis said he was talking with companies that could supply the requested sign. However, he was told he would need to bring at least three bids to the Board of County Commissioners.
- Placement of an AED in the community for emergency situations when an ambulance may not be able to reach an individual quickly. Several more locations will be considered and brought back before the Board for discussion.
- Beautification of the front entrance fountain. Chairman Brian Goddin said he had reached out to three firms and all quotes came in around $10,000. However, Goddin was told nothing could be done until the County has a signed lease agreement from Deltona, so that issue was put on hold.
- Sunny Hills Library was once again discussed. Washington County Library Director Renae Rountree met with Board members to talk about library-related issues. She reported she had located only one internet provider, but that cost would around $460 a month with a five-year contract required and she did not feel it would improve service that much. Also, they would not be eligible for any governmental reimbursement for the outgoing funds.
Rountree also addressed a request from the floor that the library hours be extended to four days a week. Advisory Board members indicated they would rather let their current 3-day a week agreement stand and readdress the “hours” question stand until just before the 2018-19 budget workshops as previously agreed.
Board member Gary Hartman raised the question as to whether or not the MSBU can even spend money on the library operations. Hartman requested an attorney’s opinion on that issue.
- Mitchell Finch, the owner of Freshcut Lawn Service, was present to discuss work he is doing for the MSBU. Finch was praised for the quality of work he is providing.
- Brian Goddin informed the Board that he would be talking with the director of the Sunny Hills Golf Club regarding the possibility of the MSBU paying a monthly fee so residents could receive a reduced rate when playing golf at the club. The question was raised as to whether or not the MSBU could agree to a subsidy, or if the club would agree to give residents a reduced rate.
- Responding to a request from a Sunny Hills resident that the MSBU set up an Amnesty Day site for trash/hazardous waste pick-up in the community, Board members were informed by County Administrator Jeff Massey that Washington County is setting an Amnesty Day event at the Recycling Center on Hwy 77 sometime in March.
- When the issue of road repairs was raised, Board members were told they needed to develop a cost per mile report and a list of roads and that mileage need to be included on the list.
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